Hidden Gems: The Most Underrated Cities in Europe

Everyone knows Paris, Rome and Barcelona — and everyone crowds into them. But Europe is full of overlooked cities that deliver just as much beauty, history and charm, with a fraction of the tourists. Here are the best hidden gems.

Beautiful and overlooked

Porto offers all the charm of Lisbon with fewer crowds, while Ghent quietly outshines its famous neighbour Bruges. Ljubljana is one of the continent's greenest and most delightful little capitals.

History without the queues

Bologna serves up Italy's greatest food far from the tourist trail, and Krakow and Tallinn preserve stunning medieval old towns at a fraction of Western European prices.

Coastal and characterful

Kotor in Montenegro, Valencia in Spain and Riga in Latvia complete a list of cities that reward the curious traveller. Skip the obvious, go a little off the beaten path, and rediscover the magic of European travel.