After three days of queues and crowded metro platforms, a city break can start to feel like work. A small town is the cure.
The best ones have a market in the morning, a church bell instead of traffic, and somewhere good to eat when the day-trippers have gone home. We chose five towns in five countries that reward a stay of three nights or more. Each has good food, easy walks and real character, and all of them can be reached by train and bus, so you can leave the car at home.
At a glance
| Town | Best for | Quietest months | Nearest big city |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montepulciano, Italy | Wine, sunsets | Apr–May, Oct | Florence |
| Takayama, Japan | Old streets, food | May, Nov | Nagoya |
| Rye, England | Pubs, coast walks | Sep–Nov | London |
| Mürren, Switzerland | Mountain views | Jun, Sep | Bern |
| Gmunden, Austria | Lake life | May–Jun, Sep | Salzburg |
1. Montepulciano, Tuscany (Italy)
Montepulciano runs along a ridge above two valleys, the Val d'Orcia and the Val di Chiana. Its main street climbs past Renaissance palaces to the Piazza Grande, and below the town walls, on a lawn among cypress trees, stands the honey-coloured church of San Biagio.
The town's reputation rests on Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a red made mostly from Sangiovese. Many cellars are cut deep into the rock beneath the old palaces, and most offer tastings. In the evening, once the tour buses leave, the streets fall quiet and the light turns gold across the valleys.
- Slow day: walk down to San Biagio in the morning, taste wine in a cellar after lunch, and watch the sunset from the town walls
- Where to stay: a room inside the walls, or an agriturismo farm stay in the countryside
- Getting there: train from Florence or Rome to Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, then a local bus of about an hour up to the town
2. Takayama, Gifu (Japan)
Takayama sits in the mountains of the Hida region, and its old merchant quarter, Sanmachi Suji, still looks much as it did in the 1800s. Dark wooden houses line the lanes, and sake breweries hang a ball of cedar leaves over the door when the new season's sake is ready.
Every morning, farmers set up the Miyagawa Morning Market along the river, selling vegetables, pickles and handmade crafts. In the evening, try Hida beef, the local wagyu, grilled on a magnolia leaf with miso.
- Slow day: the morning market, a sake tasting, then an afternoon at the Hida Folk Village of old thatched farmhouses
- Where to stay: a ryokan with tatami rooms and a multi-course dinner, or a simple guesthouse near the station
- Getting there: the Hida limited express from Nagoya takes about two and a half hours, along a river gorge for much of the way
Avoid the festival dates (14–15 April and 9–10 October) if you want peace. The parades are spectacular, but rooms are scarce and the streets are packed.
3. Rye, East Sussex (England)
Rye was once a busy port; today the sea has retreated and left a hilltop town of cobbled lanes, leaning timber-framed houses and very good pubs. Mermaid Street is the famous one, with the Mermaid Inn, whose cellars date from the 12th century, halfway up.
Climb the tower of St Mary's Church for a view over the marshes to the sea. Then walk through the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, flat and full of birds, towards the dunes and sand of Camber.
- Slow day: bookshops and antiques in the morning, a long beach walk after lunch, a pub dinner by the fire
- Where to stay: an old coaching inn in town, or a cottage on the edge of the marsh
- Getting there: high-speed train from London St Pancras to Ashford International, then the short line to Rye; about 70 minutes in total
4. Mürren, Bernese Oberland (Switzerland)
Mürren is a car-free village on a sunny terrace high above the Lauterbrunnen valley, facing the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau across the gorge. There are no through roads, so the only sounds are cowbells, the odd electric cart and the waterfalls below.
It is the quieter alternative to Grindelwald and Wengen. Trails start at the edge of the village, from easy walks to Gimmelwald to a steep climb towards the Schilthorn. In the evening, the peaks across the valley turn pink while you eat.
- Slow day: a walk to Gimmelwald and back, a long lunch on a terrace, a cable car up to Birg for the view
- Where to stay: a family-run chalet hotel or a holiday apartment
- Getting there: train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen, cable car to Grütschalp, then a small mountain train to Mürren; about an hour in all
Switzerland is expensive. Self-catering apartments and the village shop help keep costs down.
5. Gmunden and the Traunsee (Austria)
Most visitors to the Salzkammergut crowd into Hallstatt. Gmunden, about an hour north by train on the Traunsee lake, is a working town with a long lakeside promenade, a castle on an island and far more room to breathe.
Gmunden is known for its ceramics, painted with a green pattern you will see in every café. Take the paddle steamer Gisela, in service since 1871, across the lake, or ride the cable car up the Grünberg for views over the water and mountains.
- Slow day: a lake swim, a boat trip, then grilled char from the lake for dinner
- Where to stay: a lakeside guesthouse with a balcony
- Getting there: change at Attnang-Puchheim, on the main line between Vienna and Salzburg, for the short trip to Gmunden
Pair a town with a city
Each of these towns fits neatly at the end of a city break, which is the easiest way to add calm to a busy trip. Spend the first days in the city, when you have the most energy, and finish somewhere quiet before the flight home.
- Florence or Rome + Montepulciano: four nights of museums, then three of wine and walks
- Tokyo or Kyoto + Takayama: the train via Nagoya makes this an easy add-on to a first trip to Japan
- London + Rye: close enough for a long weekend, with no need to change hotels at the airport end
- Bern or Zurich + Mürren: Swiss trains connect smoothly, and luggage can be sent ahead by rail
- Salzburg or Vienna + Gmunden: Gmunden is a short branch-line hop from the main line between the two cities
How to make a small-town holiday work
Small towns change pace through the day. Plan around that and you will enjoy them at their best.
- Stay at least three nights. Day-trippers arrive mid-morning and leave by late afternoon. Staying gives you the early mornings and quiet evenings, which are the best part.
- Shop at the market. Bread, cheese and fruit from the morning market make a perfect picnic lunch and save money for a good dinner.
- Check Sunday and Monday hours. In rural Europe, shops and some restaurants close on Sundays, and museums often close on Mondays.
- Leave half of every day empty. Read on a bench, chat to the café owner, follow a lane to see where it goes. That is the point.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reach these towns without a car?
Yes. All five are on the rail network or a short bus ride from it, and all are compact enough to explore on foot. A car is useful only for exploring the countryside around Montepulciano, and even there local buses and taxis are an option.
How long should I stay?
Three to four nights is ideal. That gives you time to see the main sights at an easy pace, take one longer walk or trip, and still have a day with no plans at all.
What if I don't speak the language?
In all five towns, hotel staff and many shopkeepers speak English. A greeting in the local language, such as buongiorno, konnichiwa or grüß Gott, is always appreciated and sets a friendly tone.
