5 Fairytale Medieval Towns In Europe With Cheap Prices & Zero Crowds

Share The Article

Not to be the bragacious one in the room, but I’m the guy all my friends come to when planning their yearly Eurotrip.

With 40+ European countries under my belt—that’s virtually all of them, mind you—and 100+ cities, it’s fair to say I know the Old Continent like the back of my hand: from the westernmost reaches of Portugal, through the alpine peaks of Central Europe, all the way East to Russia.

Yep, even the bad guy in the class.

Lately, though, I’ve been noticing a growing trend among my mates: they’re after smaller, quieter towns. Not the biggest, flashiest, most vibrant city breaks, where dinners out don’t cost an arm and a leg, and the social media crowds have yet to flood.

Well, they’re definitely not gonna find that in a now-ruined Dubrovnik, or even Ksamil, Albania, I’ll tell you that much, but there’s plenty more gorgeous European gems, still tucked away from the Instagram-influenced hordes’ prying gaze.

Mainstream travel brochures will continue flogging these names to death, even to the point of calling Marseille a hidden gem, but I’m Travel Off Path alumni, baby. This isn’t your usual tourist fodder.

To my online friends, and fellow Europe explorers, here are 5 gorgeous fairytale towns where prices are cheap, and crowds are effectively… nonexistent.

Bardejov, Slovakia

A small town in northeastern Slovakia, you won’t find easily in your Insta-friendly travel itinerary, Bardejov is nothing short of fairytale material. It also feels that much more magical when you’re not elbowing your way through a crowd of selfie-takers in your sightseeing venture.

Picture cobbled streets that have barely seen the passing of time since, I don’t know, the 15th century perhaps, colorful townhouses with tiled roofs that look like as if they’ve been sketched by Walt Disney himself, and a stunning main square.

The square in question is the main reason why you’d go out of your way from Bratislava to visit, and believe me when I say, pictures just don’t do it justice.

That prominent building you see in the middle is the Renaissance Town Hall, and on the north side of the square, the big Gothic church is the Basilica of St. Giles. If the tower is open, make sure you go upstairs for that classic bird’s eye view of the Old Town.

Average Prices In Bardejov, Slovakia

• Cheap local sit-down meal: $14–$18
• 3-course meal in town center (1 person): $20–$28
• Average museum entry fee: $6–$12
• 3-star hotel rate (per night): $50–$95

How Safe Is Slovakia Right Now?

Travelers voting on our Safety Index currently rank Slovakia at 89/100. Been recently? Help other travelers by voting below:

Vic, Spain

Millions of tourists flock to Barcelona from all over the world for $15 sangrias down by Barceloneta, and insane Rambla crowds, but very few know that, only a 1h bus ride from the Catalonian metropolis, they can visit Vic, the much-smaller, more quaint, untouristy alternative.

A well-preserved medieval town where busy thoroughfares give way to narrow pedestrianized lanes, and high-rises are nowhere to be seen, this is one of Spain’s best-kept secrets, and one I still hesitate to share. God forbid it’s swarmed by the Instagram hordes.

If you think Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is impressive, wait until you see Vic’s Plaça Major:

Ringed by arcades and cozy cafes, it’s the heart of town and the prime spot for soaking up that medieval flair.

Within short walking distance, the centuries-old cathedral has a richly-decorated interior, with murals provided by local artist Josep Maria Sert, and… wait for it…

This is not exactly Middle Ages-coded, but one of the best-preserved ancient pagan temples in Spain is right here! The Roman Temple of Vic dates back to the 2nd century, and it’s living proof of the bygone empire’s long-standing influence.

Before you fly to Spain this summer, make sure you check the latest Entry Requirements in place. Big changes coming for Europe-bound travelers, from mandatory fingerprinting, to Travel Authorizations.

Average Prices In Vic, Spain

• Cheap local sit-down meal: $14–$18
• 3-course meal in town center (1 person): $20–$28
• Average museum entry fee: $6–$12
• 3-star hotel rate (per night): $50–$95

How Safe Is Spain Right Now?

Travelers voting on our Safety Index currently rank Spain at 95/100. Been recently? Help other travelers by voting below:

Tempio Pausania, Sardinia—Italy

Correct me if I’m wrong, but chances are you probably know Sardinia for the powdered-sugar white sands and turquoise seas… and only that.

While Costa Smeralda is indeed paradise on earth—and rest assured, I’ll be beach-hopping in the area myself this July—you can also catch me wandering the peaceful streets in Tempio Pausania, simply one of the quaintest, most adorable, most unique medieval treasures on the island.

The entire town is built from locally harvested gray granite: every public building, every skinny house tucked into every winding alley, every palace and church.

They call it the “Granite Temple,” and as aesthetic as it is, especially with the rainbow-colored cobblestones, I love it most for how lived-in it feels.

Sardinia largely attracts the beach-bum crowd, so tourists who do take the inland (and uphill) detour here are coming for authentic Sardinian small-town life, and trust me, there’s plenty of that here.

From the nonne spending their day at Piazza Faber, to every-Sunday Mass at the soaring Cattedrale di San Pietro Apostolo, to the family-owned trattorie dishing out the best pasta you’ll ever try.

Average Prices In Tempio Pausania, Sardinia—Italy

• Cheap local sit-down meal: $13–$18
• 3-course meal in/near town center (1 person): $22–$32
• Average museum entry fee: $5–$10
• 3-star hotel rate (per night): $60–$100

How Safe Is Italy Right Now?

Travelers voting on our Safety Index currently rank Italy at 90/100. Been recently? Help other travelers by voting below:

Sibiu, Romania

My favorite pit stop on my month-long tour of Romania some four Earth spins ago, Sibiu is that Saxon gem in the heart of Transylvania I can’t seem to shake off all these years later. How could I, when its thousand eyes burned a hole through me?

No joke.

The dormers on the houses here have windows shaped like eyes, and they seem to follow you around as you explore the timeless cobble-paved lanes and interconnected town squares. Haunting, sure, but then again, when is Transylvania ever not a little eerie?

This area of Romania was originally populated by Saxon settlers all the way back in the Middle Ages, so it’s no wonder the motif-covered, pastel-hued buildings in the Old Town look like your average fairy-tale German village.

Big difference? The Chinese tour buses have yet to storm the city gates like they did in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Don’t miss the imposing medieval walls that still encircle most of the Historic Center, with its defensive towers and fortified ramparts, and the gorgeous Evangelical Cathedral, best known for the centuries-old gravestones set into and lining its walls.

Average Prices In Sibiu, Romania

• Cheap local sit‑down meal: $8–$14
• 3‑course meal in/near town center (1 person): $18–$30
• Average museum entry fee: $6–$10
• 3‑star hotel rate (per night): $40–$90

How Safe Is Romania Right Now?

Travelers voting on our Safety Index currently rank Romania at 85/100. Been recently? Help other travelers by voting below:

Kazimierz Dolny, Poland

Tucked away in eastern Poland, some 31 miles northwest of Lublin, Kazimierz Dolny is that quintessential storybook town with the stone-laden streets, the scenic riverside, and the hilltop castle to top it off.

It’s quite tiny, so it’s not really somewhere you’d spend more than an overnight in, but that gorgeous central square, flanked by Renaissance-era merchant houses, or that ornate Parish Church, with its ently-arched ceiling and Baroque altars, might just tempt you to.

As with most medieval gems in Europe that have yet to succumb to overtourism, the best way to get around is wandering the maze-like grid. You’ll probably stumble upon some incredibly photogenic corner, or hidden spot I failed to notice myself.

If you’re coming from a sprawling concrete jungle like Warsaw, this will be perfect to escape the hectic traffic and busy city life for a day.

Oh, and to my fellow pierogi fans out there, Plebanka Bistro in the heart of the Old Town has quite the creative take on Poland’s beloved half-moon dumpling. If you’re not exactly opposed to trying new flavors other than the usual potato and pork, save this address: Plebanka 2A, 24‑120.

Average Prices In Kazimiers Dolny, Poland

• Cheap local sit‑down meal: $8–$14
• 3‑course meal in/near town center (1 person): $18–$30
• Average museum entry fee: $6–$10
• 3‑star hotel rate (per night): $40–$90

How Safe Is Poland Right Now?

Travelers voting on our Safety Index currently rank Poland at 94/100. Been recently? Help other travelers by voting below:

Heading to other European countries not featured in this article? Check the latest Safety Advice that applies to your destination of choice here.

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.