5 surprising European cities that are rising in popularity this summer

We are in the middle of the most popular travel season, where many 9-to-5 employees stick to their bosses and redeem their well-deserved stock of PTO hours.

What better place to use your passport than Europe?

Although some destinations are currently unpleasant with anti-tourism protests and unbearable crowds, less well-known cities see as a result.

Places that you would not normally do would become more mainstream. We at Travel Off Path take on our name, which show you some of the most overlooked destinations of Europe that get known names, a run for their money.

To shock a downright shocking from the least to a downright shocking, here are 5 European destinations that you would not expect to see an increase in popularity:

5) Vienna, Austria

Although accessible by Direct flights From a handful of American cities, the royal capital of Austria is still largely skipped in favor of Paris and other European miracles.

Vienna has seen steadily increase In tourists in the first half of the year, which means that very little of these passengers are justified during Christmas, perhaps the best time to see the city in my opinion.

If you take on the name of the “City of Music”, you will find a range of dedications to world-famous musicians such as Mozart and Beethoven, stunning imperial palaces and a café culture that could even blush on Paris that Vienna is full of surprises and memorable attractions.

If you don’t want to wait for the epic Christmas markets of Vienna, summer is still a great time to visit with lush city parks and fun, cultural events such as Africa days. Visit Vienna has just released an event calendar for all August Happener – Click here.

4) Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi has not yet achieved the status of a household name, but if you have been one of the trendy cities of Europe in recent years, it is one of Europe’s trendy cities, mainly led by the digital Nomad -Rage because of its unique culture and affordability across the board.

This underrated city is perhaps a trek to reach most American travelers, but you can often book a flight here with only one stopover, given the growing connections of Tbilisi throughout Europe, which leads to a 11% Peak of visitors Year-on-year.

Largely considered as a soft city to visit, do not sleep in the nightlife of Tbilisi, because you are often welcomed in bars with compulsory shots of Wodka, whether you were planning to enjoy or not, and there is also a growing wine scene in the calmer countryside.

Georgia is even the birthplace of wine, believe it or not. Just tell that to Napa’s Upity – Mixte – you can bruising their ego …

Travel tip: Do not forget to check Travel Off Path’s new access requirement checker and Europe Tipping Calculator before exploring these exciting international cities!

3) Varna, Bulgaria

If I could do my trip to Bulgaria again, I would pull the Ol ‘Switcheroo and skip the boring capital of Sofia in favor of the lively coastline of the Black Sea.

One of the most underrated beach destinations throughout Europe, Bulgaria is largely off-path for Americans looking for sun-drenched kisses, but they do poor service because resorts are super affordable without sacrificing luxury or beach quality.

There are countless resort cities to visit the coast of Bulgaria, but Varna is at the forefront of one 25% peak In holidaymakers, where many go beyond Varna’s city boundaries with beautiful cities such as Golden Sands and Albena nearby All-inclusive outings.

2) Vilnius, Lithuania

With the exception of Poland, many Americans look out over the less well-known countries of Eastern Europe, such as Lithuania, despite the fact that the beautiful capital Vilnius is one of Europe’s most affordable destinations.

Just like Tbilisi, Vilnius sees a steady inflow of digital nomads, which have translated into more travelers who are also looking in Europe’s hidden gems, which leads to one record number From tourists.

In view of the state of the world, the ‘Jerusalem of the North’ is clearly called no travelers of a wrong interpreting conflicts, because Lithuania (including Vilnius) is considered one of the safest European countries.

The picturesque old city alone is worth a visit if you ask me. The home base of cheap beer, timeless paved streets and an abundance of baroque churches, this city is really a time capsule and is still largely crowd-free despite the new popularity.

1) Prishtina, Kosovo

Kosovo has a tumultuous timeline, full of tensions between Serbia. Kosovo, however, originated from deprivation and eventually becomes one of the trendy destinations of the Balkans, next to Albania and Montenegro.

The capital Prishtina has seen the most important increase in visitors, most of which are blown away by how undiscovered it feels or the passion of the charming bazaar area or its more modern side is struck with cozy cafés, quirky murals, and mesmerising architecture, in particular the national library of Kosovo.

One of the greatest pleasures in the city, supported by rave reviews, is the Prishtina Bear Sanctuary (admission only $ 3.50), proof of how affordable prishtina is for everythingReal.

Although I have never visited Kosovo, my girlfriend’s colleague travels here every year and brings her gold jewelry at rock bottom prices.

Whether it is a nice gesture or trying to beat me to sit on one knee is uncertain, but the bottom line is that Kosovo is back on the map and one of the budget -friendly destinations on this side of Europe.

Sam Sears

SAM, our main writer and journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and wrote more than 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and throwing a light on lesser -known gems.