Life.Culture.Discovery.

From Krakow to Dubrovnik, 9 of Europe’s best old towns to visit – think castles, cobbles, churches and ancient city walls

Walk along stone ramparts and narrow, cobbled alleys, climb ancient stone steps for stunning views – or take a cable car – and ride a horse-drawn carriage

The medieval marvels of Dubrovnik, Vilnius, Carcassonne and York, and lesser known draws such as Kotor in Montenegro and Mdina in Malta, will beguile you

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Wawel Castle in the old town in Krakow, Poland, home to Europe’s largest medieval marketplace and houses that date back to the 10th century. Photo: Tim Pile

Published: 7:15pm, 19 Aug 2022

An “old town” is the original part of a city, district or neighbourhood. Those in Europe are nearly always more attractive than the surrounding suburbs and are often Unesco designated, which ensures protection from inappropriate development.

Tourists can’t get enough of these historical centres, although that isn’t always a good thing.

Here are nine of the continent’s most delightful old towns.

Dubrovnik survived centuries of invasions – not to mention the eight-month siege of 1991/92 during the Croatian War of Independence – before capitulating to the onslaught of international tourism. The medieval walled city is a soothing fusion of Gothic, Renaissance and baroque monuments and fans of epic fantasy series Game of Thrones will recognise a number of filming locations.

Tourists photograph ceremonial drummers and guards in Dubrovnik. Photo: Tim Pile

Begin with a stroll down the Stradun – the marble main street is Dubrovnik’s most beautiful. To see the Pearl of the Adriatic in its best light, however, wait until evening, then take the cable car up Srd Hill as the setting sun paints the buildings butterscotch.