Europe is the perfect place for an incredible vacation since it has so many diverse countries that are so close together. While most people choose popular destinations like Paris, London, or Barcelona for their next holiday, I want to introduce you to my three favorite underrated European destinations. While they are lesser-known destinations they are definitely worth visiting. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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1. Romania
Why Romania?
Romania is a hidden gem in Eastern Europe that you need to add to your travel bucket list. It has some of the best preserved medieval architecture in picturesque towns full of cobblestone streets, beautiful castles, a rich history, rugged mountains, lively cafes, and delicious local cuisine.
It is not such a crowded destination so it has the added bonus of far fewer people than other destinations. You can have authentic experiences and enjoy Romania’s natural beauty and off-the-beaten path attractions without the crowds.
It is one of the best places to visit if you like a mix of visiting famous landmarks and unique experiences in the great outdoors. Pro tip: take a road trip to fully enjoy the scenic beauty of Romania.
What to visit in Romania
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital city and the largest city of Romania. This is where you’ll most likely fly into. My recommendation as a native Romanian is to only spend a couple of days here.
The Palace of Parliament was built during the communist era at the orders of Nicolae Ceausescu. It is one of the main attractions in Bucharest. It is the heaviest building in the world, weighing about 4,098,500 tons (9.04 billion pounds), and is the third largest administrative building in the world.
Carturesti Carusel is a spectacular bookshop located in the heart of Bucharest. It is the most impressive bookstore in Romania and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful ones in the world.
Bucharest’s nickname is Little Paris. That’s because it had gorgeous architecture that resembled the one in Paris.
Of course, communism happened, and the grey, depressive buildings started to appear and to reduce the esthetic beauty of the city. But the Old Town still preserves the beauty of pre-communism Bucharest.
You can find a lot of cafes and restaurants in this area of the city center where you can enjoy a traditional Romanian lunch or dinner. You can dine outside if you visit during the summer months.
There are lots of parks in Bucharest, but Cismigiu is my favorite one. I used to spend a lot of time here in high school when I was in Bucharest preparing for the International Chemistry Olympiad. It is a park that’s in the heart of the city, next to the University of Bucharest.
Therme Bucharest is Europe’s largest wellness center. It has multiple thermal water pools, mineral water pools, saunas, water slides, infrared light beds, and even a botanical garden with 800,000 species of plants.
Brasov
The medieval charm of Transylvania is guaranteed to make you fall in love with Romania. There are so many well-preserved medieval towns, castles, and fortresses in this area. One of them is Brasov.
While in Brasov you should check out the Council Square, the Black Church, Rope Street, and hike to the Brasov sign.
Make sure you also take a day trip to Dracula’s Castle and Peles Castle. On the way you will be able to admire some breathtaking landscapes.
You can also go on a bear watching tour while in Brasov since Romania has one of the largest Brown Bear populations in Europe.
Sighisoara
Sighisoara is one of the most underrated cities in the world in my opinion. It is a well-preserved medieval town that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sighisoara is also the birthplace of Vlad Tepes (Dracula) and you can visit the house where he was born.
It rivals more well-known medieval towns in Western Europe. You should definitely visit it.
Turda Salt Mine
Salina Turda is a salt mine in Transylvania, near Cluj. It is one of the most spectacular destinations in the world. It’s an underground formation that people created by digging into the salt deposited after the evaporation of the sea that covered the entire region millions of years ago.
In 2008 the salt mine was modernized and it now includes a whole world 120 meters underground. It offers incredible attractions: a Ferris Wheel, bowling, rowing a boat on the Salt Lake, ping pong, golf, tennis. It is one of the most impressive salt mines in the world.
Immerse yourself in the local culture
If you like to learn about the culture of the places you visit, you can also immerse yourself in our rich cultural heritage and go to a cooking workshop in a village, visit a sheepfold and sample some cheese, or visit a gypsy community.
Transfagarasan Highway
Transfagarasan is the most beautiful road in Romania and one of the most impressive roads in the world. It is a road that goes through the Carpathian Mountains, so the scenery is unmatched. Driving on this road should be a bucket list item.
Danube Delta
The Danube Delta is such an underrated attraction in Europe. The delta occurs where the Danube River meets the Black Sea in Romania.
The Danube Delta has one of the most unique floras and faunas in Europe, with numerous rare species. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the Letea Forest in the delta you can find wild horses. This is one of the most unique things in Europe and the world. The entire Danube Delta is a paradise for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts.
Join my Romania group trip
I hope I convinced you to visit Romania before it gets more popular and the crowds start flocking in.
However, if you don’t want to travel solo to Romania or if you don’t want to plan your own trip, then you can join my group trip August 30-September 6. This is a group trip for solo travelers in their mid-20’s – early 40’s.
I am incredibly excited to show you my country! I personally created the itinerary so you can explore the best parts of Romania. We will visit Bucharest, Brasov, Sighisoara, Salina Turda, go on a bear watching tour, hike in the Carpathian Mountains, visit a gypsy community, do a cooking workshop in a village, visit a sheepfold, and more.
The trip costs 1,590 euros. The first 5 people who book can get 100 euros off by using discount code SOLOINSTYLE. Only a 300 deposit is due at booking and the final payment will be made on June 25.
This is an epic trip and I hope you can join me.
2. Gdansk, Poland
Why Gdansk?
I think Gdansk is one of the most underrated European cities. It is a great city that has a charming old town with buildings with colorful facades, a beautiful riverfront, narrow streets, and plenty of milk bars and restaurants that serve good food.
Gdansk’s historic Old Town incredibly beautiful. It’s a combination of Amsterdam and Tallinn. The historic buildings remind me of the town houses of Amsterdam. The only thing that’s missing here are the canals.
Gdansk is definitely a hidden gem in Europe. I think it will get more popular in time because it rivals other cities in Europe that have a medieval old town.
It is the perfect day trip destination from Warsaw.
What to visit in Gdansk
Explore the Old Town
The Old Town of Gdansk starts at the Golden Gate and ends at the Green Gate. Once you pass the Green Gate you’ll get to the waterfront. You can explore the city’s center yourself or you can opt for a guided tour.
Visit Main Town Hall, Neptune Fountain, and Artus Court
The Main Town Hall is one of the most impressive buildings in the Old Town. It was built in the Gothic-Renaissance style and it is located near Artus Hall and Neptune’s Fountain in the heart of Gdansk.
Artus Court, the building behind the Neptune Fountain, used to be the meeting place of merchants and the center of social life in Gdansk. Today it is a branch of the Gdansk History Museum.
Neptune’s Fountain is one of the landmarks of the city. It was built in the 17th century in the mannerist-rococo style. The fountain was damaged during World War II, but it was renovated after the war multiple times to the version you can see today on display in the heart of the Old Town.
Admire St. Mary’s Church
This church is a brick church built in the Gothic style in central Gdansk. It was built between the 14th century and 16th century. It is the largest building in Gdansk and one of the largest brick churches in the world.
Check out the Amber Museum
All the Baltic Coast countries are well known for their amber products. There are large deposits of amber in the Baltic Sea, so all these countries produce amber jewelry and a variety of other objects. When I visited Tallinn there were Baltic amber shops everywhere in the Old Town. It’s the same in Gdansk.
Shop on Mariacka Street
You can find a lot of these amber shops on Mariacka Street or Ulica Mariacka. This is a small street parallel to Długi Targ that’s very cute. It is well-known for its souvenir shops that sell amber products, so if you want to buy an amber souvenir make sure to check it out.
Stop by The Crane
As you’re walking by the riverfront make sure to stop by the the Crane. This building is a symbol of Gdansk and it is now one of the branches of the National Maritime Museum.
3. Andorra la Vella, Andorra
Why Andorra la Vella?
Andorra is the 6th smallest country in Europe. It’s one of the European microstates along with Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Even though it’s a small country it has an impressive old town, breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, duty-free shops, and world-class ski resorts.
I visited the capital city of Andorra la Vella on a day trip from Barcelona. You’ll be surrounded by the magnificent Pyrenees Mountains everywhere you go in this small town.
The gorgeous views of the peaks and trees made me feel like I was in a movie. It’s so beautiful despite being one of the smallest countries in the world!
What to visit in Andorra la Vella
Barri Antic
Barri Antic is the old town of Andorra. It’s made up of small cobblestone streets and squares that have a lot of charm. I loved how they decorated some of the streets with these lights that looked like giant light bulbs.
La Casa de la Vall
Casa de la Vall is a historic house that was built in 1580. It was originally built as a manor and tower defense and later on it was used as the headquarters of the General Council of Andorra.
Església de Sant Esteve
The Church of Sant Esteve is the main church in the capital city. It was built in the 12th century and restored in the 20th century. If you like visiting the historic churches of Europe then make sure you stop by this one.
La Noblesse du Temps
La Noblesse du Temps is a surrealist bronze sculpture created by the famous artist Salvador Dalí around 1980. It features a melting clock and angels. It’s located outdoors and it’s free for the public to visit it.
Pont de Paris
Pont de Paris is a well-known bridge over the Valira River in the capital city. That’s because the words Andorra la Vella are written on it. It is located behind the Noblesse du Temps sculpture, in a very picturesque area of the city.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.