5 Surprising European Cities Surging In Popularity This Summer

We’re in the midst of the most popular travel season, where many 9-to-5 workers are sticking it to their bosses, cashing in on their well-deserved stash of PTO hours.

What better place to put your passport to use than Europe?

Though some destinations are off-putting right now with anti-tourism protests and unbearable crowds, lesser-known cities are seeing a surge as a result.

Places you wouldn’t normally scope out are becoming more mainstream. We at Travel Off Path are living up to our name, showing you some of Europe’s most overlooked destinations that are getting household names a run for their money.

In order from least surprising to outright shocking, here are 5 European destinations you wouldn’t expect to see a surge in popularity:

5) Vienna, Austria

Though reachable by direct flights from a handful of U.S. cities, Austria’s regal capital is still largely skipped over in favor of Paris and other European marvels.

Vienna has seen a steady increase in tourists in the first half of the year, which means very few of these passengers are accounted for during Christmas, arguably the best time to see the city in my opinion.

Adopting the moniker of the “City of Music”, you’ll find an array of dedications to world-renowned musicians such as Mozart and Beethoven, stunning imperial palaces, and a cafe culture even Paris might blush at — needless to say, Vienna is full of surprises and memorable attractions.

If you don’t want to wait around until Vienna’s epic Christmas markets, summer is still a wonderful time to visit with lush city parks and fun, cultural events like Africa Days. Visit Vienna just released an event calendar for all August happenings — click here.

4) Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi hasn’t reached household name status just yet, but if you’ve been paying close attention, it’s been one of Europe’s trendiest cities for the past few years, primarily led by the digital nomad craze for its unique culture and affordability across the board.

This underrated city may be a trek to reach for most American travelers, but you can often book a flight here with just a single layover, given Tbilisi’s growing connections across Europe, leading to an 11% surge in visitors year-over-year.

Largely considered a mellow city to visit, don’t sleep on Tbilisi’s nightlife scene as you’re often welcomed at bars with obligatory shots of vodka, whether you planned to indulge or not, and there’s a growing wine scene too in the calmer countryside.

In fact, Georgia is the birthplace of wine, believe it or not. Just don’t tell that to Napa’s uppity crowd — you might bruise their ego…

Travel Tip: Don’t forget to check Travel Off Path’s new Entry Requirement Checker and Europe Tipping Calculator before exploring these thrilling international cities!

3) Varna, Bulgaria

If I could redo my trip to Bulgaria, I would pull the ol’ switcheroo and skip the boring capital of Sofia in favor of the vibrant Black Sea coastline.

One of the most underrated beach destinations in all of Europe, Bulgaria is largely off-path for Americans seeking sun-drenched shores, but they’re doing themselves a disservice as resorts are super affordable without sacrificing luxury or beach quality.

There are numerous resort towns to visit along Bulgaria’s coast, but Varna is leading the way with a 25% spike in vacationers, where many flock beyond Varna’s city limits with stunning towns like Golden Sands and Albena close by for all-inclusive getaways.

2) Vilnius, Lithuania

With the exception of Poland, many Americans overlook Eastern Europe’s lesser-known countries, such as Lithuania, despite its gorgeous capital city of Vilnius being one of Europe’s most affordable destinations.

Like Tbilisi, Vilnius sees a steady influx of digital nomads, that have translated into more travelers seeking out Europe’s hidden gems, too, leading to a record number of tourists.

Given the state of the world, being dubbed the “Jerusalem of the North” clearly hasn’t deterred any travelers from misinterpreting conflict, as Lithuania (including Vilnius) is considered one of the safest European countries.

Its picturesque Old Town alone is worth a visit if you ask me. Home to cheap beer, timeless cobbled streets, and a plethora of Baroque churches, this city is truly a time capsule and still largely crowd-free despite its newfound popularity.

1) Prishtina, Kosovo

Kosovo has a tumultuous timeline, riddled with tensions between Serbia. However, Kosovo has emerged from hardship, ultimately becoming one of the Balkans’ trendiest destinations, alongside Albania and Montenegro.

The capital city Prishtina has seen the most significant increase in visitors, most of which have been blown away by how undiscovered it feels whether perusing the charming bazaar area or hitting up its more modern side flanked with cozy cafes, quirky murals, and mesmerizing architecture, most notably the National Library of Kosovo — and don’t be surprised to see a familiar face too, the popular Bill Clinton statue.

However, one of the city’s biggest delights, backed by rave reviews, is the Prishtina Bear Sanctuary (admission only $3.50), a testament to how affordable Prishtina is for everything, really.

While I’ve never visited Kosovo, my girlfriend’s co-worker travels here annually, bringing her back gold jewelry at rock-bottom prices.

Whether it’s a nice gesture or he’s trying to beat me to getting down on one knee is uncertain, but the bottom line is Kosovo is back on the map and one of the budget-friendly destinations this side of Europe.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.