The most underrated destinations in European to visit in 2026

Piran receives most of the attention, Portorož has most of the glitz, and Koper gets most of the practical stuff, but those in the know will tell you that Izola is where Slovenia’s coast shines brightest. The pace of life is undeniably slower in this gorgeous fishing village, but that’s how a trip to the seaside should be, right? Izola is positively dripping in Venetian elegance, and its narrow, winding streets hide delightful cafes, romantic restaurants, and scenes of everyday life that have long been lost to the coast’s more mainstream destinations. Izola is the Slovenian coast as you want it to be.

Time Out tip: If you’ve got energy in your legs, arrive in Koper and walk the gorgeous four-mile promenade to Izola, undoubtedly the best way to arrive.

Machynlleth (you can call it Mach, don’t worry) seems like another picturesque Welsh market town with warm smiles and almost obligatory hills. But look closer, and you’ll find something truly special. For a start, the nature isn’t just your bog-standard valley; that’s the UNESCO-protected Dyfi Biosphere we’re talking about, a treasure trove of marshes, woodlands, waters, and wildlife. Mach holds a vital place in Welsh history, as it was here that Owain Glyndŵr set up parliament in 1404 as the last true Prince of Wales. Throw in a celebrated annual comedy festival and a contemporary art museum in a chapel, and you’ve got a treat.

Time Out tip: The Centre for Alternative Technology is a love letter to innovation and has fascinated visitors for decades.

Over four days in April, the microscope of the heavy alternative music world focuses on this small city in North Brabant as Roadburn Festival comes to town. For the rest of the year, Tilburg seems bizarrely quiet, but the juxtaposition sits just fine with its citizens. Tilburg ticks many of the boxes that travellers expect from the Netherlands, marrying delectable architecture and almost relentless creativity with a curious history and a keen respect for what brought it to the dance. That’ll be textiles, for the most part, and the city’s Textile Museum is one of the most fascinating in the country.

Time Out tip: That small statue of a man holding a jug? You might want to get the full story on that. Trust us.

Montenegro’s spectacular coastline is finally getting the attention it deserves, and the streets of Kotor, Budva, and the rest are now packed during the summer. Ulcinj? Not so much, but that won’t always be the case. Located at the southern tip of the country, Ulcinj is the centre of Albanian culture in Montenegro and provides a different vibe to the more celebrated spots up north. Ulcinj’s Old Town is arguably the most dramatically situated in the country, and its beaches provide excitement and serenity in equal measure.

Time Out Tip: For an authentic taste of Ulcinj’s cafe culture, head to the always-busy and always-exciting Kino Cafe.

📍 Discover the best places to visit in Montenegro

This salt-of-the-earth city on Italy’s Pontine coast, just south of Rome, is my favourite under-the-radar place for a proper beach holiday. A stop on the original Appian Way, Italy’s oldest and most important road, Terracina is one of three historic seaside towns in the region, along with Sperlonga and Gaeta (both well worth a day trip). You’ll have your pick of wide, sandy beaches, flanked by mountains – Spiaggia di Levante is particularly special, overlooked by the ancient Roman temple of Jupiter. Seek out bohemian cafés and al-fresco bars in the old town, which sit next-door to well-preserved ruins and Medieval buildings. Down at the port, ferries set sail to Ponza and Ventotene, a cluster of sun-drenched islands home to rocky inlets and secret swimming coves.

Time Out tip: Terracina is known for its seafood, and much-loved family restaurant Vicoletto does it best. For a meal to remember, get the Catalan-style langoustine and pair it with a glass of local white.

Stockholm gets all the lovin’ in Sweden, but don’t sleep on its second city. Gothenburg, a port city off the Göta älv river in the west coast of Sweden, has all the Nordic vibes with a bit less ABBA – and about half the Capital’s population, making it a very walkable, chilled-out city break. It’s got fresh fish markets, craft beer and plenty of spots to embrace Swedish café culture, fika – these are especially concentrated in Haga, Gothenburg’s coolest neighbourhood, but a wander around the port and a bar crawl around Linnéstaden is well worth it too. 

Time Out tip: Did you know Gothenburg is actually home to one of Europe’s coolest festivals? Way Out West Festival will take place August 13-15, 2026, with the Cure and Gorillaz already confirmed on the bill.

Undeniably charming Plovdiv certainly isn’t underrated by Bulgarians, but it still doesn’t seem to get its flowers in the grand scheme of European adventures. There’s no reason why Bulgaria’s second-largest city shouldn’t be firmly on your radar; the range of historical attractions and curiosities is remarkable, and the city’s food and drink scene is one of the most exciting in this part of the continent. Plovdiv’s old town is the clear main event, an impossibly gorgeous warren of cobblestone streets with stories around every corner, while the impeccably preserved Ancient Roman Theatre of Philippopolis stands proudly above the city. The views are spectacular.

Time Out tip: Combining achingly gorgeous architecture with a joyful willingness to experiment, the House of Distillation offers tasters of liqueurs you won't find anywhere else.

Denmark’s second city is a bijou university town in Jutland with cobbled streets, world-class coffee and a positive, hygge outlook on life – it’s known to Danes as ‘the city of smiles’, and was named the World’s Happiest City this year. Find colourful fashion (compared to monochrome focused Copenhagen at least), a stellar art gallery, ARoS, topped by a rainbow you can walk around. Plunge into its designer swimming pools set on the modern harbour of Aarhus Ø, winter and summer alike, chowing down on street food, cocktails and Champagne at the new Banken Food Hall, riding the rollercoasters in its mini theme park Tivoli Friheden, and staying in the lushly redesigned and iconic Hotel Royal.

Time Out tip: Take the train from Aarhus to Billund for the world’s best playdate: a visit to Lego House, where the country’s famously playful bricks are just an hour and a half away.

Banja Luka is the capital of Republika Srpska, the lesser-visited Serbian entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The lack of tourist traffic means you can admire the Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and Ferhadija Mosque at your leisure. Each strikingly rebuilt post-conflict, they form part of a relaxed sightseeing agenda spanning 2,000 years, factoring in the panoramic Roman fortress Kastel and Habsburg façades. Lively café terraces abound, carnivores will have a field day at the many Balkan restaurants. Affordability underscores all areas of hospitality, and despite the lack of international visitors, English-speaking staff are a common feature.

Time Out tip: Stay at Hotel Talija for its top-floor pool or Hotel Bosna Banja Luka, a landmark dating back to 1885. 

If you’re not from the UK, there’s a high likelihood you’ve never heard of the Isles of Scilly, a quiet archipelago off Cornwall’s coast (to be honest, even people in the UK don’t know much about this place). But it’s easily reachable by Skybus from the equally as delightful Land’s End, and you can pretty much spend the whole day out in nature, with a few stops for pints at lovely little pubs in between. Make sure not to skip the quirky Mermaid Inn, or the Turk’s Head right on the water, which probably has one of the best beer gardens in the country. With miles of unspoilt beach and hidden coves, this is a seaside break unlike you’ve ever imagined. 

Time Out tip: You can book group snorkelling sessions from St Martin’s any day of the week, where you can see the magnificent Ganilly Sand Bar up close. 

📍 Discover the best places to visit in the UK