Europe is packed with famous destinations like Paris, Rome, and Barcelona, but what about the hidden gems? In this guide to the Top 9 Most Underrated Places in Europe, we’re diving into lesser-known spots that deserve way more attention. Whether you’re looking for off-the-beaten-path destinations, hidden travel gems in Europe, or simply a new place to explore without the crowds, this list has something for you. From charming small towns to breathtaking natural landscapes, get ready to add some fresh spots to your Europe bucket list!

Underrated Places in Europe
Bremen, Germany
Bremen is a city in northwestern Germany, along the Weser River. It’s known for the fairy tale “Town Musicians of Bremen” by the Brothers Grimm. It has a strong beer culture (home to Beck’s beer).
What to do in Bremen, Germany
Explore the Old Town (Altstadt): this Bremen’s historic center, featuring medieval architecture, narrow streets, and the city’s important landmarks like:
- St. Peter’s Cathedral. A 1,200-year-old Roman & gothic cathedral. You can climb the south tower for amazing panoramic views of Bremen and explore the 11th-century crypt.
- Bremen City Hall (Rathaus): A UNESCO World Heritage site, this Renaissance-style building is renowned for its ornate façade and historical significance. Guided tours are available to explore its the inside.
- Roland Statue: Erected in 1404, this statue symbolizes the city’s freedom and trading rights. It’s one of the oldest and most representative Roland statues in Germany.
- Schnoor Quarter: Bremen’s oldest neighborhood.
Explore the Rhododendron-Park: A 46-hectare park full of rhododendrons and azaleas, along with a botanical garden and a greenhouse.
Relax in Bürgerpark: A massive park with animal enclosures, you can rent rowing boats on the Emmasee (20€/boat for 1h 30 mins with a 30€ deposit), a café bar and mini-golf, which is temporarily closed as of January 2025, but we imagine it will reopen in the warmer months.
In the winter months, experience the Bremen Christmas Market: Held from late November until Christmas, this market usually over 170 stalls offering gifts, decorations, food, and Glühwein, and delicious german sausages. We highly recommend travelling to Bremen in this time of year.

Moselle Valley, Germany
The Moselle Valley is a stunning and super peaceful region. It’s perfect for a relaxed road trip or cycling tour because the roads along the river are mostly flat, with beautiful vineyards climbing the hills. This is Germany’s oldest wine-growing region, known for its charming towns like Cochem, Bielstein, Bernkastel-Kues, Traben-Trarbach, and many more.
To see everything properly, a road trip is your best bet—but set aside a few days, because the valley stretches about 550 km (340 miles).
Moselle Valley River Cruise
Another great way to explore is by river cruise. It’s a great experience (with drinks onboard!). We took one that was around 1-2 hours long departing from Moselle RiverBank in Bernkastel-Kues. The cruise typically heads either upstream towards Traben-Trarbach or downstream towards Piesport and Neumagen-Dhron. Tickets for the boat ride are approx 14€ per adult & 5€ per child up to 14 years.
If you’re wondering where to stay, Cochem is the largest town, with plenty of restaurants and a central location. However, when we visited in July we stayed in Luxembourg and drove down to this area, since Germany and Luxembourg (and of course France) share this region. It’s only about an hour and a half journey from the city centre to Cochem. So if you have a car and want to see multiple countries, definitely consider this option.

Seasons here are stunning—winter is magical with all the snow, especially during Christmas with all the decorations, while summer turns the hills into green vineyards, with boards showing who owns each one. They say summer isn’t a great time to go because of the crowds, but we personally didn’t find the crowds to be an issue. The weather is great and the scenery is incredible.
The region is famous for its Riesling, an aromatic white wine with floral and citrus notes. You’ll also find Elbling, a light refreshing white wine, and Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder), a smooth and fruity red wine. There’s something for every taste so definitely try some local wine while you’re here.
Here is a map of the area you can screenshot from our IG to help you navigate the Moselle Valley better.
Watch our YouTube video to see beautiful footage of each destination!
If you love discovering hidden gems like the Moselle Valley, you’ll definitely want to check out our video on this topic. Where we cover even more amazing places, including the Moselle Valley. Trust us, these spots deserve a place on your travel list! Watch it now and start planning your next adventure.
The Luxembourg countryside
Although Luxembourg city is a beautiful city, it didn’t give us that wow factor. The countryside however, that is another story. It is so underrated that we never even thought of it as an option. Until we went to the Moselle Valley and thought, hey why not take a road trip through Luxembourg since we were close by and we already planning on driving through Belgium?
Towns to visit in Luxembourg’s countryside
There are many cute little towns to visit in Luxembourg’s countryside. The ones we really liked were Vianden and Larochette.
Vianden is a small town located in the north-eastern part of Luxembourg near the German border. If you haven’t visited this region of Europe, we urge you to, because it’s absolutely beautiful! People know Vianden for its picturesque setting along the Our River, and it attracts tourists with its rich history, medieval architecture, and natural beauty.
Key attractions are:
- Vianden Castle: A large, restored medieval castle with stunning views.
- Victor Hugo Museum: Displays manuscripts and items from Hugo’s stay in Vianden in
Luxembourg. - Our River: Scenic spot for fishing, canoeing, and hiking.
- Vianden Chairlift: Offers panoramic views of the town and castle.
In Larochette, we highly recommend you go up the tower of the Château de Larochette, the views are absolutely spectacular. This medieval castle was built in the 11th and 12th centuries.
Brugges, Belgium
Bruges (Brugge in Dutch) is a picturesque medieval city in the northwest of Belgium. It’s often called the “Venice of the North” because of its charming canals and historic architecture.
Bruges is famous for its world-class chocolate, beer, lace-making, and stunning Christmas markets in winter.

Things to See & Do in Bruges
Markt Square – The heart of the city, surrounded by colorful historic buildings, cute restaurants and cafés. This square hosts a magical Christmas market every year. If you plan on visiting during this time, we have a whole blog post about it.
Belfry of Bruges – Climb the 366 steps for incredible panoramic views.
Basilica of the Holy Blood – A church that claims to house a relic of Christ’s blood.
Canal Boat Tours – A must-do to see the city. It is 2.5 hours long for around 34€ per person.
Choco-Story Museum – Learn about Belgium’s famous chocolate and enjoy some tastings.
De Halve Maan Brewery – Take a tour and try the famous Brugse Zot beer.
Minnewater Park – A beautiful, romantic spot also known as the “Lake of Love.”
We also highly recommend walking around in Bruges’ street where you’ll find lots of charming shops and patisseries like Merveilleux de Fred, famous for their delicious meringues and giant crystal chandelier in every shop all over Europe.
Brussels and Ghent aren’t far away from Bruges, you can take short train rides between each place. Watch our Christmas in Belgium video where we give you more details on that.
Alkmaar, The Netherlands
We think the northern areas of the Netherlands are generally underrated. People mostly talk about Amsterdam and places below it like The Hague, Rotterdam, Eindhoven etc. But recently we went on a trip to The Netherlands and we stayed in a stunning town called Alkmaar, 30 min train ride or a 45 min car ride from Amsterdam.
In the summer you can go on a glass boat to explore the canals.

Going to Amsterdam?
If you’re planning on going to Amsterdam, which you probably are, we highly recommend staying in a place like Alkmaar. The train ride to Amsterdam only costs (x) but if you have a car, parking in the city is really expensive (50 to 70 euros a day).
Amd when it comes to accommodation. We were able to stay in a beautiful charming little apartment right by the canals for the same price as something you’ll find in Amsterdam’s industrial area, which obviously isn’t as beautiful.
What to eat in Alkmaar
The food scene here is amazing there’s so many great restaurants that have a very good price point. Check out this short video where we give you our top tip to finding incredible restaurants in your price point.
What we really like is there’s a lot of typical Dutch cuisine restaurants, the vibe is good and the service is incredible, the people are so friendly.
We recommend you try Alkmaar’s cheese soup. We had it De Waag which is a restaurant we loved that I think we went to three times during or stay!
There was also another restaurant, called 1480 food bar, where we had amazing food (like braised ribs, a delicious bread bowl and good beer) and they’ve got these little glass cabins on the river bank where you can book a table and enjoy the views.
Definitely stop by all their cheese shops, there are many!
Montpellier, France
Let’s talk about Montpellier—a stunning city in the south of France, right on the Mediterranean coast. Unlike some of the bigger tourist hotspots in France, Montpellier has this relaxed, easy-going vibe, making it perfect for a getaway.
What to do in Montpellier
First up, take a stroll through Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle, a gorgeous park lined with trees, little cafés, and restaurants. If you’re here in the evening, the fairy lights make the whole place feel magical. It’s the perfect spot to grab a coffee or a glass of wine.
Speaking of, Montpellier has many amazing restaurants. We ate at Le Sheri’s and thought food was delicious, but there are many options to choose from. You can use our guide to find a good place or just walk through the streets and I’m sure you’ll find a place that looks good to you.
Then, head over to Place de la Comédie, the heart of the city. It’s a massive square surrounded by historic buildings, street performers, and plenty of restaurants and shops. You can’t visit Montpellier without passing through here at least once.
And of course, you can’t miss Montpellier Cathedral. This massive Gothic structure, originally built in the 14th century, is one of the most impressive landmarks in the city.
For some gorgeous views, head to Promenade du Peyrou. This park is home to the iconic Arc de Triomphe of Montpellier. It’s a great spot for a sunset walk.
If you’re travelling in the warmer months, Montpellier is super close to some gorgeous beaches. Some of the best ones nearby are Plage de l’Espiguette and Palavas-les-Flots.
Art scene in Montpellier
Musée Fabre is a must. This nearly 200-year-old museum is packed with incredible works, from Renaissance masterpieces dating back to the 1400s to contemporary art. Whether you’re into classic or modern pieces, you’ll find something that catches your eye.
If photography is more your thing, check out Pavillon Populaire. It’s a free exhibition space showcasing amazing photography displays that change throughout the year—definitely worth popping in and the building itself is beautiful.

Menton, France
We love Menton. Every time we’re doing a road trip in this area, we like to stop by. This coastal town is full of colorfull houses, restaurants by the beach front and incredible views from the top of the hill. It kind of looks like you’ve traveled to Italy actually.
A little bit of Menton’s history
Menton was once part of the Republic of Genoa and later Monaco, but due to high taxes on its famous lemons, it declared independence and briefly came under Sardinian protection. But it officially became part of France in 1861.
Tips for visiting Menton
We recommend parking at the top of the hill, enjoy the views and then walk all the way down to the water. The views on the way down? Truly chef’s kiss. You do have to walk all the way up again, but it’s honestly not that bad, I feel like it’s definitely worth it.
Day trips from Menton
Menton is also super close to Nice and Monaco, so if you’re doing a road trip, definitely try and drive to these places.
Nice is 45 minutes away by car and 35 minutes away by the TER train.
Monaco is 30 mins away by car and actually only 11 minutes by the TER train!
If you are relying on ride services, Bolt operates in this area. Bolt is a popular and affordable alternative to Uber in Europe.

Lake Garda, Italy
Lake Garda—just as stunning as Lake Como, but way less crowded. It’s got an amazing vibe without the influencer hype that’s made Como so famous (though Lake Garda is definitely gaining popularity!).
If you’re visiting, make sure to check out Peschiera del Garda (this is where we stayed) and Sirmione (about 10 km away)—both are gorgeous lakeside towns with plenty of restaurants and places to explore.
Take a day trip to Lake Como
Since you’re already here, a day trip to Lake Como (about 3h away by car) is totally worth it! We did this and absolutely loved visiting towns like Lecco and Lenno.
Take a day trip to Venice
And if you have time, Venice is just 1 hour 25 minutes away by car, making it an easy day trip. Just a heads-up—Venice now requires visitors to pay an access fee to help manage overcrowding, we’ve linked the website where you can check the latest rules before you go!
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Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux or The Port de la Lune (Port of the Moon) because of the shape of the Garonne River crossing the city, is a city in southwestern France.
Bordeaux wine
Its one of the world’s most famous wine regions. I mean I’m sure you’ve heard of Bordeaux wine before. Bordeaux is known for producing top-quality red wines, especially blends made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The city itself is stunning, with beautiful historic buildings, great food scene, and we just honestly love the vibe here.
It’s also home to the Cité du Vin, a museum dedicated to wine. You definitely need to have a glass of wine here, visit a winery or the museum.
What to eat in Bordeaux
Our favourite place to have lunch or dinner here is Le Michel’s. They have incredible food like a massive French onion soup covered in pastry dough. The prices are reasonable and the service is great.
For dessert, go to Aux Merveilleux de Fred, a famous, elegant pastry shop known for it’s delicious meringues and giant crystal chandelier.
Day trips from Bordeaux
- Saint Emilion (40 min drive from Bordeaux). Saint Emilion is a peaceful, gorgeous town to walk around in with a quaint French countryside vibe. We had delicious canelés here. Canelé is a small French pastry from Bordeaux, known for its caramelized, crispy crust and soft, custardy center. It’s made with a rum- and vanilla-infused batter, baked in a special fluted mold to create its signature shape. Traditionally enjoyed with coffee or wine.
- Arcachon (a seaside town about 1 hour away). Arcachon, a charming seaside town near Bordeaux, is best known for its oyster farming, beautiful beaches, and Belle Époque architecture. It’s a popular getaway for seafood lovers and those looking to enjoy the French Atlantic coast. The main attraction is the Dune du Pilat.
- Dune du Pilat. Europe’s largest sand dune called Dune du Pilat, which is over an hours drive away. Here you can climb to the top for breathtaking views of the ocean, forests, and the Bay of Arcachon. And it’s also really fun to run down the dunes!

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For useful budget travel hacks when travelling in Europe, don’t miss “EUROPE ON A BUDGET TRAVEL HACKS YOU NEED TO KNOW”.
Traveling during low season in Europe (January to March)? Check out our post “BEST WINTER DESTINATIONS IN EUROPE ON A BUDGET” where we share some of our favorite cold and warm European destinations during these months.
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