• I have enjoyed visiting Italy, and one of my favorite spots for avoiding tons of crowds is Bologna.
• The walkable city welcomes fewer crowds than its popular neighbors, such as Florence and Rome.
• Bologna also has world-renowned cuisine, rich history, and beautiful architecture.

While in Italy, I wanted to experience the country's finest food, art, and architecture while doing my best to avoid crowds. I was very successful at doing this in Bologna.

First of all, I appreciate that the city is far less visited than some of Italy's most popular destinations. Last year, Bologna welcomed millions fewer visitors than Florence and over 20 million fewer than Rome.

The walkable Northern Italian city also won me over with its beautiful rose- and rust-colored buildings that blend in with the hues of a sunset.

Although Bologna's relatively fewer tourists make it an appealing travel destination, that's just one of many reasons to plan a trip here.

It's a culinary haven

Bologna is affectionately nicknamed "La Grassa," which translates to "the fat" and reflects what the city is best known for: its amazing cuisine.

In fact, Bologna and the surrounding Emilia-Romagna region are the original home to many famous Italian foods such as Parmigiano Reggiano, tagliatelle al ragù, balsamic vinegar, tortellini, and mortadella.

One way to explore the famous local cuisine is by taking a food tour. However, it's not necessary. I took a spontaneous approach, dining at various restaurants ranging from big spots with the best reviews to smaller, lesser-known ones that I stumbled upon during my trip.

No matter where I ate in Bologna, I had a cozy, authentically-Italian-feeling experience. I didn't feel like I encountered dining tourist traps, which wasn't the case in Florence.

A culinary highlight of the trip was the fresh handmade pasta I ate at Sfoglia Rina, a cozy trattoria with a long tradition of producing and serving handmade pasta since its inception in 1963.

Lastly, I highly suggest taking a stroll in the medieval streets of Quadrilatero, Bologna's ancient market. It's the perfect place for a culinary adventure with its fresh produce and street food.

Bologna is also a must-visit destination for art and architecture lovers

If you appreciate beautiful architecture and are an aesthete, Bologna should be a must-visit city. It's also pedestrian-friendly, so pack your comfiest walking shoes and get ready to explore.

Start at the Piazza Maggiore, the city's central square, and check out one of its most important buildings, the Basilica di San Petronio. Then, stop by and marvel at the famous Neptune Fountain in Piazza del Nettuno, just a short distance away.

Enjoy walking below Bologna's famous porticoes, which have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They're said to be a symbol of Bologna's hospitality and sociability, offering visitors shelter in all seasons.

The Archiginnasio, which dates back to the 16th century, is another must-visit place in Bologna. It houses a centuries-old municipal library and a theater hall that was once used for anatomical displays and lectures.

Many will also appreciate its proximity to other popular spots in Italy

You could easily spend a few days here, leisurely taking in its old-world charms. While in the area, you can check out other nearby towns in the Emilia-Romagna region, like Modena or Parma.

This year, Bologna may be an especially attractive city to include in your Italian itinerary if you want to dodge the millions of pilgrims expected to congregate in Rome for the Jubilee.

Once you feel you are ready to brave more hordes of tourists, though, take advantage of the city's location and the fact that it is one of the main railway hubs in Italy.

By train, Bologna is less than an hour from Florence, about two hours from Rome, and an hour and a half from Venice.

• In my travels to Europe, I've never come across a country I feel is more underrated than Estonia.
• It has much of what popular destinations like Italy or Spain have to offer but with fewer visitors.
• It's the perfect spot for travelers to see the colorful beauty of European cities and eat good food.

I've traveled around the world and to 15 countries in Europe, but I've yet to come across a place as special as Estonia.

The European country has retained a lot of its old-world charms, with architecture and history that rivals that of popular European destinations such as Italy and Spain.

Yet, it feels like a hidden gem because it doesn't attract the same level of tourists. In 2023, the country reportedly welcomed around 4 million tourists, compared to Italy's estimated 60 million and Spain's 85 million.

Estonia's relatively low tourism rates surprise me since it has what many popular European destinations offer: a rich history, delectable food, a unique blend of old and new worlds, and lots of culturally significant sites.

When I first told friends I was visiting Estonia, many revealed that they had never heard of it. Yet, as I walked through the cobblestone streets of its capital, I realized that it's actually Europe's best-kept secret.

Tallinn's Old Town feels like it belongs in a fairy-tale

Tallinn's Old Town is Estonia's capital and cultural epicenter. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This quaint and colorful town has historic defensive walls, which helped preserve a lot of the city's incredible structures.

Some of Tallinn's Gothic architecture dates back to medieval times — and the colorful designs create an enchanting setting.

It's an ideal destination for art connoisseurs and history buffs

Estonia is also home to many art museums and galleries. Tallinn alone houses dozens— so pack some good walking shoes and wander around town for a museum-hopping day.

My favorite stop was the Niguliste Museum, which displays in its collection a large fragment of the fascinating Danse Macabre (The Dance of Death). The late-15th-century painting is considered to be Tallinn's most famous artwork.

Niguliste Museum also has an observation deck that offers stunning views of the city that rival those from Giotto's Bell Tower in Florence, Italy.

Unlike the bell tower in Florence, the Niguliste Museum has an elevator that can take you straight to the sky deck if you want to give your feet a break.

Other must-visit museums include the Estonian National Museum and Kadriorg Art Museum.

For contemporary art, head to PoCo Pop and Contemporary Art Museum. I also highly recommend the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, which has thousands of product designs, ceramics, and other art pieces from Estonia and beyond.

Estonia is also a foodie haven

Estonia should be a top destination for foodies, especially with so many chefs experimenting with and reinventing local specialties right now.

Travelers looking for a gastronomical adventure should make a reservation at Olde Hansa, a popular restaurant that offers a feast with candles, waitstaff decked in costumes, and generous portions of delicious food cooked following centuries-old recipes.

For a more cozy dining experience, dine at the Rataskaevu 16, which has a rich history dating back to the 15th century. This was a highlight of my trip due to its top-notch service, possibly the best I've experienced in Europe.