What are the most underrated places to visit in Europe?

The nine, and the famous place each one is near

• Berat and Gjirokastër, Albania: Ottoman towns, a few hours from Tirana and the Riviera.

• Theth, Albania: the Albanian Alps, north of Shkodër.

• Žabljak and Durmitor, Montenegro: mountains two to three hours inland from Kotor.

• Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Transylvania without Bran Castle's coach tours.

• Kutná Hora and Pilsen, Czech Republic: under an hour or two from Prague.

• Eger and Tokaj, Hungary: wine towns northeast of Budapest.

• Osijek and Šibenik, Croatia: the parts of Croatia that are not Dubrovnik or Split.

• Asturias, Spain: the green north coast, west of Bilbao.

For famous places that are still worth the crowds, see best places to visit in Europe in 2027.

Albania and Montenegro

1. Berat and Gjirokastër, Albania. Two UNESCO-listed Ottoman towns of stone houses climbing to castles. Berat's castle costs 300 lekë and Gjirokastër's 400 lekë, both cash only (see Berat and Gjirokastër Castle). The 2027 detail: Albania is outside Schengen, so days here do not count toward your 90 in 180, and the rebuilt Tirana to Durrës railway with an airport branch is targeted by Albanian authorities for the end of 2027, after years of delay. The catch: buses are furgons (shared minibuses) with loose timetables, and central Tirana saw violent protests in October 2026, so check our Albania safety guide. We spent 3 days in each town in September and October 2023.

2. Theth, Albania. A village in the Accursed Mountains, now reached on the paved SH21 road over the 1,700 m Thore pass (see getting to Theth). Guesthouse and hiking sources put the reliable trail season at mid-June to late September, with snow possible in May and October and most guesthouses shut in winter. The catch: the Valbona pass hike is 6 to 8 hours and the weather turns fast. We spent 3 days in Theth from 13 September 2023; see Theth and how many days in Theth.

3. Žabljak and Durmitor, Montenegro. A mountain town at about 1,450 m, base for Black Lake, the Bobotov Kuk summit and the P14 panoramic road. Summer days at that altitude are mild, with average highs in the low 20s °C in July and August, and the town is a small ski base in winter. The catch: the roads in are narrow and slow, and Durmitor's weather changes within an hour. See how many days in Žabljak and the P14 drive. We spent 3 days in Žabljak and 2 in Nikšić in August and September 2023; for the coast without Kotor's cruise crowds, see Stari Bar and Ulcinj.

Romania, the Czech Republic and Hungary

4. Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Sibiu is a Saxon town of squares and roof 'eyes'; Cluj is Transylvania's student city, near the Salina Turda salt mine. The 2027 date is the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, 18 to 27 June 2027. Late May to June and September are Romania's best months, around 20 to 27 °C, per our best time to visit Romania. From Deva, Corvin Castle in Hunedoara is 18 km away (Corvin Castle). The catch: trains between Transylvanian towns are cheap and slow, and Romania is in Schengen, so the days count. We spent 3 days in Cluj, 3 in Deva and 2 in Sibiu in October 2022; see Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca.

5. Kutná Hora and Pilsen, Czech Republic. Kutná Hora has the Sedlec Ossuary and St Barbara's, about 50 to 55 minutes from Prague by direct train. The ossuary now needs a timed ticket booked ahead (220 CZK (≈ $10.1)) and bans photography, and it is a place of burial, so keep voices down (Kutná Hora day trip). Pilsen is where pale lager was first brewed, in 1842 (what to eat in Pilsen). May, early June and September give highs of about 18 to 24 °C. The catch: both are often done as rushed day trips; a night in each is better. We spent 2 days in each in late September and early October 2022, plus 3 in Hřensko in Bohemian Switzerland (Hřensko).

6. Eger and Tokaj, Hungary. Eger has the castle, the baroque centre and the cellars of the Valley of the Beautiful Women; Tokaj is the sweet-wine village on the river. The catch: if you drive, Hungary's motorways need an e-vignette bought before you join them (5,550 HUF (≈ $16.9) for a day in 2026; see the e-matrica guide), and Tokaj's public transport is thin. Autumn is harvest season. We spent 3 days in each in October 2022, after Budapest; see Eger and day trips from Budapest.

Croatia and Spain

7. Osijek and Šibenik, Croatia. Osijek is a Habsburg river city in Slavonia with a star-shaped fortress quarter, far from the coast's prices. Šibenik is a medieval stone town on the coast with Krka National Park next door. The 2027 detail is Krka's pricing: €40 (≈ $45) for adults from June to September (€30 (≈ $33) after 15:00), €20 (≈ $22) in April, May and October, €7 (≈ $7.8) in winter (Krka from Šibenik). Late May to June and September are the coast's best months, per our best time to visit Croatia. The catch: Osijek is inland and hot in August, and well off the Zagreb to Split line. We spent 3 days in Osijek and 2 in Šibenik in August 2023; see Osijek.

8. Asturias, Spain. Oviedo, Gijón and the Picos de Europa: cider houses, green hills and a coast that stays cooler than the south in summer. 2027 is a Xacobeo holy year, and Oviedo is the start of the Camino Primitivo, so expect more pilgrims than usual, especially around 25 July. The catch: the road to the Lakes of Covadonga is closed to private cars on regulated days (in 2026, daily from 1 June to 18 October), and you take the shuttle bus from Cangas de Onís (see Covadonga restrictions). Rain is part of why it is green. We spent 3 days in Oviedo, 2 in Gijón and 1 in Poncebos in July 2022; see Poncebos.

9. Spain's Rioja, as a bonus. Logroño's tapas streets and the wine village of Laguardia are under two hours by road from Bilbao and see a fraction of San Sebastián's visitors. We spent 4 days in Logroño in July 2022; see Laguardia.

How to string them together

The Balkan three are one route: Dubrovnik to Kotor, inland to Durmitor, south to Shkodër and Theth, then Tirana, Berat and Gjirokastër. Our Balkans road trip itinerary and Albania in two weeks lay it out, and driving across Balkan borders covers the crossings. Late May to June and September suit the whole loop.

Central Europe works as a rail line: Prague, Kutná Hora, Budapest, Eger and Tokaj, then into Romania at Oradea for Cluj and Sibiu. That is the order we travelled in autumn 2022. Our collection of underrated cities has more.

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