The Most Beautiful Small Towns in Europe

Too many travelers overlook small charming towns in Europe, the hidden gems, as I like to call them. When it comes to short trips in Europe to explore new cities, large, famous cities like Rome, Barcelona, and Paris often attract the spotlight. But between all the sights and selfie tourists, you'll find hundreds of sweet little places in Europe away from overtourism that are truly worth a city trip.

Despite often having a small population, these towns still offer great architecture and beautiful natural surroundings just like their well-known counterparts in the metropolises.

Here are the most beautiful small towns in Europe that are worth a visit!

The list of the most beautiful small towns in Europe is merely a compilation, without a qualitative ranking from the most beautiful to the nice small town. The list will be continually updated as we discover and visit new small town gems. You are welcome to share your tips with us at the end of the article. We always appreciate new travel destinations for inspiration.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, known for its well-preserved medieval old town, attracts millions of tourists each year with its colorful facades that seem made for Instagram, mostly from abroad. The ideal time to visit Rothenburg is in December when the city transforms into a winter wonderland with snow-covered roofs, shining shop fronts, and cozy pubs. And don't forget to visit the Reiterlesmarkt, one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the country.

Spring is also a great time to visit when the charming old town hasn't yet been flooded with tourists.

Population: 10,930

See my highlights in Rothenburg ob der Tauber here

It's no wonder that Lake Bled is one of Slovenia's most popular attractions. With its emerald green water, the island with a church in the middle of the lake, the view of the Julian Alps, and the 12th-century castle on a hill, you will not be lacking in picturesque views. The surrounding town of Bled is equally charming, with candlelit restaurants and traditional wooden rowboats just waiting for you to explore Lake Bled.

Population: 8,171

See all highlights in Slovenia here

As the third-largest city in Norway, Trondheim is not necessarily a small town, but it really feels small and compact. Highlights include a small colorful old town, Gamle Bybru, with many cafes, bars, and places to hang out. I liked it here so much that I stayed longer than planned. Along the Nidelva River, one colorful wooden house follows the next. Like a string of pearls, you'll find many photo opportunities here. You reach Gamle Bybru via the distinctive Bakka Bybro bridge, which somehow reminds me of Japan.

Another highlight is Nidaros Cathedral, the cathedral in Trondheim. The cathedral is one of the most important churches in Norway, as seven Norwegian kings were crowned here. Even from the outside, it is an impressive building. Unfortunately, the interior was not accessible to the public during my visit due to funerals. If you are in Trondheim, definitely check out the interior as well. I will do so too in the future.

For me, Trondheim is one of the most beautiful cities in Norway.

A surprise for me was the visit to Rouen. The many small alleys and nearly 2000 well-preserved colorful half-timbered houses amazed me. Additionally, the attractions Gros Horloge, the cathedral - Monet's favorite motif - and the surprising church of Jeanne d'Arc are also present. Of course, you should also pay a visit to the market and explore the little streets Rue des Chanoines, Rue Saint Nicolas, Rue Eau de Robec.

My insider tip for a small, cozy town in Normandy clearly goes to the capital, Rouen!

Read all tips with highlights for Rouen here

If you close your eyes and picture the perfect French village, it probably looks just like Eguisheim near the German border. This Alsatian town has it all: half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, medieval churches, and even a Christmas market in December. Be sure to visit the Chapelle Saint-Léon IX, a lovely chapel with painted vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows depicting the saints of Alsace.

Population: 1,734

The writer Henning Mankell made this port city famous: Ystad in Skåne. In Ystad and the surrounding area, you can visit many locations from the crime novels about Kurt Wallander. They all really exist. Stroll through the alleys of the old town with the colorful houses and visit the film studios, where you can see some props and sets. Small but fine!

Old town with around 300 beautifully preserved half-timbered houses from the 17th and 18th centuries

Landmark of Ystad: St. Mary's Church, Sankta Maria kyrka, parts of which date back to the 13th century

Monastery complex St. Petri (Gråbröderklostret), one of the best-preserved in Sweden

More inspiration can be found in the travel report of my trip to Southern Sweden

Wismar is the most beautiful city on the German Baltic Sea. That's what they told me before my trip along the coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

In summer, as I have been told, it gets very crowded here. Be sure to wake up early. But when we started our day, it was quite pleasant. Not too many people, and Wismar itself is very cozy to explore.

The historic old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site together with that of Stralsund. Because the two old towns, having uniquely preserved the heritage of the Hanseatic League, were both included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2002.

The Wismar old town includes the marketplace with the town hall, Water Art, and 'Old Swede.' As well as the churches of St. George, St. Mary, and St. Nicholas, and numerous gabled houses from the time of the Hanseatic League.

See all highlights with tips for your visit to Wismar here

Nestled on a cliff along the Meuse River in the Belgian region of Wallonia, the tiny town of Dinant looks like a scene from a Disney movie - complete with the skyline-defining Gothic cathedral and the 16th-century castle (complete with hedge maze). Fun fact: Dinant is also the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of - you probably guessed it - the saxophone.

Population: 13,544

The Faroe Islands lie between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic (and technically part of Denmark) and have enough puffins, mystical views, and grass-roofed houses to keep travelers happy for days (at least it was for us).

The capital Tórshavn is also the largest town in the archipelago and is located behind a busy harbor on the east coast of the island of Streymoy. Within the 66.8 square miles of the town, there are 18th-century churches, a handful of museums, a small old town, and rows of black-and-red painted houses.

Population: 13,083

See all highlights of our 1-week trip in the Faroe Islands

The village of Manarola is part of the famous Cinque Terre and is probably one of the most photographed spots along this Mediterranean coastline. Thanks to its colorful houses that seem to cling to the steep cliffs, Cinque Terre attracts more and more tourists every year. There is a complete ban on cars here!

All traffic in Manarola takes place exclusively on foot - so be sure to wear comfortable shoes! Be sure to try the local wine Sciacchetrà, which has been mentioned in ancient Roman texts.

See all tips for a road trip in Cinque Terre with all the sights here

The beauty of the Lofoten, just off the northwest coast of Norway, is truly unparalleled: the ideal mix of majestic fjords, winter beaches with many surfers, and fishing villages with their red rorbuer (fisherman cabins). Reine on the island of Moskenesøya is one such village located about 300 km southwest of Tromsø, just above the Arctic Circle. The yellow stilt houses of the village, surrounded by rugged mountains and icy waters, are as picturesque as it gets.

The hike to Reinebringen is mandatory. Because only from up here do you have the best view of Reine and the archipelago.

Population: 314

Everything you need to know in the Lofoten travel guide at a glance

The tiny town of Ísafjörður (Icelandic: Eisfjord) lies in the northwest of Iceland, ideal for a visit to the incredibly beautiful Westfjords peninsula (Vestfirðir). Ísafjörður is the economic and administrative center of the peninsula. With winter temperatures down to -20 degrees and summer temperatures rarely exceeding 10 degrees, this small town is quite the opposite of popular Italian vacation destinations - and therein lies the charm. Especially if you prefer holidaying in picturesque rugged landscapes and having many opportunities for activities.

We found the little place very idyllic. On our next trip, we will return here and explore Hornstrandir. The campsite is particularly well-situated by a beautiful waterfall.

Population: approx. 2,700

See all tips for your Iceland vacation here

A report on the Westfjords, where I recently traveled, will follow soon.

The charming, blooming village of Assos on Kefalonia is just one of many reasons to visit the Greek islands. This tiny village lies at the foot of a hill and is surrounded on three sides by the strikingly blue Mediterranean Sea. Spend some time at the village's pebble beach before recharging in one of the traditional restaurants at the marina with Greek food. Seriously, can vacation get any better?

I visited here many years ago and also went to the neighboring island of Ithaca. Definitely worth checking out. There are direct flights to Kefalonia once a week. Population: 88

Ronda, Spain

Castelluccio, Italy

Castle Combe, England

Praiano, Amalfi Coast Italy

Ribe, Denmark

Giethoorn, Netherlands

Mdina, Malta

Sighișoara, Romania

Portree, Scotland

Cobh, Ireland

Kastraki, Greece

Kotor, Montenegro

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