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Europe is every American’s tourism playground when it comes to experiencing Old World culture and country-hopping.
Nowhere else in the world will you be able to board a train and cross not only one but multiple international borders effortlessly, without as much as showing a passport, or go from capital to capital, alpine peaks to Mediterranean beaches, in only a few hours.
When they think of Europe, however, most Americans tend to fantasize about the elegant Haussmann boulevards of Paris, double-decker buses and red telephone boxes in London, and if they’re thinking just a little outside the box, the lamp-lit medieval streets of Prague.
As gorgeous as those may be, there’s a lot more to Europe we’ve all been collectively sleeping on, and it’s high time we started doing the continent justice.
It seems some of us have already set out on that most noble quest, as there are 5 unexpected European destinations that have seen at least a 20% increase in U.S. arrivals since the end of the global health crisis, and they’re unlikely to stop growing anytime soon.
Ready to find out which ones?
Tbilisi, Georgia
This one’s bound to stir up controversy because, to some people, it is most definitely Europe, whereas others would place it in Asia, and a third group would say it belongs to both continents.
Technicalities aside, Tbilisi is unarguably spiritually Eastern European, with its picture-perfect center dotted with ancient Orthodox churches and sulfur baths and dominated by an imposing hilltop fortress, and it’s rising fast in popularity with people on our side of the pond.
The last data we got from the Georgia National Tourism Administration has shown that, since 2022, there’s been a 30% increase in U.S. arrivals to Tbilisi, and we suspect it might have something to do with its newfound fame as an affordable digital nomad hotspot, and its vibrant social scene.
From the laid-back restaurants and cobbled alleys of the Historic District to the expat-dominated bars of Fabrika, there’s truly never a dull moment in the Georgian capital.
How could there be when there’s always a fun meetup to attend, whether you’re a remote worker or a backpacker, and the country is famous for inventing Saperavi wine?
Ljubljana, Slovenia
If you’ve ever wondered where the current First Lady of the United States originally hails from, the charming city of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is where she spent much of her formative years.
We still wonder why she would ever swap this fairytale setting for Mar-a-Lago, but to each their own (and to Melania’s credit, back then, Slovenia was under a socialist regime).
As for Ljubljana, it has a charming, cobbled Old Town lining a crystal-clear river spanned by centuries-old bridges, and towering above the otherwise-even skyline, there’s a monumental medieval castle you can climb to with a funicular.
Make sure you get your cameras out for the view going up!
The increase in U.S. arrivals has been steady since 2021, reaching a 25% year-on-year increase thus far, and it’s not like Americans are just staying in Ljubljana, either:
They often use it as a base to explore other nearby destinations in Slovenia, most notably Lake Bled, an alpine lake with turquoise waters famous for a solitary church built on an islet in its very middle and numerous spa hotels on the waterfront.
Porto, Portugal
Lisbon continues to be the number one destination for Americans planning a trip to Portugal, after all, it is the capital and most historically-significant city.
That being said, if we were to pick a close second, this would be the second-largest conurbation in the nation, and its Northerly capital, Porto:
Similar to its southern counterpart in many ways, it is built across hills, with a pastel-colored riverfront and a host of richly-decorated Baroque churches to its name.
Porto is best known for its landmark Luis I Bridge, arching over Douro River, its fortress-like medieval cathedral, and its hilly Ribeira district, where stone-paved pathways lead to hidden fountain squares and quirky family-run eateries.
Of course, there’s no Porto without port wine, and Americans have sure been thirsty for some, as there’s been a whopping 40% increase in U.S. newcomers in the last 3 years.
Tallinn, Estonia
The compact capital of Estonia, a mysterious Eastern European nation lining the border with Russia, Tallinn is both a vibrant city and an open-air museum centered around a walled historic center.
As part of a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site, it is home to one of the oldest Town Halls in the continent, a 600-year-old building topped with a soaring tower, and within its city walls, there is a maze of cobbled alleys that lead hidden courtyards bordered by cafes.
A few of the Old Town’s most noteworthy structures include St. Olaf’s, a 14th-century church offering panoramic views of the spire-dotted cityscape from atop its tower, St. Catherine’s Passage, a narrow passage filled with artisan workshops, and the medieval Viru Gate.
Despite the fact it doesn’t host nonstop flights from America, with most visitors connecting in major hubs like Amsterdam or Frankfurt in flying to Tallinn, according to MSN, the city has seen a 20% rise in American guests recently.
Valletta
The cultural heart of Malta, and a UNESCO-listed fortified town overlooking an azure bay, Valletta is famous for being Europe’s smallest capital city, at only 0.24 square miles.
Despite being teeny-tiny, it has no shortage of cultural treasures:
It has a surprisingly high concentration of palaces, museums, and churches, and simply walking its pedestrian-friendly streets, flanked by ocher-colored facades with covered wooden balconies, will transport you back to a long-forgotten era.
The country of Malta as a whole is largely known for its secluded coves bathed by turquoise waters and arid landscapes, but if you’re in Valletta specifically, here’s what you shouldn’t miss out on:
Valletta Malta city Skyline, colorful house balcony Malta Valletta city, young Asian woman visit Malta during a vacation
The walls of Valletta, running along the oceanfront and surrounding the entire historic center, built in the Middle Ages by the Knights of St John, the Co-Cathedral, richly-decorated by none other than Caravaggio, and the lush Upper Barrakka Gardens.
Just look at its gorgeous cityscape and the long sets of stairs, all lined with alfresco cafes, leading straight down to the harbor.
It’s no wonder Valletta is being showered with love lately, or that, since 2023, there’s been a 20% uptick in American visitors.
Vinicius Costa
Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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