13 under the radar European cities picked by our travel experts to visit in 2026

Overtourism at some popular European destinations has become overwhelming, especially in summer. But you don't have to holiday with the crowds. Our travel team experts reveal 13 underrated towns and cities. 

Thanks to Which? Travel surveys and research, we have all the data and knowledge you need to pick your next trip to one of the UK's or Europe’s most popular holiday destinations. 

Every year, we ask thousands of holidaymakers to rate destinations to find the best European cities, Canary Island resorts and UK seaside towns. There are always surprises in those lists. Like Kefalonia being rated the best Greek Island. But what this doesn’t give us is the undiscovered places. The cities and towns tourists have yet to find and fall in love with. So we asked our team of travel experts. 

The Which? Travel team has nearly 100 years of combined experience, making many hundreds of visits all over Europe. Here they share the towns, places and cities in Europe that still get relatively few visitors.  

From fairytale Italian getaways to affordable Balkan spots with beaches rivalling the best of Croatia and Greece, to a Portuguese Unesco World Heritage City and to Kraków’s (even) cheaper alternative, read on to find inspiration for your next European holiday.

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Coimbra, Portugal

'Coimbra was the capital of Portugal, before King Afonso III moved it to Lisbon. The city is underrated by Brits, yet it makes one of the best cases for dragging yourself away from the Portuguese coast. It's a historic, cultural and academic hub, with a Unesco-listed university complete with gilded baroque library that's open to the public for visits and tours. There's also a winding old town that, unlike Lisbon and Porto, isn't bottlenecked with tourists in peak season — and you'll also find plenty of atmospheric tascas for truly Portuguese lunches and dinners. And, best of all, there's the pretty river Modego, for a splash of blue in this beguiling ancient city.'

Kate Pasola, senior writer

Frieburg im Breisgau, Germany

'Germany’s sunniest city sits pretty in the foothills of the Black Forest, with the river Dreisam running straight through it. The Hansel and Gretel medieval centre looks good enough to eat with its fairytale turrets, mosaics and colourful gabled houses. But you’ll barely hear a British voice as you gobble Lange Rote - a foot-long red sausage that’s Freiburgh’s culinary icon - in the Munstermarkt (cathedral market), or as you dip your toes in the Bachle - unusual miniature canals of clear water criss-crossing the cobbled streets. You can fly direct from the UK to Basel-Mulhouse-Frieburg airport.'

Guy Hobbs, principal researcher

Torun, Poland

'No one has heard of Torun outside Poland, which is exactly the reason you should go. Smaller and more intimate than Krakow, it has a medieval centre so well-preserved that the whole Old Town is Unesco-listed. The dozen streets and grand market square are host to cafés and restaurants where you can eat good pork knuckle, pierogi and other Polish classics. Visit the birthplace of Copernicus, the first astronomer to deduce that the Earth rotates around the sun and eat Pierniki at the world’s biggest gingerbread bakery (It’s been made here for 700 years). Or just take a cruise down the Vistula on the many pleasure boats. There are flights to Bydgoszcz from most UK airports, with Torun just an hour away.'

Rory Boland, editor

Tbilisi, Georgia

'East meets West in the exuberant capital of Georgia at the crossroads of the Silk Road. The result is a colourful cobblestone old town with a mix of medieval churches, Soviet=era buildings and wooden homes with ornate wooden balconies: many entwined with grapevines to shade them from the sun. Soak in one of its dome-shaped bath houses or enjoy the mountain views from the ancient Narikala fortress. The city is famous for its food and drink scene: from cheese-stuffed kachapuri bread to its celebrated orange wine. Georgia is one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world. New routes from Wizzair and easyJet have made it easier than ever to reach.'

Jo Rhodes, senior researcher/writer

Budva and Bar, Montenegro

'Head a little further down the coast from the frenzied crowds of Dubrovnik, and you’ll find Balkan serenity: turquoise waters and terracotta rooftops of the Budva Riviera in Montenegro. Budva is around 2,500 years old and has the architectural clout to prove it. Its city status is complicated — technically, it’s a municipality — but within it lies the stunning Stari Grad, a walled old town of cobbled lanes, sea views and Roman-era history. Beyond the walls, some 20 glorious beaches await for when midsummer temperatures climb above 30°C. 

Prices have crept up a little, but are still generally cheaper than equivalent stays in Croatia’s main cities. Eating out is budget-friendly too, drink local beers like Nikšićko and Pivo for around £2–3, and share generous portions of freshly caught fish and seafood at similarly reasonable prices. For wild beaches, fewer crowds and even lower prices, take a bus further down the coast to the laid-back town of Bar — the journey is an hour, and a ticket costs around £5-8.'

Kate Pasola, senior writer

Travelling to Europe and confused about new border checks? Read our guides to the new entry/exit system (EES) and Etias visa waiver.

Wroclaw, Poland  

"Poland's fourth-biggest city has everything Krakow does - except the overwhelming crowds. The cobbled Old Town is a love letter to Europe’s more beautiful architecture: elegant Renaissance townhouses, grand Gothic churches and touches of Baroque flair. Like Krakow, there is no need to explore this inside a museum or gallery; simply sit on one of Europe’s biggest medieval squares and soak it up from one of the hundreds of bars and cafes that use the cobbles as a terrace from May to October. Wroclaw comes with the same bargain prices as Krakow and none of the crowds.

Whether you are sitting on the banks of one of its 14 river islands, sipping a bison vodka at the hundreds of al fresco bars and restaurants or tucking into pierogi at an outdoor market, a day of eating and drinking won't set you back more than £20, and a five-star stay can be found for £100 in one of Europe’s last great undiscovered city breaks. There are direct flights from many UK regional airports.'

Rory Boland, editor

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Cartagena, Spain

'Until around 20 years ago, you could have considered Cartagena a kind of sunny, Spanish Plymouth. For centuries – ever since the Carthaginians arrived in its deep port – this corner of Spain was associated more with the navy than with tourism. That started to change after the discovery of the ruins of a magnificent Roman theatre. 

After opening the Roman Theatre Museum in 2008, it dug up every bit of Roman or Carthaginian history it could find and made museums, rather than military power, its big attraction. The real charm, though, is just a stopping for tapas and taking a stroll among the attractive Art Nouveau buildings of its walkable streets. The second city of Murcia,Cartagena also has access to nearby, unspoiled beaches in the protected, regional park of Calblanque.'

Trevor Baker, senior researcher / writer

Interested in more under the radar Spanish cities? Our travel experts have recommendations from the foot of the Pyrenees to Andalucia and the south. 

Ljubljana, Slovenia

'Compact and crammed full of pastel-painted Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings, Slovenia’s fairytale capital is a joy to walk around. The Ljubljanica river runs through its heart, criss-crossed with elaborate bridges - like the Triple Bridge, designed by influential Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik.

It’s also lined with cafés and bars to enjoy a drink under drooping willows. Slovenia turns out some excellent wines: try them (and inventive small plates) at TaBar, a former Yugoslavian bike factory turned restaurant.

The hilltop castle looms over it all, offering historical tours and unrivalled views of the Old Town. And if you still yearn for more, the city is the jumping off point for several spellbinding day trips, including Lake Bled, Postojna cave and Predjama castle - a cliffside Renaissance fortress built in the mouth of a cave.'

Lauren Bell, content editor / senior researcher

León, Spain

'León is often a rest stop for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago, a network of ancient routes across Europe. But this little-known city is a destination in its own right. Its showpiece is the ornate Gothic cathedral, known as the House of Light, thanks to its luminous stained glass windows. 

But the Royal Pantheon of San Isidoro is also not to be missed - a Romanesque burial site likened to the Sistine Chapel because of the spectacular 11th-century frescoes painted on its vaulted ceiling. You won’t go hungry either: tapas culture is alive and well in the Barrio Húmedo district of León’s colourful old quarter - where every drink comes with a free bite. The morcilla, blood sausage, and dry-cured beef known as cecina are local favourites. 

Book a memorable stay at the grand Parador de León - a former convent and hospital for pilgrims. The Spanish state-owned Paradores group was joint top in our survey of the best international hotel chains.'

Jo Rhodes, senior researcher / writer

Bolzano, Italy

'With its fairytale Alpine backdrop, signs in German, and cosy Austrian wood-panelled stube selling hearty dumpling soup, at first glance Bolzano feels about as Italian as schnitzel. But that's all part of its worldly charm. 

Sitting in a sunny, sheltered valley, the city is famed for its trilingual university, and its Ice Man museum, centred around Otzi - a 5,000-year-old mummy found frozen in the borderlands. Public transport is free if you stay in the city, giving you access to buses and cable cars leading straight from the city centre into the Dolomites with its jaw-dropping peaks and mirror-clear lakes.'

Guy Hobbs, principal researcher

Evora, Portugal

'Beloved by the Portuguese yet often overlooked by Brits in favour of Lisbon, Porto or the Algarve, Évora — the pastoral capital of Portugal’s Alentejo region — will win your heart from day one. With its romantic olive groves, sun-drenched vineyards and staggering medieval architecture, this Unesco-listed city offers a new insight into Portugal beyond yellow trams and pasteis de nata. 

That said, if you do find yourself craving Lisbon, you’re only an hour and a half’s drive away...”

Kate Pasola, senior writer

Murcia, Spain

'Less than an hour from the hustle and bustle of Alicante Airport, you’ll find this little-visited city where many locals won’t speak any English. Once you’ve driven past a selection of the area’s boundless citrus groves, your shoulders will drop as soon as you enter the old town’s laid-back atmosphere. The city is steeped in 1,200 years of history with stunning Baroque architecture and sunny plazas. Though you’re an hour inland, you can have a taste of the sea with Mucia’s traditional Marinera tapa - a crispy breadstick topped with a fresh tuna salad.'

Amy Axworthy, senior researcher / writer

Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland    

'This pretty town on the river Shannon is a popular destination for Irish tourists, but little known to an international audience. What draws them is a spectacular location on the doorstep of Ireland's lough country. 

After a 20-minute lesson on the water, there are beginner boats in the town marina that let you explore the Shannon-Erne waterway, a 63-kilometre route that lets you float past and stop off at boglands, ancient castles and traditional villages. 

Carrick itself is Ireland's smallest county town, with just 4,000 residents, so it's friendly and welcoming, but packed with cultural events and celebrations. And when it's not, just sit yourself at one of the two dozen pubs on the single-lane high street for a friendly conversation, good food and usually some traditional Irish music too.'

Rory Boland, editor