If you’re not locking down your 2024 travel plans now, what are you waiting for?
Instead of taking a magnifying glass to the map in hopes of finding the gems outside of the EU’s biggest cities, here’s a little destination inspiration.
These lesser-known European cities beg you to spend your PTO immersed in the cuisine, culture, and communities that make these cities shine.
From the siblings of some of the largest cities in Europe to smaller sites outside of the EU’s biggest metro areas, we've picked the most underrated cities you’ve got to visit in 2024.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Peter Zelei Images. Image Location: Old Town, Brno, Czech Republic
Brno, Czech Republic
Nearest station: Brno hl.n
Seeing as it's halfway between Vienna and Prague, you’ll be forgiven for having skipped Brno before. Make 2024 the year you spend time in a must-see city in Europe without throngs of tourists. Brno has its own castles, an ossuary buried beneath a church, and a youthful scene where bars, bunkers, and sculptures both silly and serious are hidden among its streets.
Tartu, Estonia
Nearest station: Tartu
Designated one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2024, Tartu will show you why Estonia is quickly becoming the next go-to European destination. This is one of the biggest cities in Estonia and has a big brain to go with it. Considered Estonia’s intellectual capital, Tartu is the home of the AHHAA Science Center, an out-of-this-world venue for kids and adults alike. For the history buffs out there, the ruins of Tartu Cathedral and KGB Cells Museum will scratch that history itch.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Saving Memories, One pic at a time. Image Location: Wallace Monument, Stirling, Scotland, UK
Stirling, Scotland
Nearest station: Stirling
If Glasgow plays second fiddle to Edinburgh, then Stirling often plays fourth or fifth bagpipe to other Scottish cities—but not necessarily for good reason. The city offers something for everyone and is less than an hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Instead of merely passing through on the way to the Highlands and quoting Braveheart, stay awhile. The castle, Wallace Monument, and Holy Rude cemetery are worth the visit, but let’s not forget that Stirling also has a golf course with fantastic views from the tee boxes, a whiskey distillery with a weekly gin school, and a number of trails to follow that rival the Highlands’ routes.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Antonio Duarte. Image Location: Aveiro, Portugal
Aveiro, Portugal
Nearest station: Estação de Aveiro
Milan will walk the runway and Paris will always turn a head, but some of the most beautiful cities in Europe are those hiding in plain sight just around the corner from the largest cities in Europe.
Aveiro is known as the “Venice of Portugal”, except that this canal-filled city isn’t sinking under the weight of mass tourism. The houses along the waterways are scribbled in every color from the crayon box, giving you vibrant backdrops for endless selfies. And as one should expect when dining on Portugal’s seaside, the food here is fantastic.
San Marino, San Marino
Nearest station: Rimini
You may be seeing double with the name but you’ll be seeing triple towers when you visit the eponymous capital city of the micronation San Marino. It's well worth the short trip from Rimini, just across the border in Italy. A day is plenty of time to explore the historic old town’s 11th-century fortress and explore some odd museums dedicated to ancient weaponry, vampires and werewolves, creepy wax figures, and other curiosities.
Image Credit: Getty Images, traumlichtfabrik. Image Location: Guaita Tower, San Marino
Other must-see sights in Europe for 2024
You’re always one Google search away for hundreds of must-see sights in Europe, but there are a few that are required viewing for every traveler.
Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany
Nearest station: Berlin Hbf.
The cliché “a convergence of old and new” is always pinned to Berlin and if you’ve never seen the Berlin Wall in person, now is the time to see why this city is far from a cliché. 2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the Wall’s fall, though obviously sections of it remain. We challenge you to not only view the Wall through the prism of post-WWII history, but to also look around at this ever-evolving city and appreciate that Berlin’s cool culture is tied to the Wall, both because of and despite its presence.
Roman Baths, Bath, England
Nearest station: Bath Spa
A trip to the UK tends to focus so much on British history that it’s no surprise tourists often unknowingly skip all of the Roman history here. Yes, those very same Romans from Italy made it all the way up to merry old England and did what any self-respecting continent-crossing traveler would do: take a long soak in a bath. The Roman Baths in Bath are one of the must-see sights in Europe for any history buff, spa lover, or just someone who has already crossed London off of their travel itinerary.
Related: the best day trips from London by train
Image Credit: Getty Images, olliemtdog. Image Location: Bath, England, UK
New European museum openings in 2024
Museum hopping never gets old, especially when new and renovated facilities are set to open in 2024.
elBulli 1846, Roses, Spain
Nearest station: Estación de tren Vilajuiga
If you’ve mourned a missed opportunity to dine at El Bulli, 2024 is your year to get so close to the “world’s best restaurant” that you can almost taste it. elBulli1846 will reopen in Roses as a museum showcasing the history, knowledge, and innovation of the famed restaurant.
Wien Museum, Vienna, Austria
Nearest station: Wien Mitte
After years of renovations, the Wien Museum on Karlsplatz reopened in December 2023. Vienna is one of the EU’s biggest cities by population so there will no doubt be a long line out the door. Lucky for you, the Karlsplatz green space is easy on the eyes and close to other Vienna must-see sights including the Karlskirche cathedral and Belvedere Palace.
Access these must-see cities in Europe by train
With comfortable carriages, cheap tickets, and amenities that put some hotels to shame, Europe’s railway network is an unbeatable way to travel the continent. Download the Trainline app and plan your trip to the best European cities to visit in 2024.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, borisb17. Image Location: Town Hall Square, Tartu, Estonia