13 American towns that look exactly like places in Europe

Leavenworth Washington 2
The town of Leavenworth, Washington, looks like it's straight out of a German fairytale. ablokhin/iStock

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Some towns in the US look like they belong in Europe.
  • Many of these towns were originally settled by European immigrants.
  • Examples include Solvang, California, St. Augustine, Florida, and Pella, Iowa.
Advertisement


Europe offers countless charming towns and attractions for visitors to explore.

But traveling costs money — especially if you get hit with foreign transaction fees — and sometimes you just don't have the funds or the time to make it across the pond.

Fortunately, several US states have their own slice of Europe.

From Frankenmuth, Michigan, to Tarpon Springs, Florida, here are 12 American towns that will make you feel like  you're on a different continent.

Advertisement

Solvang, California

Solvang California
Solvang, California. fox_lei/Shutterstock

Danish settlers established Solvang in the early 1900s in an effort to move away from the chilly winters of the Midwest, where they had originally settled. The name actually means "sunny fields" in Danish.

Located in the Santa Ynez Valley, the town is home to a windmill, Danish architecture, and plenty of bakeries, restaurants, and museums that reflect Danish culture. There's a replica of Copenhagen's famous Little Mermaid statue as well as the city's Round Tower.

St. Augustine, Florida

St Augustine Florida
St. Augustine, Florida. SeanPavonePhoto/iStock

St. Augustine bears the impressive title of the oldest city in the US. Founded in 1565 by Spanish settlers, the city is filled with authentic Spanish colonial architecture as well as beautifully-manicured gardens and fountains.

Advertisement

Vail, Colorado

Vail Colorado
Vail, Colorado. Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock

Vail sits at the base of Vail Mountain, just like Zermatt — the Swiss town it's inspired by — sits at the base of the Matterhorn.

Many of the hotels and restaurants that dot the luxe resort town have the impressive woodworking that's found on many Swiss chalets.

 

Advertisement

Tarpon Springs, Florida

Tarpon Springs Florida
A boat docked in Tarpon Springs. JulieHewitt/iStock

Greek immigrants first came to Tarpon Springs in the early 1900s, and to this day the town still has the largest Greek-American population in the country.

The rustic boats that crowd the Sponge Docks will make you feel like you're on a Greek Island surrounded by the Mediterranean instead of the Gulf Coast. And you won't be hard pressed to find good Greek food here, either.

Advertisement

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Frankenmuth Michigan
The Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn. csfotoimages/iStock

Frankenmuth still carries the same charm it had when it was established as a Bavarian mission colony for Lutherans back in 1845. The town is referred to as Michigan's Little Bavaria.

One of the town's main draws is Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. The store calls itself the world's largest Christmas store.

Advertisement

Holland, Michigan

Holland Michigan
The Windmill Island Village in Holland. Craig Sterken/Shutterstock

The town of Holland closely mimics its namesake. From the DeZwaan Windmill to the Veldheer Tulip Farm, there are numerous attractions that will make you feel like you've crossed the pond.

There's also Nelis' Dutch Village, a family-owned theme park that's located in a quaint reproduction of a 19th century Dutch village. 

Advertisement

Helen, Georgia

Helen Georgia
Helen, Georgia. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Helen didn't always look like a Bavarian town. The town was turned into an alpine village in 1960 in order to make it more appealing to tourists. Now, some of the street names are even in German.

The town boasts the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, and it sits along the Chattahoochee River too, making it the perfect spot for outdoor enthusiasts.

Advertisement

New Orleans, Louisiana

French Quarter Corner Building New Orleans
The French Quarter in New Orleans. GTS Productions / Shutterstock

Although New Orleans' oldest neighborhood is known as the French Quarter, the architecture is mostly Spanish. That's because most of it was rebuilt in the late 1700s — when the city was under Spanish rule — after a fire.

Spain isn't the only European trace present in New Orleans, though. The city is a melting pot of French, Irish, and Italian influences.

 

Advertisement

Leavenworth, Washington

Leavenworth Washington
Leavenworth, Washington. svetlana57/iStock

Sitting at the base of of the mountains, just a two-hour drive from Seattle, Leavenworth looks like it's straight out of a German fairytale. The town is modeled after a Bavarian village, and it has the stunning, painted wooden buildings to prove it.

Go during Oktoberfest or at Christmas when you'll find plenty of holiday trinkets and food.

Advertisement

Pella, Iowa

Pella Iowa
Pella, Iowa. marchinileo0/pixabay

You wouldn't expect to find a piece of Europe in Iowa, but Pella will make you feel like you've taken a trip to the Netherlands. The town boasts the Vermeer Mill, which is the largest working windmill in the US.

Pella also hosts the annual Tulip Time Festival in May, where visitors can admire beautiful flowers while enjoying traditional Dutch food and parades of people in Dutch attire.

Advertisement

New Glarus, Wisconsin

New Glarus Wisconsin
New Glarus, Wisconsin. New Glarus Brewing Co./Facebook

New Glarus gets its name from the canton of Glarus in eastern Switzerland. Immigrants from the region founded the Wisconsin community in 1845.

The town stays true to its Swiss heritage with chalet-like buildings and events like the Heidi Folk Festival. Its shops offer cheese and chocolate imported from Europe, and New Glarus is home to the only Swiss Heritage organization in the US.

Be sure to stop by the Glarner Stube and the brewery.

Advertisement

Lindsborg, Kansas

Lindsborg Kansas Dala Horse
A dala horse outside of the Hemslojd gift store in Lindsborg. Hemslojd, Inc/Facebook

Known as Little Sweden, Lindsborg is a haven for homemade Swedish crafts like the painted dala horses that line the town's streets. Bakeries offer typical Swedish treats like lingonberry bars and pancakes.

Every other year there's the Svensk Hyllningsfest, a festival where locals dress in traditional Swedish clothing to celebrate the Swedish pioneers that created the community back in 1868.

Advertisement

Venice, California

Venice California Canals
Venice, California. Belyay/Shutterstock

Although it has palm trees instead of historical monuments, Venice, California, does have the same canals that Venice, Italy, has. You can either stroll along the Venice Beach Canals or, if you really want to feel like you're in Europe, opt for a gondola ride. 

Europe Travel
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.