Discovering hidden gem cities in Europe is fun. Here is my list of five hidden gem European cities that I love. I suppose I should start by defining what I mean by hidden gem city. My definition is that a lot of people don’t know about it. Therefore it is not overrun by tourists.
Hidden gem European city #1 – Miltenberg, Germany
Miltenberg is located about an hour east of Frankfurt. If you are flying in or out of Frankfurt I recommend stopping by. It is a wonderfully preserved medieval small city located in Bavaria Germany that is best known for its half-timbered houses. The last time I was there, the boys and I stayed in a hotel located in a cute half-timbered house.
Hidden gem European city #2 – Tarragona, Spain
I visited Tarragona on a whim during my whirlwind tour through Catalonia. It is a little over an hour south of Barcelona, and I was blown away when I went there. First, it is on the med, so there are plenty of beaches. Second, it has an ancient Roman arena. There are tons of historic sites scattered around Tarragona.
Hidden gem European City #3 – Delft, The Netherlands
Delft is not far from Amsterdam using the train. It is a wonderful little Dutch city with plenty to see and do. It includes a big town square with a tall church spire that you can climb to get great views. Delft is probably best known for its blue and white porcelain. Kim and I were thinking we would buy some, but it is super expensive. Costs way more money than what we were willing to spend. However, we did end up buying a lovely Delft porcelain wine stopper.
Hidden gem European City #4 – Wurzburg, Germany
Wurzburg is located in the Franken region within Bavaria. It is a few hours from Frankfurt. I lived in this area and have been to Wurzburg many times. It is a wonderful little city to visit. Tons to see and do in Wurzburg including a hilltop castle, historic bridge, and Bishop’s Palace. By the way – they make good wine in this region. Go to Wurzburg.
Hidden gem European city #5 – Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region in France. Yes – Colmar is better, but be sure to visit Strasbourg if you are nearby. You can see it from miles away if you are driving, and there are lots to see and do here. Definitely check out the huge Cathedral while there, visit petite France, and take a boat tour. Riley and I were there a few years ago and had a blast.
Three quick questions about hidden gem European Cities
- What is the hidden gem that I want to revisit the most – Dinan, France. Spent half a day there and enjoyed it.
- What is the new hidden gem that I want to explore soon – Bergamo, Italy. Located near Milan, it looks awesome.
- What is the obscure hidden gem that I want to discover – Lake Bled, Slovenia. It has a special church located on an island.
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to sons.