Discover These Treasures of Europe off the Beaten Path

Menton, France

Menton, nestled on the French Riviera against the foothills of the Alps, is known for its beaches and gardens. The medieval old town is home to Basilique Saint-Michel, with its 18th-century bell tower. There are several public and private beaches in this sunny resort town.

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This idyllic fishing village on the Kvarner Gulf in the northern Adriatic is part of the city of Opatija, which bills itself as a popular gourmet destination with excellent restaurants. Wander the charming narrow streets, visit art galleries, enjoy the beaches or the seaside promenade, and take in performances of jazz music and other artistic events.

Whether you like hiking, restaurants, spas, history, golf, shops, or medieval architecture, the medieval town of Durbuy in Wallony, Belgium has all these and is just two hours from Brussels. Wander the cobblestone streets among the old stone houses and enjoy the cafes, 14th-century-style beer and artisan jam in what is sometimes called “the smallest city in the world.” There’s even a fun theme park with mazes and other activities for children.

The Cies Islands are an archipelago of three islands with beautiful beaches and lovely hikes off the north coast of Spain. Take a boat excursion from Vigo, which is just a few miles away on the mainland, that will take you for a day trip to this beautiful nature and marine preserve with unspoiled beaches and crystal clear water.

This town on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea is fortified with a well-preserved medieval wall complete with towers, and is a UNESCO world heritage site. This is another city on this list that has it all: history, nature, culture, good food and beaches. There are churches and ruins dating back to the 12th century. In summer, Visby holds the biggest medieval festival in northern Europe with a lively market, music, theatre and other events.

Just south of Venice, Chioggia is like a smaller version of the famous city, with canals and bridges and narrow alleys. This “little Venice” is quieter and less expensive, with a boat that connects Chioggia to Venice’s Saint Mark's Square in summer, about 15 miles away (or 28 miles by road.)

This town on the French Riviera between St. Tropez and Cannes is along the Corniche d'Or, one of the most beautiful roads in France, and sits below the towering Esterel massif. It’s a good spot for hiking and swimming.

A beautiful little historic village in the Albacete province in eastern Spain, Alcala del Jucar sits on a steep hillside overlooking the Jucar River and a dramatic gorge. A medieval Arab fortress with panoramic views sits at the top of the hill overlooking the surrounding countryside. Check out the caves that were built into the cliff face, the old Roman bridge, and the nearby Hermitage of San Lorenzo, which dates back to 1579.

This private town in Wales built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in the early 20th century offers stylish hotels, a spa, shops, restaurants and cafes, woodland gardens and sub-tropical gardens all amid the beautiful setting of an Italianate village on the Dwyryd estuary. There is an entrance fee, and the village is open to visitors during the day.

Baleal is a small island located just north of Peniche, Portugal, about 90 minutes north of Lisbon. Peniche is popular among surfers for its big waves. Baleal has both good surfing beaches and quiet beaches for families. The island has good cafes and restaurants.

Not far from Marseille, La Ciotat offers all the pleasures of Provence—good food, good markets, Provencal crafts and the sunny outdoors. The town is rich with history: the game of pétanque (similar to bocce) was invented here, and La Ciotat is the home of the Eden Theater, the world’s oldest operating movie theater. There’s a beautiful botanical garden of tropical plants, too.

The village of Marken dates back before the 13th century, when it was separated from the mainland in a storm. The fishing village is known for its little wooden houses that are built on earthen mounds to protect them from flooding. In 1957, an embankment was built to reconnect the island to the mainland. Marken is home to a wooden shoe factory where you can see how clogs are made.

The Faroe Islands—18 rocky, volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean—sit between Iceland and Norway and are part of Denmark. This small village of just 50 people on the wind- and rain-swept island of Esturoy sits on a narrow sea-filled gorge and offers picturesque views of a wild landscape.

A medieval walled town with a long and varied history, Rick Steves calls it “a stony museum of Byzantine, Ottoman, and Venetian history dating back to the 13th century.” There’s a beautiful castle on the plateau above the town. Visit the Byzantine churches, archaeological museum and secluded beaches.

Elblag is in northern Poland near the Baltic Sea. It dates back to the 13th century and is one of the older cities in Poland. It has cultural influences of Polish, Prussian and German, but was partly destroyed in World War II, then lovingly rebuilt. Worth visiting in Elblag are the museums, churches and Poland’s largest brewery.

This 500-year-old Greek village has crystal clear waters and a mild climate throughout the year. Enjoy the sun and beaches, as well as the region's local wines and cheeses at the nearby mountain vineyards.

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This medieval city on the Alsace wine route is known as one of the most beautiful villages in France. The architecture, half-timbered houses and a 13th-century defensive gate and inner courtyards with old wells and fountains make Riquewihr a kind of open-air museum. Visit the Thieves Tower, the town's former prison, a 16th-century winemaker's house, and the 1291 Dolder Tower, which houses the Musee du Dolder, featuring centuries-old weapons.

This charming little islet, just across from the port of Parga, has a little church and a small fortress built by the French in the 18th century when they controlled the port. Swim or pedal-boat up to its lovely beach from Parga, a resort town in northwestern Greece.

This small Ligurian town of less than 5,000 residents is a perfect destination for those looking to avoid the usual tourist spots. Bogliasco is an ancient fishing village perched on the coast a few miles south of Genoa, with a large piazza overlooking the sea.

Cala Figuera, on the island of Mallorca, is one of the most beautiful places in the Balearic Islands and one of the true hidden gems of Spain. It is a popular destination for artists from all over the world as well as tourists looking for authenticity and tranquility.

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The birthplace of Pythagoras and the philosopher Epicurus, the island of Samos sits in the eastern Aegean Sea and is known for its sweet Muscat wine. The island is rich in history and beauty. Wander around the settlements, along old cobble streets, and see Sarakini Tower, a magnificent structure of the 16th century, a true fort of its era.

Civita di Bagnoregio, in central Italy, is actually two remote towns - Civita, a hilltop village accessed by a pedestrian bridge, and Bagnoregio, the more populated nearby village. Today, the medieval Civita has only about six year-round residents, so few that Civita is nicknamed "the Dying City." Supplies are brought in by mopeds.

The long bridge into Civita is steep and can be a challenging climb for some. Civita di Bagnoregio was founded by Etruscans more than 2,500 years ago. It was the birthplace of Saint Bonaventure, who died in 1274.

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Rothenburg is known for its well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around the world. It is part of the popular Romantic Road through southern Germany. Stroll through the town and see the lovingly restored house fronts, fountains, gables, bay windows and street signs from a bygone age.

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Preko is located on the island of Ugljan on the Adriatic Sea. The old center consists of typical Dalmatian architecture and numerous patrician family summer houses. In the mountains above Preko is the castle of St. Michael, which was built by Romans in the 6th century. Walk along the quay or sip a favorite drink on one of the terraces with a view of the Zadar Channel.

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This clifftop village in south-central France is known for its complex of religious buildings, accessed by a long staircase. A holy city clinging to the steep rocky cliffs, it overlooks the Alzou River and is surrounded by the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park. The basilica of Saint-Sauveur and the crypt of Saint-Amadour are both on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The jewel of the sanctuary, the Black Madonna, is kept in the Chapel of Miracles, one of eight chapels built against the rocks.

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Slovenia's largest lake, Lake Bohinj, sits in a valley of the Julian Alps. In warmer months, it's a paradise. The quiet valley features stunning landscapes and several small villages. See the 256-foot high Savica waterfall, swim in the lake, and taste the local products. In May, there is the International Festival of Wildflowers.

This beautiful volcanic island in the Azores is knows as the Blue Island for the different colors of blue that decorate the houses. The Faial Nature Park protects 13 areas of the island. Faial is a tourist's island with a rich collection of historical, natural and modern attractions that annually attract yachts, cruise ships, tourist groups and naturalists.

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A charming cliffside village on Italy's Amalfi Coast, Positano is a well-known holiday destination with steep, narrow streets and a pebbly beach.

Wander among the boutiques and cafes, and see the beautiful 13th-century Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta with its Majolica-tiled dome. John Steinbeck called Positano "...a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone."

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Tellaro has long been a destination for artists, including Italian writer and director Mario Soldati, who made it his home in the last years of his life. 

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Situated on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, southeast of Dubrovnik, Cavtat offers lovely scenery, rich cultural and historical heritage and a range of services for visitors.

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Santana (from the Portuguese Santa Ana, or St. Anne) is known for its traditional homes constructed with steep, triangular thatched roofs. These were mainly rural homes, used by local farmers, during the settlement of the island, with white walls, red doors and blue-trimmed windows. Today, most of the surviving buildings are tourist attractions.

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The trulli, these whitewashed, cone-roofed stone huts of Alberobello, make up one of the 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy. The name derives from the Greek word for dome or cupola, and refers to the ancient stone houses with conical roofs, constructed with the limestone from the region. Alberobello's historic center is famous for these unusual white, pyramidal structures.

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Polperrro is a traditional Cornish fishing village in south Cornwall, and considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in the U.K.

Charming cottages cling to steep hillsides around a small harbor with spectacular views of land and sea, making it an artist's paradise. Stroll along the footpaths here, visit the tidal pool and take in the art at the many galleries.

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Deia, located on the island of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, is a small hidden gem located on the west side of the island. Enjoy the scenery and unspoiled nature of this millionaire's hideaway. Pierce Brosnan and Michael Douglas used to spend their holidays in Deia, as well as novelist and poet Robert Graves.

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The historic center of this northern Italian village is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 15th-century Ponte del Diavolo ("Devil's Bridge") leads to the church of San Martino, which contains an altar from the 8th century. According to the legend, the devil offered the inhabitants of the town to build a bridge in exchange for the soul of the first person who would cross it. The clever locals fooled the devil and pushed a dog to cross the bridge first.

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Camogli is a fishing village and tourist resort of about 5,000 residents located on the west side of the peninsula of Portofino, not far from Genoa. Camogli now thrives mainly on tourism and is known for its colorful houses that line the beach. The house colors once helped the fishermen of Camogli find the way back to their port.

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This quiet little Norwegian village of just 110 people (and 500 goats) is a popular tourist destination. If it sounds familiar, it's because there's an IKEA collection of the same name. Goat cheese is a main source of income here.

This stunningly beautiful village in southern Italy dates back to the 5th century B.C. and has a number of historic sites. It's a good jumping-off point for touring other villages as well as the Lucanian Dolomites.

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The little "pirate village" near the town of Tijarafe in the Canary Islands offers a magnificent view of the ocean and good swimming when waters are calm. The steep drive and 7-mile walk are not for the faint of heart.

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Zaandam is the classic image of the Netherlands with windmills, quaint villages, tulips and canals. It is about 30 minutes from Amsterdam. There are several villages in the area, the most interesting and authentic ones are Zaandijk and Zaandam.

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One of the most photogenic cities in the Mediterranean, Piran is like stepping into a picture postcard. The narrow streets, old town wall and main square are evidence of the town's well-preserved charm.

This splendid Mediterranean sea resort with its pastel-colored houses, high-end boutiques and seafood restaurants also boasts an ancient marine culture, and of course, is another one of those spots beloved by artists and writers that have long sung its praises. The Piazzetta is a meeting-up point for the international jet-set, while the old port is still steeped in tradition.

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]oimbra is a riverfront city in central Portugal and the country's former capital, and has its own special mystique. It is home to a preserved medieval old town and the historic University of Coimbra. Built on the grounds of a former palace, the university is famed for its baroque library and its 18th-century bell tower. In the city's old town lies the 12th-century Romanesque cathedral Sé Velha.

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The city of Hvar is a unique fusion of luxurious Mediterranean nature, rich cultural and historical heritage and tourism. The island on the Adriatic is best known as a summer resort, but has 13th-century walls, a hilltop fortress and a Renaissance-era cathedral on its main square. More great scenery includes beautiful beaches and inland lavender fields.

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