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The Best Small Towns and Villages
Hum (Istria, Croatia). It calls itself the smallest town in the world, and population-wise, it might be. But so many people visit this village high in the Istrian interior that it always seems crowded. The village elders have done a wonderful job of restoring the buildings in town to make it tourist-friendly.
The Heritage Villages of Pirin, Rhodope, Balkan, and Sredna Gora Mountains (Bulgaria). Bulgaria has the best-preserved mountain villages in the Balkans. Besides the charm of the 18th and 19th-century stone-and-timber architecture, village life appears untainted by the 21st century, with toothless old-timers in headscarves sunning themselves on benches while young lovers holding hands head off to the fields, hoes casually slung over their shoulders. The most photogenic and evocative villages are hidden deep in the mountains: Kovachevitsa and Dolen are surrounded by the forested flanks of the Rhodope ranges, Zheravna by the lush Balkan foothills, and pretty Koprivishtitsa in the undulating Sredna Gora.
Ceský Krumlov (Czech Republic). If you have time for only one excursion from Prague, make it Ceský Krumlov. This living gallery of Renaissance-era buildings housing many galleries, shops, and restaurants is 167km (104 miles) south of Prague. Above it towers the second-largest castle complex in the country, with the Vltava River running underneath. No wonder UNESCO named this town a World Heritage Site.
Pécs (Hungary). This delightful city in southern Hungary is home to one of Hungary's most pleasing central squares and some great examples of Turkish architecture.
Sighisoara (Transylvania, Romania). This medieval citadel, built in the 15th century, was the birthplace of the man who was to inspire Bram Stoker's Count Dracula. Today, it remains inhabited, and despite its compact size, is one of the most gorgeously preserved hilltop fortress cities in Europe, a tiny jumble of ancient nooks and crannies, with cobbled streets, medieval homes, and towers protruding from the battlements.
Sibiu (Transylvania, Romania). Set to be a joint European City of Culture in 2007, Sibiu has received a remarkable makeover, transforming it into a whitewashed version of its former self: a walled city with bastion towers, large open squares, impossible alleyways, and countless marvelous Gothic, baroque, and Renaissance buildings.
Gdansk (Poland). If you were expecting a dirty port city on the Baltic, you're in for the surprise of your life. Gdansk is a beautifully restored old Hanseatic town that's brimming with life. The hotels and restaurants are great; the city couldn't be more inviting. And when you tire of Gdansk, there's Sopot and the beaches and the nightclubs just up the road.
Wrocaw (Poland). This city gets short shrift from Poles -- possibly because it still feels, at least in terms of the architecture, very much like a provincial German capital. But don't let that deter you. The Old Town is gorgeous. Those baroque and Renaissance facades sing with color, and will elevate your mood in any season. Wrocaw is also filled with students, ensuring lots of great little clubs tucked away in places you'd least expect.
Old Town (Bratislava, Slovakia). It's hard to imagine a more active, fun, and user-friendly town center than Bratislava's Old Town. The past decade or so has seen a major effort to renovate the facades and bring new life into what was until recently a relatively quiet part of town. The result is a nightly street party. In good weather, the bars and cafes move their tables to the sidewalks and the whole city, it seems, comes out to have a good time.
Piran (Slovenia). Piran is Slovenia's Venice, occupying a sharp promontory on the Istrian Coast. Piran doesn't have canals, but it will make your head spin as you get lost in a jumble of narrow cobblestone streets lined with lovely architecture, some beautifully preserved, some crumbling perfectly.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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