We’re not discrediting the beauty of the Eiffel Tower at night or the grandeur of Buckingham Palace. There’s a reason monuments throughout Paris, London, or Rome are often packed with tourists. But there are alternatives to elbowing your way through the Louvre or the Colosseum. These seven less-crowded European destinations are equally compelling and offer beautiful scenery, cultural sites aplenty, and a bit more breathing room.
If you like Berlin . . .
If you like waterfront walks, you’re in luck—Leipzig boasts more bridges than Venice.
Photo by Jakob Fischer/Shutterstock
Visit Leipzig, Germany
A breeding ground for young artists, Leipzig, with its warehouse parties and Soviet towers, is like Berlin two decades ago. Plus, it’s only an hour’s ride from the capital.
What to do: Don’t miss Spinnerei, a 25-acre former mill turned studio compound for around 100 artists. Wander through provocative photography exhibits at Halle 14 and shop for elegant coral-like sculptures at Claudia Biehne’s studio and shop.
Where to stay: Pentahotel has an ample breakfast spread and is 10 minutes’ walk from the train station.
If you like Barcelona . . .
Málaga is located on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol. The Andalucian city is known for its architectural sites, scenic beaches, and excellent cuisine.
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Visit Málaga, Spain
Sunny days by the sea, tapas binges, attractive heritage architecture—this is everything we love about Barcelona without the tourist swarms.
What to do: This port city has been occupied by more than five different civilizations during its 2,800 years. Admire the ruins of Phoenician lighthouses and Roman theaters before a cold beer at El Rincón del Cervecero, which has eight local brews on tap and nearly 400 bottles and cans from Spanish and global brewers.
Where to stay: The Hotel Vincci Selección Posada del Patio is built on top of the ruins of Moorish walls.
If you like Copenhagen . . .
The European Union named Aarhus a Cultural Capital of Europe for 2017.
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Visit Aarhus, Denmark
Like Copenhagen, Denmark’s second-largest city is home to eye-grabbing modern design and a thriving New Nordic food scene.
What to do: Aarhus is full of forward-thinking minds. Challenge your palate with scallop on smoked trout at the two-Michelin-star French-influenced Frederikshøj and admire the spiky Iceberg apartment complex. Get around using the city’s light-rail, or do as the Danish do and hop on two wheels with the city’s bike-share system.
Where to stay: You enter Hotel Oasia via a cobblestone street, but inside are raw plank floors and modern decor furniture, including Hästens beds.
If you like Zurich . . .
Bern is the capital city of Switzerland.
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Visit Bern, Switzerland
Bern has the same sophisticated vibe, Old World architecture, and green spaces as Zurich—with one-third of the population.
What to do: It’s all about the good life here. Hike up to Rosengarten, a park with 200 types of roses and sweeping views of the old city. Visit the Zentrum Paul Klee, a museum dedicated to Paul Klee, to see works by the Swiss German artist inspired by 20th-century movements like cubism and surrealism.
Where to stay: The 126 rooms at the Bellevue Palace are favorites of visiting dignitaries. Soak in a view of either the Aare River or the majestic Alps.
Related: The Best Way to See Switzerland? Jump Into a River
If you like Rome . . .
The college city of Parma is in Italy’s Emilia–Romagna region.
Photo by Eddy Galeotti/Shutterstock
Visit Parma, Italy
Rome’s Jubilee year is 2025, and the capital is guaranteed to be more packed than ever. Instead, head north to this university city named by UNESCO as the world’s first Creative City of Gastronomy, thanks to Parma’s status as the birthplace of Parma ham and Parmesan cheese. Its architecture is worth exploring, too. The Parma Cathedral and its baptistry are considered two of the country’s most important medieval monuments for their inclusion of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
What to do: Enjoy langoustines and shrimp beignets at F.I.S.H. Sample salami at the Corte di Parma market. Drink your fill of the local lambrusco. And top it all off with the creamy fior di latte gelato from Gioelia Cremeria.
Where to stay: Hotel Daniel is a homey, relatively simple hotel with one of the top restaurants in town: Cocchi, a shrine to cured meats.
If you like Paris . . .
The Église Saint-Georges may look ancient, but the Gothic revival building only dates to 1848.
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Visit Lyon, France
Paris has the Seine, Lyon has the Rhône and Saône. Like Paris, many of Lyon’s streets have handsome, Haussmann-style buildings. Its old city, Vieux-Lyon, has narrow Renaissance-era streets in which you’ll find traboules, hidden passageways that cut through apartment buildings and lead from one street to the next.
What to do: The winters are cold and often gray here, so warm up in museums such as the Museum of Printing and Graphic Communication or the Cinema and Miniature Museum, whose Renaissance-style building is full of exhibitions of props and memorabilia from blockbuster films. For a sweeping view of the city, head up to Fourvière on foot or by funicular.
Where to stay: Lyon’s grand dame is the InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu. The neoclassical building looks more like a palace than the hospital it once was (Lyon’s first).
If you like London . . .
Manchester is a city of firsts: the first women’s vote in the U.K., the first professional soccer league, the first Rolls-Royce, the first passenger railway; it’s also where Oasis (and countless other bands) played their first gig.
Photo by Wambam Photography
Visit Manchester, England
With plenty of libraries, a thriving music scene, and museums to explore, Manchester offers a big city arts and culture scene just a 2.5-hour train ride north of London. Once a capital of manufacturing cotton textiles, Manchester is now a creative hot spot and was one of Afar’s best places to go in 2024.
What to do: Arts organization Factory International opened Aviva Studios at Factory International at the end of 2023 and is the permanent home of theater shows and exhibitions. Some of its 2025 commissions include an Afrofuturist photo-choreography-theater performance by Benji Reid (May) and Manchester International Festival events (July).
Where to stay: The Reach at Piccadilly, which overlooks the Rochdale Canal, opened last summer.
This article was originally published in 2016 and most recently updated on March 17, 2025, with current information. Sophie Friedman contributed to the reporting of this article.
