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Fairytale castles, ancient cities with origins lost to time, and the kind of architectural wealth younger nations on our side of the pond will take centuries to hoard:

Europe is where every culture buff will be headed in the coming year.

Lonely Planet is well aware of that, and experts at one of the world’s largest and most respected travel publications have whittled down all those amazing European hotspots into only a handful that are ‘Best in Travel’ in 2025.

Of course, no destination is ever unanimously acclaimed unless we’re talking about digital nomads’ love for Albania, but we can certainly vouch for 5 of the experts’ picks:

Palma de Mallorca, Spain

The medieval capital of Spain’s pristine island of Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca, is a bustling port city playing host to both ancient monuments and modern architecture, with a fortress-like Gothic cathedral dominating an ocher-colored skyline.

The teal-colored waters of the Mediterranean hug the Bay of Palma, and along the shoreline, there are laid-back cafes and seafood restaurants catering to an international clientele––for good-value, delicious tapas, make sure you add OH Mallork to your list.

Other than savoring the food, take your sweet time exploring Old Palma’s streets, its Arab-built Almudaina, a medieval fortress converted into a royal residence, and the hilltop Bellver Castle, distinguished by its circular shape.

Genoa, Italy

Genoa is a busy port of call for cruises that often gets overshadowed by the Instagrammable Cinque Terra nearby, but it stands as one of Italy’s most culture-charged destinations at the heart of the Liguria region:

The city center is crisscrossed with narrow, pedestrianized lanes and littered with Romanesque and Baroque monuments, including the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, with its striped black-and-white facade, and the stately Carlo Felice Opera House, to name a couple.

Built in 1618 for the wealthy Balbi aristocrats, the UNESCO-protected Palazzo Reale is not to be missed if you love richly decorated interiors and lush gardens. For the best calzone in town, look no further than Voglie di Pizza, on the buzzing Via Pra.

Slovakia

An overlooked Central European country that tourists usually skip in favor of far more popular Czechia or Hungary, Slovakia its mountain-traversed countryside, picturesque castle ruins, including Spiš, one of the largest in Europe, and storybook capital:

Bratislava is a maze of cobbled streets and pointy church spires surrounded by walls, and its whitewashed Bratislava Castle, a medieval citadel perched on a prominent hill overlooking the fast-flowing Danube River, is postcard-material.

Cultural wealth aside, Bratislava is great for outdoor activities. The stunning Tatras Mountains run along the border with Poland and boast hiking opportunities and alpine lakes. The nearby Vysoké Tatry is a peaceful resort town with spa hotels starting at $85.

Lithuania

Located on the Baltic Coast of Europe, Lithuania is yet another unheard-of country most Americans have been sleeping on, despite its vast tourist offer and a plethora of perfectly-preserved historic cities, most notably its capital, Vilnius:

It has a high concentration of Baroque buildings, as well as an intact Old Town that was largely built in the Middle Ages, and if you think the Vatican is the only city-state confined within another European capital, think again: the independent Užupis is right in the middle of Vilnius!

It’s not a country proper, having simply unilaterally declared independence in 1997, but it has its own passport stamping service, unofficial border points, and it even has its own constitution, guaranteeing everyone’s right to hem, love, and be happy (or unhappy).

Toulouse, France

The Pink City of France, a title it’s attained due to the pink-hued terracotta buildings that dominate its historic skyline, Toulouse lines a scenic Garonne River, and it’s a much more affordable, equally-stunning alternative to overpriced Paris.

Expect to pay between $15-20 dining out in a laid-back, Old Town bistro, an average $10-12 in local museums, including the Barbican and the medieval ramparts, and as for the UNESCO-protected Saint-Sernin Basilica, it’s even free to visit!

If you’re visiting Toulouse in 2025, we’d highly recommend you book a spot on this food tour––cheekily called the No Diet Club––for sightseeing, non politically-correct jokes from brutally-honest, hilarious French guides, and of course, many tastings, for only $51.44.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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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.