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As my post on “Best places to travel in 2019” literally went viral within one week on Pinterest, I decided to also create a list of tips on some hidden gems in Europe!
In 2017 and 2018, Markus and I traveled around the whole world for nine months and completely neglected my home continent. However, in 2019, we visited a lot of places in Europe – Slovenia, Romania, Hungary, France, the UK, and Austria.
But of course, there’s quite a lot of hidden gems in Europe that I already came across over the last years – so this list is much longer than only the countries we recently visited!
I hope this article will be as helpful and inspiring to you as our travel recommendations across the world – if not even more! After all, we both spent most of our over 30 years (gosh!!!) on this beautiful continent and we know a thing or two about it!
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11 Hidden Gems in Europe to travel to now!
Don’t worry, this article will not simply list all European capitals.
Instead of showing how to explore Paris and London (which I both visited this year), I will show you selected capitals, other (underrated) cities across Europe and unique regions and islands. In this ultimate Europe guide, I want to give you tips on cities and the hidden gems in Europe that might not yet be on every traveler’s mind!
And if you want to find even more of these secret tips – make sure to check what other top travel bloggers have recommended as highly underrated and unusual holiday destinations!
Read: Unusual holiday destinations – Bloggers reveal their secret travel tips for 2020!
Each place also comes with some inspiration for you what to do there and where to stay for each budget!
So, let the show of hidden gems in Europe begin! (Can I have drumrolls?)
Riga (Latvia)
Riga is the capital of Latvia and it is a stunning, culturally rich city! Riga also made its name as a “party capital” in recent years – but it is much more than that! Old Town is where you will find most of the architectural sights and also the best restaurants in town. Riga is still a relatively cheap capital for European standards and it is not yet overrun by tourists. And as a plus, it is surrounded by beautiful nature – hills, beaches, and forest – Riga has it all!
Top 5 things to do:
- Go on a free walking tour of Old Town
- Snap some gorgeous photos of the Riga Cathedral
- Try Black Balsam (local spirit based on Vodka)
- See the city from above from Riga TV Tower
- Visit the Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum
Where to stay:
- Luxury: Grand Palace Hotel – The Leading Hotels of the World (from 140€)
- Midrange: Wellton Riverside Spa Hotel (from 60€)
- Budget: Tree House Hostel (from 10€)
Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Amsterdam is one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in Europe. Known by day for the beautiful little canals and bridges and infamous by night for its red-light district, this city is on every young traveler’s itinerary to Europe. And it should also be on your list of places to travel in Europe in 2019!
People living there are known for their open-mindedness and their friendliness – even though Amsterdam is a capital city, we still think it is a hidden gem in Europe! From Marijuana Café to iconic Holland bikes, from the Sex museum to Gouda cheese – Amsterdam is the Netherlands at its best!
Top 5 things to do:
- Get to know the famous Heineken Beer with “Heineken Experience”
- Rent a bike and cycle around the historic center of Amsterdam
- Learn about Anne Frank at the museum dedicated to the history of this Jewish girl
- See (and smell) the Bloemenmarkt (flower market)
- Take a canal cruise (there is even a Venetian Gondola company run by a young woman from Amsterdam)
Where to stay:
- Luxury: Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Midrange: Hotel La Bohéme ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Budget: AmicitiA (it’s a boat!) ( Booking.com | Agoda )
Romantic Road (Germany)
The Romantic Road in Germany spans over 350km across southern Germany – from Würzburg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and further on until the magnificent castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. It is marked along the whole way and shows some of the most iconic and most beautiful cities, castles and places of Germany. If you are dreaming of the glory of past days – this is for you!
And if you can’t get enough of Germany’s castles – there is an intersection with the “Castle Road”! I could probably write a whole post about “the best castles to visit in Germany in 2019” – but for now, let’s just stick to the Romantic road as one of the hidden gems in Europe! It’s also possible to visit some parts of the Romantic road as part of a day trip from Munich.
Top 5 things to do:
- Drink some regional wine at Würzburg’s castle
- Visit the Crater of Nördlingen and see the impact of the giant meteor that hit the earth here
- Eat a “snowball” in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
- Do a free walking tour of Augsburg
- Hike “Königliche Waldwanderung” to get unique views (and Instagram shots) of Neuschwanstein
Where to stay:
- Würzburg: Würzburger Hof ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Rothenburg: Historik Hotel Gotisches Haus ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Nördlingen: Arthotel ANA Flair ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Augsburg: Hotel am Rathaus ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Hohenschwangau: Schlossrestaurant Neuschwanstein (the ONLY ONE directly at Neuschwanstein castle!) ( Booking.com | Agoda )
Berlin (Germany)
You can’t compare Berlin to any other city on this planet! And I am not only saying this because I live in (and am madly in love with) this city – but also, because Berlin is so unique! No other capital in the world has been separated into two countries – and has such a diversified history as Berlin. People may not consider Berlin one of Europe’s hidden gems – but there is so much more to this city than its history too!
Berlin is one of the most sought-after places in the world to live as a startup founder or an artist! Berlin’s nightlife is known for its excessiveness – clubs often open on Thursday evening and don’t close before Monday morning. Yes, that’s right, in Berlin, you can brunch Avo on Toast and then go clubbing!
Top 5 things to do:
- Shop on one of the many flea markets (skip Mauerpark)
- Have a Sunday brunch in Friedrichshain
- Visit one of Berlin’s great museums – like the free Futurium Berlin
- Explore the Berlin’s underground with a Berlin bunker tour
- Take a free audio tour of the city with City Pirates Audio Guides ( Get if for Android | Get it for iOS )
Oh, and just in case you didn’t know why I emphasized the audio guide – this is OUR OWN STARTUP I founded with my husband! And it is ME guiding you around Alexanderplatz completely for free then – so what are you waiting for? 🙂
Where to stay:
- Luxury: Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin (it can’t get more famous!) ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Midrange: Hotel Alexander Plaza ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Budget: Eastern & Western Comfort Hostelboat ( Booking.com | Agoda )
Lyon (France)
I fell in love with Lyon the very first time I visited! Lyon is named “gastronomic capital of France” for a good reason – Lyon totally is a foodie’s paradise! I bet you won’t find any other city in Europe that has such a density of awesome restaurants!
And if this is not enough to lure you there – “Vieux Lyon” (Old Town) has one of the most stunning historical city centers you can find anywhere in France. The historic city is truly a secret destination you can’t miss! Top that off with gorgeous sunsets views and river cruises and you know why this gem landed on the list of hidden gems in Europe!
Top 5 things to do:
- Take a river cruise along the Saone or the Rhone (ora dinner cruise!)
- Eat at a traditional Bouchon in Vieux Lyon (check reviews – there are more traps than you think!)
- Visit the farmers market along the lines of the Saone
- Ride the funicular up to the Basilica
- Watch the sunset from a park in Croix-Rouge
Read now: Most Instagrammable Places in Lyon – Snap a Shot!
Where to stay:
- Luxury: Cour des Loges ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Midrange: La Loge de Vieux Lyon ( Booking.com )
- Budget: HO36 Opera ( Booking.com | Agoda )
Reykjavic (Iceland)
It is not only the instafamous blue lagoon and the possibility to see the Northern Lights that makes Reykjavic one of the hidden gems in Europe. No, there is more to this tiny capital and its 300k inhabitants – they also have a vivid culture and some really quirky restaurants!
Top 5 things to do:
- Take a plunge in the famous “Blue Lagoon” (and snap a shot for your Instagram)
- Walk around Reykjavic’s beautiful colors houses in the inner city
- Go on a whale watching tour
- See the Northern Lights
- Eat some slow-roasted lamb (a specialty of the region – if you are veggie, how about some Skyr?)
Where to stay:
- Luxury: Canopy by Hilton Reykjavic Center ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Midrange: Thor Guesthouse ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Budget: Kex Hostel ( Booking.com | Agoda )
Budapest (Hungary)
Budapest – the pearl of the Danube river is one of Eastern Europe’s gems. The city is immensely rich in beautiful architectural buildings and stunning river views. Actually, a lot of cities in Eastern Europe would count as hidden gems in Europe – but Budapest is particularly pretty!
And just when you thought that you have seen enough of its amazing churches, synagogues, and palaces, night time comes over Budapest and the young (and young at heart) turn to the famous ruin bars in the Jewish quarter. Lucky you that you can cure your hangover the next day in one of the stunning thermal spas!
Top 5 things to do:
- Hop on a river cruise along the Danube (with unlimited beer and pizza!)
- Visit one of the famous ruin bars
- Relax at the cities thermal spas (and definitely do a beer spa!)
- Explore the cities gigantic and impressive Synagogues
- Snap a shot at the Halaszbastya
Check out my Budapest TripAdvisor Trip if you want a short overview of the most instaworthy things to do in Budapest! And don’t forget to follow me on TripAdvisor for more maps like this! 😉
Where to stay:
- Luxury: Aria Hotel Budapest by Library Collection ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Midrange: The Loft Budapest ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Budget: Maverick Hostel & Ensuites ( Booking.com | Agoda )
Cyclades Islands (Greece)
Hopping the Greek Cyclades Islands is a wonderful holiday on its own. Each of the islands has its unique charm and different beautiful places to see. If you have to choose among them, most people opt for either Santorini with the iconic blue roofs or Mykonos. And there is a good reason for that as you can see in this Santorini itinerary! However, Santorini really does not count as a hidden gem in Europe anymore – but how about Paros?
You definitely shouldn’t underestimate the gorgeous white-sand beaches of Naxos or the party atmosphere in Ios. Paros can be an awesome choice if you want to leave the crowds behind a bit but still have a bit of everything! The Cyclades are in fact the one destination in Europe that also made to my list of the 12 best places to travel in 2019 worldwide!
Top 5 Islands in the Cyclades:
- Santorini: gorgeous, highly instaworthy iconic buildings and a black volcanic beach
- Mykonos: iconic greek architecture
- Naxos: white-sand beaches and a good surf
- Ios: Known for its party crowd and atmosphere
- Paros: beautiful beaches and a laid-back vibe
Where to stay:
- Santorini: Delta Suites (Private outdoor jacuzzi!!!) ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Mykonos: Semeli Hotel ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Naxos: Manios Suites ( Booking.com )
- Ios: Acteon Hotel (close to port) ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Paros: Apollon Boutique Hotel ( Booking.com | Agoda )
Prague (Czech Republic)
Prague is definitely a capital on the rise – more and more people have already realized how beautiful the small medieval streets, the baroque church, and the Babylonian clock tower are. And they praise the city for maintaining its old grandeur while developing a name for awesome cocktail bars and iconic restaurants.
Is Prague still a hidden gem in Europe? I don’t know – you tell me! Anyway, there is such an amount of things to do in Prague! It’s truly an idyllic capital that somehow still manages to fly under the radar!
Top 5 things to do:
- Stroll around Prague Castle – the biggest ancient castle in the world
- Drink a cocktail at Prague’s amazing “Anonymous” bar
- Take a picture on Charles Bridge
- Go on a beer tasting tour with dinner
- Explore Prague’s history by doing a treasure hunt
Where to stay:
- Luxury: Buddha Bar Hotel Prague ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Midrange: Boutique Hotel Golden Key ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Budget: MeetMe 23 ( Booking.com | Agoda )
Edinburgh (Scotland)
The UK is so much more than only England and London! 2019 will be a complicated year for the UK due to the ongoing discussions on the Brexit. But back to hidden gems in Europe: Edinburgh is the stunning Scottish capital and it has so many amazing historical buildings that should be on every tour of Europe!
Both the Old and the New Town are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. And Edinburgh has even more than history – there are many Michelin-starred hotels and some of the quirkiest pubs you will ever find!
Top 5 things to do:
- Visit Edinburgh Castle (Skip the Line ticket) – it is over 1,000 years old!
- Explore the Royal Yacht Britannia
- Shop around in the Grassmarket area
- Enjoy the view over the city from Arthur’s seat – a 250m extinct volcano
- Try some Scotch Pie or Bridie and wash it down with a Scottish pint
Where to stay:
- Super-crazy gothic luxury: The Witchery by the castle (I HAD to show you this) ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Luxury: Radisson Blue Hotel Edinburgh (the castle!) ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Midrange: Motel One Edinburgh-Princes ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Budget: Royal Mile Backpackers ( Booking.com | Agoda )
Plitvice National Park (Croatia)
The Plitvice Lakes are an inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site – and they got that status simply because (and I quote!) “their outstanding natural beauty”! Waterfalls and 16 turquoise lakes, surrounded by dense forest, cannot only be found in Bali – they are also here in Europe – in Croatia!
The Plitvice National Park is for sure one of the hidden gems in Europe because the lakes are (surprisingly) not yet overrun by tourists! If you are not in a car, you can visit the lakes with a day tour from Zagreb or a day tour from Split too!
Top 5 things to do:
- Hiking and taking pictures
- Hiking and taking pictures
- Hiking and taking pictures
- Hiking and taking pictures
- Hiking and taking pictures (sorry, LOOK AT THEM and then you understand!)
Where to stay:
- Luxury: Ethno House Plitvica Selo ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Midrange: Rustic Lodge Plitvice ( Booking.com | Agoda )
- Budget: Camping (there is no Hostels closeby)
- Glamping: There are cool glamping spots as well!
How to get in(to Europe)
If you are reading this, you are either European anyway (according to Google Analytics 😉 ) or you are coming from North America in most cases. Thus, I want to give you some information about how to get to Europe and how to travel around easily.
If you still don’t have enough inspiration – check this ultimate list of 100 things to do in Europe!
Get into Europe by Plane
Most people coming to Europe will obviously arrive by plane. The biggest airports in Europe include London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam – all with various international connections.
As flying withing Europe is often pretty cheap, you can easily optimize your arrival flights by price and airline without worrying too much about your entry point. Please note though that UK (London) is not part of the Schengen Area (see below)!
Get into Europe by doing a positioning cruise
Especially if you are coming from the US (and you have some time) you can actually consider doing a “positioning cruise” instead of taking a flight!
What is a “positioning cruise”? Well, it basically means that cruise ships want to move their ships from one location to another and have to cross a long distance that would normally not be super interesting as a travel route. Sometimes they are also called “repositioning cruises” or simply “transatlantic cruises”.
Cruise lines usually do them, when the seasons change. In order to have a lot of ships in the Mediterranean sea during the European summer (mainly May – September), they often transfer ships from the Carribean sea to Europe. And when Europe gets colder and wetter, they bring them back to the Carribean.
Positioning cruise can offer some pretty nice value for money. They are often much cheaper than “a normal cruise” with these ships. As you will be at the sea most of the days, you can take full advantage of the perks on board – including the food and the drinks. Usually, cruise lines also try to do some nice stops along the route – like on the Azores or the Canary Islands! It takes about one week to ten days to cross from North America / The Carribean to Europe in most cases.
As you spend a lot of time onboard the ship, carefully choose your cruise ship company and the ship! I am a big fan of Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) – if you want to know more about them, check my article about cruising Bahamas with NCL!
A few companies that you might want to check for positioning cruises (’cause they operate in Europe and NA):
- NCL (Norwegian Cruise Lines)
- MSC cruises (“Grand Voyages”, often very long cruises up to 3 weeks)
- AIDA cruise line (only if you speak German, but then they are AWESOME)
- Royal Carribean (they have HUGE ships)
Or check this website completely about (re)positioning cruises!
Visa requirements for entering Europe
Well, if you are a European citizen, visas don’t bother you at all when traveling around Europe. The reason for this is that there is the Schengen Area – a border-free region of most European countries (excluding the UK and some Eastern European countries).
This is also great news if you are NOT a European citizen – because you only need to enter the Schengen Area once and then you can freely roam around Europe with your Schengen Visa as you please. Most countries (including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) can enter the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days.
If you plan to stay for longer or want to work, you probably need to apply for either a residency permit or a visa. But if you just want to tour Europe in 2020 you should be fine without!
If you come from South America, Africa or Asia, please check if you are eligible as well or if you need to apply for a visa!
How to tour Europe and get around
The good thing first: once you are in, you don’t need to care for visas or customs a lot anymore (see above for information about the Schengen Area)!
Traveling around Europe is luckily quite easy as there is a good infrastructure with various (budget) options to get from one place to the next.
And let’s be honest: Europe is not that big. I know, I know – how dare I say that? But while there is a ton of things to do (and no, it is not possible to see everything in two weeks) – Europe is not that big geographically. For you, this means short (and cheaper) transit times – so let’s have a look at the options to tour Europe!
Tour Europe by plane
There is a lot of budget airlines in Europe and thus, traveling to Europe by plane can be really cheap! In fact, the cheapest flight I ever boarded was from Berlin to Brussels – and it was a whopping 1,14€, including all fees! (And I had a flight back for the same price. No, two flights, because I didn’t want to decide on the day of the offer and simply booked two return flights…)
A great way to find cheap airfares is to search with Skyscanner.
Keep in mind that the cheapest airfares sometimes only include hand-luggage and you might have to book additional luggage to avoid hefty fares at the airport!
Tour Europe by train
Europe has an extensive train network and some of the most modern and reliable trains in the world. So actually, touring Europe by train is a great idea!
There are also two train passes (Eurail and Interrail) that allow you (unlimited) travel on trains across various countries in Europe. If you are thinking about traveling the best places in Europe with a train, you might want to check those offers!
If you are younger than 28, there is even a discount for those passes! But even if you are not – depending on your itinerary they can be a real bargain. And they make traveling easier because they have some pretty cool trip planners on their website!
Tour Europe by bus
While Europe does not rely on long-haul busses like South America (and thus, sadly, our buses are not that awesome like the ones in Argentina!), they are still a valid and cheap transport option to travel Europe in some countries!
Most notable is Flixbus – a company that has quickly exploded its network from only a few routes in Germany to all over Europe. (Note that many articles still name “Megabus” – they are now part of Flixbus too!)
Just check the Flixbus route map to see if this might work for you! They now have an “Interflix” ticket with 5 trips for just 99€! Although their buses are basic, they mostly offer free WiFi and are a great way to travel to Europe on a budget in 2020!
Tour Europe by car (Self-Drive)
Europe’s road conditions are very good and thus, traveling in Europe by car is totally possible! It is generally safe to drive here, although road manners (and traffic rules) vary from country to country.
However, given the various other options to travel around Europe, I would only partly recommend this.
It is a perfect option for Europeans that have their own car, but renting can get expensive otherwise. Fuel is also comparably expensive in Europe and many countries charge for their freeways. (Although, Germany’s freeways are free – and they are AWESOME! Being German, I love driving on the Autobahn – and I drive FAST!)
But if road tripping Europe is your plan – go for it! In my personal opinion, Auto Europe is the best rental car company and I have used them various times across the globe. But go with your experience – just make sure to get good insurance with it if you decide for another rental company. Accidents can get really pricey in Europe – and you don’t want that on your trip to Europe!
Here’s some inspiration for amazing road trip itineraries in Europe!
What to pack to travel to Europe
Given that Europe is the first world, you can pretty much find anything in Europe as well. But obviously you don’t want to buy everything on the road and thus, there are a few things to keep in mind when packing for Europe.
Things to keep in mind when packing for Europe:
- Even in summer, evenings can get cold – think of packing a warm sweater and long pants even in August
- Some medication is prescription only in some party of Europe that might not be in your country (e.g. contraceptives in Germany) – thus think of bringing along stuff that you know you need
- Tap water is safe in almost all countries in Europe – no need for sterilization filter here
Otherwise, feel free to check my article about awesome stuff for world travelers!
How about you? Have you made plans?
I hope this article has been helpful for you to plan (or at least dream about) your travels to Europe in 2020!
I tried to add as much information as possible so that you can use this guide to quickly find answers to your questions. Let me know if you think I missed a vital piece or if you feel something is not accurate enough and I will change/add it!
Have you made plans already for traveling in 2020? Did you already book something? Let me know in the comments below about your plans for next year!
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I promise that I won’t spam you – but you will always be the first to know about my next destination guides or travel tips. Plus, you will get access to my exclusive and free member’s area! That’s where I share lots of invaluable additional content with you – like my ultimate packing list!
What a comprehensive guide, Sarah! Thanks so much for taking the time to put together so much information in one place. I’m really looking forward to my trip to Europe next year. Edinburgh is definitely on the list for me!
Thanks a lot Lesley! Let me know if you need any help or advice when traveling to Europe!