I visited this pretty little city and instantly fell in love - but most tourists ignore it

A travel addict has revealed a beautiful European town that is massively underrated. Planet of Adventures shared 15 European destinations that aren’t always top of tourists' must-visit sites but should be.

The expert included Maastricht in the Netherlands on the list. It is the capital and largest city of the southeastern province of Limburg, situated on the Meuse where the river joins the Jeker by Mount Saint Peter. They “instantly fell in love with it” and said its old town is the “quintessential image of the old European destinations”. They added that it is a place they “always recommend everyone to visit” in the Netherlands, as “most people tend to go just to Amsterdam”. Maastricht is known for its lively squares, narrow streets, and historic buildings. The city has 1,677 national heritage buildings, more than any Dutch city outside Amsterdam. In addition, there are 3,500 locally listed buildings, and the entire city centre is a conservation area and largely traffic-free.

Maastricht’s major sites include the Meuse River with its parks and promenades, the 13th-century city fortifications, the pedestrianised shopping district with cafes and restaurants (Binnenstad), and the tree-lined square with pavement cafes and an 11th-century church (Onze Lieve Vrouweplein).

The old town, Wyck, is home to historic buildings on elegant streets, filled with shops, art galleries, and restaurants. The nature reserve, Sint-Pietersberg, is the city’s main recreation area and viewing point, home to historic fortifications, a ruined castle, and a former quarry.

Planet of Adventures said to not miss the Book Store Dominicanen, which is inside an old church, and the medieval architecture of the old town. They also recommended trying the local food on a gastronomic tour.

The city has an average summer temperature of 19C and an average winter temperature of 3C. There are around seven hours of sun a day in July and 12 days of rain in January.

According to the expert, due to its close proximity to some of the most visited places in Europe, such as Amsterdam, Brussels, or Cologne, it is quite easy to make it a day trip from elsewhere.

Also included in Planet of Adventures’ list is Etretat in France, Sintra in Portugal, Thessaloniki in Greece, Tarragona in Spain, and Brighton in the UK