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Fairytale castles, ancient cities whose origins have been lost to time, and the kind of architectural wealth that will take the younger countries on our side of the pond centuries to hoard:
Europe is where every culture lover will go in the coming year.
Lonely planet is well aware of this, and experts from one of the largest and most respected travel publications in the world have narrowed down all those amazing European hotspots to just a handful that ‘Best in Travel’ in 2025.
Of course, no destination is ever unanimously praised unless we’re talking about digital nomads’ love for Albania, but we can certainly vouch for 5 picks from the experts:
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
The medieval capital of the unspoilt Spanish island of Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca is a bustling port city home to both ancient monuments and modern architecture, with a fortress-like Gothic cathedral dominating an ocher skyline.
The blue-green water of the Mediterranean Sea embraces the bay of Palmaand along the coastline there are relaxed cafes and seafood restaurants serving an international clientele. For delicious, good quality tapas, make sure you OH Mallork to your list.
Besides enjoying the food, you can also take time to explore the streets of old Palma, the Arab-built Almudaina, a medieval fortress converted into a royal residence, and the hilltop Bellver Castle, distinguished by its round shape.
Genoa, Italy
Genoa is a busy cruise port of call often overshadowed by the nearby Instagrammable Cinque Terra, but it’s one of Italy’s most culturally rich destinations in the heart of the Liguria region:
The city center is crisscrossed with narrow, car-free alleys and dotted with Romanesque and Baroque monumentsincluding the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, with its striped black and white facade, and the stately Carlo Felice Opera House, to name a few.
The UNESCO-listed Palazzo Reale, built in 1618 for the wealthy Balbi aristocrats, is not to be missed if you enjoy richly decorated interiors and lush gardens. For the city’s best calzone, look no further than Voglie di Pizza, on bustling Via Pra.
Slovakia
An overlooked Central European country that tourists usually skip in favor of the much more popular Czech Republic or Hungary, Slovakia, its mountain-crossed landscape, picturesque castle ruins, including Spiš, one of the largest in Europe, and the capital of storybooks:
Bratislava is one maze of cobbled streets and pointed church towers surrounded by walls, and the whitewashed Bratislava Castle, a medieval citadel perched on a prominent hill overlooking the fast-flowing Danube River, is postcard material.
Apart from its cultural wealth, Bratislava is ideal for outdoor activities. The beautiful Tatra Mountains run along the border with Poland and offer hiking opportunities and mountain lakes. Nearby Vysoké Tatry is a quiet seaside resort with spa hotels from $85.
Lithuania
Located on Europe’s Baltic coast, Lithuania is yet another unheard-of country where most Americans have slept, despite its vast tourist offering and an abundance of perfectly preserved historic cities, especially the capital Vilnius:
It has a high concentration of Baroque buildings, as well as a intact old town that was largely built in the Middle Agesand if you think the Vatican is the only city-state located within another European capital, think again: independent Užupis is located right in the middle of Vilnius!
It’s not a country correctwhich simply declared its independence unilaterally in 1997, but it has its own passport stamping service, unofficial border points, and it even has its own passport stamping service. own constitutionguaranteeing everyone’s right to zoom, to love and to be happy (or unhappy).
Toulouse, France
The Pink City of France, a title it’s earned thanks to the pink-hued terracotta buildings that dominate its historic skyline, Toulouse sits on the scenic Garonne River and it’s a much more affordable, equally stunning alternative to overpriced Paris.
Expect to pay between $15 and 20 if you eat out at a relaxed bistro in the Old Town, on average $10 to 12 at local museums including the Barbican and the medieval ramparts, and as for the UNESCO-protected Saint-Sernin Basilicait’s even free to visit!
If you visit Toulouse in 2025, we highly recommend booking a spot on this food tour – cheekily called the No Diet Club – for sightseeing, non-politically correct jokes from brutally honest, hilarious French guides, and of course, a lot of tastings, for only $51.44.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
