One of the major reasons people travel to Europe is its rich and accessible history. You can walk through the streets of any European town and see something impressive that’s hundreds of years old. If you’re considering visiting Europe to visit historic neighborhoods, here is a list of the ten most charming old towns in Europe that you should visit.
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Krakow, Poland
The historic center of Krakow was one of the first sites chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site so its historic and cultural significance has long been recognized. In addition to the shops, cafes, and historic sites that can be visited during the daytime, Krakow offers a vibrant nightlife scene. Krakow also has a unique amount of greenery thanks to the parks that surround it.
Krakow Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Krakow.
Don’t know where to stay in Krakow? Here are some of the best hotels in Krakow to stay in:
Need more ideas? You can find the full list of the best hotels in Krakow to stay in here.
Need more ideas to add to your Krakow itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Krakow in addition to what already mentioned here.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Although the coastal city of Croatia has a beautiful Old Town neighborhood that is popular to visit for many reasons, the historic walls are one of the biggest draws. The walls were built in the middle ages to protect the city and were added to and modified over the years. There are also multiple gates and towers that are present along the walls that are open to visit. One of the gates, Ploče Gate, is the entrance to the Old Town area. The warm toned architecture contrasts beautifully with the blue waters that surround it.
Dubrovnik Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Dubrovnik.
Don’t know where to stay in Dubrovnik? Here are some of the best hotels in Dubrovnik to stay in:
Need more ideas? You can find the full list of the best hotels in Dubrovnik to stay in here.
Need more ideas to add to your Dubrovnik itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Dubrovnik in addition to what already mentioned here.
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague’s Old Town, or Staré Mesto, is one of the best neighborhoods in this Czech city. The fairytale streets of this historic town are perfect to simply wander through and explore. Spend an afternoon admiring the medieval architecture and walking on the cobblestone pathways while stopping into small cafes and shops as you go. The Old Market Square is one of the central points of Prague’s Old Town and is well worth a visit.
Prague Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Prague.
Don’t know where to stay in Prague? Here are some of the best hotels in Prague to stay in:
Need more ideas? You can find the full list of the best hotels in Prague to stay in here.
Need more ideas to add to your Prague itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Prague in addition to what already mentioned here.
Volterra, Italy
The small medieval town of Volterra is located within the picturesque region of Tuscany. You can visit one of the best preserved ancient theaters in Italy – the Teatro Romano. It was built as early as 1 AD. The Duomo Santa Maria Assunta is also one of the highlights of this beautiful mountaintop town. You can spend an afternoon simply walking through the Old Town of Volterra, admiring the imposing brick walls and historic elements of this ancient city.
Volterra Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Volterra.
Don’t know where to stay in Volterra? Here are some of the best hotels in Volterra to stay in:
Need more ideas? You can find the full list of the best hotels in Volterra to stay in here.
Need more ideas to add to your Volterra itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Volterra in addition to what already mentioned here.
Colmar, France
The idyllic French town of Colmar is known for its warm weather and its picturesque canals that wind through the city. Its Old Town area is remarkably well-preserved, and if you are a Disney fan the ambiance might seem familiar: it’s said that Colmar inspired Belle’s home village in the animated classic, Beauty and the Beast. It’s also notable for its location along the Alsatian Wine Route and is often referred to as the capital of Alsatian wine. You can try wine made from grapes such as Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir (the only red), Sylvaner, and Muscat d’Alsace.
Colmar Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Colmar.
Don’t know where to stay in Colmar? Here are some of the best hotels in Colmar to stay in:
Need more ideas? You can find the full list of the best hotels in Colmar to stay in here.
Need more ideas to add to your Colmar itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Colmar in addition to what already mentioned here.
Bruges, Belgium
The charming city of Bruges was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, specifically for its history and unique Gothic architecture. The city is also known for its network of canals that dates back to the 15th century. You can spend time taking guided tours of the city and canals, or relax in the town center. Don’t forget to taste some delicious Belgian chocolate during your stay.
Bruges Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Bruges.
Don’t know where to stay in Bruges? Here are some of the best hotels in Bruges to stay in:
Need more ideas? You can find the full list of the best hotels in Bruges to stay in here.
Need more ideas to add to your Bruges itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Bruges in addition to what already mentioned here.
Lucerne, Switzerland
Lucerne is an idyllic lakeside town in the central region of Switzerland located near the Swiss Alps. Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge, is one of the best places to visit in Lucerne if you’re looking for picturesque photo opportunities. This wooden footbridge spans the Reuss River and is the oldest truss bridge in the world. It serves as a symbol of the city and is a popular attraction for people visiting Switzerland. Lake Lucerne is also one of the most popular landmarks in the country and is a great place for yachting and other watersports. You can even take the opportunity to dive in the waters of this incredible lake.
Lucerne Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Lucerne.
Don’t know where to stay in Lucerne? Here are some of the best hotels in Lucerne to stay in:
Need more ideas? You can find the full list of the best hotels in Lucerne to stay in here.
Need more ideas to add to your Lucerne itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Lucerne in addition to what already mentioned here.
Ribe, Denmark
Not only is Ribe a charming destination, but it’s also incredibly historic: it’s not only the oldest town in Denmark but in Scandinavia as a whole. It was established around 700 AD and was an important trading port for the Vikings. The city has a reconstructed Viking village that you can visit in the summer months to learn about the life and culture of these historic people. The beautiful narrow cobblestone streets wind through a series of warm-toned buildings and elaborate doorways and structural elements. The Wadden Sea is located nearby, and this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a beautiful space to explore the coastal region of Denmark.
Ribe Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Ribe, Denmark.
Don’t know where to stay in Ribe? Here are some of the best hotels in Ribe to stay in:
Need more ideas? You can find the full list of the best hotels in Ribe to stay in here.
Need more ideas to add to your Ribe itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Ribe in addition to what already mentioned here.
Rye, England
The storybook town of Rye is located in the southeastern region of England. The charming streets are lined with tea shops, antique stores, art galleries, and fascinating examples of medieval architecture. There are multiple museums throughout the town as well. Rye does find itself overrun with tourists in the summer months so a visit to this charming town in the offseason is recommended.
Rye Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Rye.
Don’t know where to stay in Rye? Here are some of the best hotels in Rye to stay in:
Need more ideas? You can find the full list of the best hotels in Rye to stay in here.
Sighișoara, Romania
The small town of Sighișoara is located in the region of Transylvania and is the very definition of a charming European town. The cobblestone streets are lined with colorful buildings in various shades of orange, green, red, blue, and cream. Sighișoara is quite small, especially when compared to most of the towns on this list. It consists of three main streets so it could easily be explored within a day or two. Although it is a smaller Romanian town, it’s popular with tourists as it’s notable for being the birthplace of Vlad III, who is also known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracul. While you don’t have to participate in the more touristy activities, the larger number of visitors means that the town is open to visitors and has plenty of other activities for you to participate in.
Sighișoara Travel Guide & Resources:
Find the best flights, train tickets, or rent a car for your trip to Sighișoara.
Don’t know where to stay in Sighișoara? Here are some of the best hotels in Sighișoara to stay in:
Need more ideas? You can find the full list of the best hotels in Sighișoara to stay in here.
Need more ideas to add to your Sighișoara itinerary? Find top attractions and things to do in Sighișoara in addition to what already mentioned here.
Video Guide: 10 Most Charming Old Towns in Europe to Visit
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Travel resources for planning a trip to charming Old Towns in Europe
To make planning your trip to these charming Old Towns in Europe easier, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip.
Flights:
Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.
CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!
Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.
JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.
Hotels:
Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.
Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.
Transportations:
Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator
Train: EuroRail, Trainline or RailEurope
Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.
Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)
Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals)
Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)
Tours & Activities:
TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.
Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.
Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.
GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities
Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.
Need help planning a trip to visit these charming Old Towns in Europe?
Want to plan a trip to Europe but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!
At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a special trip to visit the charming Old Towns in Europe are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city vacations at the best price.
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To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in 5 Easy Steps” here.
Have questions for us? Schedule a FREE Call with us here or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at [email protected], call/text us at (888)223-2316 today.
