5 Lesser Known European Cities Set To Surge In Popularity This Year

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If you are heading to Europe this yr, however you are now not charmed by Paris and its twinkling Eiffel Tower, London with its purple phone bins, and Rome and its historical sights, you must know you are not the one one searching for options to the standard tourism hotspots.

According to a brand new report by Omio, one of many foremost journey comparability and reserving web sites in Europe, capital cities could have had their second final yr, however in 2026, 21% of vacationers are choosing lesser-known locations.

A big quantity cited decrease costs, fewer crowds, and distinctive points of interest as their foremost causes for selecting ‘smaller metropolises’, and as relayed by Omio, ‘second cities’ have risen 34% in reputation year-on-year.

If you are unfamiliar with the terminology, a ‘second metropolis’ is what we name an vital hub in a rustic that could be a foremost cultural middle, and a sizable-enough city heavyweight to rival the capital, although it’s not the executive coronary heart.

For 2026, there are 5 main second cities which are pushing up journey developments, and if you happen to love medieval heritage and culture-rich metropolis breaks, you will not need to skip them:

(Plus, do not miss our quiz at the end to seek out which metropolis is ideal for you!)

Ghent, Belgium

With a 66% improve in demand, as per the Omio report, Ghent is quickly turning into one of many trendiest destinations in Europe, and we will not actually blame vacationers for coming right here as a substitute of a jam-packed, overpriced, and more and more harmful Brussels.

Home to a picture-perfect medieval middle traversed by picturesque canals, a historic fort recognized for its deep moat and rampart views, and a UNESCO-listed belfry, it’s considered one of Belgium’s best-kept secrets and techniques that the broader public is barely simply now beginning to catch onto.

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Antwerp, Belgium

The fourth-fastest rising secondary vacation spot in Europe is yet one more Belgian gem, and this time, the nation’s second-largest: Antwerp is Brussels’ Flemish counterpart and a sprawling metropolis with an actual lived-in really feel:

Its historic Old Town revolves round a postcard-ready Grote Markt, flanked by ornate guildhouses, and the cobbled streets that emanate from it result in hidden courtyards and quirky chocolate retailers. Towering above the well-preserved medieval maze, the Cathedral of Our Lady is a medieval Gothic marvel.

For the jewellery buffs on the market, you may be thrilled to be taught that Antwerp holds the title of Diamond Capital of the World, with Diamond District jewelers dealing with a lot of the tough diamonds which are commercialized. On prime of that, the road meals scene is unequalled:

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Bari, Italy

Ranking third with a 85% rise in demand year-on-year, Bari sits amongst Italy’s most strategic Adriatic ports, and it stands out for its labyrinthine Old Town, domestically often known as Bari Vecchia: image slender, winding alleys, historical Romanesque church buildings, and family-owned trattorie galore.

Europe’s longest uninterrupted promenade, Lungomare Nazario Sauro, stretches for a whopping 8 miles and affords sea vistas and comfortable waterfront bars, and if you happen to’re questioning what the signature Barese pasta is—each Italian metropolis has one—that will be orecchiette.

Wandering down the cobblestone-paved Strada delle Orecchiette, you may come throughout Italian nonne making the ear-shaped pasta by hand on their entrance porches.

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Murcia, Spain

Step apart, Barcelona: the much more laid-back, sunnier, and equally beautiful Murcia, within the south of Spain, is Europe’s second-trendiest getaway this yr. With a noteworthy 86% uptick in Omio searches, it’s firmly on the common traveler’s radar.

Capital of the namesake area, Murcia is finest recognized for its stately Plaza Cardenal Belluga, the place a majority of its architectural showpieces are centered, together with the richly embellished cathedral, the 18th-century Episcopal Palace, and the modern-era City Hall.

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Segovia, Spain

A brief 25 min practice experience from Madrid, Segovia is up in searches by 96% year-on-year, and that is hardly a shock contemplating it is the quintessential European city break: from Roman ruins, to medieval castles, to stunning imperial structure, it ticks the entire bins (after which some).

Rising excessive above the Plaza Mayor, the cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece with a lavish inside, and filled with slender passageways and café-bordered plazas, the Jewish Quarter is a must-see.

Segovia’s pleasure and pleasure, nevertheless, and maybe the primary cause why it is dominating talks, is its Alcázar: the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s Snow White fort, this tower-guarded stronghold perches dramatically atop rocky crags, and it really seems to be prefer it belongs in a fairytale.