Five More Underrated European Cities

The first edition of Five Underrated European Cities – predictably – caused quite the debate.  This was typically from the ‘what about xx’, ‘how could you miss off yy’ and ‘you’re a dick for even thinking zz belongs in that list’. 

All fair points – good to see the art of grown-up debate isn’t lost here.    

Anyhow, having gone through various photo albums of the last five years to recall memories (yes, I’ve visited all of these – no AI content here, thank you!), here’s round two of what could be an extremely long list.  This one spreads even further geographically, from the Arctic Circle to (almost) the Black Sea.   

And because I was torn between the final two destinations, I've even thrown in one more to make it six!

So without further ado…and please channel your outrage into telling me what else I’ve missed.

Heads-up: some of the links on this blog are affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to buy something - at no extra cost to you.  I only recommend brands and products I use and have had excellent experiences of.

Gibraltar

Perched at the southern tip of Spain, Gibraltar is often dismissed as “Britain in the sun” without any attempt to appreciate its heritage and culture, which is unlike anywhere else in Europe.

This tiny peninsula is a fascinating crossroads where Europe and Africa nearly touch and centuries of history collide.

Yes, there are red postboxes and pubs serving Sunday roasts, but step beyond Main Street and you’ll hear Andalusian Spanish, smell Moroccan spices, and see the legacy of Phoenicians, Moors, and British sailors layered into the limestone - literally!

The Rock itself is the star - climb or cable-car your way up (if you choose the former, pack water and wear decent hiking shoes, it is seriously steep) for sweeping views across the Strait to North Africa, stopping to greet its famous Barbary macaques. Don't make eye contact (not hard for anyone British!)

Down below, St. Michael’s Cave gleams with stalactites worthy of any European cathedral, while Catalan Bay is a surprisingly tranquil taste of village life by the sea without the buzz of commerce all around. Most visitors just swing by on a day trip from Andalucia due to Gibraltar’s compact size but staying several days allows you to dig deeper into British quirks, Mediterranean flair, and a centuries-old multicultural warmth that feels both old-fashioned and wonderfully welcoming.

Get There:  2.5hrs flight from London, 1.5 hrs drive from Malaga (park in La Linea and walk across the fronteir)

Stay:  Sunborn – When else are you going to stay on a luxury yacht? Located - obviously - in the heart of the marina, with surprisingly spacious rooms (from £170/ €200 / $220 per night)

Eat: Aquaterra – Superb seafood - even by Gibraltarian standards - alongside pork cheeks and local cheese plates at reasonable prices.

Do: E-Bike 'Rock Around' Tour – An altogether more social way to zip around (and up) the main sights of the Rock, accompanied by knowledgeable and witty guides.

Annency, France 

Anyone with an Instagram feed and a passing interest in travel is likely to have seen Annency even if they don’t realise it.  A picture-perfect town on the shores of Lake Geneva with a colourful old town that demands your attention and phone battery.   

It is simply one of the most wonderful places in Europe to take a stroll and lose yourselves in back streets over a glass of wine – just save some space for dinner.  The speciality tartiflette - oven baked potatoes, cream and bacon – is a joy for the mouth and a nightmare for the hips! Better still join a small-group food tour to discover the hidden spots loved by locals and missed by tourists.

Speaking of food – you’ll understand why when you arrive - throw in a superb Sunday market (stock up on your picnic essentials), lazy boat trip on Lake Geneva, catching glimpses of the chateau said to have inspired Walt Disney (it does bear more than a passing resemblance) and hikes up Mt. Verbier for far sighted views and you’ve got the quintessentially French weekend nailed.

Get There:  1.5hrs bus from Geneva, 2hrs train from Lyon

Stay:  Le Pelican – the best poolside view in France with superb restaurant.  5 min walk to centre-ville.  From £105 / €120 / $140 per night.

Eat: Le Lilas Rose – near the Pont Bacchus in the centre of the Old Town.  Stop by for indulgent soups, tartiflettes and delicious sharing charcuterie plates

Do: Annency Food Tour – do not even think about having breakfast

Bodo, Norway

About halfway up Norway’s ridiculously long spine, Bodo is largely known by travellers as the launchpad for the Lofoten islands and by everyone else as being Europe's newest Champions League team, which plays above the Arctic Circle and has an unerring habit of embarrassing so-called bigger teams. 

Both of which are not unfair descriptions but there’s a good deal more to this attractive waterside town.

The Air Museum is as good a museum as any in Scandinavia with two huge hangers dedicated to military and civilian air travel in Norway over the last century, complete with a dizzying array of planes.  Good walks can be had along the harbourfront and in the hills above the town (drive up to the radio signal station at Linken for stellar fjord views) and if time permits (check in advance), you’re also close to the Saltsraumen maelstrom, a geographic phenomenon you’re not going to see anywhere else. 

And once you’re done, yes, get the ferry to Lofoten – I’ve written about all there is to savour here.  

Get There:  1.5hr flight from Oslo – multiple options

Stay:  Scandic Hotel – clean and comfortable rooms with an excellent breakfast range and walking distance to town centre and ferry port.  From £80/ €95 / $105 per night

Eat: Burgasm – The name says it all – 50s style diner serving superbly seasoned burgers, fries and shakes.  Simple but extremely well done

Do:  Go see Saltsraumen – the spectactular whirlpools caused by the world’s strongest tidal current

Derry, Northern Ireland

If you grew up in the UK or Ireland in the 1970s or 80s, the chances are you wouldn’t consider Derry as an obvious holiday destination such was its role at the heart of Northern Ireland’s Troubles.

That history remains core to the identity of the city and a walking tour is the ideal way to understand this complex story first hand. 

The murals in the Bogside area of the city – including the famous ‘You Are Now Entering Free Derry’ are required viewing - but the city as a whole has evolved into a city that envelopes you with a warm welcome and a cold pint. 

The city walls give you a birds’ eye view of the city’s districts with the accompanying street art (including the more upbeat Derry Girls’ tribute – one of the best comedies to emerge from the UK this century) and the Peace Bridge across the River Foyle is moving and bendy in equal measure.   

The pub food is some of the best on this island with (what and where) and the pub scene clustered in the small city centre is inviting.   You’re also within striking distance of Northern Ireland’s glorious Antrim Coast and the jaw-dropping Slieve League cliffs in Donegal, an itinerary for which is just one click away.

Get There:  Daily flights from London Stansted (1hr) or drive from Belfast (1.5hrs)

Stay: No. 8 Townhouse - located by the city walls and within stumbling distance of a dozen pubs and restaurants.  Great host and very comfortable beds.  From £90/ €110 / $125 per night

Eat:  Badger’s Bar – With the Derry Girls mural on one side, Badger’s offers some of the best pub grub in the city with the obligatory pint of the black stuff to accompany

Do:  Take a dive into the city’s complex history with a guided walking tour through the Bogside

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

When considering which European countries have the best Roman remains, Bulgaria is unlikely to feature in anyone’s Top 5.  Until they visit anyway.  

Located halfway between Sofia and the coast, Plovdiv doesn’t look like much from the outskirts but unwrap the layers of Communist-era blokovi and you’ll be rewarded with an Old Town as appealing as any in Eastern Europe. 

The Roman Amphitheatre is the highlight, one of the best-preserved structures of the entire era and the Ethnographic museum provides accessible insights on the different Empires that shaped modern Bulgaria – there’s a joke about Bulgaria being the original Eras Tour in there somewhere.   The hip Kapana district is an endless array of bars and restaurants, including an impressive array of locally brewed beer.   You’re also close to the Valley of Roses and the crazy-sinister Communist architecture of Buzludzha, which you will 100% want to see!

Get There:  2hr drive from Sofia or the Bulgarian coast

Stay: HillHouse Plovdiv – Spacious rooms and family suites steps away from Old Town.  Wide ranging breakfast is a sure-fire hit.  From £40/ €48 / $52 per night

Eat: Aylyakria – A menu bursting at the seams with local produce from bean stews to an extremely drinkable house red

Do: Day trip to the Valley of Roses and Buzludzha – want nearly 2,000 years of history in a single day?  One of the most photogenic day trips you will ever embark upon

Tirana, Albania

One of the products of being cut off from the rest of the world for most of the 20^th century is a culture, history and cuisine unlike anywhere else on the planet.  Intrigued?  Then Tirana is for you.

It’s a city that has shed its reputation as a grim communist backwater to be one of Europe’s quirkiest capitals.  In a weekend, you can explore Bunk'Arts 1&2 (Communist-era bunkers turned contemporary art spaces), Ottoman facades which hide Brutalist mosaics, and sip cocktails in the former “forbidden zone” - ordered via a 1970s rotary phone.

The city’s food scene is equally vibrant, where Mediterranean warmth meets Balkan soul, and nearby mountain hikes (Mt. Gamti especially) rival those in the Alps.

During 2026, over a dozen new European flight routes will launch and I fully expect it to start featuring on the ‘best places to go list’.  Just don’t call it a hidden gem. Partly because it's a God-awful cliche and you can do better but equally because Tirana’s charms are open and available for all to see. Read more about all there is to do here in a blog post I created on Europe's most intriguing corner.

Get There:  3hr flight from London

Stay: Areela Boutique Hotel - Funky décor and ridiculously comfortable beds, a five minute walk to Skanderberg Square.  From £45/ €55 / $60 per night

Eat: Jarna – Traditional dishes cooked to perfection with attentive staff.  The type of place to simply say ‘whatever you recommend’

Do:  Hike Gamti Mountain – Done with last hassle as part of a small group tour, with optional swim afterwards to cool off