Is this Europe or America? 11 U.S. spots that look like the Old World

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Is this Europe or America? 11 U.S. spots that look like the Old World

Every place has its own charm, but sometimes you’ll come across a certain spot that reminds you of another one, whether you have actually been there or seen it in pictures. America is full of towns, cities, and landscapes where a tourist might, if suddenly dropped there, initially believe they were in a European country. Take a look at these 11 spots in the U.S. that seem like a quick trip to Europe. Have you been to any of them?

Leavenworth, Washington

Image: Herry Sutanto

Our first example is probably one of the most famous instances of European charm in America. Nestled in the Cascades east of Seattle, Leavenworth has a distinct Bavarian feel to it. Painted facades, peaked roofs, flower boxes, and beer gardens that feel transplanted from southern Germany.

Even the signage and street details play along, leaning into this identity. This is not an accident: after years of economic decline, the town rebranded around a Bavarian theme to revive tourism. And it worked!

Solvang, California

Image: Jolea Schwindt

Solvang was founded by Danish Americans, and its downtown still looks like a postcard from Denmark, with its half-timbered buildings, windmills, bakeries, and shop signs with strong Copenhagen vibes.

The town is filled with Scandinavian-style boutiques, restaurants, bars, and themed shops, which give it a distinct "Europe but in California" vibe.

Holland, Michigan

Image: Chad Jones

As its name implies, Holland, Michigan, wears its Dutch roots with pride, especially around Windmill Island Gardens. An authentic, working Dutch windmill rises over manicured grounds, tulips, and neat paths that feel straight out of the Netherlands.

Even if you are not visiting during the tulip blossoming season, the windmill and surrounding gardens still manage to recreate a full Low Countries atmosphere.

Helen, Georgia

Image: Shalev Cohen

Helen sits in Georgia’s Blue Ridge, but its downtown looks like an alpine village, with painted trim, Bavarian-inspired storefronts, and a compact, walkable core that’s all about that Germany-meets-mountains feel.

As with other examples on this list, the town deliberately adopted the look, and it shows. The rivers and trails help create a perfect postcard from Europe.

St. Augustine, Florida

Image: Maddie DiFilippo

St. Augustine has that "Old World" energy because it was founded by the Spanish in 1565, and it still has a stone fortress on the bay: the Castillo de San Marcos. The age and layout alone feel different from most U.S. towns.

Explore the star-shaped walls built by Spain from coquina stone, then wander around the historic district nearby. Between colonial streets, sea air, and rich history, the place feels like a coastal Spanish town.

Tarpon Springs, Florida

Image: Joseph Corl

Tarpon Springs can feel like a Greek corner on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Greek sponge divers helped shape the town in the early 1900s, and the Sponge Docks are packed with Greek restaurants, bakeries, and markets.

Tourists can enjoy dishes filled with olive oil and lemon, hear the locals’ colorful dialect, and stroll along the beautiful waterfront.

Avalon, California

Image: Parker Sturdivant

Avalon, the main town on Catalina Island, is often described as having Mediterranean charm, with its colorful hillside buildings, palm trees, and waterfront promenades that could be mistaken for a southern European coast.

Spanish details and tilework add to the vibe, and the Catalina Casino’s Mediterranean Revival flair doesn’t hurt either.

French Quarter, Louisiana

Image: Tianxiang Ji

The French Quarter’s balconies and courtyards resemble a European street scene, shaped by French and Spanish colonial eras and marked by ironworks, stucco walls, and tightly packed, walkable blocks.

It can be easy to forget that one is in the U.S. when walking past the shaded patios and enclosed courtyards.

Stowe, Vermont

Image: Jeffrey Clayton

Stowe is Vermont’s mountain postcard, and in winter, it can look like a small Alpine village with its snowy peaks, cozy inns, and a town center built for strolling around.

The scenery also contributes to giving the town its distinctive Swiss-inspired vibe, and the locals have taken advantage of this to promote tourism.

Savannah, Georgia

Image: Ron Dylewski

Savannah’s layout is among the most European in the country. A grid of leafy public squares breaks up the city, creating a calm, walkable center that feels more like France or Spain than the American South.

The historic architecture is very picturesque without being imposing, and the city’s human scale allows for unhurried visits and calm living.

New Glarus, Wisconsin

Image: Róger Nobles

New Glarus calls itself "America’s Little Switzerland," and the village backs up this claim with its Swiss heritage, chalet-style houses, and Old World details that pop against Wisconsin’s countryside.

Founded in 1845 by immigrants from Switzerland’s Glarus canton, the town keeps that identity front and center. Flags, bakeries, and alpine-minded architecture can easily make visitors think that they have been transported to the Swiss Alps, minus the mountains.