5 underrated European destinations that Americans can fly non-stop to by 2026

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Are you tired of hearing about Paris and the sparkling Eiffel Tower? London and the red telephone boxes and moving bridges? Venice and its crowded canals?

Whether you’re already familiar with Europe’s tourism powerhouses, or have read so much about them that they no longer pique your interest, perhaps it’s time to go off the beaten path a little and explore the less known In Europe, most tourists are still sleeping.

Historically, connectivity between the US and anywhere northwest of Germany, or south of Rome, where most of these hidden gems lie, hasn’t been great. For Americans, this usually means flying to a major Western hub first and then flying on to their final destination.

We still don’t have our long-awaited flights to Albania (hopefully sometime in the future), but as soon as we can fly non-stop to these countries next spring 5 underestimated EU spots.

Away with time-consuming transfers to Frankfurt, hello smooth sailing to the unusual side of Europe:

Sofia, Bulgaria

As we confirmed a few weeks ago, Bulgaria’s own GullivAir will launch non-stop flights from JFK in New York and O’Hare in Chicago to the national capital Sofia sometime in April 2026.

The actual launch date, flight frequency and fares are not yet known, but it will mark the first-ever transatlantic connection between America and this emerging Eastern Balkan country.

As for Sofia, it offers visitors a eclectic cityscape with ancient Roman, later Byzantine and Ottoman mosques, as well as socialist-era buildings. It’s a little rough around the edges, and not unanimously loved by casual travelers, but you can’t deny it’s got character.

The new route will also pave the way for Americans to discover Bulgaria more broadly, and cities like Plovdiv, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in Europe (yes, even older than Athens or Rome), and Varna, on the Black Sea coast, will see a significant increase in demand.

Split, Croatia

Speaking of beaches, United is once again proving to be a pioneer in connectivity between the US and the Balkans, launching the first-ever flights between Newark (EWR) and Split, Croatia (SPU) in April.

After a string of successful summers in Dubrovnik, Split becomes United’s second Croatian bet, and if you ask us, it’s already a surefire hit:

Think of one Old Town, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List criss-crossed by cobbled alleys, which emerge from the walls of a 4th-century Roman palace, a palm-lined marina, surrounded by lively bars and seafood restaurants, and picture-perfect pebble beaches surrounded by turquoise waters.

Split is also a great base for exploring Central Dalmatia, a historically rich region full of ancient sights.

Don’t miss Klis, a medieval fortress that can be seen there Game of Thrones such as the slave town of Meereen, and Hvar, an island off the coast of Split known for its stone harbor capital and UNESCO-protected 2,400-year-old agricultural landscapes.

Sardinia, Italy

Can’t get enough of those heavenly Mediterranean views? In 2026, you’re in luck, as Delta Air Lines will operate seasonal round-trip flights between JFK and Sardinia starting in May.

Sardinia is the little-known sister of Sicily and an equally large island in the Mediterranean, packed with picturesque mountain villages, ancient archaeological zones and white sand. calas running along the turquoiseest seas you have ever seen.

The flights do not reach Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, but Olbia (OLB), in the northern half of the island. Olbia is the gateway to the aptly named Costa Smeralda, where Sardinia’s best beaches meet the clearest watersand a short ferry ride away from the pristine Maddalena Archipelago.

Flights will be available 4x per week, every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and tickets can be purchased now directly from Delta website.

Malta

Do you have room for another Mediterranean getaway? The tiny country of Malta, which consists of the island of the same name Malta itself, and the smaller Gozo and Comino, will organize transatlantic flights for the first time in 25 years from May 2026.

Thanks to Delta Air Lines, flights will once again fly round-trip on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, connecting their JFK hub with Malta International Airport (MLA).

The airport itself is just a 15-minute drive from Valletta, Malta’s fortified port capital, and 23 minutes from Mdina. a walled city that is one of the oldest in Europeand 17 minutes from Sliema, the party hub, where most of the beach bars and young crowds are.

However, Malta’s true unspoilt charm can be found in even smaller Gozo, a 29-minute ferry ride away: known for its sandy coves, crystal-clear waters and Victoria (Rabat), a fortress-like historic capital with a characteristic Baroque cathedral, it is one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets.

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Europe’s Mediterranean is getting hotter every summer, and if you’re not exactly in the mood for sunburn and sweat as soon as you step out of your AirBnB, Santiago de Compostela is a great way to cool off.uh-cation alternative.

Located on the climatically much milder side of Spain, on the North Atlantic coast, it is not only an important pilgrimage site that draws devout Christians from all over the world, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site of a medieval city dominated by a 13th-century cathedral.

The cathedral is the terminus of the Jacobswegwhere the saint, one of Christ’s original twelve disciples, is said to be buried. This towering monument, a masterpiece of Gothic and Baroque, will make atheists themselves question their lack of faith.

The good news is that from May 2026 you can fly United direct from EWR to SCQ three times a week, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while everyone else in Barcelona is being hosed down by angry locals waving water guns.

No, you didn’t read that wrong.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.