GoTraveLab

European Non-Capital Cities that You Must Visit

Which cities in Europe come to mind when planning a trip to Europe? London, Paris, Prague, or Berlin? These destinations are at the top of every traveller’s itinerary planning their vacations in Europe, making them crowded and expensive. These aren’t particularly ideal for the stress-free getaway you’d have in mind when you’re spending your hard-earned leave days.

What if we told you you could still explore Europe’s culture, cuisine, and authenticity without having to go to these capital cities? Europe has a plethora of places that are often less travelled and are underrated in every sense of the word.

Leave it to us to help you figure out your destination for your next Europe trip. We’ve handpicked the top 10 noteworthy European non-capital cities that you could visit without missing out on the hypnotising sights, rich culture, and delectable foods that Europe has to offer:

• Milan
• Munich
• Dubrovnik
• Krakow
• Barcelona
• Zurich
• Geneva
• Dusseldorf
• Bergen
• Naples

Top 10 Big Cities in Europe that are Not Capitals:

Prepare to pack your bags and hit the road for a European trip beyond your imagination. Here’s our list of non-capital cities to visit in Europe for an unforgettable and enthralling experience:

1. Milan

Milan is considered Italy’s commercial and financial hub and rivals Paris in being Europe’s fashion capital. It has a rich history of battles, conquests and plunder and has been in the hands of Celts, Romans, Goths, Lombards, Spaniards, and Austrians before finally being incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Milan was also captured by Germany during the Second World War.

Today, Milan is known for its authentic Italian architecture with historic buildings like the Duomo (Cathedral), its football club A.C. Milan, a vibrant theatre and opera scene, Milan Fashion Week, and Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’. Milan is also going to be host to the Winter Olympics in 2026.

• Ideal duration: 4 nights/5 days
• Best time to visit: May, June, or September
• Things to do in Milan:

1. Visit the Duomo (Milan Cathedral) for its rich history, enchanting mosaics and paintings
2. Visit the Monastery of Santa Maaria delle Grazie, which is host to Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’
3. Go shopping at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the oldest shopping arcade in Italy, with a hypnotic glass roof
4. Explore Castello Sforzesco, a castle that’s home to the Egyptian Museum and Archaeological Museum, and will provide an insight into the history of Milan
5. Have a fun night out at the restaurants and bars by the mesmerising canals in the Navigli district

• Suggested Itinerary: Take a day trip to Lake Como, Venice or Lugano in Switzerland, all of which are a short drive or train ride from Milan and certainly worth visiting.

2. Munich

Lying alongside the Isar River, Munich derives its name from München, the Home of Monks. It’s a must-visit to experience Gemütlichkeit, the local term for that untranslatable intermingling of cosiness, well-being and a laid-back attitude.

Munich is best known for its breweries and the annual festival of Oktoberfest, where over 2 million gallons of beer are consumed every year! Oktoberfest is a two-week-long celebration that began in the thirteenth century and takes place between mid-September and October. Munich’s brewers set up stalls, and the festival is inaugurated with the mayor tapping the first keg. There are also parades, games, amusement rides, music, and dancing.

• Ideal duration: 4 nights/5 days
• Best time to visit: March to May and September to October (for Oktoberfest)
• Things to do in Munich:

1. Beat the heat with a cold pint of beer at Munich’s beer gardens
2. Partake in the jolly of Oktoberfest with beer, parades, music, and dancing
3. Explore Marienplatz, the central square with majestic structures like the Altes Rathaus and Neues Rathaus
4. Dress up for a night at one of the largest opera stages in the world—the National Theatre

• Suggested Itinerary: Take a day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle, which was used as an inspiration by Walt Disney to design Sleeping Beauty’s castle, or to Chiemsee, which is the region’s largest lake

3. Dubrovnik

The city of Dubrovnik in Croatia is called the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic.’ Situated alongside the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik is adorned with stunning Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. Owing to damage primarily caused by an earthquake in 1667 and armed conflict in the 1990s, it’s become the focus of a restoration programme by UNESCO.

This heritage city was the first to banish slavery and open an orphanage and is encircled by city walls that boast of having never been breached. Several movies and television shows have been filmed here, including Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Robin Hood, and Succession.

• Ideal duration: 4 nights/5 days
• Best time to visit: May to June and September to October
• Things to do in Dubrovnik:

1. Take a walk along the Dubrovnik Walls
2. Wander the streets of Old Town, which has been identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
3. Let your fandom peak with a Game of Thrones tour of the sites where the show was filmed, including the
4. Red Keep, Blackwater Bay and the street where Cersei made her walk of shame
5. Go island hopping at the Elafiti island group, which lies to the northwest of Dubrovnik and has six resplendent islands
6. Take a ride in the Dubrovnik cable car for unsurpassed views of Old Town

• Suggested Itinerary: Dubrovnik

4. Krakow

A fascinating story of destruction and rebirth, the city of Krakow in Poland dates back to the Stone Age. The Legend of Smok the Dragon went like this—a firebreathing dragon called Smok terrorised the settlers. King Krakus promised his daughter’s hand in marriage to anyone who slayed the dragon. A lowly cobbler baited the dragon, feeding him sulfur, which caught fire in his stomach and killed him.

Krakow used to be the capital of Poland and has witnessed several invasions, Nazi occupation, and communism. The historic centre of Krakow is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp, is also located in Krakow.

• Ideal duration: 4 nights/5 days
• Best time to visit: March to May and September to October
• Things to do in Krakow:

1. Devour the local delights like iełbasa (Polish sausage), pierogi, lody (ice cream) and vodka
2. Learn about Nazi Germany with a tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and the Oskar Schindler Enamel Factory Museum
3. Visit the regal Wawel castle and cathedral, a monument of Krakow and Poland’s rich history

• Suggested Itinerary: Krakow, Auschwitz, and Birkenau

5. Barcelona

Home to Lionel Messi’s former team Football Club Barcelona and their majestic stadium, Camp Nou, this city is one of the best cities in Europe for a traveller.

Barcelona is renowned for its legendary architecture, credited to Antoni Gaudí i Cornet. His structures include the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, and other houses like the Casa Mila—La Pedrera and Casa Vicens, which are UNESCO Heritage sites. There are a whopping 9 UNESCO Heritage Sites across Barcelona!

Barcelona also has a one-of-a-kind grid plan, with octagonal blocks that facilitate traffic flow and allow sunlight and ventilation to pass through buildings. It’s a haven for art lovers—the Museu Picasso houses over 4,000 works by the legendary painter Pablo Picasso.

• Ideal duration: 4 nights/5 days
• Best time to visit: May to June
• Things to do in Barcelona:

1. Take a tour of Antoni Gaudí’s magnificent structures, Park Güell and Sagrada Familia in particular
2. Take a stroll through Parc del Laberint d’Horta, Barcelona’s oldest garden, and admire its temples, mythic sculptures, lily-glazed ponds, and cypress maze
3. Devour the local cuisine in La Boqueria, the oldest market in Barcelona
4. Experience the electric atmosphere of a La Liga game at Camp Nou Stadium

• Suggested Itinerary: Barcelona, Costa Brava, Montserrat

6. Zurich

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the happiest in the world! A unique culmination of medieval charm and metropolis vibrancy, it’s one of the best places to visit in Europe.

Zurich has a fascinating history, with evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements. In medieval times, the city was under the control of women. Fraumünster abbey (‘Women’s abbey’) was a centre of power and influence, and its female occupants occupied vital political positions.

Zurich’s fountains are its most unique and renowned aspect. There are over 1200 fountains across the city with crystal clear, clean drinking water. Some of these, like the Alfred Escher Memorial Fountain and Hedwig Fountain, are also tourist sites because of their intricate and ornate design.

• Ideal duration: 4 nights/5 days
• Best time to visit: June to August
• Things to do in Zurich:

1. Visit the No Show Museum, which is devoted to ‘nothing’; and has exhibitions from famous artists like Andy Warhol and Yves Klein
2. Party at the Street Parade, which is the largest techno street party in Europe, and a demonstration of love, peace, freedom, generosity and tolerance
3. Go on a bar crawl

• Suggested Itinerary: Zurich, Interlaken, Lucerne

7. Geneva

This Swiss city is a seat of global power and is home to over 20 international organisations, including the International Red Cross, World Trade Organisation, World Health Organisation, and the European headquarters of the United Nations at the Palais Des Nations.

The heart of tourism in Geneva lies at Lake Geneva. You can take a boat ride from the lake to other popular destinations like the iconic Jet d’Eau fountain and Bains des Paquis swimming point. The lake is also a popular site for paddleboarding and other water sports.

• Ideal duration: 4 nights/5 days
• Best time to visit: June to August
• Things to do in Geneva:

1. Take a guided tour of the Palais Des Nations and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum
2. Shop in the local boutiques at Old Town and Plainpalais flea market
3. Enjoy lip-smacking cocktails at waterfront hotels like the La Verre à Monique or live music pubs like the L’Usine

• Suggested Itinerary: Geneva, Montreaux, Laussane

8. Dusseldorf

Located on the banks of the Rhine River and its tributary Dussel, from which it derives its name, Dusseldorf is an important business centre in Germany. It has become a hub for younger tourists owing to its relevance in the fashion industry, art and culture, trending food and breweries, and the Dusseldorf Karneval. Dusseldorf also has its own famed mustard, which is a must-try!

Dusseldorf is well-renowned for its fests and fairs. The annual carnival in November is a parade of colourful costumes and music. The city also hosts the Largest Fair on the Rhine, which attracts around 4 million visitors annually.

• Ideal duration: 4 nights/5 days
• Best time to visit: May to June and September to December
• Things to do in Dusseldorf:

1. Visit the Rhine Tower or the Rheinturm and enjoy the views of the city
2. Take a stroll or bicycle ride along the Rhine Promenade
3. Enjoy luxury fashion and shopping at its best at the local boutiques and Galeria mall
4. Appreciate fine modern art at the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen Museum
5. Wind down in the natural serenity of Nordpark, a 90-acre park with a church, zoology museum, Japanese garden, and sculptures

• Suggested Itinerary: Dusseldorf, Cologne, Koblenz

9. Bergen

Commonly referred to as the ‘heart of the fjords,’ this Norwegian city is the perfect mix of small-town charm and metropolitan bustle. With views of houses clinging from the hillsides, narrow cobblestone lanes, and picturesque colourful wooden buildings along the wharf, this is certainly one of the places to visit in Europe. The Hanseatic Wharf is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has museums, shops, galleries, and restaurants.

Bergen is a great spot for foodies who can devour delicacies made with freshly caught fish, including specialities like Bergen fish soup, fish cakes, and persecutors. UNESCO has declared it to be a City of Gastronomy.

• Ideal duration: 4 nights/5 days
• Best time to visit: May to September
• Things to do in Bergen:

1. Witness the glory of the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord through cruise tours
2. Grab drinks and party at one of the many watering holes, or catch a concert
3. Visit KODE and explore museums of art and composers ‘ homes, including Edvard Grieg, whose villa is now a living museum
4. Look at adorable penguins and other aquatic life at the Bergen Aquarium

• Suggested Itinerary: Bergen, Flam, Voss

10. Naples

Naples derives its name from the ancient Greek Neapolis, which translates to ‘New City’. It’s called Napoli in Italy and is one of the most iconic cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It was first inhabited by the Greeks, but after several invasions and the destruction of Pompeii nearby by Mount Vesuvius, it was rebuilt and flourished. It’s also called ‘the city of seven castles’ because of the seven castles that remain in the city to this day.

Naples is primarily known for its Margherita Pizza or Neapolitan Pizza. The pizza was prepared for the first time ever in 1889 by pizza maker Raffaele Esposito for King Umberto I and his wife Queen Margherita, after whom it’s named. The pizzeria is called L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele and has been featured in the film Eat, Pray, Love.

• Ideal duration: 4 nights/5 days
• Best time to visit: March to May and September to October
• Things to do in Naples:

1. Devour a Margherita Pizza from its birthplace, the L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
2. Get a glimpse of Mount Vesuvius, the volcano responsible for the destruction of Pompeii in 79 AD
3. Learn about Greek and Roman history and adore treasures at the National Archeological Museum of Naples
4. Have a scrumptious and regal meal at one of the 24 Michelin-star restaurants located in the city

• Suggested Itinerary: Naples, Positano, Amalfi, Pompei

Hit the Road!

Europe has always been a hub of tourist activity. With its incomparable heritage, art and music, cuisine, and natural sights, it’s a must to explore this vast continent. Our list outlines the best cities in Europe that you can explore without encountering bustling tourists and at an affordable price.

With the help of the expert holiday planners at GoTraveLab, you can plan your next dream vacation—our travel advisors carefully handpick each destination depending on accessibility and affordability, and the destination itineraries are mindfully designed to be comprehensive enough for a 5-day trip. Intrigued? Book with us.