10 Underrated European Destinations to Visit in 2023

Most travellers want to cross off the Eiffel Tower or the Berlin Wall on a bucket list trip to Europe. But there are so many gorgeous destinations still relatively undiscovered, away from the crowds and full of authenticity. Below are a few of our favourites.

Head to Bern for its preserved medieval Old Town and the world’s first Lindt chocolate factory. Stay for the surprising small-town charm that’s so easy to fall in love with. Known as Switzerland’s beer capital, Bern boasts a 6-km stretch of arcaded walkways lined with shops, breweries, and parks filled with flower-covered water fountains. The stunning beauty is all tied together by an old-world atmosphere that makes you question if it really is Switzerland's capital city. 

Following an unhurried tempo alongside the locals (who clock the slowest average walking speed in the world according to Welcome Bern), there really is no better place in the world to slow down and take in the sights. In the summer you can stroll along the banks of the River Aare and enjoy live music while sampling local treats at pop-up bars and food trucks. The Zytglogge clock tower is Bern's oldest and most recognizable monument, a UNESCO-listed landmark with its 15th c. astronomical clock that enthralls travellers every hour with a performance.

We recommend following your nose through Bern’s rich chocolate history—Toblerone is still entirely produced here, but its reputation as the birthplace of modern chocolate started in 1879 when Rudolf Lindt left a mixer running, resulting in the creamy chocolate we love today. Experience Bern's old-world charm on our Switzerland E-Biking trip.

Walking through Lithuania’s capital city is like stepping into a Baroque fairytale. Every step paves the way to elaborate churches, castles, colourful shops and restaurants. The Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in all of Europe, a UNESCO site since the 90s now lined with cute cafes and amber jewelry shops.

On top of being the largest Baroque city in Northern Europe, Vilnius is also known for its expansive green spaces and incredible network of bike paths—almost 50% of the city is blanketed in parks and forests where local chefs often visit to forage ingredients. The food scene ranges from farm-to-table, local and seasonal to traditional Lithuanian dishes with Nordic or Jewish-inspired elements, always accompanied by local craft cider or beer.

Just 30 minutes from town is Trakai Island Castle, a stunningly beautiful Gothic water castle connected to the mainland by a moat, considered a masterpiece of medieval architecture. Visit Vilnius and Trakai on our Lithuania to Latvia Multi-Active trip.

Just a short boat ride from Naples, Ischia has been a secret home of Italian wellness for centuries. While most travellers cruise the Amalfi Coast to glitzy Capri, you'll find the locals prefer Ischia to get an authentic dose of Italian living while still being immersed in the unbelievably beautiful scenery.

Spend your days hiking the stunning coastline, gazing at views of Capri and Procida in the distance. Perfectly manicured gardens and whitewashed villages are the dominant sights, while the island's bounty of natural springs, thermal spas and farm-to-table restaurants make for a rejuvenating day's end.

The jewel in Ischia's crown is the enchanting Mezzatorre Hotel, housed in a stylish 16th c. watchtower and nestled on a private bay overlooking the Gulf of Naples. Here you can enjoy the Turkish baths and natural thermal pools at the spa; you can even swim in the Med directly from a staircase leading down from the pool. It's the perfect place to indulge in Ischia's famed reputation as a relaxation haven dating from the Roman Empire, and we settle into the Mezzatorre for three nights on our Capri to Ischia Walking trip.

Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is a fascinating blend of old meets new. Because of its location between Europe and Asia and its proximity to the Silk Road, a crossroad of culture and global powers has left its mark throughout the centuries—but a new wave is transforming Tbilisi’s relatively undiscovered landscape.

Trendy hotels and restaurants are opening up beside old Art Nouveau and Stalinist buildings. You can ride a cable car over a former Persian citadel in the morning, explore the ultra-modern glass Peace Bridge in the afternoon and hop from one hip wine bar to the next as the sun sets over the Caucasus Mountains. The city is the perfect size for exploring on foot, and the culinary scene is fuelled by chefs sprinkling their creative touches on classic Georgian recipes.

Experience Tbilisi on our Georgia Wine Country Walking trip.

When most travellers think of a trip to Portugal, they'll head straight to Lisbon or Porto. And while these cities are worth a visit for the culture and incredible scenery, we love Évora for its layered history. 

Évora is the culinary heartbeat of Alentejo and a place that moves slower than other cities of the same size. It's UNESCO-listed due to its profusion of historical architecture and neolithic sites, including Roman ruins dating back to 1000 B.C., Renaissance castles and astonishing sites like the Chapel of Bones (with interior walls encrusted with human bones and skulls). This plays a testament to the city's spiritually rich reputation. It was once a place that performed witch trials and the only place in Portugal where one prosecution was actually carried out.  

Not far, a pre-Stonehenge monument adds to the sense that time moves slower, beckoning to different ages throughout the centuries wherever you step. But not all feels old in Évora. Modern life abounds, with businesspeople and families living and working amongst the historical monuments. The music conservatory also attracts jazz and classical music students from around the country. Students are inspired by Alentejo's local music genre: Cante Alentejano, a style of vocal music carried out with no instruments traditionally sung in large groups and bound to make the heart flutter. 

Évora is set to be one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2027, making now the best time to experience this incredible destination. Visit Évora and the Chapel of Bones on our Portugal Biking trip.

This romantic corner of France has it all. Candy-coloured villages, an incredible network of well-polished bike routes, a rich wine culture and cuisine you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Alsace passed between French and German powers several times since the 17th c., resulting in a unique blend of cultures seen through the Alsatian dialect, the steep-roofed Germanic architecture and culinary specialties such as gingerbread and tarte flambée.

The region is popular among locals looking for a weekend getaway thanks to its location off the trodden French tourist route. This means you’ll feel a little more like a local while you cycle the Route des Vins or go tasting with winemakers.

Join an Alsace E-Biking departure to get immersed in this underrated European destination.

Vis is a small but enchanting Croatian island nestled off the Dalmatian Coast, encompassing all the beauty of Hvar without the busy crowds. Once an army base for Yugoslavia, the island was rendered off-limits for years before opening to travellers in 1989. This isolation resulted in untouched natural landscapes and access to local, organic produce as a way of life.

Hop on a ferry from Split and cruise the turquoise Adriatic to dock on the island, where you’ll be welcomed with vineyards and olive groves, a bounty of mom-and-pop seafood restaurants and virtually no tourists outside of the locals looking for a domestic escape. Major drawcards of this serene oasis include the bustling coastal town of Komiza and the towering Hum hill—the highest and most magical mountain peak on the island offering specular hiking routes.

Visit Vis as you cruise from one sun-drenched island to the next on our Dalmatian Coast Active trip.

Vlad the Impaler once roamed the streets of Sighisoara. He was a former ruler of Wallachia who was known for impaling his foes and, naturally, an inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But there are so many treasures that await in Sighisoara beyond its bloodthirsty history. 

The candy-coloured town circles a hill surrounding ​​the only inhabited medieval fortress in all of Europe. A UNESCO site since 1999, the old town’s unique architecture combines elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque, with the jewel in its crown being the 14th c. Clock Tower that’s visible from every corner of Mures County. Sighisoara makes a great base from which to explore the Saxon villages of Viscri and Biertan, where you can visit a fortified church that was once used as a prison for couples who wanted to divorce.

Discover what awaits in Sighisoara and the Transylvanian Alps on our Romania Biking trip.

When you think of a typical Greek escape, whitewashed towns and beaches on the Cyclades most likely come to mind—but up north is where the real Greece reveals itself, and Metsovo is a place entirely of its own. This charming mountain village is a year-round destination brimming with stone and wood houses, wonderful tavernas and museums, and incredible hiking trails with fewer crowds.

Metsovo is the perfect gateway to explore the jaw-dropping Meteora monasteries, a UNESCO site soaring over 1,000 feet high on rocky megaliths (it’ll be hard to imagine going back to a crowded Santorini beach!). Don’t leave without sampling the region’s famous Metsovone cheese, awarded the coveted Product of Designated Origin in 1996.

Bike or hike your way through Metsovo and Meteora on our trips to Northern Greece.

Charming Ålesund is a great starting point to make your way to Norway's famous Geirangerfjord. The town’s most iconic feature is the colourful art nouveau architecture—the result of a devastating fire that took place in 1904, destroying the wooden buildings characteristic to the times.

Today Ålesund is a cultural centre of the region, home to a variety of museums that showcase Norwegian coastal culture and way of life. The town is best explored on foot (or kayak!), with impressive panoramas of the fjords and the Sunnmøre Alps no matter where you turn.

Experience Ålesund's coastal charm on our Norway Biking trip.