Europe as a whole has long been a driver of innovation and entrepreneurship. Cities like London (UK), Berlin (Germany), Dublin (Ireland), Copenhagen (Denmark), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), and Paris (France) are renowned startup hubs, nurturing some of the continent’s most creative minds and future-forward businesses. However, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, about 40% of citizens started considering moving away from large European capitals to smaller cities. 

So, what are some of the best alternative European cities for aspiring or budding entrepreneurs? We took a look beyond the obvious to explore some of Europe’s less-expected cities with dynamic startup scenes that are great for new businesses. Here’s what we found:

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Slovenia is in the nascent stage of developing a startup ecosystem. With its vibrant economy, favorable regulations for entrepreneurs, and affordable living opportunities, this is a great small city to relocate to in a post-COVID world.