If you dream of picture-perfect towns paved with cobblestones, medieval castles on hills, and fresh food without all the toxins we get in America, Europe is likely to be at the top of your wishlist this summer.
As fairytale-like as all this may be, the nearly indiscernible mass of bodies crammed into Barcelona‘s Gothic Quarter, the hectic traffic going into downtown Milan, and the wallet-wiping prices in Paris can take some of that Old World magic away.
If you’re flying across the pond and you’re hoping to escape the chaos instead—and not break the bank while you’re at it—maybe it’s time to give the overtouristed hotspots a miss.
As chosen by our Travel Off Path experts, these 4 alternative European cities have fewer crowds and normal prices, and most importantly, they’re every bit as charming as the usual picks:
Provins, France
A small French town, a short one-hour train ride away from Paris, Provins is a historic gem best known for its half-timbered houses, centuries-old Caesar’s Tower, perched on a hill overlooking the countryside, and imposing medieval walls.
Other than being the perfect weekend getaway from Paris, thanks to its summer festivals and off-the-beaten-path appeal and limited crowds, Provins can be somewhat cheaper to visit than the French capital.
For instance, you can get a Provins Pass, including entry to all of the main landmarks, for only €17—don’t miss out on the underground tour of the town’s 15th-century galleries as it is included in the Pass!—and crepes at La Fleur de Sel, right on the main square, start from only €13.50.
Prizren, Kosovo
Kosovo is already a pretty underrated country to visit—and one we covered at length in this well-rounded article a couple of years back—but if you’re looking to get truly mind blown, make sure you head out of national capital Pristina to visit a charming Prizren.
Home to a storybook-cover historic center, where old stone bridges span a fast-flowing river, and soaring Ottoman-built minarets rise above storied townhouses, it is a side of Europe you don’t get to see very often (and one that most tourists aren’t even aware exists).
On the affordability front, there’s hardly another city on this list that can top Prizren: a full-plate grilled qebap (the Kosovar variation of kebab) costs as cheap as €4.50—and if you’re asking us, Ura e Gurit serve the best ones in town—and even Prizren Castle is completely free to enter.
Trieste, Italy
A large port city on the shores of the crystal-clear Adriatic, Trieste is one of Italy’s most unique cultural hotspots, both due to its geographical proximity to both Slovenia and Croatia, and strong Slavic influence, and its eclectic Old Town:
From Roman ruins, to palatial Austrian-Hungarian buildings lining elegant boulevards, picturesque canals, and even the usual pastel-colored buildings, you’ll find all of Europe’s best features here, and better even: none of the damning crowds of Rome or Florence.
Oh, and if Trieste’s canal-traversed center doesn’t steal your heart, its hearty jota, a sauerkraut-infused soup, and its bollito di carne surely will. On top of that, private rooms in guesthouses right in the city center start from only $82 per night.
Ohrid, North Macedonia
If you’re keen on beating the Mediterranean crowds, yet you’re still hoping for a waterside destination where you can both soak up Europe’s Old World allure, and go for that early-afternoon dip, Ohrid in North Macedonia is your ‘girl’:
An ancient queen straddling the turquoise-colored lake, it has as many Romanesque-Byzantine churches as it does white-washed houses. Its maze-like Old Town, paved with cobblestones and dimly lit by Ohrid-themed lamps, is your most idyllic dream packaged in holiday form.
We should probably mention that Lake Ohrid is lined with cozy ‘beach’ bars, where renting sun loungers will set you back a negligible €3.30–6.60 per day, 3-course meals for two people average a very reasonable €29, and finally, that world-class lake view villa costs a mere €49 per night to book.
Vinicius Costa
Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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