In these times of over-tourism stress, tips for underrated – and therefore less crowded – getaways have never been more important.
Therefore travel blogger Anna Merabishvili deserves a hat tip for picking out seven European cities she says are the most underrated.
She posted descriptions and photos of each on her Instagram profile – @nospaceinmypaspoort – and here reveals more details about them, including how friendly the locals are and their top three activities and attractions.
Anna, 27, from Londonalso reveals what surprised her most about each city.
She says: ‘I’ve traveled to a lot of cities in Europe and these are the cities I’ve honestly fallen in love with, but aren’t necessarily the most popular to visit.’
Read on for more.
Which city would you most like to put on your bucket list?
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
“I was most surprised by how vibrant the city of Bordeaux was,” says travel blogger Anna Merabishvili, who named seven European cities she says are the most underrated.
What did you expect Bordeaux to be like before you arrived?
Anna tells MailOnline Travel: ‘I expected it to be a quiet city, not quite as cool as Paris. We stayed in a hotel on a vineyard and I definitely did not expect the hotel to be so big and luxurious.
‘It was called Les Sources de Caudalie. It feels like you’ve walked into a fairy tale, with swans and horses all around.’
What surprised you most about the place?
Anna says: ‘I was most surprised by how lively the city of Bordeaux was. It has quickly become one of my favorite cities in Europe because the shopping is amazing and there are so many food and drink options. If you walk around, you can find so many hidden gems – there is a street with colorful umbrellas, and some buildings look like castles. There are also many wine bars and cafes with outdoor seating, which add to the overall atmosphere of the city.’
How were the locals?
Anna says: ‘I didn’t interact much with the locals, but the ones I did meet were very friendly and helpful.’
Give us three things to do and see…
Anna says: ‘Explore the Old City. Bordeaux’s old town is a Unesco World Heritage Site. You can get lost among the narrow streets and discover unique shops, wine bars and many hidden gems.
‘Explore La Cité du Vin. This is the one place you absolutely cannot miss. The immersive wine museum will test your smells, sights and tastes as you pass through and learn about the history of wine production from around the world. At the end you also get a wine tasting.
‘Take a day trip to Saint-Emilion. It is one of the most famous wine regions in the world. This small town is surrounded by vineyards and medieval buildings, making it the perfect day trip.’
GDANSK, POLAND
Anna says that Gdansk (above) is ‘one of the coolest and most beautiful European cities’ she has been to
How did you expect it to be before you arrived?
She says: ‘I expected Gdansk to be beautiful, but not particularly impressive. I thought it was just a small town in Poland, but I was still very excited to explore it.’
What surprised you most about the place?
Anna told MailOnline: ‘That my expectations were completely wrong! It was one of the coolest and most beautiful European cities I’ve been to. I couldn’t believe I had never heard of it. The town also has so much history and so many influences from Dutch and German cultures, which are reflected in the architecture. It was also such a young city, filled with students and cool places for drinks.’
How were the locals?
Anna says: ‘The locals were very friendly! We had a local tour guide who showed us around and she was very nice.’
Give us three things to do and see…
Anna says: ‘Take a walk in the Old Town and admire the architecture. The old town is very beautiful, with Neptunes Fountain and colorful buildings. You will get great views of the city walking along the river.
‘Also visit the Museum of the World War II. It is extremely fascinating and offers a comprehensive look at World War II from a Polish perspective, with well-designed exhibits that are both informative and moving.
‘And dance the night away in 100cznia. This warehouse-cum-food court is great to visit both during the day and during the night. It has a unique industrial, street party vibe.’
Stockholm, Sweden
Anna admires Drottningholm Palace – a ‘highlight’ of her visit to Stockholm
Anna was ‘surprised at how nice’ Stockholm was
How did you expect it to be before you arrived?
Anna says: ‘To be honest, I expected it to be very cold and not very nice. I didn’t know much about the city before I went.’
What surprised you the most about Stockholm?
Anna comments: ‘I was surprised at how nice the city was. It was sunny all the time and people were having lunch by the river – it was a vibe.’
Give us three things to do and see…
Anna says: ‘Explore Gamla Stan – one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval city centres, with charming cobbled streets, colorful buildings and cozy cafes. The area is also full of small boutiques, making it ideal for shopping.
‘Also visit the fascinating Vasa Museum, home to the Vasa Ship, an almost intact 17th century warship that sank on its maiden voyage. The ship stands in the center of the museum and people can visit it to learn more about its history and the people who sailed it.
‘And take a boat tour of the archipelago. One of the best ways to see the surroundings in Stockholm is by taking a boat trip. There are many fjords around the city, and many interesting day trips you can do, such as to Drottningholm Palace.’
Any memorable individual moments?
Anna says: ‘Visiting Drottningholm Palace was definitely one of the highlights here for me.’
How were the locals? Friendly atmosphere?
Anna says: ‘The atmosphere was very friendly and the local people were nice.’
San Sebastian, Spain
Anna in San Sebastian, Spain, where the food was ‘amazing’
How did you expect it to be before you arrived?
Anna says: ‘I really hadn’t heard anything about San Sebastián and didn’t know the food would be as amazing as it was.’
What surprised you most about the place?
Anna remember: ‘San Sebastián is mostly known for its food, so the food is definitely what blew me away the most. I loved the tapas bars, the pintxos (snacks), and of course the Basque cheesecake.’
Give us three things to do and see…
Anna says: ‘Pintxos hop. The absolute best thing to do in San Sebastián is to go bar-hopping and taste the best pintxos each place has to offer.
‘Also get a cable car up Mount Igueldo to see the best views of the city and ride a very fun roller coaster with a view.
‘Finally, eat a Michelin star meal. San Sebastián has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin star restaurants per capita in the world. This is definitely the place to have one of the best meals of your life!’
Tbilisi, Georgia
Anna outside the Orbeliani Baths in Tbilisi, Georgia. She says the city is ‘historic and beautiful’
Anna outside the Gabriadze Theater in Tbilisi
How did you expect it to be before you arrived?
Anna says: ‘My whole family is from Tbilisi, so I’ve been going there since I was little!’
Tell us what might surprise visitors
Anna says: ‘One thing that might surprise visitors about Tbilisi is how European it feels. The Old Town is very historic and beautiful, and there are photo spots throughout the city. The city center is very walkable and the taxis are also very cheap.’
Give us three things to do and see…
Anna says: ‘Visit the Old City. It is one of the most beautiful parts of the city. Walk over the Bridge of Peace and see the Abanotubani, where the traditional Georgian sulfur baths are located.
‘Also go up to the Narikala Fort to see the best views of the city. This is the perfect place to take photos of the city.
‘Finally, Georgian food is a must-try. Be sure to try khinkali (dumplings with meat), khachapuri (cheese bread) and pkhali (spinach and walnut dip). Georgia is also the birthplace of wine, so you bet the wine will be good!’
Are the locals friendly?
Anna says: ‘Georgia is one of the most hospitable countries in the world! So yes, the locals are very friendly.’
Bergamo, Italy
Bergamo (above) has an old town that Anna describes as ‘absolutely stunning’
How did you expect it to be before you arrived?
Anna told MailOnline: ‘I thought it would be an uninteresting city with not much to do/see because I had never heard of it.’
What surprised you most about the place?
Anna recalls: ‘Bergamo Old Town was absolutely stunning! I loved how lively it was and the little shops, restaurants and bars around. The vibes in town were just incredible.’
Give us three things to do and see…
Anna says: ‘Explore the Citta Alta (old town) – definitely one of the highlights of the city. It is very different from the new town and located at a height, accessible via the cable car. You can also enjoy wonderful views of the city from here.
‘You should also visit the Accademia Carrara, one of Italy’s oldest and most famous art galleries with an impressive collection of Italian Renaissance and Baroque art.
‘Finally, try the local dishes. Visit a local trattoria to try some of the best food, such as casoncelli (stuffed pasta with a savory filling) and polenta e osei (a dessert that resembles polenta).’
Are the locals friendly?
Anna comments: ‘The locals are very nice and they were very willing to help and give tips on the best places to see in the city.’
Brescia, Italy
Anna says of Brescia: ‘What surprised me was how cozy the city felt and how many hidden gems it had everywhere’
How did you expect it to be before you arrived?
Anna says: ‘I knew that Brescia was a city full of history and that it would be an impressive place to visit.’
What surprised you most about the place?
Anna notes: ‘What surprised me was how cozy the city felt and how many hidden gems it had everywhere.’
Give us three things to do and see…
Anna says: ‘Explore the Capitol and Roman Forum. Brescia is home to one of the most important Roman ruins. It is truly one of the most incredible sights and the perfect place for a photo.
‘Then there is Santa Giulia Museum, located near the Capitol. Inside, you can learn more about the city’s history and discover beautiful churches with ornate ceilings.
“Finally, see perfect views of the city at Brescia Castle, which is located on a hill and a fun place to walk.”
Are the locals friendly?
Anna states: ‘The locals were some of the friendliest people I have ever met. Our tour guide here was very nice and gave us such an interesting tour of the city.’
