Travel Guide
3 Surprising European Cities Breaking All-Time Visitor Records
May
As summer slowly approaches, you’ve likely already scoured the interwebs for travel deals to some of the world’s top destinations. So they say…
The past few years have seen travelers scoping out the lesser-known rather than following the crowds to places so publicized it feels like we’ve already been.
For example, can you believe I’ve never been to Cancun? It’s true. As an American, some people find that hard to fathom, even more so when they discover I’ve been to 16 other destinations in Mexico.
As for Europe, it took me 34 years to finally go to Paris, and I still haven’t been to Barcelona or Rome.
But enough about me. It’s become clear as day more travelers in general are scratching their travel itch beyond the norm, helping certain destinations to break tourism records in the process.
In fact, we at Travel Off Path are encouraging travelers to go, well, off-path this summer, instead of the household names we all think we’re supposed to visit.
If you need a little push to help you decide where to go, these 3 surprising European cities are breaking all-time visitor records:
Katowice, Poland
Let’s get the awkwardness out of the way. There’s nothing worse than reading a word over and over without knowing how to pronounce it.
Katowice is pronounced Kah-toh-VEE-tseh. Yeah…surprised me too.
Regardless, Katowice is a vibrant Polish city attracting a record number of travelers, on track for 7 million, which would beat out the previous record of 6.4 million.
Home to captivating museums, trendy neighborhoods, timeless plazas, purposeful green spaces, and thrilling festivals held throughout the year, Katowice is a well-balanced mix of old and new with something for everyone, but the biggest draw is how cheap it is.
You can easily find a 4-star hotel in the $60 range, if not cheaper. Check Mercure Katowice Centrum.
Located in the Silesia region, which also touches Czech Republic and Germany, you’ll find a distinct cuisine here beyond the typical meat platters you might envision indulging in when visiting Poland.
A couple of must-try eats are kluski śląskie (dumplings) and modra kapusta (braised cabbage), and there’s no better place than always-buzzing Mariacka Street.
Katowice isn’t just a foodie destination for adventurous palettes; it’s one of the best destinations to learn more about world history with easy gateways to fascinating sites and landmarks, such as the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum (an hour away; free admission)
Brussels, Belgium
Brussels is a city we all know the name, but likely haven’t been. At least that’s the way it used to be…
Over 10 million travelers now step foot into Brussels’ wondrous cityscape with possibly even more for 2025.
Belgium’s capital is making a name for itself with award-winning restaurants taking over the food scene and has become one of Europe’s easiest cities to reach, even for Americans.
Even more enticing is a majority of residents speak english, making your travels easier to navigate.
Don’t be like me and just point and awkwardly mimic what you want. But hey, at least “waffle” seems to be a pretty universal word anyway.
Brussels offers U.S. travelers 6 direct flights from major American airports and there’s seemingly a new train to/from Brussels launching every month to a notable European city.
Once here, you’ll find an impressive array of world-class museums, grand palaces, and stunningly beautiful architecture, and perhaps best all, Brussels super easy to explore since public transit only costs about $2.
Rovaniemi, Finland
Not every traveler is up for a winter wonderland trip of a lifetime, but if you fit the bill, there’s no better place than Rovaniemi, Finland, the official ‘hometown’ of the man, the myth, the legend, and who very disappointedly turned out to be my parents — Santa Claus.
Rovaniemi has garnered newfound fame through the rise of viral social media videos with epic visuals of Northern Lights, real-life reindeer, and believe it or not, Santa’s Village, including a post office for Santa’s letters, and in the spirit of Christmas cheer, it’s always free to enter.
It’s truly a one-of-a-kind city, but it’s become such a draw that the airport is having to undergo an extensive makeover before next winter’s booming season.
Rovaniemi may be the most visited, but it’s beautiful in summer too, especially for those who don’t want to pack more layers than the Michelin man.
You will want to pack a sleep mask, though. Instead of Northern Lights and endless snow, experience the Midnight Sun this summer, where the sun refuses to set, creating never-ending bright days and golden “nights”.
Good news is Rovaniemi summers sees consistent days of 65 -72 degree weather, which is a practically scorching for the Arctic Circle.
Regardless of weather, a Finnish staple are saunas. No, not the ones bothers to wipe down at your local gym. When visiting Rovaniemi, make sure to hit up a lakeside sauna, a truly enjoyable experience to rejuvenate amongst some of the Arctic’s most astounding scenery.
Ready For Your Trip? Check The Latest Entry Requirements For Your Destination Here
↓ Elevate Your Travel↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!
✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.
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.
