Being from Austria, I have to tell you that Salzburg is actually OVERcrowded with tourists all year round. Go to Graz instead or visit some of the numerous spectacular cloisters or castles or take in the varied landscape by train/car/bike. Small cities like Krems, Baden, Steyr, Gmunden,Friesach, Hall, Feldkirch have lots of charm.
Thanks for sharing your local insights! Graz and the other cities you mentioned sound amazing. I'll definitely consider highlighting these charming spots in future content. Appreciate your recommendations! :)
I have to agree. Salzburg, even in early May, was packed and the people seemed pretty over it already. Vienna was friendlier... And that's apparently an achievement 😂. In fact, I found Vienna quite polite despite its reputation. It made me wonder what people expect and I'm Canadian.
I gasped when I saw Lucerne and Salzburg on your list. Both these cities are overwhelmed with tourists. Salzburg also has a horrendous traffic problem, and despite it having a population of only 150,000, is seriously considering building an underground railway. If I lived in Salzburg, I would support that project!
I visited both Lucerne and Salzburg and loved their charm during my short visit. I wasn't aware of the tourism and traffic issues you mentioned. The idea of an underground railway in Salzburg sounds like a much-needed improvement. Thanks for sharing this insight!
@@sgp7975 Actually I visit Lucerne very regularly, sometimes in September. Lucerne is a hugely popular summer resort, and 'thanks' to global warming, the season is getting longer (at both ends). My most recent visit was in early May 2024. The 09 12 boat to Fluelen was full of tourists.
@@sgp7975 I suspect that your residence in Lucerne was a long time ago. Global warming means that the summer season in Lucerne (and Salzburg) stretches from May to October. I visited Lucerne in early May 2024. The 09 12 boat to Fluelen was packed with tourists. On a previous visit in mid-September 2019 a combination of fine weather and a classical music festival at the KKL meant that the lake boats were packed. The 'Stadt Luzern' paddle steamer was still in service, even though she was supposed to have been 'withdrawn' for an overhaul. The shipping company no doubted needed her 1,200 passenger capaiuty.
Part of video of Vilnius is actually Tallinn. The first shots of Segovia I think are Palermo in Sicily. Is a good list, I came back from Porto last week,it is beautiful.
Yeah and with the random stock footage they always put in these videos , I'd rather have just pictures when there is no video footage, but actually from the beach, market, etc. that is talked about
@@geoinsider I thought that I will hear of or see cities or towns that I did not know about in the first place. Cities and little towns that are beautiful and where you would have to make a deep dive in Europe´s Geography to come across them. Real hidden gems.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! To make this comment more helpful and constructive for other people reading this thread can you suggest a shortlist of cities worth visiting in the Netherlands?
@@geoinsider the video was excellently done. Perhaps "Hidden" in the title may seem inappropriate to some people, especially Europeans who would be quite familiar with many of these cities, but millions of people who visit Europe (e.g. people from Asia, the Americas or Africa), would not think of them when planning a visit, and probably never even heard of many of these cities, so it is not entirely inappropriate. It depends on which part of the global audience we are talking about.
You should try Bergamo in Italy. A really nice city whose airport is Ryanair's Milan airport. It has an upper city and a lower city connected by a funicular and if you're into shopping, one of Italy's biggest malls is a short walk from the airport. As at 10 June 2024 you can get a daytrip from Stansted airport for 32 quid.
Thanks for the recommendation! Bergamo sounds like an amazing place to visit, especially with the convenient transport links and shopping options. I'll definitely consider it for my next trip ❤️
Being a portuguese citizen and natural from Porto, it makes me very happy to see you included that city in the list! I would also recommend visiting Lisbon and the beaches from Algarve (south of the country)
@@catarinamiranda2932 Thanks for your suggestions! As someone who adores Portugal and is planning a trip there next year, I appreciate your recommendation for Lisbon and the Algarve beaches🙌 I also came across another recommendation to visit Óbidos in a video (ruclips.net/video/fVtyOvsAMw4/видео.html), and I'm definitely adding it to my list! Looking forward to exploring more of what Portugal has to offer❤️
@@geoinsider Sintra is also a sight to behold and only 30 mins train from Lisbon, making a very good day trip if you go early! (but ill admit im suprise to see porto has #1 since its well known for tourism and ill admit it is pretty but ive been to other city on your list i find better then Porto itself haha, but opinions varies with everyone ;) ) nice overall review :)
Well, I have to admit that these cities are hidden to me. For that reason, I'm very grateful you made this video. I think it was well done! Thank you so much.❤
26:33- Porto, Portugal started out as a Phoenician port then the Romans conquered it and called it 'Portus'. .which means 'port' in Latin. Anyway, the name stuck and would evolve into Porto which also means 'port' in Portuguese before eventually becoming the source of the name for the entire nation of Portugal!
Thank you so much for sharing this fascinating information about Porto! I really appreciate your comment, and it's incredible to learn how the city's name evolved from its Phoenician roots to becoming a significant part of Portugal's identity. This is exactly the kind of historical insight that makes exploring hidden gems so rewarding. Thanks again for contributing! ❤️
@@geoinsider, 'Barca' does not exist (apart from being a little boat in Spanish and the surname of a well-known Carthaginian family to which Hannibal, Hasdrubal, and Hamilcar belonged). 'Barça' is the abbreviation for FC Barcelona, the football team. The city is sometimes abbreviated as 'Barna' or 'Bcn'.
Barcelona is a loathsome place. Been twice, two pickpocket attempts, two scam attempts, very little green space. Suggest one visit, see the Gaudi architecture, get out.
@@Luca-c5w Thank you for your feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed the list. Lyon is a fantastic suggestion. I totally agree with you about Zagreb and Ljubljana both being wonderful cities to explore. Thanks for the great additions!❤️
Lyon being the 3rd biggest french city (and even 2nd if we're talking about the urban area) make the recommandation a bit weird but it's a great city. I also love Bordeaux and Montpellier in the top 10 biggest french cities.
A worthwhile list. Some cities listed are well known, but some I have never heard of. My nomination for a city that should have been included: Ravenna, Italy.
Hi David, Thank you for your thoughtful comment and for suggesting Ravenna, Italy! It definitely deserves recognition, and I'll consider it for future lists Thanks for watching!
Decent list even though most of these towns are well known. Some other: Szeged, Hungary Rovinj, Croatia Mostar, BIH Nauplion, Greece Aachen, Germany Brugge, Belgium
Thank you for your comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the list. All your ideas are fantastic and definitely deserve more attention. I'll definitely consider them for future content. Thanks again for your input!
Bratislava, Slovakia Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliki Trnovo, Bulgaria Irkutsk, Siberia Bilbao, Donostia, Spain Bayonne, Carcassonne, France Lescala/Casaques/Girona, Spain Omiš, Croatia Fribourg, Murten, Gruyeres, Switzerland ..some of my own favourites
It's great to hear that you've explored so many of these cities! Porto is indeed gaining popularity but I think it's well deserved Which of the nine cities was your favorite?
@@geoinsider Of the ones I've visited relatively in the past ten years, Porto, then Vilnius, followed by Coimbra, Valencia, and Segovia in no particular order. Ghent is probably at the end of this list, but also well worth visiting.
That's a fantastic list! Each of those cities has its own unique charm. Porto, Valencia and Vilnius are definitely my favorite ones. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Zadar - one of towns in Croatia that is very underrated, great for including it! But useful information, Adriatic is sea, not ocean, in Europe we take great care to differentiate those.
@@ivanavercevic7160 Thank you for pointing that out! I appreciate the correction on the Adriatic being a sea, not an ocean-important detail. Glad you enjoyed seeing Zadar included. Thanks for sharing your insight!🙌
Becoming typical. Wihout looking at the cities here's one we enjoyed. It's Trier, Germany. It sits on the Mosel River. There are still Roman Empire bldgs, excellent shopping, friendly people all in a snaller city. West of Trier are steep hillsides, growing the grapes for some excellent Mosel wines.
@@branimirgenev8019 Great suggestions! Bulgaria is full of hidden gems, and these cities definitely deserve recognition. I'll keep them in mind for future lists-thanks for sharing!🙌
@@davids.4585 That sounds amazing! Drifting in the Aare must be such a relaxing and fun experience. Bern really has some unique gems like that - thanks for sharing your favorite thing about the city!
Thank you for showcasing our charming capital of Valletta! However Valletta in peak season isn t that hidden and can get busling with tourists alike! Love from Malta❤❤
Been to 4 of these already and would add Bassano del Grappa (and surrounds), Italy to the list. Personally, I'd love to go to Malta! FWIW, I think that Porto is hard to call underrated.
@@johnlabus7359 Great to hear you've already visited some of these! Bassano del Grappa is a fantastic suggestion for the list, and Malta is definitely worth the trip.
@@elisabethkaup1279 I totally agree! Rothenburg ob der Tauber is like stepping into a fairytale. I actually featured it in my video about fairytale towns. There are some other hidden gems in there too, so I highly recommend checking it out! Here's the link: ruclips.net/video/fVtyOvsAMw4/видео.html
Italy: Bologna, Ferrara in Emilia Romagna, Mantova, Cremona in Lombardia, Perugia, Assisi, Gubbio, Orvieto, Spoleto in Umbria, Urbino in Marche, Lucca, Volterra, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Monteriggioni, Pitigliano in Toscana, Viterbo, Bomarzo in Lazio, Pompei, Ercolano in Campania, Matera in Basilicata, Lecce, Ostuni, Polignano a mare in Puglia, Tropea in Calabria, Ragusa, Siracusa, Taormina in Sicilia
@@luisa.genovab4899 Genova è una delle grandi città italiane un po' sconosciuta. Ci sono vissuto per qualche mese alla fine dello secolo scorso ed è rimasta sempre nel mio cuore. Saluti da Saragozza. Ay, Génova... ¡qué bonita eres! (y yo qué joven era)
When you talk about Upper Barrakka in Valletta, you're showing Lower Barrakka. 🙂 It's probably just a coincidence. Upper Barrakka can be seen from 10:04 onwards. Both are well worth a visit, by the way. Is Grand Harbour 'one of the most beautiful harbours in the world'? Well, I haven't seen all harbours. But it's certainly pretty. It's a natural deep-water harbour. It's big enough to moor a couple of giant cruise liners, and land a water plane. It's surrounded by historic cities such as Valletta and the Three Cities, dating back centuries. The water of the Mediterranean is always beautiful. Legend has it that Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and later consort of Queen Elizabeth II, went skinny-dipping in Grand Harbour. And once you're in Malta, visit Mdina. If you think that Valletta is beautiful (and it is, mind), you haven't seen Mdina yet. Especially during the pandemic, when all the tourists stayed away, it was marvellous. It was truly the 'Silent City' then. People who point out that quite a few of these places are overrun by tourists are probably right, but this video is probably aimed at non-Europeans. We Europeans can hop in a car and drive anywhere (well, OK, I cannot, because I live in Malta), but for people outside Europe, many of these places may be unknown. And, truth be told, I'm Dutch, but I've never been to Gouda. Or Alkmaar, or Haarlem, or Leiden (other than to visit a museum), and only once to Delft (of the pottery). One lifetime isn't enough to see the sights of Europe.
@@Dafonso1 Haha, I know right?! I'm testing out a few thumbnails, and it turns out the weird ones seem to get the most clicks! Blame the algorithm for that one 😂 Just experimenting with what works!
Interesting list, thank you. All are hidden to me except Salzburg and Porto. I just finished planning my second Switzerland trip and again never thought about Lucerne and Bern. Will come back your vids before next plan. 👍🏼
What about some of the cities and towns in Slovakia, such as Bratislava (the Caipital), Kosice (has the largest cathedral in Slovakia and home of the second oldest marathon in the world), Banska Stiavnica (once the silver capital of Europe and home to the Calvaria pilgrimage chapels), and Bardejov (its entire old town square is a Unesco heritage site).
I'm surprised there was no Italy on this list, I guess everything is popular nowadays 😂 P.s. I visited Porto last weekend and it really is beautiful, I would also recommend Aveiro, about an hour by train south of Porto, truly one of the most beautiful cities I ever visited
I would add Taormina in Sicily. We were on a Mediterranean cruise and there was a stop in Sicily (Messina) and we went on an excursion to Taormina. We absolutely fell in love with it. Apparently they fimed the second season of "White Lotus" there. The city has been occupied for more than 2000 years. Cool restaurants and shops.
Thanks for the recommendation, @jmace1957! I’m a huge fan of "White Lotus" and somehow missed Taormina from the list... It definitely is a place that should be included Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you so much for your kind words, @crush42mash6! Your upcoming trip sounds incredible-Porto, Lisbon, Tomar, and Fatima all have such rich histories and beautiful architecture. I bet it will be incredible! Safe travels, and I hope you have an amazing time exploring these wonderful places ❤️
Very informative video, thanks. Although I live in Europe and have been to some of those places there are some I haven't visited but would consider it after watching it. Being from Northern Spain I would like to point out that it is Santiago de Compostela (not di Compostella 😊). There are other cities in Spain that I would recommend: Avila, Salamanca and Caceres. In England (where I live) I would recommend Bath, York and Canterbury.
@@melewaterworks6619 Glad you found it helpful! The comments definitely add some great suggestions too - it's always exciting to hear from fellow travelers. Hope your first trip to Europe is an unforgettable adventure!
Yay! Thank you for having Coimbra and Porto on your list. Not being biased but these two neighboring awesome cities are well worth it. I should know. I live in one of them. On the Spanish side, I'll add Salamanca.
Hi @lucaspierre9305! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Coimbra and Porto are indeed fantastic cities with so much to offer Thanks for the recommendation of Salamanca; it’s definitely a gem worth exploring on the Spanish side ❤️ If you have any other suggestions or hidden spots, feel free to share!
It's true that a lot of visitors to The Netherland skip Gouda, but still it is pretty crowded with tourists who know to appreciate the unique beauty of it. The city hall is indeed a breathtaking monument and the stained glass windows at the Sint Janskerk are beautiful byond believe. But take a stroll in the cheese museum and don't forget the enjoy the original Goudse Stroopwafels.
Gouda is pronounce "how-dah". I'd also like to throw in Geiranger, NOR and also Alesund, NOR, both very beautiful with lots of character. I loved Segovia, ESP and I agree with that one, so beautiful, quaint, and historic. Akureyri, ISL and it's surrounding sites is very nice too. Lastly, Bruges, BEL had that old world charm and architecture, beautiful parks and green spaces, as well as being very walkable.
@@nerigarcia7116 Thank you for the pronunciation tip! 'How-dah'-got it! Geiranger and Ålesund are indeed stunning, and I appreciate the other suggestions too. Segovia, Akureyri, and Bruges are all incredible choices, each with its unique charm. Love how you captured their essence-definitely places worth falling in love with!
My personal advice for an underrated city in germany = Görlitz. It was the only big city in germany (back then with over 100.000 population) that was not destroyed in the 2nd WW. So it has its great buildings, streets and architecture like Berlin in the 1920s still in tact. Its was also rated one of the most beautiful cities in germany many times, its just not popular enough to get the attention this city deserves.
Thank you so much for this video. I live in the U.S and I travel to Europe 3 times a years and like to visit a city for 3 weeks and absorb the culture. This video helped me plan my next two adventures.
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! It's great to hear that you found the video helpful for planning your adventures Traveling to Europe three times a year sounds amazing-enjoy every moment and soak in all the amazing experiences❤️
For me as a native german person it feels weird that this video should be that helpful. I have not visited each and every country but for most, if not all of them, there are beautiful towns missing. In Germany for example Bremen, Lübeck, Stralsund, Celle, Münster, Trier, Erfurt, Leipzig, Görlitz, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Lindau and Konstanz. And even the Ruhr area (Ruhrgebiet) where I live has more green places and a smaller town called Hattingen, which is very beautiful. Let me know, if I should continue with other countries. :)
@@mathiasroehn9399 Thanks for sharing your perspective! It's always great to hear about beautiful towns from a local's point of view Bremen, Lübeck, and the other towns you mentioned sound wonderful. Videos like this can't cover everything, but it's a good starting point for discovering new places. I'd love to hear more about other hidden gems especially in Poland, Romania, Croatia and Hungary
Nice video! As a Spaniard I would have put San Sebastián or Donostia instead of Zaragoza. It is a wonderful city with the best cuisine (It is the city with most Michelin stars per km2 im the world) and although is quite famous between Spanish people, outside it’s not very known.
@@elgofre5504 Thank you so much for the suggestion! I’ve actually heard of San Sebastián, and I agree-it’s a fantastic place to recommend. But I wasn’t familiar with Donostia, so I’ll definitely check it out! Appreciate you sharing these local insights!🙌
Qué majo eres, en vez de decir que quiten una ciudad de otro país o solo pedir que añada San Sebastián, atacas directamente a Zaragoza. Para empezar todo el mundo ya conoce San Sebastián y saben que es bonita y ya es extremadamente turística, y lo más feo es que quieras quitar a Zaragoza. Menos mal que no todos los vascos serán como tú, qué poca vergüenza, de un zaragozano, aragonés. Por otro lado te lo debería agradecer, porque gracias a eso Aragón tiene de los mejores ratios salario/precio de vivienda, ya que no es turística y la demanda externa no infla los precios de Zaragoza, ya que pocos nos visitan y vivimos de la industria. Ojalá te inundes de guiris y no puedas pagarte una casa, yo ya aquí con mi casa pagada.Agur.
@@geoinsider Don't listen to this guy, from a Spaniard from Zaragoza, Aragón. San Sebastián, and even Segovia, are already very touristic and well known by foreigners, but almost no foreigner knows Zaragoza. You did a good job on pointing an unknown, albeit important city, in Spain. There are others, but good job. The objective of your video was achieved: underrated cities, nobody dislikes or underrates San Sebastián.
Gouda, NL is a tourist spot, as are all the parts known as Holland. Travel more east and you will find actual hidden gems in towns like Zutphen, Deventer, Kampen and Zwolle. All medieval charming places with historic feel.
As an organist would love to visit Zwolle whose cathedral has I believe the largest organ in the Netherlands. And on that subject Haarlem as well with the organ at St. Bavo Cathedral.
@@theirishcontrarian4626 Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video 🙂 I'll definitely add it to my shortlist then and check out for sure! And yeah visiting in autumn sounds like a great plan to avoid the heat
Absolutely loved this video! 🌍✨ It’s amazing how many hidden gems Europe has to offer beyond the usual tourist spots. I can’t wait to explore some of these underrated cities and experience their unique charm and culture. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hello there! I'm an old lady from Mowcow. I really enjoyed your video. I've been to some European countries. France, Germany, England, all three Baltic countries. Bulgaria, of course. But most cities in your video are absolutely new for me. Of coirse, I've heard about them but never visited. That is why your video is just like a window into another Europe. Thank you very much indeed for your job.
@@lyudmillamoscow955 Hello from afar! Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m really glad you enjoyed the video and that it brought you a glimpse of places you hadn’t seen before. It sounds like you’ve been to some amazing places yourself! I hope my future videos can continue to be a window into the wonders of Europe for you. Your support means a lot to me! 😊
How can you choose Ljubljana without a mention of nearby Lake Bled? Also, I think Trieste deserves a place on this list, more so than a city such as Lucerne, which is overrun with tourists.
Lake Bled is indeed stunning and worth visiting, though it's about an hour's drive from Ljubljana, making it more suitable for a broader trip to Slovenia Trieste is another fantastic suggestion-its rich history and beautiful waterfront are often overlooked Thanks for sharing these insights!
@@jerryholland5557 That's amazing! Belfast, Dresden, and Salzburg all have such unique histories and atmospheres. What were some of your favorite experiences in each city?
Porto is an amazing city with so much charm! It's easy to see why you fell in love with it and it is a great place to consider for retirement. While Riga has its own unique appeal, Porto definitely has a special magic. Wishing you the best in making that dream a reality!
Hi @Malik_Sylvus! Thanks for sharing these hidden gems. I haven't heard of some of these cities before, but I'll definitely check them out. Appreciate the great travel ideas! Thank you!
Why do so many of the "hidden" cities turn out to be pretty well known to tourists? Segovia, Salzburg, Porto, Santiago, Coimbra (a regular on lists of top Portuguese destinations), etc.
Good question! To me "hidden gem" doesn't mean it's not a tourist spot. It's rather something with value or beauty that's not immediately apparent and has received far less recognition than it deserves It's all about personal perspective; for instance, I first heard about Segovia just a year ago. It does attract tourists, but definitely fewer than major hubs like London with its 20 million visitors. Hope that makes sense!
Norwich in the East Anglian area is rather off the central north/south route in the UK has links and influence from Holland reflected in it's architecture. It has a cathedral, a number of beautiful churches and a castle in which the local museum is sited.
People need to relax. Not everyone has heard of all of these places. And compared to places like Paris they are not as traveled. So either watch it or don't. There were a few that i learned that are now on my list of places to hit up.
You're absolutely right! People do seem to get too triggered by a quite innocent video... On the positive side I'm glad to hear that some of these places made it onto your list. Happy travels, and thanks for watching! ❤️
I also recommend to visit Wroclaw in Poland 🇵🇱 its a very beautiful City but a bit underrated… not so much Tourists ,and a very good nightlife ,restaurants and bars 👌
Beautiful video, most are gems, but not hidden, would've loved to have seen one or two Italian cities, in 31 cities not one mention of an Italian medieval city or historical town😢
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Italian medieval cities are truly special-I'll definitely consider including them in future lists. Do you have any favorite Italian cities you'd recommend?
@@geoinsider thank you for your response, and yes I do. Here are a few: Taormina, Modica, Palermo, these are in Sicily. Matera, Ostuni, and others in Puglia. Pompeii in Campania. Ercolano in Lazio.
@@MsBaby1959 Thank you so much for sharing these suggestions! I’ll definitely try to include them in future videos Each of the places you mentioned has its own unique charm and history Do you have a favorite among them?
@@MsBaby1959 Pompeii is awesome, good choice! I just came back from the Amalfi Coast a week ago, so chances are I'll be making a video about it soon. It wasn't all roses and butterflies, though. Have you been to the Amalfi Coast?
As a Portuguese from Porto... Porto used to be a wonderful city to live and to visit, with tradition and modernity. Nowadays it's too touristic and it lost most of its soul. I don't really like very much the city of Coimbra, but it has some interesting historical places. I think, nehond the capital Lisbon, cities like Braga, and Guimarães (North), Aveiro and Évora (this one also too crowded now) are cities that really deserve a visit.
I’ve been to Europe 4 times, but only have visited one city on your list (Valencia). With those beautiful views, I’m inspired to go beyond the larger cities and see some in this video. Thanks!
Hi @marcosmadeiros9553 and thank you for your comment! Valencia is indeed a beautiful city ❤️ Europe has so many hidden gems that often go unnoticed, and I'm glad this video could spark your interest in visiting some of them Which cities from the list are you most excited to see?
@@fabiesque I haven’t been yet, but I’m planning to visit Belgium again early in 2025! I’ll definitely check it out and consider it for future lists. Thanks for the suggestion!
Lucerne in Switzerland is probably the top tourist destination in this country, and Bern is not far behind. Same with Salzburg in Austria. But the good thing about Europe is, that there are tons of other cities worth visiting everywhere, that are not mentioned in this list, especially in Italy, France or Spain.
I applaud you for your incredible patience with the undeservedly hostile comments by us Europeans. People planning their holiday will benefit from these ideas In general avoiding the most touristy places is an unquestionable win. You'll get just as much history and culture - literally missing out on nothing at all except the crowds.
Hi @companyjoe, Thank you so much for your kind words and I'm really happy to hear that you found the video helpful, it means a lot to me! Europe has so many wonderful places beyond the usual tourist spots that it's probably impossible to list all of them in one video While selections might have been different, travel is always a personal experience and I am really happy with the places listed here and would recommend them to my friends too Your encouragement means a lot, and I hope many travelers will benefit from exploring these underrated cities Thank you for your comment!
It’s true that a few of these gems are not so hidden. I’ve lived in and near Switzerland for most of my adult life and would not recommend Berne or Lucerne as little known places - I’d be more likely to mention Chur or Lausanne instead. These two places are also relatively well known, but not with English speakers. What I really like about this video is the focus on many places outside the usual Germany-France-Italy region. If I were responsible for the content here, I’d make each city’s introduction a bit longer and break the whole thing down into 4 or 5 videos. In this format, it’s easy to forget what you’ve seen by the end.
@@marjoriebelt2842 Thank you so much for your very constructive and helpful comment! I’m just starting my channel and planning to experiment with different formats, and your suggestion to make each city's introduction a bit longer and break the content down into multiple videos is fantastic. I’ll likely give that a try. You're absolutely right about the cognitive bias-what seems like a hidden gem to me or others from the US might not be viewed the same way by someone living in Western Europe, but that's the magic of the Internet. Whatever you do there will always be someone not happy with the output Thanks again for your thoughtful feedback!
Thank you so much for showing the beauty of all these cities, because I never had seen so much of them before and they are so very well filmed....and I am looking forward to your next stories of interesting European towns ...many of them would be very glad to be on your list❤
@@notburgasinger6316 Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the video and discovered new cities through it. A new video is in the making, so stay tuned for more stories of interesting European towns! ❤️
Good question! Yes, the famous Hagia Sophia is in Istanbul However there are also other notable places inspired by it, like the Hagia Sophia Church in Thessaloniki, Greece, Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, and the Hagia Sophia in Iznik, Turkey Each of these places reflects the architectural and cultural influence of the original
Being from there, Banja Luka is ok. More of a stop off than full visit. People would have much more fun and better things to see, food, etc in Travnik, Mostar, Neum, Vlasic.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! It's interesting to hear that Banja Luka is more of a stop-off than a full visit Travnik, Mostar, Neum, and Vlasic sound like fantastic alternatives with plenty to see and do. Appreciate the recommendations 🙏
I don't really understand many of the comments. I am from Germany and visited already many countries in Europe, but there were only a few cities on this list, that I already visited (Salzburg, Ljubljana, Pula). I mean of course I heard of many of the other cities, especially the capitals or Lille, Porto, Valencia, Bergen. But there were still so many cities that I have never even heard of. So I thought the video was very interesting and informative. And I guess for people who are not from Europe this video is even more helpful. Thank you for this video! I would personally add Trieste in Italy and Graz in Austria ^^
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Helen! The snapshots really capture the charm of these hidden cities, aren't they? Have you had the chance to visit any of them?
Wow, that's amazing! It's incredible to think about such a large basilica made entirely of bricks and its capacity to hold 25,000 people. Thanks for sharing! Is it the highest church in Poland?
@@geoinsider No , the highest church tower in Poland of about 141 m high is in Licheń New Basilica Church . Also there are about 20 other churches higher than Gdańsk ST. Mary's Basilica in Poland .
@@beatabonin4131 Thanks for the additional information! The Licheń New Basilica Church sounds impressive with its towering height. It’s incredible how many monumental churches there are in Poland. Do you have a favorite among these?
Came across your video. It’s absolutely wonderful video. Great idea to capture the non-popular sites around the world in more ways than one. Is it possible you can do a series of these sites with a little bit more depth like each video you talk a little bit more About just one specific place at a time like the cost of living there the healthcare, the bylaws, recycling, non-recycling, education Property Tax ⚛️⚛️⚛️⚛️⚛️⚛️ all kinds of stuff like that if you can go into more detail even the weather is it four seasons is it one tropical season, how hot it gets or how cold it can get, etc.. If you could go through all these places once again, and do a specific video for each one as like a series, that would be amazing and thank you in advance I look forward to seeing these videos again.
@Libre987 Istanbul is indeed an incredible city and a must-visit destination The reason it didn't make the list is that it's not considered underrated or a hidden gem With almost 18 million tourists visiting each year, Istanbul is as popular and well-known as cities like London, Rome, and Barcelona, which also didn't make it to the list for the same reason. My aim was to highlight lesser-known destinations that deserve more attention. Istanbul's charm and significance are already recognized by many travelers worldwide 🙂
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Being from Austria, I have to tell you that Salzburg is actually OVERcrowded with tourists all year round. Go to Graz instead or visit some of the numerous spectacular cloisters or castles or take in the varied landscape by train/car/bike.
Small cities like Krems, Baden, Steyr, Gmunden,Friesach, Hall, Feldkirch have lots of charm.
Thanks for sharing your local insights!
Graz and the other cities you mentioned sound amazing. I'll definitely consider highlighting these charming spots in future content.
Appreciate your recommendations! :)
I have to agree. Salzburg, even in early May, was packed and the people seemed pretty over it already. Vienna was friendlier... And that's apparently an achievement 😂. In fact, I found Vienna quite polite despite its reputation. It made me wonder what people expect and I'm Canadian.
@@ChrisLovesThisGame friendly Canadians are always welcome and well received. Glad you liked my home town 👍🤗
Wonderfull city, Graz! One of my favourites!
as a fellow austrian i can only say: please stay away from Salzburg - there are already way too many tourists here.
I gasped when I saw Lucerne and Salzburg on your list. Both these cities are overwhelmed with tourists. Salzburg also has a horrendous traffic problem, and despite it having a population of only 150,000, is seriously considering building an underground railway. If I lived in Salzburg, I would support that project!
I visited both Lucerne and Salzburg and loved their charm during my short visit. I wasn't aware of the tourism and traffic issues you mentioned. The idea of an underground railway in Salzburg sounds like a much-needed improvement. Thanks for sharing this insight!
Just go to Lucerne in September; much quieter. I know as I lived there for 5 years.
@@sgp7975 Actually I visit Lucerne very regularly, sometimes in September. Lucerne is a hugely popular summer resort, and 'thanks' to global warming, the season is getting longer (at both ends). My most recent visit was in early May 2024. The 09 12 boat to Fluelen was full of tourists.
@@sgp7975 I suspect that your residence in Lucerne was a long time ago. Global warming means that the summer season in Lucerne (and Salzburg) stretches from May to October. I visited Lucerne in early May 2024. The 09 12 boat to Fluelen was packed with tourists. On a previous visit in mid-September 2019 a combination of fine weather and a classical music festival at the KKL meant that the lake boats were packed. The 'Stadt Luzern' paddle steamer was still in service, even though she was supposed to have been 'withdrawn' for an overhaul. The shipping company no doubted needed her 1,200 passenger capaiuty.
@@rogersexton7857 No - not long ago and since i have many friends i still go back.
Part of video of Vilnius is actually Tallinn. The first shots of Segovia I think are Palermo in Sicily. Is a good list, I came back from Porto last week,it is beautiful.
Yes, indeed
Yes, it's Palermo in the first shots of Segovia. It's the cathedral of Palermo
that "Vilnius" drone footage at 20:50 is actually Tallinn !
Not surprised..not a bad list, but smacks of AI, which always has glitches like that..name pronunciation is better than much AI
close but no cigar :)
Yeah and with the random stock footage they always put in these videos , I'd rather have just pictures when there is no video footage, but actually from the beach, market, etc. that is talked about
True
The title is completely misleading... Hidden Europe? Most of them - if not all - are well known tourist spots.
I'm sorry that you feel that way. However to make your comment more constructive, which cities do you think should be included?
@@geoinsider I thought that I will hear of or see cities or towns that I did not know about in the first place. Cities and little towns that are beautiful and where you would have to make a deep dive in Europe´s Geography to come across them. Real hidden gems.
Exactly. Gouda is a tourist town. There are more interesting medieval cities in the Netherlands.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! To make this comment more helpful and constructive for other people reading this thread can you suggest a shortlist of cities worth visiting in the Netherlands?
@@geoinsider the video was excellently done. Perhaps "Hidden" in the title may seem inappropriate to some people, especially Europeans who would be quite familiar with many of these cities, but millions of people who visit Europe (e.g. people from Asia, the Americas or Africa), would not think of them when planning a visit, and probably never even heard of many of these cities, so it is not entirely inappropriate. It depends on which part of the global audience we are talking about.
You should try Bergamo in Italy. A really nice city whose airport is Ryanair's Milan airport. It has an upper city and a lower city connected by a funicular and if you're into shopping, one of Italy's biggest malls is a short walk from the airport. As at 10 June 2024 you can get a daytrip from Stansted airport for 32 quid.
Thanks for the recommendation! Bergamo sounds like an amazing place to visit, especially with the convenient transport links and shopping options. I'll definitely consider it for my next trip ❤️
The Alta is spectacular
Being a portuguese citizen and natural from Porto, it makes me very happy to see you included that city in the list! I would also recommend visiting Lisbon and the beaches from Algarve (south of the country)
@@catarinamiranda2932 Thanks for your suggestions! As someone who adores Portugal and is planning a trip there next year, I appreciate your recommendation for Lisbon and the Algarve beaches🙌
I also came across another recommendation to visit Óbidos in a video (ruclips.net/video/fVtyOvsAMw4/видео.html), and I'm definitely adding it to my list! Looking forward to exploring more of what Portugal has to offer❤️
@@geoinsider Sintra is also a sight to behold and only 30 mins train from Lisbon, making a very good day trip if you go early! (but ill admit im suprise to see porto has #1 since its well known for tourism and ill admit it is pretty but ive been to other city on your list i find better then Porto itself haha, but opinions varies with everyone ;) ) nice overall review :)
Uppsala (Sweden), Bielsko-Biała (Poland), Sopron (Hungary), Trakai (Lithuania), Viljandi (Estonia), Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Bergamo (Italy), Nuremberg (Germany)
Portugal is my winner-good prices, mentality of people, gorgeus wines, transport-really amazing country.
not really
sofia bulgaria is a nice city. market. churchs. parks. museums. restaurants. architecture. history. synagogue. shopping.
@@e_s5 Totally agree! Sofia has so much to offer. It's definitely a gem in Europe that more people should explore. Thanks for sharing your insight!
I was in Zadar in the summer and I love the City and the Adriasee is it so beadufull
Well, I have to admit that these cities are hidden to me. For that reason, I'm very grateful you made this video. I think it was well done! Thank you so much.❤
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and discovered some new places. Your appreciation means a lot to me. 😊❤️
26:33- Porto, Portugal started out as a Phoenician port then the Romans conquered it and called it 'Portus'. .which means 'port' in Latin. Anyway, the name stuck and would evolve into Porto which also means 'port' in Portuguese before eventually becoming the source of the name for the entire nation of Portugal!
Thank you so much for sharing this fascinating information about Porto!
I really appreciate your comment, and it's incredible to learn how the city's name evolved from its Phoenician roots to becoming a significant part of Portugal's identity.
This is exactly the kind of historical insight that makes exploring hidden gems so rewarding.
Thanks again for contributing! ❤️
I've been to both Barca and Valencia and I gotta say I liked the vibe and the beaches of Valencia waay more
Oh definitely! The vibe and beaches there are indeed amazing ❤️
@@geoinsider, 'Barca' does not exist (apart from being a little boat in Spanish and the surname of a well-known Carthaginian family to which Hannibal, Hasdrubal, and Hamilcar belonged). 'Barça' is the abbreviation for FC Barcelona, the football team. The city is sometimes abbreviated as 'Barna' or 'Bcn'.
Barcelona is a loathsome place. Been twice, two pickpocket attempts, two scam attempts, very little green space. Suggest one visit, see the Gaudi architecture, get out.
Thanks for this. Great list overall. I would add Lyon, FR. The culinary heritage is epic. Also Zagreb easily ties with Ljubljana.
@@Luca-c5w Thank you for your feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed the list. Lyon is a fantastic suggestion. I totally agree with you about Zagreb and Ljubljana both being wonderful cities to explore. Thanks for the great additions!❤️
Lyon being the 3rd biggest french city (and even 2nd if we're talking about the urban area) make the recommandation a bit weird but it's a great city.
I also love Bordeaux and Montpellier in the top 10 biggest french cities.
A worthwhile list. Some cities listed are well known, but some I have never heard of. My nomination for a city that should have been included: Ravenna, Italy.
Hi David,
Thank you for your thoughtful comment and for suggesting Ravenna, Italy!
It definitely deserves recognition, and I'll consider it for future lists
Thanks for watching!
Been to Ravenna for a day trip. Beautiful cathedral there.
I would also suggest Padova.
I’m Dutch and live in Gent. I was waiting if you would mention Belgium ;)
Decent list even though most of these towns are well known.
Some other:
Szeged, Hungary
Rovinj, Croatia
Mostar, BIH
Nauplion, Greece
Aachen, Germany
Brugge, Belgium
Thank you for your comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the list.
All your ideas are fantastic and definitely deserve more attention. I'll definitely consider them for future content.
Thanks again for your input!
Excellent additions!
Bratislava, Slovakia
Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliki Trnovo, Bulgaria
Irkutsk, Siberia
Bilbao, Donostia, Spain
Bayonne, Carcassonne, France
Lescala/Casaques/Girona, Spain
Omiš, Croatia
Fribourg, Murten, Gruyeres, Switzerland
..some of my own favourites
@@bluemavrykgreat list! Live in Girona and love it. For anyone interested there is a typo for Cadaques
Italy Is the country with the most UNESCO sites, but there isnt any italian city here? You could nave easily made only an italian list
We make it a point to visit less-touristed cities. I've been to nine of these cities. Although some like Porto, are becoming quite popular.
It's great to hear that you've explored so many of these cities!
Porto is indeed gaining popularity but I think it's well deserved
Which of the nine cities was your favorite?
@@geoinsider Of the ones I've visited relatively in the past ten years, Porto, then Vilnius, followed by Coimbra, Valencia, and Segovia in no particular order. Ghent is probably at the end of this list, but also well worth visiting.
That's a fantastic list! Each of those cities has its own unique charm. Porto, Valencia and Vilnius are definitely my favorite ones. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Thank you for making the list. I just came back from a trip to Germany. The cityscape of Dresden took my breath away. I am glad it is on your list.
I don't like Porto.
the way you pronounced Banja Luka almost got me dead (laughing). Great vid tbw love your channel!
The pronunciation was entertaining. Wroclaw had me laughing!
Zadar - one of towns in Croatia that is very underrated, great for including it! But useful information, Adriatic is sea, not ocean, in Europe we take great care to differentiate those.
@@ivanavercevic7160 Thank you for pointing that out! I appreciate the correction on the Adriatic being a sea, not an ocean-important detail. Glad you enjoyed seeing Zadar included. Thanks for sharing your insight!🙌
Becoming typical. Wihout looking at the cities here's one we enjoyed. It's Trier, Germany. It sits on the Mosel River. There are still Roman Empire bldgs, excellent shopping, friendly people all in a snaller city. West of Trier are steep hillsides, growing the grapes for some excellent Mosel wines.
Loved Porto and Coimbra especially. You do very good work. Thank you
@@Thanksfortheupdate4508 Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the parts about Porto and Coimbra ❤️
You can also mention Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo and Nesebar in Bulgaria, they're stunning and deserve to be in the list!
@@branimirgenev8019 Great suggestions! Bulgaria is full of hidden gems, and these cities definitely deserve recognition. I'll keep them in mind for future lists-thanks for sharing!🙌
At 20:50, the helicopter view of the old town of Vilnius... is actually Tallinn old town.
Best thing about #21 Bern ist the river Aare. You can get yourself drift in the river. Its fantastic.
@@davids.4585 That sounds amazing! Drifting in the Aare must be such a relaxing and fun experience. Bern really has some unique gems like that - thanks for sharing your favorite thing about the city!
the videos you post are always fantastic, the little-known parts of a beautiful place are really interesting
Thank you for showcasing our charming capital of Valletta! However Valletta in peak season isn t that hidden and can get busling with tourists alike! Love from Malta❤❤
Been to 4 of these already and would add Bassano del Grappa (and surrounds), Italy to the list. Personally, I'd love to go to Malta!
FWIW, I think that Porto is hard to call underrated.
@@johnlabus7359 Great to hear you've already visited some of these! Bassano del Grappa is a fantastic suggestion for the list, and Malta is definitely worth the trip.
Check out Rothenburg/Tauber in Germany. Perfectly intact old town with city wall - looks like out of a fairy tale!
@@elisabethkaup1279 I totally agree! Rothenburg ob der Tauber is like stepping into a fairytale. I actually featured it in my video about fairytale towns.
There are some other hidden gems in there too, so I highly recommend checking it out! Here's the link: ruclips.net/video/fVtyOvsAMw4/видео.html
No. Very touristic. Go to Dinkelsbühl instead.
Italy: Bologna, Ferrara in Emilia Romagna, Mantova, Cremona in Lombardia, Perugia, Assisi, Gubbio, Orvieto, Spoleto in Umbria, Urbino in Marche, Lucca, Volterra, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Monteriggioni, Pitigliano in Toscana, Viterbo, Bomarzo in Lazio, Pompei, Ercolano in Campania, Matera in Basilicata, Lecce, Ostuni, Polignano a mare in Puglia, Tropea in Calabria, Ragusa, Siracusa, Taormina in Sicilia
True about Bologna.....spent a week there last year. Great city with lots of interest and not that many tourists (apart from myself, of course)....
@@panchopuskas1 thank you, Bologna is my city
Anche Pavia in Lombardia, capitale regno longobardo e del primo regno d'Italia
e Genova!!!!!
@@luisa.genovab4899 Genova è una delle grandi città italiane un po' sconosciuta. Ci sono vissuto per qualche mese alla fine dello secolo scorso ed è rimasta sempre nel mio cuore. Saluti da Saragozza. Ay, Génova... ¡qué bonita eres! (y yo qué joven era)
When you talk about Upper Barrakka in Valletta, you're showing Lower Barrakka. 🙂 It's probably just a coincidence. Upper Barrakka can be seen from 10:04 onwards. Both are well worth a visit, by the way.
Is Grand Harbour 'one of the most beautiful harbours in the world'? Well, I haven't seen all harbours. But it's certainly pretty. It's a natural deep-water harbour. It's big enough to moor a couple of giant cruise liners, and land a water plane. It's surrounded by historic cities such as Valletta and the Three Cities, dating back centuries. The water of the Mediterranean is always beautiful. Legend has it that Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and later consort of Queen Elizabeth II, went skinny-dipping in Grand Harbour.
And once you're in Malta, visit Mdina. If you think that Valletta is beautiful (and it is, mind), you haven't seen Mdina yet. Especially during the pandemic, when all the tourists stayed away, it was marvellous. It was truly the 'Silent City' then.
People who point out that quite a few of these places are overrun by tourists are probably right, but this video is probably aimed at non-Europeans. We Europeans can hop in a car and drive anywhere (well, OK, I cannot, because I live in Malta), but for people outside Europe, many of these places may be unknown.
And, truth be told, I'm Dutch, but I've never been to Gouda. Or Alkmaar, or Haarlem, or Leiden (other than to visit a museum), and only once to Delft (of the pottery). One lifetime isn't enough to see the sights of Europe.
The funniest part about this European city video is the thumbnail city is Edmonton, AB in Canada 🤣
Yeah I'm from Edmonton and I'm so confused
I never went there but I knew what it looked like and I thought that it was really funny that it's on the thumbnail for a video about Europe.
@@Dafonso1 Haha, I know right?! I'm testing out a few thumbnails, and it turns out the weird ones seem to get the most clicks! Blame the algorithm for that one 😂 Just experimenting with what works!
You are stupid @@geoinsider
Interesting list, thank you. All are hidden to me except Salzburg and Porto. I just finished planning my second Switzerland trip and again never thought about Lucerne and Bern. Will come back your vids before next plan. 👍🏼
What about some of the cities and towns in Slovakia, such as Bratislava (the Caipital), Kosice (has the largest cathedral in Slovakia and home of the second oldest marathon in the world), Banska Stiavnica (once the silver capital of Europe and home to the Calvaria pilgrimage chapels), and Bardejov (its entire old town square is a Unesco heritage site).
@@RCRock1368 Those are great suggestions! Slovakia definitely has some hidden gems that deserve more attention❤️
Bratislava is probably the worst place I've ever seen in my life
The way you describe your trips makes me feel like I’m there with you.
Luca, Italy was pretty amazing and off the beaten path.
@janetchristian It is Lukka, also you have right- beautiful small town.
I'm surprised there was no Italy on this list, I guess everything is popular nowadays 😂
P.s. I visited Porto last weekend and it really is beautiful, I would also recommend Aveiro, about an hour by train south of Porto, truly one of the most beautiful cities I ever visited
Sure go to Malmö, just be sure to bring a bulletproof vest before you go
Oh no.. I love Sweden❤ .. was there three weeks ago. Gamla Stan was just enchanting.
Lol
I would add Taormina in Sicily. We were on a Mediterranean cruise and there was a stop in Sicily (Messina) and we went on an excursion to Taormina. We absolutely fell in love with it. Apparently they fimed the second season of "White Lotus" there. The city has been occupied for more than 2000 years. Cool restaurants and shops.
Thanks for the recommendation, @jmace1957!
I’m a huge fan of "White Lotus" and somehow missed Taormina from the list...
It definitely is a place that should be included
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Nearby Syracuse is beautiful too!
@@geoinsider there's no Italian cities on this list, how is that possible??
My favourite city in Sicily is Catania
Definitely enjoyed your video, I love the history of churches, I will be travelling to porto, Lisbon, Tomar, and Fatima in July
Love from 🇨🇦
Thank you so much for your kind words, @crush42mash6!
Your upcoming trip sounds incredible-Porto, Lisbon, Tomar, and Fatima all have such rich histories and beautiful architecture. I bet it will be incredible!
Safe travels, and I hope you have an amazing time exploring these wonderful places ❤️
Very informative video, thanks. Although I live in Europe and have been to some of those places there are some I haven't visited but would consider it after watching it. Being from Northern Spain I would like to point out that it is Santiago de Compostela (not di Compostella 😊).
There are other cities in Spain that I would recommend: Avila, Salamanca and Caceres.
In England (where I live) I would recommend Bath, York and Canterbury.
23:09 Its Palermo, not Segovia 😂
Go visit Trier in Germany everyone! It’s sooo beautiful 🤩
Thanks for the recommendation! I've been looking for new places to visit in Germany. What’s something unique about Trier that you loved the most?
Ulm is also quite beautiful. And its cathedral has the tallest steeple in Europe at what 500 something feet?
Thanks for a starting point for a 1st time traveler to Europe. The comments have very good additions to the list too!
@@melewaterworks6619 Glad you found it helpful! The comments definitely add some great suggestions too - it's always exciting to hear from fellow travelers. Hope your first trip to Europe is an unforgettable adventure!
Yay! Thank you for having Coimbra and Porto on your list. Not being biased but these two neighboring awesome cities are well worth it. I should know. I live in one of them. On the Spanish side, I'll add Salamanca.
Hi @lucaspierre9305! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Coimbra and Porto are indeed fantastic cities with so much to offer
Thanks for the recommendation of Salamanca; it’s definitely a gem worth exploring on the Spanish side ❤️
If you have any other suggestions or hidden spots, feel free to share!
Chester and York in England. Chester is wonderful. I visited in july and I've been fascinated
It's true that a lot of visitors to The Netherland skip Gouda, but still it is pretty crowded with tourists who know to appreciate the unique beauty of it. The city hall is indeed a breathtaking monument and the stained glass windows at the Sint Janskerk are beautiful byond believe. But take a stroll in the cheese museum and don't forget the enjoy the original Goudse Stroopwafels.
@@marcelbinken Thank you for sharing such detailed insights! Gouda sounds even more charming with your descriptions🙌
Number 7 Vilnius: the second (aerial) view here is Tallinn. I've been as tourist in both towns.
Gouda is pronounce "how-dah". I'd also like to throw in Geiranger, NOR and also Alesund, NOR, both very beautiful with lots of character. I loved Segovia, ESP and I agree with that one, so beautiful, quaint, and historic. Akureyri, ISL and it's surrounding sites is very nice too. Lastly, Bruges, BEL had that old world charm and architecture, beautiful parks and green spaces, as well as being very walkable.
@@nerigarcia7116 Thank you for the pronunciation tip! 'How-dah'-got it! Geiranger and Ålesund are indeed stunning, and I appreciate the other suggestions too. Segovia, Akureyri, and Bruges are all incredible choices, each with its unique charm. Love how you captured their essence-definitely places worth falling in love with!
My personal advice for an underrated city in germany = Görlitz. It was the only big city in germany (back then with over 100.000 population) that was not destroyed in the 2nd WW. So it has its great buildings, streets and architecture like Berlin in the 1920s still in tact. Its was also rated one of the most beautiful cities in germany many times, its just not popular enough to get the attention this city deserves.
Rovinj. We loved Pula, but loved Rovinj more.
Rovinj sounds wonderful! What made Rovinj stand out to you more than Pula? Any specific recommendations for someone visiting for the first time?
Thank you so much for this video. I live in the U.S and I travel to Europe 3 times a years and like to visit a city for 3 weeks and absorb the culture. This video helped me plan my next two adventures.
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!
It's great to hear that you found the video helpful for planning your adventures
Traveling to Europe three times a year sounds amazing-enjoy every moment and soak in all the amazing experiences❤️
For me as a native german person it feels weird that this video should be that helpful.
I have not visited each and every country but for most, if not all of them, there are beautiful towns missing.
In Germany for example Bremen, Lübeck, Stralsund, Celle, Münster, Trier, Erfurt, Leipzig, Görlitz, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Lindau and Konstanz. And even the Ruhr area (Ruhrgebiet) where I live has more green places and a smaller town called Hattingen, which is very beautiful.
Let me know, if I should continue with other countries. :)
@@mathiasroehn9399 Thanks for sharing your perspective! It's always great to hear about beautiful towns from a local's point of view
Bremen, Lübeck, and the other towns you mentioned sound wonderful. Videos like this can't cover everything, but it's a good starting point for discovering new places.
I'd love to hear more about other hidden gems especially in Poland, Romania, Croatia and Hungary
Nice video! As a Spaniard I would have put San Sebastián or Donostia instead of Zaragoza. It is a wonderful city with the best cuisine (It is the city with most Michelin stars per km2 im the world) and although is quite famous between Spanish people, outside it’s not very known.
@@elgofre5504 Thank you so much for the suggestion! I’ve actually heard of San Sebastián, and I agree-it’s a fantastic place to recommend. But I wasn’t familiar with Donostia, so I’ll definitely check it out! Appreciate you sharing these local insights!🙌
@@geoinsiderSan Sebastian and Donostia are the same city. "Donostia" is the name of the city in Basque language.
I do agree, it's my very favorite Spanish city, though it became very touristy... My beloved Donostia!
Qué majo eres, en vez de decir que quiten una ciudad de otro país o solo pedir que añada San Sebastián, atacas directamente a Zaragoza. Para empezar todo el mundo ya conoce San Sebastián y saben que es bonita y ya es extremadamente turística, y lo más feo es que quieras quitar a Zaragoza. Menos mal que no todos los vascos serán como tú, qué poca vergüenza, de un zaragozano, aragonés.
Por otro lado te lo debería agradecer, porque gracias a eso Aragón tiene de los mejores ratios salario/precio de vivienda, ya que no es turística y la demanda externa no infla los precios de Zaragoza, ya que pocos nos visitan y vivimos de la industria.
Ojalá te inundes de guiris y no puedas pagarte una casa, yo ya aquí con mi casa pagada.Agur.
@@geoinsider Don't listen to this guy, from a Spaniard from Zaragoza, Aragón. San Sebastián, and even Segovia, are already very touristic and well known by foreigners, but almost no foreigner knows Zaragoza.
You did a good job on pointing an unknown, albeit important city, in Spain. There are others, but good job.
The objective of your video was achieved: underrated cities, nobody dislikes or underrates San Sebastián.
Very nice video
@@SamuelRosal-v3u Thank you and thank you for watching 🙂
Went to half of these; not sure if all of them are underrated, but they are surely worth a visit. I can't wait to visit the other half.
Gouda, NL is a tourist spot, as are all the parts known as Holland. Travel more east and you will find actual hidden gems in towns like Zutphen, Deventer, Kampen and Zwolle. All medieval charming places with historic feel.
As an organist would love to visit Zwolle whose cathedral has I believe the largest organ in the Netherlands. And on that subject Haarlem as well with the organ at St. Bavo Cathedral.
Great video. Too much to take in one go. Just left Valleta two days ago. Now in Tropea in Calabria. 😊
Thank you! It sounds like you're on an amazing journey. Valetta is such a beautiful place 🥰 How are you finding Tropea? Enjoy your travels!
@@geoinsider I think it's worth a visit too. Great options in your video. I think I'll leave the hotter spots till autumn
@@theirishcontrarian4626 Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video 🙂
I'll definitely add it to my shortlist then and check out for sure! And yeah visiting in autumn sounds like a great plan to avoid the heat
Absolutely loved this video! 🌍✨ It’s amazing how many hidden gems Europe has to offer beyond the usual tourist spots. I can’t wait to explore some of these underrated cities and experience their unique charm and culture. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hello there! I'm an old lady from Mowcow. I really enjoyed your video. I've been to some European countries. France, Germany, England, all three Baltic countries. Bulgaria, of course. But most cities in your video are absolutely new for me. Of coirse, I've heard about them but never visited. That is why your video is just like a window into another Europe. Thank you very much indeed for your job.
@@lyudmillamoscow955 Hello from afar! Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m really glad you enjoyed the video and that it brought you a glimpse of places you hadn’t seen before. It sounds like you’ve been to some amazing places yourself! I hope my future videos can continue to be a window into the wonders of Europe for you. Your support means a lot to me! 😊
Thanks for your reply. Great to hear from you!
Half of the cities mentioned are already well known 🤭 but i love the video!
I hope you can give us a tour in Zurich 🤗🥰
Cities in Norway i didn't hear.
How can you choose Ljubljana without a mention of nearby Lake Bled? Also, I think Trieste deserves a place on this list, more so than a city such as Lucerne, which is overrun with tourists.
Lake Bled is indeed stunning and worth visiting, though it's about an hour's drive from Ljubljana, making it more suitable for a broader trip to Slovenia
Trieste is another fantastic suggestion-its rich history and beautiful waterfront are often overlooked
Thanks for sharing these insights!
Confusing images when is showing Segovia inland Spain with a panoramic view with a port… I’m pretty sure the image is Catania-Sicily, Italy
Not only
20:49 - 20:57 is definitely not Vilnius
Actually it's Palermo, Sicily
I've spent time in Belfast, Dresden, and Salzburg. Each different. Each beautiful.
@@jerryholland5557 That's amazing! Belfast, Dresden, and Salzburg all have such unique histories and atmospheres. What were some of your favorite experiences in each city?
😮🎉 maybe you should try Freiburg and Black Forest or Mosel Rhine!
The footage underlining the "Dresden Biergarten" text at 20:31 is actually showing Nürnberg.
Thanks for going east, and to less busy places
My pleasure!
Riga should be higher imo but the wife and I went to Porto and instantly fell in love with it…want to retire there hopefully
Porto is an amazing city with so much charm! It's easy to see why you fell in love with it and it is a great place to consider for retirement.
While Riga has its own unique appeal, Porto definitely has a special magic. Wishing you the best in making that dream a reality!
Unknown small cities in France: Ambroise, Saumur, Campiegne, Pau, Gordes...
Hi @Malik_Sylvus! Thanks for sharing these hidden gems. I haven't heard of some of these cities before, but I'll definitely check them out. Appreciate the great travel ideas! Thank you!
Been to Lille; it's beautiful.
Lille is indeed beautiful! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Do you have any favorite spots or recommendations for future visitors?
Great vlog bro❤.... yup No .11 Malmö 😊 amazing
Glad you enjoyed it ❤️🙌
Why do so many of the "hidden" cities turn out to be pretty well known to tourists? Segovia, Salzburg, Porto, Santiago, Coimbra (a regular on lists of top Portuguese destinations), etc.
Good question! To me "hidden gem" doesn't mean it's not a tourist spot. It's rather something with value or beauty that's not immediately apparent and has received far less recognition than it deserves
It's all about personal perspective; for instance, I first heard about Segovia just a year ago. It does attract tourists, but definitely fewer than major hubs like London with its 20 million visitors.
Hope that makes sense!
Norwich in the East Anglian area is rather off the central north/south route in the UK has links and influence from Holland reflected in it's architecture. It has a cathedral, a
number of beautiful churches and a castle in which the local museum is sited.
People need to relax. Not everyone has heard of all of these places. And compared to places like Paris they are not as traveled. So either watch it or don't. There were a few that i learned that are now on my list of places to hit up.
You're absolutely right! People do seem to get too triggered by a quite innocent video...
On the positive side I'm glad to hear that some of these places made it onto your list. Happy travels, and thanks for watching! ❤️
@@geoinsiderhow about make a part 2 of this video to show more underrated cities or town, hope you could include Jajce(Bosnia)
Lille(France) is Called Rijsel in the Flemish region in Belgium. As we have a town called Lille.
I also recommend to visit Wroclaw in Poland 🇵🇱 its a very beautiful City but a bit underrated… not so much Tourists ,and a very good nightlife ,restaurants and bars 👌
Beautiful video, most are gems, but not hidden, would've loved to have seen one or two Italian cities, in 31 cities not one mention of an Italian medieval city or historical town😢
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Italian medieval cities are truly special-I'll definitely consider including them in future lists. Do you have any favorite Italian cities you'd recommend?
@@geoinsider thank you for your response, and yes I do. Here are a few: Taormina, Modica, Palermo, these are in Sicily. Matera, Ostuni, and others in Puglia. Pompeii in Campania. Ercolano in Lazio.
@@MsBaby1959 Thank you so much for sharing these suggestions! I’ll definitely try to include them in future videos
Each of the places you mentioned has its own unique charm and history
Do you have a favorite among them?
@@geoinsider Pompeii 😍😍😍
@@MsBaby1959 Pompeii is awesome, good choice! I just came back from the Amalfi Coast a week ago, so chances are I'll be making a video about it soon. It wasn't all roses and butterflies, though. Have you been to the Amalfi Coast?
As a Portuguese from Porto... Porto used to be a wonderful city to live and to visit, with tradition and modernity. Nowadays it's too touristic and it lost most of its soul. I don't really like very much the city of Coimbra, but it has some interesting historical places. I think, nehond the capital Lisbon, cities like Braga, and Guimarães (North), Aveiro and Évora (this one also too crowded now) are cities that really deserve a visit.
Visited 7, live in 1. Nice video, I think most are not that known or first pick
@@Phazur Wow, that's awesome! Glad you enjoyed the video. Sounds like you've explored some amazing places! Which city do you live in? 😊
I’ve been to Europe 4 times, but only have visited one city on your list (Valencia). With those beautiful views, I’m inspired to go beyond the larger cities and see some in this video. Thanks!
Hi @marcosmadeiros9553 and thank you for your comment! Valencia is indeed a beautiful city ❤️
Europe has so many hidden gems that often go unnoticed, and I'm glad this video could spark your interest in visiting some of them
Which cities from the list are you most excited to see?
Have you been to LIeges (Belgium)? It would perfectly fit into this programme!
@@fabiesque I haven’t been yet, but I’m planning to visit Belgium again early in 2025! I’ll definitely check it out and consider it for future lists. Thanks for the suggestion!
Lucerne in Switzerland is probably the top tourist destination in this country, and Bern is not far behind. Same with Salzburg in Austria. But the good thing about Europe is, that there are tons of other cities worth visiting everywhere, that are not mentioned in this list, especially in Italy, France or Spain.
I applaud you for your incredible patience with the undeservedly hostile comments by us Europeans. People planning their holiday will benefit from these ideas In general avoiding the most touristy places is an unquestionable win. You'll get just as much history and culture - literally missing out on nothing at all except the crowds.
Hi @companyjoe,
Thank you so much for your kind words and I'm really happy to hear that you found the video helpful, it means a lot to me!
Europe has so many wonderful places beyond the usual tourist spots that it's probably impossible to list all of them in one video
While selections might have been different, travel is always a personal experience and I am really happy with the places listed here and would recommend them to my friends too
Your encouragement means a lot, and I hope many travelers will benefit from exploring these underrated cities
Thank you for your comment!
It’s true that a few of these gems are not so hidden. I’ve lived in and near Switzerland for most of my adult life and would not recommend Berne or Lucerne as little known places - I’d be more likely to mention Chur or Lausanne instead. These two places are also relatively well known, but not with English speakers. What I really like about this video is the focus on many places outside the usual Germany-France-Italy region. If I were responsible for the content here, I’d make each city’s introduction a bit longer and break the whole thing down into 4 or 5 videos. In this format, it’s easy to forget what you’ve seen by the end.
@@marjoriebelt2842 Thank you so much for your very constructive and helpful comment!
I’m just starting my channel and planning to experiment with different formats, and your suggestion to make each city's introduction a bit longer and break the content down into multiple videos is fantastic. I’ll likely give that a try.
You're absolutely right about the cognitive bias-what seems like a hidden gem to me or others from the US might not be viewed the same way by someone living in Western Europe, but that's the magic of the Internet. Whatever you do there will always be someone not happy with the output
Thanks again for your thoughtful feedback!
Thank you so much for showing the beauty of all these cities, because I never had seen so much of them before and they are so very well filmed....and I am looking forward to your next stories of interesting European towns ...many of them would be very glad to be on your list❤
@@notburgasinger6316 Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the video and discovered new cities through it.
A new video is in the making, so stay tuned for more stories of interesting European towns! ❤️
Very insightful!!!!
@@vincentsordini5562 Thank you! 🙌
Isn't the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul?
Great suggestions
Good question! Yes, the famous Hagia Sophia is in Istanbul
However there are also other notable places inspired by it, like the Hagia Sophia Church in Thessaloniki, Greece, Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, and the Hagia Sophia in Iznik, Turkey
Each of these places reflects the architectural and cultural influence of the original
Was wondering 😮.. maybe there are two..maybe I'll google it.
Under Coimbra title is Kotor, Montenegro from 11:29
Taormina (Sicily), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Bruges (Belgium)
These 3 are all hotspots in fact ...
Good choices!
Both Bruges and Dubrovnik so packed that at times, you literally can't move.
They are all crowded with tourists, that's not the meaning of the video
You forgot to mention Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Evora in Portugal, Seville in Spain, Bled and Bohinj in Slovenia.
@@dogstyle6349 Thanks for the great suggestions! Evora, Seville, Bled, and Bohinj sound amazing-definitely adding them to my list for future videos!
People here do not seem to understand underrated. Seville is not underrated and is already a tourist hot spot and extremely well known.
Being from there, Banja Luka is ok. More of a stop off than full visit. People would have much more fun and better things to see, food, etc in Travnik, Mostar, Neum, Vlasic.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! It's interesting to hear that Banja Luka is more of a stop-off than a full visit
Travnik, Mostar, Neum, and Vlasic sound like fantastic alternatives with plenty to see and do. Appreciate the recommendations 🙏
The first image of Segovia is incorrect. It's Palermo... (Both beautiful cities BTW)
I don't really understand many of the comments. I am from Germany and visited already many countries in Europe, but there were only a few cities on this list, that I already visited (Salzburg, Ljubljana, Pula). I mean of course I heard of many of the other cities, especially the capitals or Lille, Porto, Valencia, Bergen. But there were still so many cities that I have never even heard of. So I thought the video was very interesting and informative.
And I guess for people who are not from Europe this video is even more helpful. Thank you for this video!
I would personally add Trieste in Italy and Graz in Austria ^^
Portugal is my dream vacation! In 60 more days ❤❤❤❤
I enjoyed this. Nice seeing little snapshots.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Helen! The snapshots really capture the charm of these hidden cities, aren't they? Have you had the chance to visit any of them?
Gdansk has the biggest in the world basilica Church build from bricks . This Church is build for 25000 people and has 82 m high tower .
Wow, that's amazing! It's incredible to think about such a large basilica made entirely of bricks and its capacity to hold 25,000 people. Thanks for sharing! Is it the highest church in Poland?
@@geoinsider No , the highest church tower in Poland of about 141 m high is in Licheń New Basilica Church . Also there are about 20 other churches higher than Gdańsk ST. Mary's Basilica in Poland .
@@beatabonin4131 Thanks for the additional information! The Licheń New Basilica Church sounds impressive with its towering height. It’s incredible how many monumental churches there are in Poland. Do you have a favorite among these?
@@geoinsider Licheń Basilica is like from fairitale but I love All Churches in Poland , esspecialy my parish Church in Gdańsk, ST. Father Pio .
Came across your video. It’s absolutely wonderful video. Great idea to capture the non-popular sites around the world in more ways than one. Is it possible you can do a series of these sites with a little bit more depth like each video you talk a little bit more About just one specific place at a time like the cost of living there the healthcare, the bylaws, recycling, non-recycling, education Property Tax ⚛️⚛️⚛️⚛️⚛️⚛️ all kinds of stuff like that if you can go into more detail even the weather is it four seasons is it one tropical season, how hot it gets or how cold it can get, etc.. If you could go through all these places once again, and do a specific video for each one as like a series, that would be amazing and thank you in advance I look forward to seeing these videos again.
You left out Brno, Czechia, and Olomouc Czechia.
Hi @prividinc! It’s pretty possible I did miss out Brno and Olomouc. They would indeed be great additions to the list. Thanks for sharing!
Great video!!!
Thank you!
A question.In which category would u classified cities like Turin, Lyon or Valencia for example? Thank u
I’m surprised that Istanbul is not on the list. Istanbul is a must visit place in the entire world
@Libre987 Istanbul is indeed an incredible city and a must-visit destination
The reason it didn't make the list is that it's not considered underrated or a hidden gem
With almost 18 million tourists visiting each year, Istanbul is as popular and well-known as cities like London, Rome, and Barcelona, which also didn't make it to the list for the same reason.
My aim was to highlight lesser-known destinations that deserve more attention. Istanbul's charm and significance are already recognized by many travelers worldwide 🙂
The very last clip in the Dresden video is from Nürnberg (Waffenhof next to Frauentor), not Dresden. But Nürnberg could easily be on this list!
Cool, you show an image of a cheese shop that sells manchecho. Everybody knows that it is a Spanish cheese.