city trips
It doesn’t always have to be Rome: The 5 most underrated cities in Europe
Beauty by the sea: Trieste in northern Italy
© mattiatumoloph / Adobe Stock
City trip without crowds? Here are 5 amazing cities in Europe that are sure to inspire and excite you.
It may well be that Paris, Rome or London are unbelievably enriching metropolises. But our small continent of Europe also offers cities that are not as famous, but still extremely exciting (and relaxing too). We introduce you to 5 of them.
1) Trondheim, Norway © Blickfang / Adobe Stock
In the Middle Ages, Trondheim was one of the most important pilgrimage cities in Europe. Here you can visit the beautiful Nidaros Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace or the open-air museum Sverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum. Are you fed up with the city? No problem, nature is also very easy to get to from Trondheim: You can take a boat or kayak through the Trondheimfjord or cycle into the countryside. And in winter, if you’re lucky, you might even see the Northern Lights!
2) Trogir, Croatia © Travel Faery / Adobe Stock
Only half an hour away from its famous sister Split, Trogir is situated on a tiny island. The well-preserved old town has World Heritage status: the charming labyrinth of streets, the magnificent buildings from the heyday between the 13th and 15th centuries, the Venetian fortress, lively markets … it is very easy to bear it here. In the center of the old town island, which is connected to the mainland by a stone bridge, there are cafés on the beautiful main square Trg Ivana Pavla II and good seafood restaurants on the promenade.
3) Thessaloniki, Greece © bortnikau / Adobe Stock
With Athens as its main attraction, Greece’s second largest city tends to be overlooked. Thessaloniki is quite beautiful and the food scene is first class – it is not without reason that UNESCO declared the multicultural port city the “City of Gastronomy” in 2021. But Thessaloniki is also an open-air museum of early Christian and Byzantine art. For the city walls, the churches, the monasteries and the Byzantine baths, it was awarded the title of World Heritage Site in 1988. At the same time, the many students make Thessaloniki a creative, dynamic place where a lot is happening.
4) Trieste, Italy Beauty by the sea: Trieste in northern Italy © mattiatumoloph / Adobe Stock
Trieste sometimes gets lost in the many dream cities that Italy has to offer. But because of this, the beautiful city by the sea is still very authentic. And you can easily switch from the historical center to the sea – or enjoy the sea view directly from the charming main square, Piazza Unità d’Italia. Historical buildings also await interested vacationers in the immediate vicinity of the city – the Castello di Duino high above the Adriatic Sea, the Miramare Castle on a cliff (photo) or the Muggia Castle. Just two hours from Venice, Trieste is also a convenient base for visiting the often overcrowded lagoon city.
5) Dijon, France © Jeremie Lorand / Adobe Stock
That’s where the famous mustard comes from, isn’t it? Yes, yes, but above all, Dijon is a little revelation for those who like to explore a city on foot. The bright, manageable capital of Burgundy has one of the most beautiful car-free old towns in France and preserves the architectural heritage of the Dukes of Burgundy. The light old alleyways in the old town are perfect for strolling and the day can be wonderfully ended on the magnificent, semi-circular Place de la Liberation with a Crémant or Burgundy wine with a view of the Palace of the Dukes. Of course, you can also eat well here, for example around the Belle Epoque market hall, designed by the city’s most famous son, Gustave Eiffel.