For most of us, a vacation to a European escape like Rome, London, or Paris sounds like a dream come true. However, while these cities are exciting and beautiful, their fame ultimately creates an overwhelming amount of crowds and tourist traps. Luckily, Europe is a large continent full of underrated cities that are just as rich with culture and history as Paris or London without the massive hordes of tourists. As experts in comfortable travel, Luxury Link has compiled five underrated European destinations for you to consider for your next getaway.
Basel, Switzerland
If you’re all about culture, Basel is your ultimate paradise. This city sits on the Rhine River near the German-French border and houses Europe’s largest concentration of museums. The Fine Arts Museum, Jean Tinguely Museum, Vitra Design Museum, and Spielzeug Welten Museum are only four out of the numerous art, history, design, and antiquities Basel has to offer. For delicious cuisine and interesting shopping, visit Alte Markthalle or Stadtmarkt, and if you’ve got a sweet tooth, Laderach Clarashopping and Xocolatl deliver decadent Swiss chocolate creations you won’t be able to resist.
Seville, Spain
Flamboyant, sun-drenched Seville provides tourists with a stunning combination of history and modernity. The buildings in Seville provide a showcase of history’s architectural high points, including the intricate, Gothic-style palace Alcazar, the 17th-century baroque mansion-turned-hospice, Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes, the Catedral de Sevilla, one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, and the beautiful Golden Age museum, Museo de Bellas Artes. For a taste of modern Seville, spend time in the Plaza de Espana and experience live entertainment or take advantage of excellent shopping at the El Jueves Market.
Strasbourg, France
In the area between France and Germany, you will find Strasbourg, a city with a medieval past and dynamic, progressive future. You will not be able to look away from the Gothic grandeur of Strasbourg’s famous Cathedral Notre-Dame, with its exquisite stained-glass windows, flying buttresses, gargoyles, and a 142-meter tall spire. Take a trip back in time and visit Petite France, the area where artisans plied their trades during the Middle Ages. Petite France is full of old timbered houses, quaint restaurants, and small shops, providing tourists with a tranquil feeling of old-world European charm.
Fife, Scotland
The royal history and distinctive atmosphere make Fife one of Scotland’s most unique locations. With rolling green farmland, fishing villages, historic buildings, and incredible fresh sea air, this is a city that will transport you to another world. You can view famous ruins of historically magnificent medieval buildings at St. Andrew’s Cathedral and St. Andrew’s Castle. Fife is the city where the game of golf originated and you can visit The Old Course and the British Golf Museum to learn more about the beginning of this popular sport.
St. Petersburg, Russia
Art, history, music, and entertainment combine in St. Petersburg, the former City of the Tsars, often called the “Venice of the North.” After years under Moscow’s shadow, St. Petersburg has emerged as an exciting, decadent city for art, music, and culture. Visit the State Hermitage Museum and you might find yourself there for days. This enormous collection started by Catherine the Great, and later enhanced by Nicholas I, is housed in the lavish Winter Palace and displays an all-inclusive history of Western European artwork. See the famously elaborate five-domed Church of the Spilled Blood and marvel at its intricacies and colorful exterior. If you love theater and the arts, the Mariinsky Theatre is absolutely essential, as this stunning theatrical stage played a substantial role in the establishment of Russia’s world-renowned ballet.
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