The 9 Best European Destinations to Visit in 2027
From culture-capital crowns to quiet coastlines coming into their own, these are the European places worth building a 2027 trip around.
Last updated June 22, 2026
Stunning view of ancient Roman temple ruins showcasing classic architecture in Tunisia. · Samson Bush
Planning a year ahead pays off in Europe, where the calendar shapes where the energy goes. Two cities wear the European Capital of Culture crown in 2027, festivals and openings cluster in predictable places, and the smartest trips lean into momentum rather than fighting summer crowds in the obvious spots.
This list balances the can't-miss with the quietly clever. Some picks are riding a genuine wave of investment and attention; others are timeless places that simply reward a 2027 visit because of an anniversary, a new rail link, or a shoulder-season sweet spot. Every one is a real, open destination you can book today.
Use it as a menu, not a march. Pair a Capital of Culture city with a nearby coast, or anchor a longer trip on one region and let the rest fall into place. Entries are ordered best-first for 2027 specifically, with practical notes on getting there and who each suits.
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1
EvoraAlentejo, central Portugal, about 1.5 hours east of Lisbon Google
Evora is a European Capital of Culture for 2027, and the title fits a town that already feels like an open-air museum. Inside its medieval walls you get a startlingly complete Roman temple, a Gothic cathedral you can climb for rooftop views, and the macabre Chapel of Bones lined with the remains of thousands of monks. The 2027 program brings exhibitions, performances, and revived spaces across the wider Alentejo, so the whole sun-baked region wakes up. It is also one of Portugal's great food and wine bases, with hearty Alentejo cooking and cellar doors a short drive out.
- Roman Temple of Evora and the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones)
- Capital of Culture 2027 events across the Alentejo
- Alentejo wine tasting and porco preto (black pork) dishes
Best for: culture travelers and food-and-wine lovers
Getting there: From Lisbon, about 1.5 hours by direct train or car; buses also run frequently
Plan it on MagicTrips
2
LiepajaWestern Latvia, on the Baltic coast Google
Liepaja shares the 2027 European Capital of Culture title (under the Latvian region around it) and is the Baltic's most intriguing wildcard. This is a city of wide white-sand beaches, a haunting former Soviet naval base at Karosta, and a music scene serious enough that locals call it the place where the wind is born. The Capital of Culture year fills its concert halls, the striking Great Amber concert venue, and outdoor stages with a packed program. Pair it with Latvia's coast for empty dunes and pine forest that few foreign visitors ever reach.
- Karosta former naval port and its dramatic seaside fortifications
- Great Amber Concert Hall and the 2027 cultural program
- Long Baltic beaches and the Liepaja seaside park
Best for: off-the-radar Baltic travelers and music fans
Getting there: From Riga, about 3 hours by bus or car; regional flights and trains also serve the route
Plan it on MagicTrips
3
the Faroe IslandsNorth Atlantic, between Iceland and Norway Google
The Faroes have crept from secret to serious bucket-list, and 2027 is a good year to go before they get busier still. Eighteen green islands rise in sheer cliffs from a moody sea, linked by undersea tunnels, ferries, and grass-roofed villages that look painted on. Hike to the cliff-top lake at Sorvagsvatn that appears to float above the ocean, chase puffins at Mykines, and eat surprisingly ambitious New Nordic cooking in Torshavn. Weather is the price of admission, but the payoff is scenery with almost no crowds.
- The 'floating lake' optical illusion at Sorvagsvatn
- Puffin colonies on Mykines island
- Grass-roofed Saksun and Gjogv villages
Best for: hikers, photographers, and solitude seekers
Getting there: Direct flights to Vagar from Copenhagen, Edinburgh, and other hubs; a ferry runs from Denmark
4
TiranaCentral Albania, inland from the Adriatic coast Google
Albania's capital is having a genuine moment, with new boutique hotels, a buzzing cafe culture, and prices that still undercut almost anywhere in Western Europe. The city center has been transformed with color-blocked facades, a revamped Skanderbeg Square, and the pyramid-shaped former communist monument reborn as a tech and culture hub you can climb. Ride the cable car up Mount Dajti for city-and-mountain views, then dig into the Bunk'Art museums built inside Cold War bunkers. Use Tirana as a launchpad for the Albanian Riviera's beaches, which remain a fraction of Croatia's cost.
- The reborn Pyramid of Tirana and Skanderbeg Square
- Bunk'Art Cold War bunker museums
- Dajti Express cable car and day trips to the Riviera
Best for: budget travelers and city-plus-beach trips
Getting there: Direct flights to Tirana from most major European cities; under 3 hours from many hubs
5
BordeauxSouthwest France, about 2 hours from Paris by train Google
Bordeaux rewards a 2027 visit for the simplest reason: it is one of Europe's most graceful cities and remains underrated against Paris and the Riviera. The honey-stone 18th-century center is a walkable UNESCO site, fronted by the mirror-like Miroir d'eau reflecting pool on the riverfront. The Cite du Vin pours the region's history into a striking modern building, and the vineyards of Saint-Emilion and the Medoc are a short hop for tastings. Add some of France's best markets and a thriving wine-bar scene and you have a long-weekend city that punches well above its size.
- Miroir d'eau reflecting pool and the riverfront quays
- La Cite du Vin wine museum
- Day trips to Saint-Emilion vineyards
Best for: wine lovers and stylish city breaks
Getting there: From Paris, about 2 hours on a direct TGV; international flights into Bordeaux airport
6
the DolomitesNorthern Italy, South Tyrol and Trentino Google
For mountain scenery, nowhere in Europe beats the Dolomites, and 2027 sits in the run-up to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics afterglow, with upgraded infrastructure and a polished spotlight on the region. Jagged limestone peaks glow pink at sunset over emerald lakes like Braies and Sorapis, and a network of mountain huts means you can hike hut-to-hut without carrying a tent. Cortina d'Ampezzo and the Alta Badia villages mix Italian and Tyrolean culture, so a day of hiking ends with both pasta and apple strudel. Go in summer for wildflower meadows or winter for some of Europe's most scenic skiing.
- Lago di Braies and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop
- Hut-to-hut hiking and via ferrata routes
- Alta Badia's Ladin culture and mountain cuisine
Best for: hikers, skiers, and alpine scenery
Getting there: Fly to Venice or Innsbruck, then 2-3 hours by car or bus into the valleys
7
GdanskNorthern Poland, on the Baltic coast Google
Gdansk is the most rewarding of Poland's cities and still far cheaper than its Western peers. Its rebuilt Royal Way is a parade of tall, ornate merchant houses in candy colors, and the riverside Motlawa waterfront has been reborn with stylish bars and the excellent Amber Museum. History runs deep here, from the gripping Museum of the Second World War to the Solidarity movement that began in its shipyards, told vividly at the European Solidarity Centre. In summer you can pair the old town with Baltic beaches at nearby Sopot, making it an easy city-and-sea combination.
- The Long Market and rebuilt Royal Way
- Museum of the Second World War and European Solidarity Centre
- Amber shopping and a day at Sopot beach
Best for: history buffs and value-minded city breaks
Getting there: Direct flights to Gdansk from across Europe; about 3 hours by train from Warsaw
8
MadeiraPortuguese archipelago in the Atlantic, off northwest Africa Google
Madeira has gone from cruise stopover to genuine destination, with a mild year-round climate that makes it a smart 2027 pick for any season. The island is laced with levada walks, irrigation-channel trails that contour through laurel forest to waterfalls and cliff-edge viewpoints like Pico do Arieiro. Funchal, the capital, mixes a historic old town with a buzzing food market and the famous toboggan basket ride down from Monte. Add black-sand swimming spots, volcanic rock pools at Porto Moniz, and a serious wine tradition, and it earns more than a day.
- Levada walks and the Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike
- Monte toboggan ride and Funchal's Mercado dos Lavradores
- Volcanic rock pools at Porto Moniz
Best for: hikers and year-round warm-weather escapes
Getting there: Direct flights to Funchal from Lisbon (about 1.5 hours) and many European cities
9
VallettaMalta, central Mediterranean Google
Malta's tiny capital packs Baroque grandeur, deep history, and Mediterranean sun into a peninsula you can cross on foot. The St John's Co-Cathedral hides a Caravaggio masterpiece behind a relatively plain facade, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens look out over the Grand Harbour where cannons still fire at noon. Beyond the walls, the silent former capital of Mdina, the prehistoric temples older than Stonehenge, and the cobalt water of the Blue Grotto are all short trips away. With reliable spring and autumn weather and English widely spoken, it is an easy, rich shoulder-season choice.
- Caravaggio's 'Beheading of St John' in St John's Co-Cathedral
- Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Grand Harbour saluting battery
- Day trips to Mdina and the Blue Grotto
Best for: history lovers and shoulder-season sun
Getting there: Direct flights to Malta from most European cities; an easy island to get around by bus or car
Good to Know
When to go Aim for May, June, September, or early October to dodge peak crowds and heat. Capital of Culture cities like Evora and Liepaja are liveliest mid-year when their event programs peak, so check the calendars before booking.
Book ahead For the Faroe Islands and the Dolomites, reserve mountain huts, rental cars, and key flights months out, as capacity is limited. City breaks like Bordeaux and Gdansk are more flexible but get pricier on festival weekends.
Getting around Europe's rail network makes city-to-city travel easy and scenic; a point-to-point booking is often cheaper than a pass for a short trip. For island and mountain destinations, a rental car unlocks the best viewpoints and villages.
Value Albania, Poland, and Latvia stretch a budget far further than Western Europe without sacrificing food or culture. Spend there and splurge on a single marquee destination like the Dolomites.
Europe in 2027 rewards a little planning: time a trip to a Capital of Culture year, catch a coastline before it fills up, or simply hit a classic in its best season. Pick one or two anchors from this list, build outward by rail or rental car, and you will have a year worth remembering. Start sketching dates now, while the best stays and seats are still open.