Introduction
As a traveler, your goal is to get out of your comfort zone and explore new cultures. But if you’re anything like me, you can’t help but dream about going back to the same places every time—the ones where you felt most at home, or the ones with the best food or biggest cities. If this sounds familiar, here are nine underrated European countries that will impress even the most seasoned travelers:
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a small, mountainous country located in the Alps. It has a population of 35,000 and its capital is Vaduz. The highest point in Liechtenstein is Grauspitz at 2,599 meters (8,527 feet).
Albania
Albania is a small country in the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Montenegro to the north, Kosovo to the northeast and Macedonia to the east. Albania also has a coastline along the Adriatic Sea to its south and west, which includes many beautiful beaches.
Albania is known for its outdoor activities such as hiking or biking through mountains or along beaches, exploring ancient architecture like castles from medieval times or simply enjoying local cuisine at one of their many restaurants serving both traditional dishes as well as international favorites like pizza or seafood pasta dishes (which are often made with locally caught fish).
Romania
Romania is a very beautiful country with a rich history and culture. It’s one of the most affordable countries in Europe to visit, especially if you plan on staying in hostels or Airbnb’s instead of hotels. The diverse landscape includes mountains, forests and lakes–and there are plenty of hiking opportunities around these areas! Bucharest is also an amazing city that I highly recommend visiting if you have time during your trip.
The only downside is that Romania doesn’t have as many tourist attractions compared to other European countries (though this could be considered a positive thing since it means fewer people). You should still make sure you see at least one museum while staying here though–there are plenty of them!
Montenegro
Montenegro is a small country in the Balkans, situated on the Adriatic coast of Southeast Europe. It’s known for its mountains, beaches and wines–a perfect place to visit during summertime!
Moldova
Moldova is a country located in Eastern Europe. It borders Romania, Ukraine, and the Black Sea. The capital of Moldova is Chisinau.
The Moldovan language is closely related to Romanian; many people in both countries can understand each other without much difficulty. This makes it easy for travelers who speak either language to get around when they visit this part of Europe!
Moldova has a rich history of wine production–it’s even home to the oldest vineyard in the world!
Estonia
Estonia is a small country in Northern Europe, bordered by Latvia on the south and Russia on the east. It’s perhaps best known for its capital city, Tallinn–a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once home to Hanseatic League trading posts and remains one of Europe’s most charming cities.
Estonia has a rich history; it was first settled by Finnic tribes in around 3200 BCE and later conquered by German crusaders, who brought Christianity with them. In 1219 CE Estonia became part of the Livonian Confederation (which also included Latvia), but this union collapsed when Sweden invaded in 1561 CE and took over control of both countries until 1710 CE when they were absorbed into Russia after Peter The Great took over from Ivan Vassiliyevich Shuysky as tsar (emperor). In 1918 CE Estonia declared independence from Russia after World War I ended; however Soviet troops occupied Estonia until 1991 CE when another round of independence began!
Lithuania
Lithuania is a Baltic country with a population of 2.9 million people, making it the least populous country on our list. It’s also one of the newest members of the European Union (EU), having joined in 2004.
Lithuanian culture dates back to prehistoric times and has been influenced by neighboring nations over millennia. The country’s natural beauty is renowned: you may have heard about Lithuania’s Curonian Spit or Trakai Castle before–both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites! The country also boasts many cultural treasures, like its folk music festivals which date back centuries and attract visitors from all over Europe every year.
Lithuania was occupied by Russia during World War II but regained independence after WWII ended in 1945; this resulted in decades-long Soviet rule until 1990 when Lithuania regained full sovereignty under president Vytautas Landsbergis’ leadership
Malta
Malta is an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Italy and north of Libya. It has a population of about 440,000 people and a land mass of only 316 square kilometers (121 sq mi).
The country’s history dates back to 5200 BCE when it was first inhabited by Neolithic peoples who were followed by Sicilians, Phoenicians and then the Greeks during their colonization period between 700 BCE – 300 CE. The Romans ruled Malta until they left in 870 CE when Arab invaders took over until 1090 CE when Byzantine rule was restored under Emperor Alexios I Komnenos who built new fortifications on top of those already existing there before him (you can see some remnants today).
The Normans invaded again in 1091 but were driven out by Count Roger I de Hauteville II who became king after marrying into royalty from Sicily; he established himself as ruler over both islands before dying childless so his nephew succeeded him instead – this led directly into what we know today as modern day history!
Serbia
Serbia is a country in the Balkans, located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe. It has a rich history and is known for its beautiful nature and cities.
Serbia has been through many wars in its past but today it’s safe to visit as long as you don’t go near Kosovo or other disputed territories. Serbia has many beautiful cities like Belgrade (the capital) Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac which are worth visiting if you want to see something different than just beaches!
These countries are worth visiting, even though they’re not widely known.
There are many reasons why these countries are underrated. Some of them, like Ireland and Portugal, are not as well-known as other European countries such as France or Italy. Others have been overlooked because they’re still developing and don’t have the same infrastructure or tourist attractions as some of their neighbors. Finally, some travelers may overlook these destinations because they think they’ll be too busy with crowds of tourists–but that’s where you come in!
Conclusion
So there you have it: the 9 most underrated European countries. If you’re looking for an adventure and want to explore new places, these are great options!
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