Wrocław, Poland

Wrocław (pronounced Vrots-waf) is the most beautiful city in Poland and the least visited by non-Polish tourists relative to its quality. The old town Market Square (Rynek) is among the most impressive in Central Europe — second only to Prague in scale and architectural coherence, but with 60-70% fewer tourists. The city has a unique cultural identity shaped by its changing nationality: it was German Breslau for 700 years before becoming Polish in 1945, meaning the architecture is Germanic and the culture is now entirely Polish — a combination that produces something genuinely distinct. The 300+ dwarves (krasnale) hidden throughout the city as public art installations are a children-friendly treasure hunt. Wrocław University Botanical Garden, the panoramic view of the Odra River from the Ostrów Tumski cathedral island at dusk, and the Museum of Architecture (the best in Poland) are specific highlights. Budget: one of the least expensive major Western-style cities in Europe.