20 Hidden European Towns You Need to Visit This Year

Located on the North Yorkshire coast, Staithes is a beautiful little fishing village bounded by high cliffs. These cliffs make Staithes a fossil-hunting and hiking destination, but the village’s real claim to fame is that it once was home to a young James Cook.

For tips on visiting, even if your budget is tight, don't miss: how to travel Europe without breaking the bank.

Strandhill lies on the northwest coast of Ireland, in County Sligo. Among the sights here is Dolly’s Cottage, a thatched cottage that dates back two centuries, but the main attraction is the beach with its vast surf break.

In France’s Alsace region and near the German border, Colmar has a unique mix of French and German influences. In addition to boasting beautiful architecture and canals, Colmar is the capital of the Alsace wine region.

This country is a celebrity favourite. Just look at all the celebrity couples who got married in France.

Rothenburg ob der Tauer is a well-preserved medieval old town. The picture-perfect spot even inspired the townscape featured in Disney’s Pinocchio.

Veere is a gorgeous little harbour on the shores of the Veerse Meer, a lagoon on Walcheren Island in the south of The Netherlands. It features medieval buildings and little alleys to explore, beaches and, naturally, windmills.

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With its waterfront location and dramatic backdrop of snow-capped mountains, Reine in Norway’s remote Lofoten Archipelago is ridiculously beautiful on any given day. Go in the winter, however, and you may see Reine against the backdrop of the Northern Lights.

Located on the Heimaey, one of Iceland’s Westman Islands, Vestmannaeyjar is the perfect destination for nature lovers. Go sailing or, even better, hoof it to explore the cliffs, rock formations, and lava fields. In August you can also see baby puffins, known as pufflings.

Its ornate buildings, some dating from the days of the Moorish occupation and featuring Arabic influences, make Sintra one of Portugal’s most beautiful towns. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its location among pine-covered hills means that it has a cooler climate.

Portugul, and particularly Lisbon, is one of the absolute best European travel destinations to visit in the fall.

Often called Spain’s most beautiful town, Albarracín used to be the capital of the Berber Taifa of Albarracín and features Moorish architecture. In addition, the mountainous countryside is home to many examples of Paleolithic art.

Malta’s largest fishing village is known for its market. Marsaxlokk still holds on to tradition, but its excellent seafood restaurants and swimming beaches mean that visitors are well catered for.

Located in Austria’s Salzkammergut region, Hallstatt is known for its salt mines, which date to prehistoric times. It’s unforgettably picturesque too with its lakeside setting and mountain backdrop.

You may also be surprised to learn that Austria is one of the best countries for Canadians to live and work abroad.

Located in Belgium’s French-speaking part, Dinant is home to the Citadel of Dinant. It’s also the hometown of Adolphe Sax. The House of Mr. Sax is a fun museum taking you through the history of the saxophone.

Smögen lies on Sweden’s west coast and is regarded as one of the country’s liveliest summer towns. It’s known for its charming fisherman’s huts and its wooden pier.

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Burano in the Venetian Lagoon is one of the country’s most colourful destinations. The houses are brightly painted in colours that have to be pre-approved by the local government.

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With its hilltop location, green fields and medieval houses, Gruyères looks like the kind of town that children’s book heroine Heidi could have lived in. It’s also the town that gave Gruyère cheese its name.

Monemvasia is a medieval fortress town at the foot of a huge rock that forms a small island. Similar to these enchanting bridges that look like they're from another world, a bridge links it to the mainland. The town itself is a treasure trove of cobbled alleys and ancient stone houses and Malmsey wine gets its name from Monemvasia.

Near the Austrian border, Bled lies on the shores of Lake Bled in northwestern Slovenia. The surrounding area features mountains and forests, but the main attraction in Bled is dramatic Bled Castle.

Located in the Rhodope Mountains in southwestern Bulgaria, Kovachevitsa was founded by refugees who didn’t want to become part of the Ottoman Empire and has kept many Bulgarian traditions.

The Bulgarian government declared it a historic and architectural reservation because of the unique style of its houses.

The village of Zalipie in southeastern Poland used to be quite unassuming until about a century ago, when a local woman decided to paint some floral motifs on her home. This started a tradition and today you’ll find intricately painted houses, barns, dog kennels and even chicken coops.

Formerly known as Scorebysund, Ittoqqortoormiit is one of Greenland’s most isolated settlements. It's officially in North America, but it feels European. The landscape is dominated by fjords and with hunting and fishing as the main activities here, Ittoqqortoormiit is the ideal destination for the adventurous.

Plus, with all the beauty in our home and native land, don't miss this list of the top 20 most beautiful Canadian cities to live in.