Want to feel like you’re back a few centuries then visit and walk among the old towns of Europe. Some of these historic areas have been spared the severe damaged from the impact of wars, especially WW II. Others have painstakingly rebuilt brick by brick as they once where. Many of the structures are centuries old and retain their graceful age an appearance. This lends itself to the overall character of the town and it’s ambience. You’ll definitely feel like your in the old country as these locations still exist much like they centuries ago.
Many of Europe’s major cities are the primary destinations for most travelers, and why not they have a lot to offer the traveler. Many of the large cities do have some exquisite old towns that have been preserved or reconstructed to their glorious past.
Just a short distance from many major cities are beautiful old towns and villages. Unspoiled they are right our of the past with medieval atmospheres and charm. While these towns may have limited hotels, restaurants and other services, staying has some up sides as they are unique unto themselves. In these smaller towns you’ll be able to observe local people working and leading their lives much as their ancestors did, so long ago. This is something much more evident than in a major cities.
Some of these locations have been recently listed as UNSECO World Heritage Sites to preserved their cultural importance. Acknowledged in many guide books, travelogs and tour groups for their exquisite charm. Some once unknown to most travelers, have can become quite popular with today’s travelers and can be exceptionally crowed during high tourist season. However, in the late afternoons and nights, or the off season, crowds will diminish giving you the run of the town.
Europe’s Most Popular Old Towns…
ALBANIA
Berat (Historical Center)
Gjirokastra (Historical Center)
AUSTRIA
Alpbach
Bad Ischl
Bad Radkersburg
Braunau
Carnuntum
Dürnstein
Enns
Ehrenhausen
Filzmoos
Freistad
Fiesach
Gmunden
Graz
Hallein
Hall in Tirol
Hallstatt
Hardegg
Heiligenbrunn
Hohenems
Judenburg
Innsbruck
Llagenfurt am Wötthersee
Krems am der Donau
Kufstein
Lech
Leibnitz
Leoben
Lienz
Linz
Melk
Mondsee
Oberndorf
Retz
Reutte
Ried
Rust
Salzburg (Altstatd)
Seefeld
Schärding
Schwarzenberg
Spittal
Steyer
St. Gilgen
Traunkirchen
Tulln
Vienna
Zell am See
BELGIUM
Antwerp
Brogloon
Bruges (Historic Center)
Brussells (Grand Place)
Courtrail (Flemish Béguinages)
Crupet
Dendermonde(Flemish Béguinages)
Diest (Flemish Béguinages)
Dinant
Durbuy
Ghent (Historic Center)
Hoogstraten (Flemish Béguinages)
Kortijk (Flemish Béguinages)
Leuven (Flemish Béguinages)
Lier (Flemish Béguinages)
Mechelen
Mons
Sint-Truiden (Flemish Béguinages)
Spa
Tongeren
Turnhout (Flemish Béguinages)
Ypres
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
Blagaj
Blidinje
Jajce
Mostar (Old City)
Mostar (Old City)
Pocitelj
Sarajevo (Historic Center)
BULGARIA
Arbanasi
Bozhentsi
Brashlyan
Koprivshtitsa
Lovech (Old Town)
Melnik
Nessebar (Old Town)
Plovdiv (Old Town)
Sozopol
Veliko Tarnovo
Zheravana
CROATIA
Dubrovnik
Hvar
Korcula
Makarska
Motovun
Opatija
Poreč
Pučiśća
Rovoinj
Split
Trogir
Umag
Varaždin (Old Town)
Zagreb (Gradec & Kaptol)
Zrće
CYPRUS
Famagusta (Walled City)
Limassol (Old Town)
Nicosia (Walled City)
CZECHIA
oskovice
Českẏ Krumlov
Českẏ ráj
Cheb
Dobříš
Domažlice
Jičín
Jihlava
Kadaň
Karlovy Vary
Kladno
Klatovy
Kroměříž
Kutná Hora
Litoměřice
Litomyšl
Loket
Mariánské Lázně
Mělnik
Mikulov
Mladá Boleslav
Opava
Pelhřimov
Phrachatice
Písek
Polička
Prague (Old Town)
Slavonice
Štramberk
Tábor
Telč
Terezín
Třebíč
Znojmo
DENMARK
Aarhus (Den Gamle By)
Ærøskøbing
Christianfeld
Dragør
Ebeltoft
Faaborg
Hornbæk
Mariager
Maribo
Odense
Ribe
Skagen
Sønderho
Svaneke
Sorø
Tisvildeleje
ESTONIA
Abja-Paluoja
Alatskivi
Haapsalu
Keila
Koguva
Koluvere
Kuressaare
Martna
Narva-Jõesuu (Old Town)
Otepää
Paldiski
Palmse
Pangodi
Sillamäe
Tallinn (Old Town)
Tartu (Old Town)
Valga
FINLAND
Helsinki
Rauma
FRANCE
Albi
Annecy
Antibes
Arbois
Autoire
Avignon
Beaune
Besançon
Beynac
Bordeaux
Cantobre
Carcassonne
Caseneuve
Cassis
Chamonix
Chassignolles
Collioure
Colmar
Conques
Dinan
Eguisheim
Espalion
Etretat
Eze
Gordes
Grignan
Honfleur
Lacoste
La Roque-Gageac
Lille
Lyon
Montresor
Mont-Saint Michel
Najac
Nice
Provins
Rennes
Riquewihr
Rochfert-en-Terre
Romcamador
Roquefort
Rouen
Salers
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
Saint-Émilion
Sainte-Enimie
Saint-Geniès
Saint-Malo
Saint Paul de Vence
Saint Tropez
Sarlay
Strasbourg
Toulouse
Trémolat
Troyes
Vitré
Uzés
GERMANY
Arnis
Bachrach
Baden-Baden
Bad Doberan
Bamberg
Bautzen
Bayreuth
Beilstein
Bernkastel-Kues
Binz
Boppard
Braubach
Berchtesgaden
Bernkastel-Kues
Bremm
Celle
Cochem
Dinkelsbühl
Eckernförde
Erfurt
Esslingen
Flensburg
Freiburg
Friedrichstadt
Freudenberg
Füssen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Görlitz
Goslar
Güstrow
Hamelin
Hann. Münden
Hattinger
Heidelberg
Heringsdorf
Konstanz
Landsberg am Lech
Landshut
Lemgo
Limburg
Lindau
Linz am Rhine
Lübeck
Luneburg
Marburg
Meissen
Mittenwald
Monschau
Montabaur
Murnau
Nesselwang
Neustrelitz
Nuremberg
Passau
Pirna
Potsdam
Potbus
Quedlinburg
Ravensburg
Ratzeburg
Regensburg
Rothenburg ob der Tuber
Rüdesheim
Schwäbisch Hall
Schwerin
Soest
Stade
Staufen I’m Breisgau
Stolberg
Straslund
St. Goar
Trier
Tübingen
Warren
Weimar
Wernigerode
Wetzlar
Wismar
Wolfenbüttel
Würzburg
Xanten
GREECE
Chora
Corfu (Old Town)
Folégandros
Galaxidi
Kardamyli
Mani
Markrinitsa
Metéora
Molyvos
Monemvasia
Mykonos
Papingo/ Mikro Papingo
Rhodes (Old Town)
Santorini / Fira
Imerovigli
Oai
Pyrgos
Symi
Syrrako
Zagorohoria villages *
* Ano Pedina
* Aristi
* Asprageli
* Dikorifo
* Dilofo
* Elafotopos
* Fragades
* Greveniti
* Kato Pedina
* Kapesovo
* Kipi
* Koukouli
* Monodendri
* Papigo
* Tristeno
* Tsepelovo
* Vikos
* Vista
* Vradeto
* Vrisohori
ICELAND
IRELAND
Adare
An Seanbhalles
Ardara
Birr
Carlingford
Clonakity
Cobh
Cong
Crookhaven
Dalkey
Dingle Pennisula
Dunmore East
Dunfanaghy
Enniskerry
Inistioge
Kells
Kenmare
Kilmore Quay
Kinsale
Portmagee
Roscrea
Roundstone
Skibbereen
Westport
Youghal
ITALY
Aberobello
Amalfi CoastCapri
– Positano
– Ravello
– Salerno
– Sorrento
Ancona
Arrezo
Assisi
Camerino
Catania
Colle di Val d’Elsa
Como
Bari
Bassano del Grappa
Bergamo
Bolgheri
Bologna
Bolzano
Borghetto
Bormio
Burano
Castagneto Carducci
Castlelfranco Veneto
Castiglion Fiorentino
Cinque Terra Coast
* Corniglia
* Manarola
* Monterossa Al Mare
* Riomaggiore
* Vernazza
Chioggia
Cittadella
Civita de Bagnoregio
Corinaldo
Cortona
Ferrara
Florence
Genoa
Giglio
Glorenza
Gubbio
Lecce
Loreto
Lucca
Mantua
Massa Marrittima
Matera
Modena
Modica
Montalcino
Monte Isola
Montelfiascone
Monteleone di Spoleto
Montepulciano
Naples
Norcia
Noto
Orvieto
Palermo
Palmanova
Parma
Pavia
Perugia
Pienza
Pisa
Pitigliano
Polcenigo
Portofino
Portovenere
Possagno
Procida
Puglia
Ravenna
Rome
Sacile
San Gimignano
Santa Maddalena
Siena
Siracusa
Taormina
Tellaro
Tivoli
Trento
Trieste
Turin
Udine
Urbino
Venice
Verona
Vicenza
Viterbo
Vittorio Veneto
Volterra
LATVIA
Bauska
Cesis
Dagda
Dobele
Kandava
Kraslava
Kudiga
Ludza
Pavilosta
Riga (Vecrīga)
Sabile
Talsi
Tukums
Valdemãrpils
LITHUANIA
Anykščiai
Joniškis
Kalaipėda (Senamiestis)
Kaunas (Senamiestis)
Kėdainiai
Kernavé
Kretinga
Neringa
Rumšiškės
Šilutė
Šventoji
Telšiai
Trakai (Senamiestis)
Ukmergė
Villnius (Senamiestis)
Visaginas
LUXEMBOURG
Esch-sur-Sûre
City of Luxembourg ( Old Quarters)
MALTA
Agia Napa
Attard
Balzan
Lija
Marsaxlokk
Valletta
MONTENEGRO
Budva (Old Town)
Herceg Novi (Old Town)
Kotor (Old Town)
Perast
Stari Bar
Sveti Stefan
Tivat
Ulcinj
NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam (Canal Ring)
Delft
Giethoorn
Hindeloopen
Leiden
Naarden
Nijmegen (Oude Stad)
Staphorst
Terschelling
Tilburg (Oude Stad)
NORTH MACEDONIA
Brajchino
Elshani
Galichnik
Lazaropole
Mariovo
Vevchani
NORWAY
Alesund
Bøde
Bergen (Bryggen)
Faejrland (Mundal)
Geiranger
Henningsvær
Lillehammer
Lofoten Islands
Mortsund
Reine
Longyearbyen
Oslo (Old Town)
Skudeneshavn
Tromsø
Unredal
POLAND
Chelmno (Old Town)
Chochołow
Gdańsk (Old Town)
Kazimierz Dolny
Kraków (Old Town)
Lubin (Old Town)
Malbrok
Nowe Warpno (Old Town)
Olsztyn
Police (Old Town)
Poznań (Old Town)
Przemyśl (Old Town)
Sandomierz
Stargard Szczeciński (Old Town)
Szczecin (Old Town)
Tarnów
Toruń (Old Town)
Trzebiatów (Old Town)
Tykocin
Warsaw (Old Town)
Wrocław (Old Town)
Zakopane
Zamosc (Old City)
PORTUGAL
Almeida
Belmonte
Brangança
Castelo Mendo
Castelo Novo
Castelo Rodrigo
Ericeira
Évora (Old Town)
Guimarães (Old Town)
Idanha-a-Velha
Linhares da Beira
Lisbon (Old Town)
Marialva
Marvão
Monsanto
Obidos (Old Town)
Póvoa de Varzim (Old Town)
Piódão
Porto (Old Town)
Salema
Sintra
Sortelha
Trancoso
ROMANIA
Arad (Old Town)
Biertan
Bistrița
Botoșani (Old Town)
Brașov (Old Town)
Brila (Old Town)
Bucharest (Old Town)
Cluj Napoca (Old Town)
Constanța (Old Town)
Craiova (Old Town)
Madiaş
Ordea (Old Town)
Sebeş
Sibui (Old Town)
Sighișoara (Old Town)
Timișoara
Viscri
RUSSIA
Pereslavl-Zalessky
Plios (Plyos)
Rostov Velikly
Suzdal
SAN MARINO
Cittá di San Marino
SERBIA
Belgrade (Stari Grad)
Borac
Donji Taor
Drvengrad
Glog
Gostoljublje
Jablanica
Kragujevac (Stari Grad)
Kremna
Latkovac
Ljibis
Novi Pazar (Stari Grad)
Novi Sad (Stari Grad)
Ribasevina
Seca Reka
Sirogojno
Sremski Karlovic (Stari Grad)
Tešnjar (Stari Grad)
Tiganjica
Tripkova
Užice (Stari Grad)
SLOVAKIA
Banská Bystrica
Banská Štiavnica
Bardejov
Bratislava (Staré Mesto)
Kežmarok
Kremnica
Košice (Staré Mesto)
Levoča
Modra
Nitra
Rožnava
Skalica
Spišskáá Sobota
Ždiar
SLOVENIA
Bled
Idrija
Kamnik
Kranj
Novo Mesto
Piran
Ptuj
Radovljica
Škofja Loka
Slovenjske Konjice
Tržic
SPAIN
Albarracín
Alclá de Henares
Alcántara
Ávila
Andújar
Arcos de la Frontera
Baeza
Bilbao
Burgos
Cadaques
Cádiz
Cáseres
Comillas
Cordoba
Cudillero
Cuenca
Deiá-Mallorca
Estepa
Getaria
Girona
Granada
Grazalema
Ibiza
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Léon
Lorca
Lugo
Madrid
Oviedo
Palma de Mallorca
Pamplona
Peniscola
Potes
Ronda
Salamanca
San Cristóbal de La Laguna
San Sebastián
San Roque
Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Santiago de Compostela
Santillana del Mar
Segovia
Sevilla
Stiges
Tarifa
Tarragona
Teruel
Toledo
Trujillo
Úbeda
Ullastret
Vitora-Gasteiz
Zahara
Zamora
SWEDEN
Åre
Arild
Båstad
Fjallbacka
Gammelstad
Gothenburg (Gamle staden)
Jokkmokk
Kiruna
Luleå (Gammel staden)
Marstrand
Mölle
Malmö (Gamla staden)
Rättvik
Smogen
Stigtuna
Stockholm (Gamla stan)
Trosa
Visby
Ystad
SWITZERLAND
Andermatt
Arosa
Baden (Altstadt)
Beil/Bienne (Altstadt)
Bellinzona (Altstadt)
Bern
Binn
Bremgarten (Altstadt)
Brugg (Altstadt)
Bulle (Altstadt)
Davos
Delémont (Altstadt)
Eglisau (Altstadt)
Fribourg (Altstadt)
Gimmelwald
Giornico
Greifensee (Altstadt)
Grindelwald
Gruyères (Altstadt)
Gstaad
Guarda
Kybourg (Altstadt)
Lausanne (Altstadt)
Lauterbrunnen
Lavaux (Altstadt)
Luzern (Altstadt)
Morcote
Mürren
Murten (Altstadt)
Müstair (Altstadt)
Rapperswil (Altstadt)
Regensberg (Altstadt)
Romont (Altstadt)
Rheinau (Altstadt)
Schaffhausen (Altstadt)
Sion
Soglio
Solothurn (Altstadt)
Spiez
Stein am Rhein (Altstadt)
St. Gallen (Altstadt)
St. Moritz
Vevey (Altstadt)
Wengen
Wil (Altstadt)
Winterthur (Altstadt)
Zermatt
Zürich (Altstadt)
TURKEY
Alaçatı
Amasya
Assos
Ayvall
Bozcaada
Ephesus
Göreme
Gümüslük
Istanbul (Historic Areas)
Kaş
Kaleköy
Mardin
Pamukkale
Safranbolu
Sanlıurfa
Side
Sirince
Uzungöl
UKRAINE
Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyy
Dubno
Kamyanets-Podilskyi
Klevan
Lviv (Stare Misto)
Kyiv (Old Kiev)
Uman
UNITED KINGDOM
England
Abbotsbury
Alfriston
Alnwick
Avebury
Barnsley (Old Town)
Bath
Blanchland
Blakeney
Burnham Market
Castle Combe
Castle Hedingham
Cerne Abbas
Chalfont St. Giles
Chard (Old Town)
Chester
Clare
Clovelly
The Cotswolds *
* Bilbury
* Blockley
* Bourton-on-the-Water
* Broadway
* Chipping Campden
* Mickleton
* Morten-in-Marsh
* Lower Slaughter
* Stanton
* Stow-on-the-Wold
* Upper Slaughter
* Winchcombe
* Woodstock
Cumbria (Old Town)
Dedham
Dover
Eastbourne (Old Town)
Galstonbury
Hastings (Old Town)
Hambleden
Hawkshead
Hay on Wye
Hutton-le-Hole
Lacock
Lavenham
London (Maritime Greenwich)
Liverpool (Maritime Merchantile City)
Lustleigh
Mousehole
Northumberland (Old Town)
Painswick
Polperro
Port Isaac
Portloe
Rye
Saltaire
Southhampton (Old Town)
St. Albans
St. Mawes
Staithes
Stratford-upon-Avon
St. Ives
Swindon (Old Town)
Torquay
Tyneham
Warwick
West Yorkshire (Old Town)
Weymouth
Northern Ireland
Ardglass
Bushmills
Cushendun
Scotland
Edinburgh (Old Town)
Pittenwem
Plockton
Wales
Beddgelert
Caernarfon
Portmeirion
Tenby
Designated Historic Areas in EUROPEAN LANGUAGES…
You may see these definitions used in official languages when visiting cities. These old city centers and in many cases are well preserved. They are always a good place to start your city visit.
ALBANIAN
● Qytet i vjetër (Old Town)
● Qendra Historike (Historic Center)
BASQUE
● Alde zahar (Old Town)
● Gune Historikoa (Historic Center)
BELARUSSIAN
● Стары горад – Stary horad (Old Town)
● Гістарычны цэнтр – Histaryčny centr (Historic Center)
BOSNIAN
● Stari grad (Old Town)
● Povijesni centar (Historic Center)
BULGARIAN
● Стар град – Star grad (Old Town)
● Исторически център – Istoricheski tsentŭr (Historic Center)
CATALONIAN
● Barri antic (Old Town)
● Centre Històric (Historic Center)
CORSICAN
● vechja cità (Old Town)
● Centru Storicu (Historic Center)
CROATIAN
● Stari Grad (Old Town)
● Povijesno središte (Historic Center)
CZECH
● Staré město (Old Town)
● Historické centrum (Historic Center)
DANISH
● Gammel by (Old Town) ● Historisk centrum (Historic Center)
DUTCH
● Oude stad (Old Town)
● Historisch centrum (Historic Center)
ESTONIAN
● Vanalinn (Old Town)
● Ajalooline keskus (Historic Center)
FINNISH
● Vanha kaupunki (Old Town)
● Historiallinen keskusta (Historic Center)
FRENCH
● Vielle ville (Old Town)
● Centre historique (Historic Center)
FRISIAN
● âlde stêd (Old Town)
● Histoarysk sintrum (Historic Center)
GALICIAN
● Cidade Vella (Old Town)
● Centro Histórico (Historic Center)
GERMAN
● Altstadt (Old Town)
● Historisches Zentrum (Historic Center)
GREEK
● Παλαιά πόλη – Palaiá póli (Old Town)
● Ιστορικό Κέντρο – Istorikó Kéntro (Historic Center)
HUNGARIAN
● Óváros (Old Town)
● Történelmi Központ (Historic Center)
ICELANDIC
● gamall bær (Old Town)
● Sögusetur (Historic Center)
IRISH
● Seanbhaile (Old Town)
● Ionad Stairiúil (Historic Center)
ITALIAN
● Città vecchia (Old Town)
● Centro storico (Historic Center)
LATVIAN
● Vecpilsēta (Old Town) ● Vēsturiskais centrs (Historic Center)
LITHUANIAN
●Senamiestis (Old Town) ● Istorinis centras (Historic Center)
LUXEMBOURGISH
● Alstad (Old Town)
● Historeschen Zentrum (Historic Center)
MACEDONIAN
● Belt il-Qadima (Old Town)
● Историски центар – Istoriski centar (Historic Center)
MALTESE
● Стариот град – Striot grad (Old Town)
● Ċentru Storiku (Historic Center)
NORWIGIAN
Gamleby (Old Town)
● Historisk senter (Historic Center)
POLISH
● Stare Miastro (Old Town)
● Centro Histórico (Historic Center)
PORTUGUESE
● Cidade antiga (Old Town)
● Historyczne centrum (Historic Center)
ROMANIAN
● Oraș vechi (Old Town)
● Centrul istoric (Historic Center)
RUSSIAN
● Старый город – Staryy gorod (Old Town)
● Исторический центр – Istoricheskiy tsentr (Historic Center)
SCOTS GAELIC
● seann bhaile (Old Town)
● Ionad eachdraidheil (Historic Center)
SERBIAN
● Стари Град – Stari Grad (Old Town)
● Историјски центар – Istorijski centar (Historic Center)
SLOVAK
● Staré Mesto (Old Town)
● Historické centrum (Historic Center)
SLOVENE
● Staro mestno jedro (Old Town) /
● Zgodovinsko središče (Historic Center)
SPANISH
● Pueblo Viejo (Old Town)
● Centro histórico (Historic Center)
SWEDISH
● Gammal Stran (Old Town)
●Historiska centrum (Historic Center)
TURKISH
● Eski kasaba (Old Town)
● Tarihi Merkez (Historic Center)
UKRAINIAN
● Старе місто – Stare misto (Old Town)
● Історичний центр – Istorychnyy tsentr (Historic Center)
WELSH
● Hen Dref (Old Town)
● Canolfan Hanesyddol (Historic Center)