I booked Airbnbs in small towns while backpacking Europe and found 2 hidden-gem destinations I'd never heard of

Business Insider's reporter booked Airbnbs outside major European cities and found some hidden gems in Germany and Switzerland.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderI backpacked across six cities and four countries in Europe in 2022, including Berlin and Zurich. I booked two Airbnbs in the suburbs to save money, and the towns surprised me.

These crowd-free places were hidden gems. I would never have seen them if I weren't on a budget.When I planned my two-week backpacking trip through six European cities, the last thing I expected was to be blown away by the suburbs.

In October 2022, I traveled to Berlin, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Milan, and Zurich. In most of these destinations, I booked accommodations within city limits, from an airstream trailer in Vienna to an artsy stay in Rome. But to save some money, I stayed in Airbnbs about an hour outside Berlin and Zurich by train.

A local train that the author rode to Berlin.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderBerlin was the first stop on my two-week trip. I spent two nights in a tiny-home hotel in Neustrelitz, Germany, for $140.

The hotel was a 20-minute walk from the train station.Slube, a tiny home hotel in Neustrelitz, Germany.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderSure, it would have been easier to wake up in Berlin.

But to my surprise, I enjoyed starting and ending each day with a relaxing walk through this place I'd never heard of, where I spotted the occasional backpacker among mostly locals.A 3D map of Neustrelitz, Germany, found in the town square in October 2022.Joey Hadden/Business InsiderI found the town charming, with its quiet cobblestone streets — a stark contrast to the fast-paced city vibe that dominated much of my days in Berlin.

I was grateful for an unexpected experience. If I hadn't been traveling on a budget, I probably never would have set foot in Neustrelitz.Quiet streets in Neustrelitz, Germany.

Joey Hadden/Business InsiderWhen I left Germany, with stays in Vienna and three Italian cities ahead of me, I was already looking forward