When considering a visit to Europe, some might become overwhelmed with the endless options when it comes to finding the best places to visit and the huge variety between countries. While hitting up Europe’s capital cities like London, Paris, Prague, or Rome, it’s always a great idea to include a few, smaller, picturesque towns, but finding these pretty little towns can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. So, I’ve gathered 50 small cities and cute towns in Europe that are just downright STUPID PRETTY!

This is a sponsored post and California Globetrotter was invited by Bottle Stops as a guest on the wine tour, as well as a guest of me and all hotels in Mainz, but as always, all pictures are mine unless otherwise stated and all opinions are entirely my own! This post also contains affiliate links […]

Let me transport you to an enchanted forest where gnomes play tricks and scamper through the forest, and where the trees come to life beneath the canopy of pine trees. Where delicious aromas waft from a real life Gingerbread house and where you can experience a Christmas market away from the prying eyes of hordes of tourists and the same ole, same ole making it one of the most unique Christmas Markets in Germany!!

CALLING ALL PUMPKIN LOVERS!!! If you enjoy the chill of autumn, a thick mist which rolls in in the evenings and dissipates in the afternoon to clear blue skies, soaking up the last remnants of warmth. If you love bundling up to go to a Pumpkin Patch and get giddy every time you get a Pumpkin Spice Latte and love all things pumpkin, then you are my kind of kindred spirit. That means you’re officially invited to the world’s largest pumpkin festival, known as Kürbisaustellung which takes place every autumn in the gardens of Schloss Ludwigsburg, just outside of Stuttgart.

After recently spending 7 weeks in the US, trying to decide if we wanted to move back, I realized how much I have changed in my 6 years living in Germany. Life in Germany is so comfortable, easy and relaxed. There is Ordnung to everything that we do here and over time, the rigid rules Germans live by eventually become daily habits, you hardly notice that they no longer bother you, but more that without them you don’t know what to do with yourself. When you leave the country for an extended amount of time you suddenly find yourself aching to get back as quickly as possible.

Autumn is a wonderful time to consider a visit to Southern Germany. Living in Regensburg, I often get asked, “When is the BEST time to travel to Germany?” and without hesitation, I quickly reply “Autumn”. Punkt. There are many great reasons to visit Germany any time of year, but Autumn is especially notable. From the variety of autumn festivals in Germany to our much cherished “Golden October”, crisp mornings and pristine blue skies in the afternoons, why wouldn’t you want to visit Germany in the fall!? You’d be cray-cray not to!

Europe is already an intriguing place to visit, as well as the most popular tourist destination in the world. But before you traverse this beautiful continent, why not learn about the royal past of Europe, of the kings and queens who shaped the continent as well as built some of the most stunning castles and palaces in Europe, all the while leading tumultuous lives behind closed doors filled with gossip, rivalries, heartbreak and more!

Call me Mrs. Highway Vagabond! Day trips are what I live for and there is never a dull weekend while living abroad! You gotta take advantage of every day as if it was your last and there is so much to see, yet sooo little time! I want to go where nobody knows and where no body goes!

One thing I reiterate often is that when it comes to travel, half the reason why we explore new lands is to try new foods. Just admit it now. Germany has a hearty cuisine with a plethora of traditional meals. And I’m certainly not gonna lie, I love the food. It’s the best way to understand the culture, the people and the traditions. 

While Venice might be the world’s most famous canal town, there are so many other places to visit in Europe which are equally as beautiful, graced by winding waterways, charming arched bridges and romantic canal boats casually streaming down river. Over 60,000 people descend on Venice every day, threatening its future. So, if you’ve ever dreamed about strolling through a romantic canal city but aren’t fond of the crowds, I’m here to share with you a collaboration of picturesque canal cities in Europe that aren’t Venice!