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10Best Places That Look & Feel Like Europe
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, has long been considered the most English North American city, and you'll see why as you stroll along the Inner Harbor. The provincial capital is filled with immaculate gardens, English pubs and more cycling paths than any other city in Canada.
Sucre, Bolivia
Sucre is Bolivia's lesser known capital – home to the Bolivian supreme court. Its whitewashed buildings and colonial architecture, particularly near the city center, make it the country's most picturesque city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If it weren't for the high altitude and surrounding mountains, you could almost believe you were in the Mediterranean.
Macau, China
When you get away from the casinos that make the place feel like Las Vegas, you'll find Macau has held tightly to its Portuguese roots, so much so that you'll often hear Portuguese being spoken as you wander through Old Taipa Village. It's one of the only places in Asia where you can dine on Portuguese food cooked by a Portuguese family, sip Portuguese wine and tour mansions, forts and churches built during the period of Portuguese colonization.
Montreal, Quebec
Montreal might just be the closest thing to France outside of Europe, particularly in historic Vieux-Montréal, the city's oldest neighborhood. Museums, churches, jazz and French fusion cuisine are just a few of Montreal's biggest draws. If you want the experience of Europe at Christmas without hopping the Pond, give Montreal a try.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The neoclassical buildings, world-class museums and street-side cafes of Buenos Aires lend the Argentinian capital an undeniably European feel. Despite it's European similarities, the city has an energy all its own, whether you're gazing at the balcony where Evita addressed her admirers or watching a tango in a smoky bar.
Photo courtesy of Sitio oficial de turismo Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Solvang, California
Spending time in the city of Solvang, California might make you feel like you're in Denmark, which makes sense given the city was established by a group of Danish settlers in 1911. Many of the city's building facades are styled after those in Denmark, and you'll find a Little Mermaid statue just like the one in Copenhagen. Want to sample some Danish food? Try one of the many bakeries and restaurants of Solvang.
Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Breathtaking coastal views and postcard-perfect lighthouses aren't the only similarities Cape Breton Island shares with Scotland. This Nova Scotia community was originally settled by Scottish Highlanders, a heritage you can hear in the Celtic pub music and distinct accents of the residents.
Helen, GA
The town of Helen, Georgia likens itself to an Alpine village, though it admittedly falls on the kitschy side rather than the authentic. All the same, the streets are lined with red-roofed houses boasting flower boxes in the windows, and visitors can wash their meal of German sausage down with Bavarian beer to the sounds of oompah music in the background.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
While much of Ho Chi Minh City has modernized beyond its French colonial roots, you can still see remnants of its French heritage in the architecture and culinary traditions of the city. The best examples of colonial architecture can be found at the Ho Chi Minh City Hall, Hotel Majestic, Hotel Continental and the Ho Chi Minh City Museum.
Cuenca, Ecuador
While Quito, Ecuador's capital, is often considered very European, the southern city of Cuenca is even more so, thanks to its cobbled streets, colonial churches, whitewashed buildings with red tiled roofs and busy plazas. The city earned a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1999 and is popular with tourists for its hip cafes and galleries tucked into historic buildings.