Looking for hidden gems in europe to add to your travel list? Think flower-lined canals, little mountain villages and streets worth taking a second look at.
These pictures bring together less obvious corners with familiar favorites, so not every spot is a secret.
You can plan around a lakeside stay or start with a town that catches your eye. I especially love the tiny waterfront houses and winding lanes.
Use these views as inspiration, rather than a promise of empty streets.
Read also: 20 Places to Visit in the US for Gorgeous Views and City Strolls
European places and pretty corners worth saving
Hallstatt by the water
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous views of Hallstatt, Austria. I love the church spire beside the lake and the flower boxes filling those dark balconies.
This is a well-known stop rather than a secret village. Save the collage for its different perspectives, especially the view back toward town from the water.
Read also: 20 Must Visit Places in Dubai for Skyline Views, Beach Days and More
red roofs beneath the mountains
How gorgeous is this waterfront? The pale buildings and red roofs sit right beneath steep, rocky mountains.
That tall bell tower is such a pretty detail.
Read also: 20 Small House Plans and Design Ideas With Pretty Porches and Clever Layouts
If you like choosing destinations around the water, this is the kind of view to save. I’d leave room in the itinerary for a waterfront stroll.
flowers along the canal
I am obsessed with this canal scene. The half-timbered houses, little arched bridge and flower-filled railings are so pretty together.
Look at the leaves floating across the reflections too. For your own photos, try including the water instead of cropping straight into the buildings.
Lake Bled’s little island
That island church may just be one of my favorite sights here. Lake Bled in Slovenia has so much in one view, from the turquoise water to the castle sitting high on the cliff.
Read also: 20 Isle of Skye Hidden Gems and Beautiful Views to Inspire Your Trip
Keep this on your list if you love lake scenery. It’s another familiar favorite, not an undiscovered spot.
pink blooms and canal cottages
How cute are these cottages? The white walls and dark shutters are lovely, but those pink and purple flowers are my favorite part.
If a village canal is on your travel wish list, save this for inspiration. Remember that flowers are seasonal, so the same view won’t look like this all year.
Read also: 20+ Travel Inspiration Destinations You'll Regret Missing
a lane beneath green domes
This is one of my favorite street views on the list. I love the peach-colored walls and red roofs, with that green-domed tower rising above them.
The lane slopes down between closely packed buildings. Leave a little space in your sightseeing plans for smaller streets like this, rather than only the main square.
yellow towers at Pena Palace
If you love colorful architecture, then this one is for you. Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal, brings together bright yellow walls, patterned surfaces and a big blue-gray dome.
I especially love the cutout details along the curved foreground wall. Don’t mistake this famous palace for a hidden stop, though!
a lake wrapped in forest
Don’t want your whole trip to revolve around town squares? This mountain lake is a lovely change of scenery.
Forest covers the slopes while a low band of cloud stretches across the mountains.
The little white tower near the shore is easy to miss. I love how small it looks against all that green.
Mostar’s arched bridge
The curve of this bridge is so beautiful. Mostar’s Stari Most in Bosnia and Herzegovina spans the blue-green river between pale towers and tightly packed buildings.
For a view inspired by this picture, look for a designated riverside viewpoint that includes the whole arch. The river deserves a little space in the photo too.
Matera in golden light
I am obsessed with these layers of rooftops in Matera, Italy. There are little terraces, stairways and pale buildings everywhere you look, with a tall bell tower above them.
Save this one if you love exploring old streets. I’d plan a wandering afternoon rather than try to rush from one photo stop to another.
buildings above a sheer cliff
Okay, that drop is striking! A row of pale buildings sits above a huge golden cliff, with greenery tucked into the cracks below.
The arches and balconies along the top are worth a closer look too. Choose an established viewpoint if you want a similar wide view of the cliff face.
green rooftops beside the sea
How lovely is this little coastal village? I love the grass-covered roofs and the white church among the dark houses.
Behind them, pointed green mountains rise straight above the blue water.
Read also: 20 Beautiful Places to Visit in Korea, From Palace Gates to Coastal Views
This is the kind of scenery I’d build a day around. Keep to marked routes and respect the space around the homes.
a fountain with mountain views
The mountains are gorgeous, but that long water trough is such a sweet foreground detail. A small chalet sits beside the gravel path, with steep cliffs across the valley.
If you enjoy photographing little details, don’t walk past everything on your way to the big view. Sometimes both belong in the same picture.
little boats beneath the willows
Don’t want to go all out with a packed sightseeing schedule? Take inspiration from this lakeside scene instead.
The blue-trimmed boats and trailing willow branches are so pretty together.
I’d leave an unplanned stretch of the afternoon for a shoreline stop. You don’t need to fill every part of the day.
a tiny island of trees
This little tree-covered island may just be my favorite detail in the lake pictures. Narrow paths wind across the green hillside behind it, with scattered evergreens along the slopes.
The graphic doesn’t identify the lake, so keep it as scenery inspiration until you confirm the location. I wouldn’t plan a route from this picture alone.
a tucked-away tower passage
Who else loves a little passage like this? Steps climb beneath an arch toward a round tower, with leafy branches overhead and flowerpots along the edges.
The pale walls and green door make the entrance even prettier. Check access before heading through, since an inviting doorway isn’t always a public shortcut.
ivy beside the church tower
I am obsessed with all the greenery around this little storefront. The trailing ivy nearly covers the walls, while the pointed church tower rises just behind it.
The red-and-white shopfront is such a cute detail. Save this view if you prefer little street corners to sweeping skyline photos.
a giant hand by the sea
Now this is a little different from the other waterfront views! A giant hand-shaped sculpture reaches up beside the clear water, with steps running toward its palm.
I love the turquoise shallows around the rocks. Treat the steps as part of the artwork unless local signs confirm that visitors are allowed onto it.
Rothenburg’s pointed roof
Last but definitely not least, we have this pretty corner of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. I love the red framing, flower boxes and steep roof on the building between the two lanes.
The elevated angle shows off its unusual shape. Add this town to your list for architectural details, rather than expecting an undiscovered destination.