Hello. My husband and I are planning a trip to Europe next spring or fall. We've enjoyed spending time in walkable small cities (e.g., Montpellier, France; Ljubljana, Slovenia; San Sebastian, Spain) and towns (e.g., Dingle, Ireland; Beaune, France) that have interesting food, wine, history, and art and are not crowded with tourists. We prefer to travel by train, as much as is possible. I realize this is a very broad question, but can you please share suggestions for future destinations that we may not have considered? Thank you!
Posted by
Phoenix, Arizona
91 posts
How about Valletta? Smaller town than I imagine you were thinking, with only 5,000 people, but the nation's capital and full of sites relating to the Knights of Malta and WWII. In addition, you're just across the harbor from the 3 cities (very walkable medieval towns) and a direct public bus ride to the medieval capital of Mdina, fishing villages, many natural wonders, and neolithic sites. We went in mid-April, and while the main drag in Valletta always seemed busy, everything else seemed a good bit less than capacity (except for the Hypogeum, which sells out weeks or months in advance). I understand, however, that summer can get extremely crowded.
Posted by
OP
Whidbey Island (south)
53 posts
Yes, thank you! I’ve wondered about visiting Malta. I’ll research Valletta and the surrounding area. Thanks again!
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
26620 posts
I did enjoy Malta but it was one of the more difficult places to visit for me. So much in so many different locations and getting around wasnt intuitive for me. Valletta, Birgu, Senglea, Bormla all need time. But I loved it and if I were younger I would return.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
26620 posts
Not too early in the Spring or too late in the fall, then:
that have interesting food, wine, history, and art and are not crowded
with tourists.
Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro. Even Bulgaria for that matter.
Posted by
SoCal and Bordeaux
2420 posts
Carcassonne is another idea. Although the old walled city is heavily touristed, most of the visitors are French and Spanish. And the newer city across the river has lots to see and lovely walks along the Aude River and the Midi Canal. A great place to try cassoulet.
Posted by
10123 posts
I agree with:
Tallinn, Estonia
Carassonne, France
Toledo, Spain
St. Paul de Venice in SE France
York, England
Inverness, Scotland
Cuzco, Peru
Ushuaia, in Terra del Fuego, Argentina
Savannah, Georgia
Salzburg, Austria
Krakow, Poland (not real small, but not real big either).
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
26620 posts
The Baltics (Estonia. Lativa, Lithuania) have all suffered from incursions of drones carrying munitions. Airports were close this week as a result. The Canadians are constructing a new $80 million base to assist in the defense of the Baltics in anticipation of Russia's next move.
But Estonia would be tops on my list in very Late Spring or very Early Fall.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
248 posts
The significant other and I are planning a 6 week trip to the Baltics in 2027, absent a significant immediate threat of Russian invasion.
Hopefully, Russia and Ukraine will cut a peace deal before then, and things will have calmed down.