When you’re planning a vacation trip to Europe with your loved ones or solo, you’re probably thinking about going to popular destinations like Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Amsterdam. Well, this is your opportunity to explore these hidden gems in Europe.
Sometimes, you just want to escape the crowds and really discover calm and unique places that not everybody has gone to to make your vacation even more special. Come along as this post explores 9 unique places to visit in Europe this 2025.
9 Unique Places To Visit In Europe in 2025
1. Montserrat
Aren’t you tired of only going to Barcelona during every vacation? Don’t you want to tour Europe’s off-beaten path? Well, here is Montserrat, one of the unique places to visit in Europe with an abundance of culture and history shown in the delicious cuisines.
What really draws tourists to this island is the volcano, so there are many tours to Soufriere Hills where you can see the volcanic crater. And if you stop at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory you can learn about the history and take good pictures.
Being bored on this island is not allowed because there are so many fun things to do like swimming, snorkeling, diving, touring, attending concerts, biking, and hiking. You can go on group tours led through places like the Basilica of Our Lady of Monserrat, the Caves of Drach, and the Palace of Charles V while learning the history of these places.
For a hidden gem in Europe, it is quite surprising the delicious meals they serve from the salt fish fritters to the rotis and seafood. If you want to attend concerts, festivals, and live bands during your vacation, then it’s best to come in the month of March.
2. Utrecht
You may have heard of Amsterdam, but did you know about this hidden yet larger Dutch city of Utrecht? Utrecht is an old city also known as Utrecht Domplein and the fourth biggest city in the Netherlands. To date, this city is the religious hub of the country with numerous religious buildings and structures dating back to the High Middle Ages.
This is one of the most unique places to visit in Europe, with its lovely canals and parks, bustling restaurants and cafés, interesting museums, and gorgeous historical monuments. You’ll even find wharf cellars which are now used as wine bars, cafés, and restaurants.
Your vacation here can become adventurous if you join a kayak tour through the canals or decide to climb the Dom Tower for the best views. This is for book lovers: the popular monastery turned bookstore, Boekhandel Dominicanen, in this city is filled with all types of books you may be looking for.
With all the attractions in this hidden gem, there’s no chance of getting bored during your vacation. And if you want to relax from the hustle and bustle of downtown, nearby is Wilhelmina Park, where you can take a stroll or have a picnic.
3. Malaga
This hidden gem has more tourists than most places on this list but compared to its neighbors, it’s less appreciated. This is good news though because it means you can explore and have the best vacation without so many people.
If you go through Europe’s off-beaten path, you’ll find that this city has all the appeal of southern European cities and more. By the time you explore the archaeological remains and modern parts of the city such as the Roman amphitheater, a baroque cathedral, and a Moorish castle, you’ll be tired.
So you’ll need to stop at local restaurants or the street market to sample the local wines and eat delicious local dishes like Espetos and Fritura malagueña before resting for the day. On another day, you can take a public tour which will pass through the Museo Picasso Málaga, Carmen Thyssen Museum, and Gibralfaro castle.
With so many fun activities like surfing, swimming, kitesurfing, windsurfing, tennis, golf, and skydiving, it’s possible you’ll want to come back again. During the celebration season, which is the best time to come, the streets are transformed to include live shows and concerts. From the dancing and bullfights during the daytime to the Night fairs and rides at nighttime, you’ll surely have the best vacation.
4. Rennes
Rennes is one of the unique places in Europe known for its festivity, lively culture, friendly locals, and the crowded Saturday market at Place des Lices. So many art & culture festivals are held here, so you can plan accordingly.
You can attend music festivals like Les Transmusicales and Les Tombées de la Nuit, or the fighting game and film festival. Paris may have more places of attraction, but the museums and cultural spots in this city are the true hidden gems.
In a day you could have explored the popular spots like the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the Musée de Bretagne, the Musée des Transmissions, and l’Arvor and Cine TNB, the art houses. And if you still have time, visit the interactive science museum and library, Les Champs Libres, a cultural space that gives a different experience on each visit.
When you get hungry, take a break from your tour to any of the nearby restaurants for local meals like galette saucisse, a buckwheat crêpe wrapped around a grilled sausage.
5. Tivoli
Tivoli is one of those hidden gems in Europe that makes Rome a dream destination for most tourists. With its beautiful natural landscape, this ancient town has extravagant gardens, fountains, and trails perfect for excursions and strolling.
If you are a poet, novelist, painter, or musician, you’ll be sure to get creative ideas from the various works of art and museum centers. And for a relaxing tour you can explore the Temples of Vesta and Sibilla remains or go to the famous Albule thermal baths.
Since there are so many religious buildings, you can take a day to explore, pray, and take pictures at the most popular ones like the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Quintiliolo.
Visiting popular attractions like the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor, Villa Adriana, Villa d’Este, and Villa Gregoriana will make you exhausted. And with the many restaurants and guest lodges, it will be easy to eat delicious Italian meals, buy a bottle of wine, and rest properly.
6. Bordeaux
This part of Europe is not just a stopping place for wine tours; it is an all-out lovely city with plenty of 18th-century architecture alongside a more modern ambiance. This UNESCO World Heritage City draws people in with its special vineyards, tasty food, and cultural aspects.
Bordeaux celebrates many cultural events throughout the year. Depending on luck and good scheduling, you could attend the Carnival des Deux Rives, the Festival of Beginnings, the Wine Festival, or even the World Magic Festival.
Of course, this city offers several attractions, but the most visited ones are the Water Mirror, Saint-André Cathedral, Pey Berland Tower, and the National Opera of Bordeaux. As for recreation, it is possible to take a special wine course or attend a practical tasting workshop, which is offered by several vineyards. Here, one learns professional tasting methods and principles of food-and-wine pairing.
For general wine tours, you can visit between April and June, but if you want an intimate tour then it will be best to come in January. Visiting during the harvest season, which falls between September and October, allows one to engage in customary harvest celebrations and even sample fresh grape juice directly from the vines.
7. Tivat
Tivat is a pretty coastal town and one of the unique places to visit in Europe if you want a peaceful vacation. Since it’s not as crowded as other coastal towns, you’ll really enjoy its marina, waterfront accommodations, and secluded beaches.
Tivat is home to numerous national parks, deep canyons, stunning mountains, and striking lakes. Although this hidden gem in Europe is known for its luxury marina and secluded bays, you can have fun participating in activities like sailing, swimming, hiking, and cycling.
Ever since the town went through a major makeover, this modest town now has super yachts in the newly constructed posh marina, high-class promenade, ritzy apartment blocks, and polished restaurants and shops.
Although a big portion of Tivat is now modern and glamorous, you can still explore places like the Renaissance Summer House Buca, Ostrvo Cvijeca, and the Gornja Lastva to find traces of its historical culture.
8. Saaremaa Island
Estonia’s largest island, Saaremaa, has a completely different vibe than mainland Estonia, and it’s best to stay at a tourist farm during the summer or relax in spas during the winter. This hidden gem in Europe is known for its forest, beach, and lots of sun.
If you love nature, then you can bird-watch or go hiking at the Viidumäe Nature Reserve and the Vilsandi National Park. You’ll also love the famous Kaali Meteorite Crater Field, the Panga Cliff, and the Järve beach.
For those interested in the local culture and history, there are medieval stone churches, the ruins of Maas Castle, Sõrve Lighthouse and military structures, Mihkli Farm Museum, and Kuressaare Old Town. Your vacation would not be complete without visiting Kuressaare Castle and Angla Windmill Hill, where one may acquire some handicraft skills.
You can access the island pretty easily via ferry from the mainland, which is kind of part of the experience, although it does rely pretty much on the weather. This lesser-known spot in Europe is close to heaven on earth, offering a wide variety of tasty local food and drink for you to sample.
9. Costa da Morte
You may think you know every city in Spain, but Europe still has its little hidden gems, like Costa da Morte, locally called the Coast of Death. The name comes from all the shipwrecks that have happened along its rocky coastline.
Costa da Morte is famous for its rough cliffs, lighthouses, natural beauty, fishing villages, stone houses, cultural heritage, and peculiar but tasty seafood. The ocean may seem like a dangerous beauty, but away from the sea, you’ll be able to appreciate its beauty and historical significance.
This Europe’s off-beaten path has a strange mix of several sites like the old Corcubión quarter, the shrine of Virxe da Barca de Muxía, and the Cabo Vilán lighthouse. You’ll also find La Virgen a Barca, a popular church erected in honor of the patron saint of the sea.
At the Cemiterio dos Ingleses, you can pay your respects to the dead and the victims of the HMS serpent disaster. But once you get tired of this spot, then visit the more isolated fishing village of Camariñas to fish and enjoy different types of fish meals.
Conclusion
For this trip, you can explore cities different from the usual where you’ll see volcanic landscapes, and medieval towns, and eat fresh seafood. Each of these hidden gems in Europe is a gateway to unique locations and experiences, so they will make a great addition to your vacation plans.
So, if you would like to go somewhere different during your next summer holiday or weekend city break, then step off the beaten path and discover Europe’s best-kept secret. By visiting these places, you’ll get to experience the real European vibes while escaping the crowd.
