Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Best out of the way, hidden European City you have visited?

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yeah i wouldn't really call Burano hidden either. Or Murano. Both are wonderful though!

Cinque Terre: I live there and I can say that is one of the best places in Italy. But don't come during summer but in march, april, september, when the crowd has gone and you'll find 5 jems!! Levanto, where I live is 5 minutes from the 5 villages and is known less than the 5 terre, while it is a very nice town (5000 inhabitants). 5 Terre and Levanto are in the northern part of Italy, between Genova and La Spezia. Search on www.cinqueterreonline.com more info. Ciao from Italy a great ciao to all american people and excuse me for my bad american!!!

Thanks about Cinque Terre. I figured it had become less of a hidden treasure since so many people have been traveling there recently, but some of my friends who went there really loved it. other good italian beach towns? have you been to Sirolo? I loved that beach.

I don't know what qualifies as best. There are beach towns, hill towns, and countryside villages troughout Europe, each with unique charm. For a charming out of the way day trip from Helsinki, we loved Porvoo.

My favourites are the Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera. Visit the following websites: www.villamargherita.net www.ciaotraveler.com www.cinqueterreonline.com

Anyone been to Copenhagen? would this qualify as out of the way?

Well, we need to mention one in Holland-its the Frisian Islands- both Texel and Terschelling are wonderful- only been to Terschelling so far- see www.terschelling.net for photos and Info. Beautiful 400 year old Lighthouse - many painting of it are made- its still operational- there is a windmill/pub, there are black Frisian horses you can rent and ride on the beach, there are bike trails through a pine tree forest taking you out onto a white sand beach looking Northward on the North Sea. The town is darling, and quaint with great food and darling stores! Stay in a Nazi bunker turned into rooms to rent!

Topping for Jackie... (I thought I did this last night, but I guess that I didn't).

For those interested in Orvieto, it has wonderful little wine shops, ceramics, (Orvieto wines are especially good), and an underground tour of the caves carved out of the tufa - wine or oil used to be produced in these caves - the tourist office has tours info. There's a wonderful procession on Corpus Domini too with medieval costumes... the huge black and white church has a special location for the miracle of the wafer that bled for the doubting priest...Civitavecchia is not far away - a wonderful tiny town on an eroding bluff...read Rick Steve's for more...

If you're visiting Normandy, try Port-en-Bessin. A fishing village on the coast with a quiet ambiance and wonderful camembert. Interesting remains of german coastal batteries too.

This is a really neat thread. I hope you travelers will add your selections and keep it going. It is great information for planning further trips. My selections: Glorenza/Glurns, Italy: As close to seeing how people lived in a little medival, walled village as you will find. Very little has changed. Probably BEACAUSE it is off the beaten path. Asolo, Italy: Charming! Just charming. Muggia, Italy: Delightful ancient little fishing village 12 Kilometers from Trieste. Brancion, France: A tiny Romanesque, Hillside Village in Burgandy. The frescoes in the little twelfth-century church are just beautiful. Chances are, are you will have the place to yourself. Beautiful countryside getting there. Paimpol, France (Brittany): Another charming ancient fishing village. Wander the streets/shops; take a boat to Ile de Brehat for a picnic. Koszeg, Hungary: Intact little, walled medieval village. Go down into the wine coop and have a glass of local red from the ancient stone recepticle from which it is poured. Telc, Czek Republic: Another vote for this quaint village with its historic, false-front center. Viseby, Sweden (Gotland Island): Walled village, medival architecture, fun harbor scene, Roman ruins, great restaurants and cafes; total enjoyment. Burg Eltz, Germany (Above the Mosel River): My favorite Castle in Europe. Ambleside, England (Lake District): Not strictly "out-of-the-way", but I love this little lakeside village. Stay at the B&B, The Old Vickerage; have the trout at the Ambleside Bistro. The Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland: One of the most beautiful drives in the world. Pluscarden Abbey, Scotland (Highlands, near Elgin): The serenity of this wonderous place is unbelievable. Take in the nearby Whisky Trail if you go. Pisac, Peru: Not european, I know, but the perfect example of what I always imagined a "Market" should look like. In the Urabamba Valley an easy drive from Cuszco. Merida, Mexico (Yucatan Penninsula): A marvelous, small, Mayan City. Quaint, great restaurants, lovely plazas, markets, continuous music and festivity, and wonderful colonial hotels to enjoy. Easy access to Uxmal and Chichen Itza from here. There are more, but I better quit. I am really looking forward to your entries.

my favorite thus far from this last year is a place called TAORMINA in sicily...anyone else been there? thanks sue

I'd have to agree with the last poster--Taormina is beautiful, but is probably the most visited area in Sicily. We stayed in a little town called Enna on our way to Palermo--very rich in Sicilian history and breath-taking views since it is located on a mountain-top. We did not see any tourists here.

Planfoy France. My daughter stayed with a family there as an exchange student for a year. It looked very much like the town in the movie "Chocolate". When I visited, her host mother was gracious enough to take me on a drive thru the Parc Pilat, just full of those tiny towns. Each one as charming as the next.

I really find it hard to believe that someone mentioned Hallstatt, Austria as being "out of the way" or "off the beaten path". It is one of my favorite places, but VERY touristy.Someone else mentioned the place I thought of, and that is Landshut, Germany. Great village with very few tourists, and close to my favorite tiny,tiny village of Oberkollnbach. Staying at my friends Gasthof in Oberkollnbach is always the highlight of our trips to Europe. Say "hello" to Herr Josef Lehner at the familie Gasthof Lehner in Oberkollnbach.

Bomarzo, Italy near Viterbo. Loved the Park of the Monsters & was very surprised to see NO North Americans & very few non-Italians at all. BC

I was going to say Merano and Asolo, but Alan and Joe beat me to it. Oh well. Number 3 on the hidden hit parade is Chinon, in the Loire valley. Not well known outside Europe. Gigantic ruined castle broods over the town. Medieval town with all the modern conveniences. Great area to bike thru vineyards, see old chateaux, and hang out with friendly locals. Good food, too.

I havenot travelled many countries because of time and finances, but i will mention Beaudec in the camargue in France. The wild white horses, the black bulls, the pink plamingos, all things I have not sen in Boston and itssurrounding area. Wales, Snowdonia, watching all those climbers looking like specks of color dotting those black mountains.But for me the thrill was going to the sheep dog trails with the famous pooch, Jaffrey that year

Great thread! It's not exactly "hidden," but St. Gallen, Switzerland, one hour by train from Zurich, is a lovely mid-sized town with fabulous baroque cathedral and library, interesting early medieval history, great restaurants and pretty architecture. It makes a good base for exploring the Apfenzell area, and is a welcome change from the bigger touristy cities.