We love Europe.. so much so that we have visited in 2019, 2022 (for 6 months), 2024 (for 3 months), 2025, and will return again in 2026 (see our 2026 travel plans). Based on visiting 28 of Europe’s countries, and totaling around 1 year of Europe travel in the past 5-6 years, we feel well qualified to share some amazing locations, hidden gems and great spots to check out.
Be advised, our recommendations come from our travel experiences, and our own ‘travel bias’. In our travels we aim to avoid “peak tourist crowds”, seek out more authentic experiences, find some “hidden gems”, and leave feeling like you had an incredible time. You won’t find big cities like Paris or Venice on our list. Not because they aren’t worth visiting, but more because we think you will have an even better time checking out some of the top picks on our list! Yes, some may be unique, however they don’t come without our consideration and high recommendations! We hope you find this useful when planning your 2026 or 2027 travels! If you enjoyed this guide, check out our social medial channel (@2cupsoftravel) and make sure to subscribe to the website for all of our future free guides!
5 amazing cities in Europe to visit in 2026
Tallinn – Estonia:
This Baltic gem not only delivers great medieval European old town vibes, it merges this with culture, history, and incredible cuisine! We can’t recommend Tallinn highly enough to others, and while we have only visited in summer, we have heard the Christmas markets and winter vibes are excellent as well. Located in close proximity to Scandinavia (must visit!) and Poland (highly underrated), we think Tallinn is definitely one to add to your 2026 lists. See our Tallinn guide here including what to do and where to stay in Tallinn.
Gdansk – Poland:
The coastal Polish city of Gdansk is truly an underrated gem! Home to what we consider perhaps the most picturesque old town in Europe, Gdansk is definitely on the visit. Home to excellent cafe culture, this city is very walkable and highly photogenic! See our Gdansk guide here.
Edinburgh – Scotland:
Our favourite city in the UK is Edinburgh. Mix medieval city with great culture. We also loved the proximity to nature and greenery from the city. See why we loved Edinburgh here!
Palermo – Sicily:
Grungy, full of culture, and home to incredible Italian food. Palermo isn’t the ‘prettiest’ city in Italy, but it offers a lot. Sample authentic southern Italian culture in the bustling streets of Palermo. This city also forms an excellent entry point to Sicily, a region we think should be high on everyone’s list. See our visit to Palermo here.
GranAda – Spain:
Granada is a gorgeous Andalusian city that we think everyone should visit. A little calmer than busier neighbours (e.g. Seville), it has excellent culture (think the Alhambra), amazing tapas and hospitality scene. Plus the town is picturesque with the mountains surrounding it. See why we loved Granada here!
BONUS: Scaninavian cities in summer..
Scandi summer hits different. The vibes, the extended daylight, the culture.. it’s just something we highly recommend experiencing. While we don’t have one particular city in Scandinavia we think is a ‘must visit’, we think locations like Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen and Stockholm are all excellent options to consider.
5 incredible beach destinations in Europe for 2026
Cefalu – Sicily:
Small town with a long strip of sandy beach.. tick! Culture, food, views, things to do.. tick, tick, tick. Cefalu is the gorgeous Sicilian town that definitely should be on your list. We recommend staying (rather than a day trip as many do). This allows you to soak up the vibe, enjoy the cuisine, hike to the top of the rock, and much more. See why we loved Cefalu here!
Croatian Islands:
We spent an amazing week on Vis Island in Croatia, and can’t recommend the region enough to everyone. It is worth researching what kind of ‘vibe’ you want, as many islands are busier/calmer than others etc. Vis Island (see our Vis guide here) is a calm, relaxed island with great beaches, seafood and is perfect to relax.
Albanian Riviera:
We loved our visit to the Albanian Riviera, and while it has gained further popularity since our trip, we still think it’s worth checking out. In particular, the central-northern part offers spectacular beaches. The beachside town of Himare was our personal favourite. See our Albanian Riviera guide here!
Gallipoli & South Puglia:
The southern reaches of Puglia is definitely one to explore! While Polignano A Mare, Alberobello, Bari, Matera, Ostuni, Monopili etc all get love on social media, one of our favourites was the coastal town of Gallipoli! Offering a charming beach, cute fortified old town, great atmosphere, and in close proximity to other beaches.. it’s definitely on to visit in Puglia. See our Gallipoli and south of Puglia guide here.
Turkish Riviera:
Turkey has a stunning coastline! Home to a plethora of cute coastal towns, crystal clear water, excellent cuisine, and friendly locals.. this makes the Turkish Riviera an amazing place to visit! We spent an incredible week in Kas, a centrally located town along the coastline. See our Kas (Turkish Riviera) guide here.
5 cute small towns in Europe you have to visit in 2026 and beyond
Poznan – Poland:
Poland is underrated, and multiple Polish towns/cities could have made this list. While Poznan isn’t “tiny” compared to some on this list, it has ‘small town’ vibes and is definitely a ‘small city’/’big town’ that should be on your list to check out. See our Poznan guide.
Mostar – Bosnia:
Mostar has all the makings of a perfect small town stop. Gorgeous! History! Great food! Cute walkable streets! Close enough to other locations (Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, Makarska etc). It’s well worth visiting.. see our Mostar guide here!
Henningsvaer – Norway:
A tiny fishing village filled with culture, Scandi-style, hikes on your doorstep, and did we mention it’s gorgeous? Henningsvaer is definitely somewhere you should have on your bucket list! See why wer loved Henningsvaer here!
Brasov – Romania:
Located in the heart of Transylvania, Brasov is a gem that must be explored. Home to excellent cafes, cuisine, and well located to nearby day trips in the region, Brasov is a must visit for those in the area! See our Brasov guide here!
Coimbra – Portugal:
The university town of Coimbra is often overlooked in Portugal, but we think it deserves a place on your Portuguese itinerary. Situated between Porto and Lisbon, it has charm and culture. The city is also humming during the university semesters. See our Coimbra visit here!
5 nature and adventure regions in Europe we recommend for 2026
Madeira – Portugal:
This island is a must visit for adventure lovers. While not the hidden gem it was only 1-2 years ago (thanks to social media), this island has incredible hikes, great beaches, stunning views, tasty cuisine and lots to see and do! See our guide to Madeira here!
Lake Bled & The Julian Alps:
A picturesque lake town sits at the base of the Julian Alps. This part of Slovenia is just special. Vibrant nature, lots of adventure activites, and Lake Bled itself is such a gorgeous spot to visit. See our Lake Bled guide here!
Lofoten Island – Norway:
The Lofoten Islands will forever hold a special place in our hearts, and represent somewhere we recommend everyone to visit! The dramatic landscapes, photogenic fishing villages, Scandinavian culture, and incredible hikes make Lofoten a place every adventure lover should visit. See our detailed Lofoten Islands road trip guide here!
Junfrau Region – Switzerland:
The mountains in Switzerland will always be amazing! The Jungfrau region has it all! Stunning views! Hikes of all levels! Cute little towns and chalets to stay in. Alpine lakes! Adventure activities! It’s truly spectacular and worth a spot on your bucket list. See our Jungfrau guide here!
Zakopane – Poland:
An underrated hiker and outdoor lovers dream! Zakopane is a gorgeous mountain region in southern Poland definitely worth visiting! The hikes vary in effort, but the views are spectacular. Check out our Zakopane guide!
5 European regions that are perfect for an amazing road trip
Umbria – Italy’s underrated gem:
Want Tuscany without the crowds or pricetag? Enter Umbria. Home to postcard hilltop towns, amazing cuisine, rolling hills and picturesque views. Umbria is one of our favourite road trips and definitely somewhere to visit before other people catch on! See our Umbrian road trip guide here!
Norway’s Fjord Region:
A road trip through the fjords, staying in cabins with views, sitting in Scandinavian saunas, hiking during the day, sampling the best cardamom buns.. yes.. this is what you can expect and more in Norway’s Vestland region. This was one of our top road trips and something we always recommend to others. See the road trip guide here!
Transylvania – Romania:
This part of Romania is definitely somewhere for those who love road trips. With castle to explore, little towns to visit, nature regions to check out, and much more, Transylvania is definitely somewhere we loved and would return! See our Transylvania road trip here!
The Balkans:
The Croatian coastline is well known, and an amazing spot to roadtrip. Add to this Montenegro (a must visit), Albania, and other Balkan hidden gems like Lake Ohrid, Mostar and more.. you have a pretty serious road trip! See our Balkan guide here!
South Of France:
Southern France is made for road trips! Cute towns line the hills and valleys. Old monasteries sit near rows of lavender fields. Wineries are your friend! The food is exceptional. And you can turn to road trip coastal if you venture far enough south. See our visit to South of France here!
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