15 Charming Old European Towns to Explore

Are you looking for the most charming old European towns to add to your travel bucket list? In our recent travels, Chris and I discovered a few charming and quaint old European towns and villages you might just love as well and want to add to your own “Bucket List Europe”.

If you love charming beauty and enchanting Europe in small towns and villages, along with amazing architecture, old buildings and cobblestone streets in Europe, you’re going to love these destinations.

15 Charming Old European Towns to Explore

1. Annecy, France

Annecy has a charming beauty all its own. As you stroll along the canals in the Vieille Ville (Old Town), you’ll love the insanely beautiful canals, bridges blossoming with flowers, the tiny shops and eateries, and the aroma of fresh-baked pastries and breads filling the streets each morning.

It is “enchanting Europe” all wrapped up into the French town of Annecy—from the Old Town to the lake.

You have probably seen the most popular photo of Annecy and one of the coolest old buildings in Europe—Palais de l’Isle. This small castle is located on a tiny island in the middle of the Thiou River.

Check availability: Private Walking Tour of Annecy’s Historical Center with Viator

2. Bruges, Belgium

Bruges is one of the neatest old European towns to visit. This charming town is often referred to as the Venice of the North.

Things to do in Bruges:

• Visit the heart of the city center in Bruges Market Square. You will find the tourism information center here.
• Visit the picturesque Wijngaerde’ Beguinage. A home for religious, single, and widowed women still used today. These women chose a life a poverty and fidelity but did not wish to commit fully to a religious order. 
• Take a horse and buggy ride through the cobbled streets
• Enjoy the market on Wednesday morning
• Take a canal boat tour
• Discover the Bruges Photo Point at the corner of Rozenhoedkaai Street and Huidenvettersplein town square – Quay of the Rosary
• Climb the 366 steps of the Belfry of Bruges
• Visit the Historium Museum and climb the Historium Tower
• Discover the Instagrammable Blinde Ezelstraat (The blind donkey street)
• Visit the windmills
• Try beignets!

Check availability: Belgian Chocolate Workshop in Bruges

3. Colmar, France

The Old Town of Colmar has a European square full of charm.

Colmar is one of the many pretty French villages you absolutely need to visit; it might just remind you of a Disney fairytale.

Things to do in Colmar:

• Visit Little Venice or “Petite Venise” with its colorful half-timbered buildings along the canal
• Wander on cobblestone streets in Europe through the Old Town
• Shop at the quaint shops and boutiques
• Order from a patisserie and sample traditional Alsatian biscuits
• Visit St. Martin’s Church in the city center
• Cruise the canal on a flat-bottomed boat
• Experience the markets in the Alsace region
• Spend a leisure afternoon relaxing at Champ de Mars park
• Visit the Bartholdi Museum, home of Colmar’s most famous son, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. Bartholdi, the creator of the Statue of Liberty, has a museum dedicated to his sculptures located in the home where he was born
• Visit Pfister House with its colorfully painted facade and octagonal turret

Popular * 2 Hour Segway Tours in Colmar

The World is full of Adventures… Discover Yours!

4. Ghent, Belgium

When Chris and I arrived at the Marriott in Ghent, it was quite late at night. From the entrance, the exterior of the hotel had a modern look to it.

We planned our stay at this Marriott using hotel reward points. Want to know how to maximize your travel reward points? Here are 10 Super Smart Travel Hacks to Plan the Perfect Trip using reward points.

Book your stay at the Ghent Marriott Hotel

The next morning, Chris and I packed our backpacks with snacks and drinks for a day of sightseeing, and then went down for breakfast in the hotel restaurant.

From the front entrance the hotel gave off a totally modern vibe; inside the lobby, it was a spectacle of glass and structure. Ghent wasn’t immediately living up to the hype of featuring old buildings in Europe.

At then at the back of the hotel—in the restaurant—Chris and I stepped back in time.

We found the charming beauty of stained glass windows, wide-plank wood floors, and fantastic beamed ceilings as we sat down to breakfast.

Apparently, Marriott had purchased three row homes along the canal and refurbished the homes into a hotel, keeping the rear of the hotel exterior as it had once been.

Chris and I exited at the rear of the hotel after breakfast and walked into a medieval storybook setting with the buildings, the canal, the cobblestone streets in Europe, the smell, the beautiful sunshine. It was THE quintessential enchanting Europe town.

Things to see and do in Ghent:

• Walk along Korenlei Street
• Visit Korenmarkt
• Tour St. Nicholas’ Church
• Visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral
• Take a boat tour along the canal

After a day in Ghent, you might agree that it is one of the MOST charming old European towns ever.

Love Chocolate? Try a Ghent Small-Group Chocolate Tour with a Local Guide

5. Hallstatt, Austria

Hallstatt is one of the beautiful old European towns tucked into the mountainside next to Hallstatt Lake in the Salzkammergut Region of Austria. Hallstatt is famous for its salt mines.

Just as we arrived on the main street of town, rain started with a few drops here and there, and then it just poured. Good thing we had our rain jackets and umbrellas.

We stood under a tree on the patio of a restaurant, keeping dry and watching as the wait staff secured the outdoor seating area.

The tourists hurried back to their cars and the streets of this charming old European town were left bare except for a few patient tourists such as ourselves who had waited out the rain. Really, it was like watching ants pouring out of their anthill!

It took about a half an hour for the rain to stop, and when it did, we had most of the town to ourselves. And it was delightful.

Hallstatt has been named the most Instagrammable town in the world. As such, it is often overrun by tourists. It was a blessing in disguise to have a rainy day for our visit to this charming old European town.

Hallstatt Ancient Treasures: City Exploration Game or Love Stories of Hallstatt Tour

6. Lourmarin, France

Lourmarin, nestled in the Luberon Valley, is about one hour from Aix-en-Provence. The Luberon Valley offers the most enchanting European towns in France, one town after another of picturesque, charming beauty.

As Chris and I drove, we enjoyed the beautiful vineyards with yellow changing leaves, olive gardens, apple orchards, and rolling hills. We were both enchanted with Lourmarin.

Because I tend to wander about with my camera wherever I travel, I especially loved the charming beauty of Lourmarin. It was just a lovely little village with the cutest shops. I was telling Chris that the French really know how to create a vignette to draw you in to their stores, as well as picturesque scenes as you drive to make the passing countryside even more beautiful.

Check Availability: Provence Wineries and Luberon Villages Day Trip from Aix-en-Provence

7. Lugano, Switzerland

The picturesque city of Lugano, in the heart of the Ticino canton of Switzerland, is tucked along the shores of Lake Lugano surrounded by majestic mountains. 

As the biggest city in this region with approximately 63,000 residents, Lugano is often referred to as Switzerland’s “Little Italy”. Lugano blends the Swiss and Italian cultures with its Italian-speaking residents, customs and food.

You will find plenty of fun things to do in Lugano all year long and a variety of appealing reasons why you should plan your next vacation to Switzerland.

• Take photos along Lake Lugano
• Ride the funicular to Mt. Bre
• Hike
• Take a ferry around the lake
• Stroll through Parco Ciani
• Get a Thai massage!

Book the Full Day Lugano, Bellagio and Cruise Experience from Como

8. Mdina, Malta

Mdina (Im-dina) is a beautiful fortress city set up on a hill.

I LOVED Mdina.

It was one of the most impressive sites in Malta during our stay. It reminded me of some of the French and Italian old European towns with stone walls and walkways, beautiful doors and windows, impeccably clean streets, horse and buggy rides…and people actually lived within the walls of the fortress.

You may have seen the picture of the blue door and the bougainvillea climbing up the wall. It is a popular Instagram spot for photos.

Malta Private Minivan Tour: Popeye village, Mdina, Valletta & More

9. Monterosso al Mare, Italy

As we exited the train station in Monterosso al Mare in Cinque Terre with our bags in tow, we walked right out to the waterfront area of the “newer” section of Monterosso. I couldn’t help but take pictures.

Known for the great beaches, if sunbathing is on your wish list of things to do while visiting Cinque Terre, Monterosso is the perfect option. It also makes is one of the best places to swim in Cinque Terre.

We found the best accomodations in Cinque Terre in a vacation rental right in the heart of the town.

>> Related: 17 Dreamy Small Towns in Italy Near Florence

Chris and I LOVED this! Cinque Terre Sunset Boat Tour Experience

10. Orvieto, Italy

Orvieto should be added to your off season destinations list for sure.

Orvieto sits atop a very steep cliff—a rupe—visible for miles before you even arrive. The easiest way up the side of the cliff is to catch the funicular after you leave the train station.

Did you know that you can often buy funicular tickets at a magazine stand if one is close by? You will save some time if everyone else is standing in the line at the funicular ticket office.

Things to do in Orvieto:

• Stop at a bakery and enjoy some bread before continuing on toward the Duomo. Not a must, but you’ll thank me when you do.
• Explore the Duomo inside and out. The exterior has an amazing striped facade.
• Purchase tickets for an Underground Cave Tour. Most of the homes in Orvieto have caves dug out underneath (following strict specifications). Today they are used for storage and wine cellars, but years ago they were used for olive oil production with olive presses, cold storage, and pigeon nests.
• Wander the streets and walk along the borders of the city. From here, you can see all of the surrounding countryside.

There are so many beautiful sites in Orvieto and the surrounding countryside.

Check availability for a Cathedral and Underground Cave Tour with Viator

11. Prague, Czech Republic

Discover the fun and sometimes unique things to do in Prague during your visit. As another one of the old European towns to add to your bucket list, you’ll love the variety of choices:

• Visit Wenceslas Square
• See the Prague Astronomical Clock
• Explore Charles Bridge and Karlova Street
• Visit the Jewish Quarter and cemetery
• Shop at the Havel Market
• Discover the Prague Castle
• Visit the Golden Lane
• Check out Queen Anne’s Summer Castle

If Czechia is in your sites as a potential destination, you will love visiting the beautiful city of Prague. You will find plenty of things to do in Prague as you discover its rich history, striking architecture and old buildings in Europe, and vibrant people.

Are you a Foodie? Try the Prague Foodie Tour

12. Riquewihr, France

On our way from Strasbourg, France to Freiberg, Germany we stopped at two charming European towns—Colmar and Riquewihr. The scenery was beautiful as we zoomed through the French countryside by bus from Colmar to Riquewihr.

We stepped off the bus into a fairy tale of an enchanting Europe village. Apparently, the animators and creators of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast came to Riquewihr when looking for inspiration in creating that old provincial town. If ever there was a charming old European town, this was it.

And you could see the charm the moment you stepped under the arch into Riquewihr.

Riquewihr has been classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France or Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. If you go, you’ll see why. It didn’t even seem too overrun with tourists. At least not when we arrived.

We spent the afternoon happily wandering these cobblestone streets in Europe, taking pictures, and checking out the many shops. It did get busier later in the afternoon.

Riquewihr: Private Guided Walking Tour

13. Segovia, Spain

Segovia was the perfect day trip from Madrid. We hopped on one of the fast trains out of Chamartin Train Station in Madrid.

Segovia, a town in the higher mountain regions of Spain, sported chilly temperatures in the 40s for our November day of touring yet it still met our charming old European town requirements.

The train station in Segovia was quite a distance from the city, not walkable for sure. We took a bus to the Aqueduct bus stop and from there walked up the hill away from the Aqueduct (where all of the other recently arrived tourists were congregating) and continued on toward the Alcazar of Segovia (literally meaning Segovia Fortress), a castle on the far end of town. 

Our intent was to outsmart the tourists and work our way back to see the Aqueduct later in the day as we visited this charming European town.

In our research, Chris and I learned that Segovia was famous for three main attractions: the Roman Aqueduct, the cathedral, and the castle.

Hurrying past all of the tourists, we arrived at the castle and purchased tickets that included an audio tour of the castle. Apparently this castle, one of the charming old buildings in Europe, was used as a model for Disney’s Cinderella castle.

As far as castles go, this castle was perfectly situated as it was completely impenetrable and inescapable, used at one time to house prisoners.

We loved the views of the city from the top of the castle, posting photos to Instagram from our iPhones while we were there.

Chris and I followed winding streets, hoping to pop out at the top of the Aqueduct. Success!

After the necessary picture-taking (switching back and forth between my Canon 6d Mark II and my cell phone camera), we took the stairs down to the base of the Aqueduct.

The Aqueduct, amazingly well preserved, was built by the Romans around 50 BC. It’s two tiers of arches have stood strong over the years, as the structure was designed and built with un-mortared, brick-like granite blocks.

Hot Air Balloon Ride over Segovia or Toledo with Optional Transport from Madrid

14. Varenna, Italy

Have you ever heard the saying, “You had me at ‘Hello’“?

Varenna will have YOU at “Hello!”

Varenna draws you in from the moment you arrive. Every walkway, doorway, and passageway is a photographer’s dream. Your camera will not be at rest for long.

From Varenna, the stunning beauty of Lake Como glistens and accentuates the small towns surrounding the lake.

Find a place to stay in Varenna with Booking.com

15. Yvoire, France

Yvoire sits nestled along the shore of Lake Geneva. With a population of approximately 800 people, Yvoire is a traffic-free village, boasting a medieval look with walls, gates, a castle, and the cobblestone streets in Europe. If I had a chance to return to Lake Geneva, my choice would be to find a vacation rental in Yvoire.

It was fun to just wander around, explore the shops, visit the art studios, and take pictures of the lake.

Check the Availability for a Geneva City Tour and Yvoire

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Final Thoughts on 15 Charming Old European Towns to Explore

I would happily return to any of these amazing towns. They were filled with the cobblestone streets of Europe that I love and the charming beauty that draws you in the moment you arrive.

Do you have a few favorite charming old European towns that you have visited?

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