10 Cute Villages in Europe (that you haven’t heard about!)
Get off the beaten path and head to one of these darling villages for a true taste of the charm of Europe! Check out the map at the bottom to include on your next trip abroad.
1 | Chania, Greece
With some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen, the small port town of Chania is beautiful with it’s harbor promenade, bustling with cafes and maze of narrow winding alleys. After spending the day on a glass bottom boat or swimming at nearby Balos beach, eat at Tamam for the best Greek meal of your life.
2 | Taormina, Italy
Imagine spending the day exploring the blue grottos and sunbathing on the tiny island of Isola Bella. In the evening, take a seat here (below) at il Barcaiolo for a fresh seafood platter. The village of Taormina also offers an Ancient theater, dating back to the 2nd (!) century, with sweeping views of smoldering Mt. Etna and the Sicilian coastline.
3 | La Turbie, France
While petite, the tangle of cobbled alleys with hanging laundry are a refreshing glimpse at the authentic French Rivera. Stop by Trophee D’Auguste for impressive views of Monaco and the stunning coastline.
4 | Sintra, Portugal
First, drop in at the tiny Piriquita cafe for their world famous almond and egg based pastry. Then, head over to the Quinta da Regaleira estate- this jungle-like property is covered in hidden caves, underground passages and even an inverted staircase spiraling into the depths! Not far from Lisbon, the UNESCO deemed cultural landscape of Sintra is an absolute winner.
5 | Wengen, Switzerland
High above one of the most beautiful places in the world (Lauterbrunnen) is the pedestrian-only town of Wengen. At an elevation of 4,180 feet, the town is only accessible by one brave train, so locals rely on their feet to get around. Of course, at this altitude the views of the Alps are unbelievably stunning, making it ideal for hikers and instagrammers! 😉
6 | Dingle, Ireland
I’ve raved about Dingle in the past and I don’t plan to quit anytime soon. By far my favorite place in Ireland (if not Europe) the harbor town of Dingle has everything you could want in the way of Irish beauty, food, music and even a friendly dolphin named Fungie!
7 | Hinterzarten, Germany
Located in the Black Forest, this small village can receive HEAPS of snow in the winter months. The blanket of white-stuff draped over the cookie-cutter German village makes for a beautiful place to spend a few days cross-country skiing, sledding, downhill skiing… OR just cozying up and enjoying the scene.
8 | Talloiries, France
The French are in on the secret of Tallories, but it’s time to let the cat out of the bag: the petite village is absolutely adorable, but it’s the sprawling grassy beach that meets the crystal clear (and ultra clean) Lake Annecy that make this village one of my favorites in France.
9 | Beilstein, Germany
Each fall the German wine country hosts hundreds (literally) of festivals to celebrate the harvest season. My favorite village to prost in? Darling Beilstein, in the Mosel Valley. Seemingly coated in blooming window boxes, there isn’t even an ATM in the village, so visitors immediately feel as though they’ve plopped right down in a German storybook.
10 | Valkenburg, Netherlands
Dining al fresco is the best, isn’t it? The main drag in the tiny Dutch town is absolutely packed full of cafes and boutiques. The evening buzz is contagious as locals gather on the pristine cobbled streets. Located in the southern Netherlands, consider a Valkenburg pit-stop en route to the famous coastal Dutch towns and cities.
What other cute villages in Europe do you love that are off the beaten path?