Lately, summer season in Europe has introduced the more and more destructive impacts of mass tourism, however there are nonetheless hidden gems in Europe. Off the overwhelmed path Europe cities, islands, and areas do exist with out crowds.
Each peak European journey season appears to convey extra unlucky points, rising the rift between locals and guests and prompting calls to curb vacationer numbers.
Overtourism has long-lasting penalties, rising the property and rental costs, driving locals away from their hometowns, and turning historic facilities into dwelling museums.
Within the course of, the cultural coronary heart of those locations all too usually appears to get misplaced.
In case your dream European trip contains crusing the canals of Venice or wandering the streets of Florence in solitude, you’ll possible discover the truth pales compared to the fantasy.
Until you go to through the off season, chances are you’ll end up amongst hordes of vacationers attracted by low cost European journey packages.
However whereas customer numbers to those crowded hotspots appear to extend yearly, there are nonetheless many hidden gems in Europe that stay off the overwhelmed path.
There are numerous stunning underrated European cities the place few vacationers know to enterprise, with ample pure, cultural, and historic sights and a fraction of the crowds you’ll discover in European cities like Barcelona, Rome, and Paris.
From the Arctic to the Mediterranean, we’ve pored over the map and give you our 15 of the perfect hidden gems in Europe.
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Greatest Hidden Gems in Europe Information
(Organized geographically)
- Greenland
- Iceland’s Westfjords
- Svalbard (Norway)
- Gotland (Sweden)
- Shetland Islands (Scotland)
- Jersey (Channel Islands)
- Brittany (France)
- Oberammergau (Germany)
- Galicia (Spain)
- Sardinia (Italy)
- Sicily (Italy)
- Azores (Portugal)
- The Black Sea
- Transylvania (Romania)
- Istria (Croatia)
READ MORE: 15 Causes Accountable Tourism Is Higher for Everybody
NORDIC EUROPE HIDDEN GEMS
1. Greenland
There are roughly 90,000 annual guests to Greenland– a far cry from the 20 million vacationers who journey to Venice yearly.
Contemplating the truth that Greenland is Europe’s largest island, your possibilities of being caught in selfie-stick-brandishing crowds there are slim to none. But Greenland is a must-visit for lovers of nature and of the Arctic.
It’s price a go to in winter to expertise the Polar darkness, and for the excessive chance to see Northern Lights in Kangerlussaq (the place they seem roughly 300 nights annually).
In summer season you possibly can have enjoyable round the clock below the midnight solar, having fun with journey actions together with kayaking in iceberg-filled lagoons and exploring the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site (and one of many world’s few rising glaciers).
Greenland can be distinctive in Europe as a result of it’s the one place the place you possibly can study Inuit tradition.
Qaanaaq, previously referred to as Thule, is an Inuit city positioned at 77.4° north, making it one of many northernmost inhabited locations on the earth. It’s residence to round 700 individuals, and vacationers can study their tradition and traditions.
READ MORE: Arctic Animals: 30 Species of Arctic Birds, Mammals & Whales
2. Iceland’s Westfjords
Iceland is one other place that’s usually talked about when speaking about overtourism.
Its issues vary from guests flocking to a canyon as soon as featured in a Justin Bieber video to locals enraged after seeing vacationers utilizing their gardens and fields as bogs.
Bot most Iceland tourism is concentrated within the southern a part of the nation, within the neighborhood of Reykjavik and the well-known “Golden Circle.”
If you wish to keep away from throngs of vacationers, head to the northwestern peninsula referred to as the Westfjords, which you’ll be able to go to on small ship cruises.
Reaching the area from the capital can take near half a day, and the roads to get there aren’t nice.
However you’ll be rewarded with roaring Iceland waterfalls like Dynjandi, hundreds of Iceland birds similar to puffins in Latrabjarg, and free-range Icelandic Horses in addition to many unbelievable pure swimming pools and scorching springs.
READ MORE: Experiencing Genuine Icelandic Tradition
3. Svalbard (Norway)
Do you have got a knack for distant locations? No different European hidden gem will make you’re feeling on the sting of the map fairly as a lot as Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago that lies midway between the North Pole and continental Norway.
In summer season, Svalbard is filled with wildlife. Polar bears outnumber residents two to at least one, and you may additionally come throughout seals, walruses, whales, arctic foxes, and extra.
Nature is Svalbard’s predominant draw: There are limitless glaciers, mountains, massive expanses of tundra and sea cliffs, that are inhabited by plenty of migratory birds.
But it’s additionally a spot for historical past lovers, the place it’s doable to go to a seventeenth century whaling station and lately deserted coal mines, just like the Soviet settlement of Pyramiden.
Touring Svalbard by yourself could be very harmful. At these latitudes, nature may be very wild and the hazard of a polar bear assault may be very actual.
However there are expedition cruises to Svalbard each summer season, with a give attention to wildlife and discovering polar bears.
READ MORE: The Norse Gods: An Intro to Viking Mythology & Key Websites in Norway
4. Gotland (Sweden)
Positioned within the Swedish a part of the Baltic Sea, Gotland was beloved by well-known movie director Ingmar Bergman. He spent the final 40 years of his life in Fårö, a tiny island positioned simply north of Gotland.
It’s a preferred vacation spot for vacationing Swedes, nevertheless it’s all however unknown amongst different nationalities.
Gotland is a good place for individuals who want to unplug fully, spending days in a secluded cabin within the forest and sometimes strolling to the seaside for a refreshing dip within the sea.
Those that wish to go sightseeing may also discover lots to do in Gotland. Visby, the biggest city, is UNESCO-protected as a result of it’s the best-preserved medieval city in Nordic Europe.
You too can go to the distinctive raukar (limestone sea stacks discovered on seashores everywhere in the island), see wood church buildings and medieval windmills, and even attempt to spot the endemic Gotland Pony.
READ MORE: 10 Issues We Love About West Sweden
WESTERN EUROPE HIDDEN GEMS
5. Shetland Islands (Scotland)
You’ll discover the enchanting Shetland Archipelago on the distant fringe of the UK’s map, 12 hours by ferry from the northern tip of Scotland.
Not many individuals courageous the stormy seas to achieve this archipelago made up of 100 islands, solely 16 of that are inhabited.
Well-liked sights embrace St. Ninian’s Isle, the place you possibly can go to the biggest tombolo (two-sided seaside) within the UK; the Sumburgh Lighthouse, with its colonies of migrating birds (together with puffins!); and the ocean cliffs of Eshaness.
We additionally advocate visiting the ruins of croft homes, the place native Shetlanders used to reside earlier than famine brought on huge migrations within the nineteenth century.
The distant feeling of being “in the midst of nowhere” is likely one of the predominant attracts that leads intrepid vacationers to the Shetland Islands, and also you’ll have few others to share this fascinating place with.
READ MORE: The ten Greatest Locations to Go to in Scotland
6. Jersey (Channel Islands)
The island of Jersey could also be diminutive in measurement (simply 5 by 9 miles), nevertheless it contains a big number of sights, each pure and historic.
In the event you’ve deliberate a brief keep within the Channel Islands, chances are you’ll shortly end up planning a return go to.
Its northern coast is known for dramatic sea cliffs, that are surrounded by fields of fern and heather.
The southern half feels extra genteel, with lengthy sandy seashores and sheltered bays the place you possibly can admire the realm’s excessive tides. For a singular expertise, stroll on the seabed at low tide, when the island doubles in measurement!
Jersey gives a number of castles to go to, in addition to La Hougue Bie, a passage grave courting again to Neolithic occasions.
It’s additionally doable to go to bunkers and museums courting again to the time of German Occupation throughout World Battle II, together with the Jersey Battle Tunnels, a museum positioned in {a partially} constructed underground hospital.
READ MORE: Lovely European Birds: A Information to 10 Endemic Species
7. Brittany (France)
Distant from the chaos and crowds of Southern France in summer season, Brittany is one other one of many nice locations in Europe to discover.
Positioned in northwest France, this area nonetheless retains a powerful Celtic tradition and lifestyle. It’s residence to scrumptious seafood and round 1,740 miles of shoreline, so that you received’t ever have to fret about overcrowding.
The city of Saint Malo is one in all Europe’s best-preserved fortified cities, or you possibly can go to quaint villages like Dinan and Rochefort.
This space’s windswept seashores are good for taking lengthy coastal walks or bike rides, or you possibly can head inland to go to castles or megalithic websites.
One other enjoyable cause to go to Brittany is to go island-hopping within the Gulf of Morbihan, the place yow will discover 40 islands, a lot of that are glorious birdwatching locations.
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8. Oberammergau (Germany)
Oberammergau is a sleepy city in Germany’s Bavarian Alps that actually springs to life as soon as each decade.
In 1633, the inhabitants made a vow: In the event that they have been spared from the plague that was ravaging Europe on the time, they’d write and produce a play in regards to the life and loss of life of Jesus Christ, and repeat it as soon as each 10 years.
After 300+ years, the once-a-decade custom of the Oberammergau Ardour Play nonetheless continues right now.
It sometimes takes place from Could to October, with greater than 100 performances of the 5-hour Ardour Play happening in an out of doors theatre.
Some tour operators arrange a tour of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany that features the Ardour Play in Oberammergau, plus unmissable European hidden gems similar to Zermatt, a pedestrian-only city with views over the mighty Matterhorn Mountain.
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SOUTHERN EUROPE HIDDEN GEMS
9. Galicia (Spain)
Think about inexperienced, rolling hills, mist and low clouds, fluffy sheep grazing within the fields, wild sea cliffs, and the sound of bagpipes within the air. Now guess, what place I’m speaking about?
You is perhaps considering of Eire or Scotland, however the place I’m referring to is Galicia, a area in northwestern Spain overlooking the Atlantic Sea.
The perfect-known place in Galicia is undoubtedly Santiago de Compostela, the tip level of the well-known Camino de Santiago mountaineering path.
You may take a day journey from Santiago to Fisterra, the place pilgrims of yesteryear lastly noticed the ocean after their limitless pilgrimage throughout Europe.
Or head additional off the overwhelmed monitor to charming Muxia to go to its gorgeous cliffside chapel.
Galicia can be identified for its scenic wild seashores. Top-of-the-line-known seashores is As Catedrais, or The Cathedrals. If you go to, you’ll instantly see why!
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10. Sardinia (Italy)
Sardinia is one in all Italy’s two predominant islands, positioned about 186 miles from the mainland.
Its distant location signifies that most worldwide vacationers to Italy don’t hassle visiting, they usually actually don’t know what they’re lacking!
Sardinia is residence to an array of spectacular colourful seashores– some sandy, some rocky, some with distinctive quartz micro-pebbles. However all of them boast pristine waters which might be good for scuba diving or snorkeling.
Cagliari, the biggest city on the island, is a pleasing place to find, with a captivating historic heart.
The inside of the island is the place you possibly can nonetheless discover stays of the mysterious Nuragic inhabitants, which predated Roman occasions.
In the event you’re into mountaineering you possibly can try to cowl Selvaggio Blu, a week-long trek alongside a really gorgeous stretch of coast, spending the nights on abandoned seashores.
READ MORE: The 30 Greatest Unique Islands to Go to (World Journey Bucket Listing)
11. Sicily (Italy)
Sicily is Italy’s largest and southernmost island. Not like Sardinia, the place tradition survived largely untouched for hundreds of years due to its isolation, Sicily was very a lot a cultural crossroads.
What you see there right now is the results of centuries of adjusting palms, from the Phoenicians to the Greeks, from the Arabs to the Normans, the Swabians, and the Spanish.
Lovers of artwork and historical past might be spoiled in Sicily.
Western Sicily, particularly round Agrigento, is residence to Greek ruins that rival the Parthenon by way of magnificence.
In japanese Sicily you possibly can tour the gorgeous Baroque cities of Siracusa and Noto.
You may’t miss visiting Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe. If one volcano will not be sufficient for you, make a journey to the Aeolian archipelago to see Vulcano, with its effervescent sulphur swimming pools, and Stromboli, which erupts each hour.
READ MORE: 20 Gorgeous Santorini Images That Will Make You E book a Journey to Greece
12. Azores (Portugal)
The Azores are technically a part of Portugal, however they’re positioned over 620 miles away from the European mainland.
This archipelago is made up of 9 volcanic islands, every with one thing distinctive to supply.
As an example, Corvo (the smallest island) is definitely an extinct volcano, whereas Terceira is understood for its colourful capital and Pico is dominated by the mountain of the identical identify (which is the very best in Portugal.)
A visit to the Azores is good for individuals who love nature and mountaineering.
But it surely’s not so nice for those who’re in search of regular sunshine, because the climate fluctuates significantly and there tends to be numerous rain.
Bonus level: The Azores are an excellent whale-watching vacation spot!
READ MORE: 8 Issues To Do In Portugal For Nature Lovers
CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE HIDDEN GEMS
13. The Black Sea
The European cruise business is essentially centered across the Mediterranean Sea. However whether or not it’s island-hopping in Greece or crusing the Dalmatian coast, summer season within the Mediterranean gives rather a lot much less elbow room than we’d like.
Fortunately, there’s one other unbelievable European hidden gem that lends itself to cruising with out all of the crowds.
Straddling Jap Europe and Western Asia, the Black Sea borders six international locations– Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, and Turkey.
Cruising 0n a circumnavigation of the Black Sea gives vacationers a chance to discover timeless cities like Istanbul and Odessa, in addition to pure beauties just like the Danube River Delta.
There are additionally historic websites such because the Ottoman homes of Safranbolu and Sumela Monastery (close to Trabzon), in addition to the seaside resorts of Sochi in Russia and Batumi in Georgia.
This is part of the world the place few Western vacationers ever care to enterprise, nevertheless it’s riddled with riches for intrepid vacationers to find!
READ MORE: 50 Methods to Have fun New Yr Traditions Across the World
14. Transylvania (Romania)
The historic area of Transylvania spans a part of Central Romania, the place it’s bordered by the Carpathian Mountains on the east and south and the Apuseni Mountains within the west.
In fact, Transylvania is primarily referred to as the house of Vlad the Impaler, who is best referred to as Depend Dracula in Bram Stoker’s traditional horror novel.
You may nonetheless go to Bran Citadel, the house of the mysterious Vlad. However Transylvania additionally has much more to supply.
Guests may stroll the historic cities of Brasov and Sibiu to find that Outdated World environment of slim cobblestone streets and steeples piercing the skies (minus the vacationers).
Then head to the mountainous Maramures to go to the UNESCO-protected painted church buildings, and Voronet Monastery, the best-known painted church within the area of Bucovina.
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15. Istria (Croatia)
Positioned in Croatia, however distant from bustling Dubrovnik (one other well-known sufferer of mass tourism), you’ll discover Istria.
This charming, heart-shaped peninsula sits on the crossroads between Italy and the Balkans, the place you possibly can breathe the Venetian affect in delicacies and structure and discover wild Mediterranean nature.
Istria was a part of the Venetian republic for over 500 years earlier than it was taken over by the Habsburg Empire. Wandering round cities like Labin and Rovinj right now, chances are you’ll suppose you’ve immediately been transported to Venice.
However the actual marvels of Istria are discovered within the countryside, the place there are alternatives to go mountaineering and biking, discover vineyards and olive groves, and luxuriate in journey actions like paragliding.
You’ll discover just one factor lacking…. the hordes of different vacationers! –by Margherita Ragg for Inexperienced Journey Media, featured photograph of Saint Malo Brittany, France. All photographs through Canva
BIO: Margherita Ragg is a contract author from Milan, Italy. She is enthusiastic about wildlife, ecotourism, and outside journey actions. She runs the favored nature and journey journey weblog The Crowded Planet together with her husband Nick Burns, an Australian journey and wildlife photographer.
