All of these cities are on The Traveling Professor's small group tours. On your next trip to Europe, consider visiting one of these small "off the radar" destinations:
Bremen, Germany: Located in the north of Germany, this small town has a square that is as charming and beautiful as anything I have seen in Europe. The town hall was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Schnoor District is full of artist studios in 15th to 18th century houses once populated by fishermen and merchants. And it is most famous for the tale of the Town Musicians which portrays the donkey, dog, cat and rooster from the Grimm Brothers fairy tale.
Flam, Norway: At the point where the largest and deepest fjord meets the land in Norway, this is a stunningly beautiful sea village. The Fretheim Hotel is perhaps the most spectacular hotel we stay in. Plenty of activities to do here like hiking and cruising the fjords.
Steyr, Austria: Well, just about all of Austria is beautiful and the small town of Steyr is exceptional. Home of the Christkindl, it is best visited for the Christmas Markets.
Bassano del Grappa, Italy: Located in the shadow of the Dolomites, a river runs through this old Italian city. We completed a small group tour to Venice, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast last fall. I had time to squeeze in a day in Bassano and many in our group said this day of relaxation was their favorite day on the tour.