Too many travellers overlook small towns in Europe. When it comes to European holidays, big culture-driven cities like Rome and Paris tend to get all the attention. But between all the landmarks and selfie-taking tourists, you’ll find some of the prettiest places in Europe with populations smaller than the line for the Eiffel Tower. And despite their petite size, they still offer the same great architecture and beautiful natural surroundings as their metropolitan counterparts.
Whether it’s a lakeside hamlet in Austria or a hauntingly beautiful village in Romania, these 26 storybook towns are the stuff European dreams are made of. Fair warning: There are many charming bell towers and cobblestoned streets ahead.
