You don’t always need a passport to discover cobbled lanes, café terraces, and buildings with centuries-old charm. Scattered across the United States are towns that carry the soul, or at least the silhouette, of Europe.
Some were built by immigrants longing for the architecture and rhythm of their homelands. Others borrow flavors, festivals, and design details that were meant to transport us to another place and time.
Whether it’s a Bavarian village nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains or a tiny corner of New England that channels the English countryside, these places offer a little European escapism without the jet lag.
Leavenworth, Washington
Did you know you can stroll through an Alpine village without traveling to southern Germany? Tucked into the Cascade Mountains, this Washington town was completely remodeled in the 1960s to resemble a Bavarian hamlet, and it commits to the look. Imagine gingerbread trims, wooden balconies overflowing with flower boxes, and murals of lederhosen-clad musicians.
While you’re here, you can dine on schnitzel and bratwurst at Andreas Keller Restaurant, sip steins of beer at Icicle Brewing Company, or browse the shelves at the Nutcracker Museum, which is delightfully quirky and one-of-a-kind. Come during Oktoberfest for folk dancing and accordion music in the streets, or visit in winter when the whole town glows with Christmas lights like a snow globe bursting into life.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel is part English village, part Mediterranean escape, beautifully wrapped in the soft sea air from California’s central coast. Its storybook cottages and ivy-covered galleries feel like the Cotswolds, but there’s also a sun-kissed charm reminiscent of coastal France or Italy. Here, there are no street addresses, no neon signs – just winding lanes, hidden courtyards, and a slow, romantic pace.
You can spend your morning wandering Ocean Avenue’s artisan shops and tasting rooms, then walk down to Carmel Beach for those creamy white sands and crashing waves. Dinner at Casanova, a European farmhouse-style restaurant inside a former home, is a must. For more old-world elegance, you can stay at La Playa Hotel or L’Auberge Carmel. At night, you’ll blissfully fall asleep to the sound of the sea just outside your window.
New Glarus, Wisconsin
Founded by Swiss immigrants in the 19th century, New Glarus embraces Switzerland with gusto. Here, you’ll see Alpine-style chalets, red-and-white Swiss flags fluttering in the breeze, and murals that depict scenes from the old country. The town even calls itself “America’s Little Switzerland.”
New Glarus Brewing Company is reason enough to visit. Their Spotted Cow ale is legendary and only sold within the state. There’s also buttery rösti, fondue, and bratwurst at the New Glarus Hotel & Restaurant, coming in 2026, and folk festivals like Swiss Volksfest that bring yodeling and alphorns to the streets. When you’re ready for an even deeper look into the town’s roots, take a hike along the Sugar River Trail before exploring the Swiss Historical Village.
Holland, Michigan
For a brief moment every spring, Holland, Michigan turns into a Dutch fairytale. Over four million tulips bloom during the annual Tulip Time Festival, carpeting the town in color and scent. Even outside festival season, the city carries its heritage proudly with traditional windmills, Dutch bakeries, and canal-style streets.
You can visit Windmill Island Gardens to see an authentic 250-year-old Dutch windmill in action, and sample stroopwafels and saucijzenbroodjes (spiced sausage rolls) at DeBoer Bakkerij. The entire downtown is walkable and welcoming, with shops and cafés that seem to be lifted from a Dutch postcard. For modern comfort with a nod to local history, you’ll enjoy a stay at the Tulyp Hotel right on E. 7th Street.
Newport, Rhode Island
With its cliffside mansions, historic sailing culture, and opulent old-world charm, Newport feels more like a seaside escape on the French or English coast than a New England port town. This is a place where the Gilded Age left its mark in marble staircases, oceanfront ballrooms, and manicured gardens.
Tour The Breakers or Marble House for a taste of high society drama. Then, grab a lobster roll and glass of white wine on Bowen’s Wharf. The Cliff Walk also pairs dramatic Atlantic views with ivy-covered arches and seaside serenity. For grandeur with a dash of coastal breeze, stay at The Vanderbilt or Castle Hill Inn, where you can enjoy the elegant echoes of a European summer.
Helen, Georgia
Originally a sleepy logging town, Helen was transformed in the 1960s into a replica Bavarian village, complete with half-timbered facades, cobblestone alleys, and colorful window boxes. Set against the Appalachian foothills, the effect is charmingly surreal.
To kick things off, you can grab a soft pretzel and a cold beer at Hofbrauhaus before paddling down the Chattahoochee River. Then, you can shop for cuckoo clocks and handmade candles in the downtown boutiques. The town’s Oktoberfest celebration is among the most spirited in the nation, and, when you’re ready to swap some bratwurst for the wild, Unicoi State Park is happy to open its doors to you with its network of hiking trails and delicious views of waterfalls.
St. Augustine, Florida
As the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine carries its European roots proudly. Founded by the Spanish in 1565, its colonial architecture, cobbled lanes, and sun-washed courtyards feel like they belong somewhere between Seville and Lisbon. History lingers everywhere here, from stone fortresses to horse-drawn carriages.
You can wander through the old city gates and down St. George Street first, where live music drifts from balconies and shops spill out onto the sidewalk. Then, be sure to visit Castillo de San Marcos, a 17th-century fortress made of shell-stone, or dine by candlelight in a Spanish-style courtyard at Columbia Restaurant. The atmosphere here is undeniably romantic beneath the moss-coated trees, and unmistakably Old World.
A Shortcut to Europe, Right at Home
If you’d like to experience European charm without crossing the ocean, these American towns are surprisingly transportive. Between the Alpine air of Leavenworth, the seaside elegance of Newport, and the sun-dappled streets of St. Augustine, each of these cities invite us to step into another world – one pastry, one pint, and one cobblestone at a time.
For more colorful destinations right here on our own frontier, come on over and explore our extensive library of destination guides. Whether you’d like to stay within the States or venture further afield, we’ll help you craft the perfect itinerary for an unforgettable adventure.