6 U.S. cities that feel like Europe (without the long-haul flight)
Visit a Bavarian village in Texas, a Danish-designed town in California wine country, and an ancient Spanish city on the coast of Florida.
From wandering cobblestone alleyways to sipping espresso in centuries-old courtyards, the draw of Europe is undeniable, but it doesn’t always require crossing the Atlantic. Across the United States, a handful of towns strongly resemble those found in Europe, with quaint village squares and culturally rooted cuisine.
“Many U.S. towns were intentionally designed and inspired by European architecture, culture, and traditions, whether that’s Bavarian alpine villages, Swiss-inspired mountain towns, or Southern cities with cathedral-lined squares,” said Fiorella Yriberry, a marketing manager at RVshare. “Once you’re there, the cobblestone streets, local bakeries, historic buildings, and festivals make the experience feel immersive rather than themed.”
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Boston, Massachusetts
While Boston is deeply tied to U.S. history, a fleet of English immigrants founded the city in 1630, modeling it after their former home.
“The town’s earliest homes, meeting houses, public buildings, and public streets reflected those found in London and other old English cities,” says Susan Wilson, the Omni Parker House historian. The best place to admire that likeness, says Wilson, is in Beacon Hill.
“Beacon Hill, topped by the gold-domed State House and developed in the late 18th and 19th centuries, features narrow, picturesque streets and alleys, Federal-style row houses, wrought iron railings, ornate doorways, fan lights, and real gas lamps. It is often compared to old London, especially in the section known as Louisburg Square,” says Wilson.
Later years brought additional European immigrants who also left their own visible mark on Boston. “If you wander down Commonwealth Avenue in the area known as Back Bay, you feel as if you have entered Paris,” says Wilson. Italy, meanwhile, awaits in the North End.
“The narrow streets of this compact historic neighborhood are still filled with an endless array of old-world cafés, pasta restaurants, pastry shops, and summer festivals, maintaining the area’s pride as Boston’s “Little Italy.”
According to Wilson, the best way to savor so much European sentiment is simple. Just start walking. “In many parts of old downtown Boston, narrow streets still meander in seemingly illogical ways. We find that charming, and an invitation to wander,” says Wilson.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Bavaria is known for its alpine landscapes and fairy tale castles, yet thousands of miles away, a small Michigan town looks surprisingly similar. Dubbed ‘Michigan’s Little Bavaria,’ Frankenmuth was founded in 1845 by German missionaries, and their influence is still felt today.
"Guests can hear German spoken, explore cultural traditions, and enjoy centuries-old influences,” said Michael Keller Zehnder, the president and fourth-generation owner of Frankenmuth’s Bavarian Inn Lodge.
Scattered throughout town, find onion domes (Zwiebeltürme), red roofs, carved wooden shutters, and traditional architecture—even the local McDonald’s and CVS look plucked from Germany.
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“Great effort has been taken to transplant exact designs, paying homage to actual buildings, murals, and fountains visitors would see across Bavaria,” Keller Zehnder said. “Keen-eyed visitors will recognize replicas of Rothenberg and Gunzenhausen’s famous city towers, as well the Austrian “Silent Night” chapel.”
For souvenirs, peruse the atmospheric Frankenmuth River Place Shops, then find nourishment at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant — which has an authentic Glockenspiel inspired by Munich’s famed clock tower — by ordering wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten, and spaetzle from staff wearing traditional dirndls and lederhosen. The restaurant, along with Zehnder's of Frankenmuth, also makes family-style chicken dinners, a staple of Frankenmuth since the late 1800s.
Vail, Colorado
In the early 1960s, World War II veteran Peter Seibert built Vail Ski Resort along with local rancher Earl Eaton. They drew inspiration from Alpine resorts like Kitzbuehl, Austria and Zermatt, Switzerland, with its pedestrian-friendly, car-free village.
“Vail Village still looks and feels like the town center of Kitzbuehl,” says Johannes Faessler, the fourth-generation owner of Sonnenalp Hotels, which opened Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail in 1979. “One key element is the excellent pedestrian village layout full of shops, restaurants, and wonderful energy. Few villages in the U.S. or Europe can offer this at the level we have here in Vail.”
Still family-owned and operated, Sonnenalp Vail feels like checking into a historic European inn with its cream stucco walls, arched red roofing, Bavarian-style furniture, and flower-lined balconies. Also on-site is the hotel’s Swiss Chalet Restaurant, which serves traditional Swiss dishes like warm, comforting fondue or decadent melted raclette, while Alpenrose Vail, a Bavarian-themed restaurant serving German and Swiss favorites, is a short walk away.
And, of course, what’s a pseudo trip to Europe without souvenirs? Stock up at Gorsuch, a retail shop that carries apparel brands from Germany, Austria, Italy, and more.
St. Augustine, Florida
The oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the U.S., St. Augustine has a layered past that gives it a distinctly European feel.
“Visitors often remark, ‘I crossed the bridge and thought I was in Europe,’” says Barbara Golden, communications/PR manager for St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches VCB. “Ornate facades, historic courtyards, centuries-old landmarks, walled-in gardens, and pedestrian-friendly streets create an atmosphere more reminiscent of the Mediterranean than a typical Florida beach town.”
Easily accessible from Jacksonville and Orlando airports, St. Augustine also has many European-style inns, including Casa Monica Resort & Spa with its Moorish Revival architecture, arched courtyards, and Mediterranean ambiance.
According to Golden, many culinary offerings also pay homage to Spanish roots, including readily available authentic tapas, Minorcan specialties, and award-winning restaurants like the historic Columbia Restaurant, known for traditional Spanish and Cuban dishes. "There is even a chocolate factory that tells the story of Spain’s introduction of chocolate to the world,” says Golden.
Considering the city dates back to 1565, history buffs should check out the Castillo de San Marcos, which is a 17th-century Spanish fortress overlooking the bay, or Avilés Street, the oldest street in the city that feels remarkably similar to navigating a narrow European alley.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Texas might conjure up images of barbecue and rodeos, but in Fredericksburg, brisket makes way for wiener schnitzel.
“The German community is very strong in Fredericksburg. There are fifth-, sixth-, seventh-generation families that are still living here,” says McKenzie Moellering, who leads marketing and communications for Pioneer Museum Fredericksburg, which shares a glimpse into how German settlers lived in the 1800s following the town’s founding in 1846.
“Our historic Main Street does not have any chain stores and will never because the city has made an effort to keep it unique,” says Moellering. “Fredericksburg has shopping, a booming wine industry, history dating back to the 1840s, and over 120 restaurants, many of which serve authentic German cuisine.”
Local favorites include Old German Bakery & Restaurant or Otto's German Bistro, while beer lovers should stop by Fredericksburg Brewing Company. October visits are also well timed for Fredericksburg Oktoberfest, when the town square buzzes with polka music, family-friendly activities, and plenty of ice-cold pints of German beer.
Visitors may stay in one of the area’s Sunday Houses. These historic, small homes, many of which are now vacation rentals, were once second residences for farmers who traveled long distances from their remote ranches to attend church on Sunday.
Solvang, California
Tucked within the vineyards of California’s central coast, Solvang was founded in 1911 by a group of Danish-American educators. Over a century later, Solvang, which means “sunny field,” still looks authentically Danish.
“Visitors can enjoy Danish architecture, bakeries, museums, traditions, and festivals all within a walkable village setting,” said Shelby Sim, president and CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley.
Dotted around Solvang are wooden windmills (there are four within a 4-mile radius), as well as Danish provincial-style, half-timbered buildings with thatched roofs, and multiple museums including the Solvang Viking Museum, Elverhøj Museum of History and Art, and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. While strolling through town, keep an eye out for exact replicas of famous Danish landmarks. The Rundetårn, for example, is a one-third replica of Copenhagen’s famed round tower, while the “Little Mermaid” statue pays homage to the one watching over the shores of Copenhagen.
Solvang is also well-suited for sweet-toothed visitors with bakeries lining their cases with fresh-baked kringle, butter cookies, strudel, and flodeboller, which are similar to cream puffs. For a hearty meal, Bit O’Denmark’s was built in 1911 as one of the town’s first structures, and serves Danish specialties like pan-fried meatballs and roast duck.
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