Day trips in Europe: Top 10 sightseeing stops beyond the beaten track for autumn 2026

An itinerary doesn’t have to include stops at the big-name cities. This autumn, here are the sightseeing destinations worth adding to your trip that offer scenic spots, historic towns and adventurous foods to try.

The summer months may soon be behind us, but who says travel also has to abruptly draw to a halt?

If you ask me, the crunch of reddish-brown leaves beneath your feet, the milder climate and seasonal delicacies make autumn an ideal time to venture across Europe – not to mention fewer crowds during the shoulder season.

Now, European hotspots may spring to mind as you plan your next escape, and I won’t sway your mind otherwise, but have you considered adding additional stops to your itinerary?

In a survey of booking data primarily from American travellers planning trips across Europe, Daytrip, a platform specialising in city-to-city travel with car transfers, found a recently developing trend.

Instead of just sticking to visiting major cities, more holidaymakers are turning transfers between major spots into opportunities to explore smaller cities overshadowed by popular destinations.

“A transfer that once meant hours on the highway now includes a stop at a historic town, a museum, a viewpoint, or a UNESCO World Heritage Site, effectively adding a destination to the itinerary without adding an extra day to the vacation,” Daytrip said.

So, where could a few hours in between destinations take you?

Popular off the beaten path autumn sightseeing spots

Topping Daytrip’s top 10 ranking is Pompeii in Italy. Less than an hour’s drive from Naples, this ancient Roman city is an archaeological treasure trove of public squares, temples and other ruins spanning a vast area of around 440,000 square meters.

If you’re short on time, you don’t have to cover the whole area – you could just see a few sites. For instance, Pompeii’s two theatres are within the same area of the city. The Large Theatre was once where Greek-Roman plays were performed, while the smaller Odeon was where poetry and musical performances used to take place. Or, for greener scenery, Julia Felix’s Villa, an aristocratic complex from 1st-century BC, features an expansive ornamental garden.

Second on Daytrip’s list is Český Krumlov, nestled in the south of Czechia.

About four hours away from Prague, this historic town is home to centuries-old buildings, including the Český Krumlov Castle. Once the residence of the South Bohemian aristocracy, the building’s original layout has been preserved – keeping much of its material structure, interior installations and architectural structure from the 14th to the 19th centuries.

Rounding off Daytrip’s top three sightseeing spots to visit this autumn is Coimbra. This central Portuguese city also welcomes visitors to explore its historic monuments and unique architecture. Beyond its history, the city is also a must-visit destination for foodies.

For those with adventurous palettes, the lamprey fish and eel are local delicacies in Coimbra, thanks to its proximity to the Mondego River – the largest of the exclusively Portuguese rivers. Other delicacies include local cheeses such