27 Hidden Secret Destinations In Europe
Hidden Secret Destinations In Europe? Are you kidding me!
In this world of internet and social media is there anything hidden? People travel to different parts of the world throughout the year and flash their pictures on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest every hour, in fact, every second then how is it possible?
When I was a kid places like Namibia, Sumatra, Portugal was not famous but now most of the travelers know about these destinations and if now I am being told that there are still some places left to be explored, it’s like doing the impossible.
But surprisingly it is the truth
These are the
Top 27 Hidden Secret Travel Destinations In Europe
1.San Marino
San Marino is one of the most visually appealing places. No matter where you go you will have lots of options to capture Instagram moments be it the beautiful fortress Rocca Guaita, Castello Cesta, Or Montale. Each has its own specialty. Every year more than 2 million tourists visit this place.
San Marino Jazz festival and Adriatic music festival are the two most renowned festivals here. If you want to buy exquisite duty-free items then visit Dogana. To experience Roman and Egyptian artifacts visit National Museum.
Read:12 Things to do in San Marino
2.Mantua,Italy
Located in Lombardy, Mantua is one of the most amazing places in Europe. People who love history must see the Palazzo Te Museum, Ducal Palace, and the incredible Basilica of Sant’ Andrea. When in Ducal Palace you must see one of the most beautiful castles, Castello San Giorgio.No wonder because of its rich history Mantia is regarded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mantua is surrounded by three beautiful artificial lakes. You will simply love Mantova Music Festival. Rotonda di San Lorenzo is a famous church here. Mantua Cathedral is one of the most sought after places in Mantua.
3. Cuenca, Spain
Located in Castilla La Mancha, Spain, Cuenca is most popular for hanging houses in the mountains.
It is a perfect place for photographers as it gives an amazing view. To get a better view of hanging houses you can go to the San Pablo bridge.
I had visited a few of the churches here, Church of Saint Peter, Church of Saint Michael all are all special in their own way. If you are a fan of art you must visit the Dioceses museum.
The Mangana Tower takes you back to history and the culture then. I would recommend spending at least 2-3 days here. I had an amazing lunch at El Secreto
Related:
Where To Stay
Book Your Tour–Cuenca Guided Tour With Lunch
Read
4.Bosnia And Herzegovina
Located in Balkan Peninsula this beautiful country is known for beautiful rivers, lakes, and the Dinaric Alps mountain range. If you love water sports then you must visit Konjic for rafting. I was mesmerized by the beauty of Kravice waterfalls. For adventure lovers hiking at Lukimor is a wonderful option.
Sutjeska National Park is another place to watch out for especially for Tjentiste War Memorial. Mostar city is known for its beautiful locations, especially Stari Most also called Old Bridge.
5. Salzkammergut, Austria
Salzkammergut is a resort area in Austria and hidden in the Salzkammergut region is Lake Halstatt which is considered as one of the most exotic lakes in Austria.
It is so beautiful I couldn’t take my eyes from it, literally paradise on earth and perfect for photography. I loved Lake Traunusee also, so magical.It is one of the must-see places in Europe.
I think Salzkammergut is the best place to visit in Europe in September because the weather is so pleasant.
Halstatt is connected to salt mine through a mountain railway. Dachstein Ice Caves and Mammoth Caves are both amazingly beautiful and can be reached by cable car. It was time for lunch so we went to Dspeis and had steaks.
Where To Stay
Book Your Tour–Original Sound Of Music Tour
Read:Europe Tropical Islands-Top 5
6.Vipava Valley,Slovenia
Named after the Vipava River Vipava Valley is one of the most gorgeous places in Europe. It is famous for white wines. There are a number of outdoor activities to do here like paragliding, hiking, mountaineering. You will love the Vipava valley wine tasting tour.
7. Perast, Montenegro
You can travel in Europe in any time of the year. Perast is a town located on the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. It is one of the hidden secret destinations in Europe, truly a hidden gem in Europe.
At its heart is St. Nicholas Church lined with date palms. The island Of St. George and Our Lady Of The Rocks, an artificial island are the two most popular places to visit and are really beautiful.
Perast is also famous for its heritage buildings.It is one of the best places to visit in Europe in summer and certainly one of the most beautiful places in Europe.
Related :
33 Best Travel Tips For Europe
Where To Stay
Iberostar Heritage Grand Perast
Book Your Tour–Kotor Boat Tour
8.The Hague,Netherlands
The Hague is a multicultural city. It is a land of many historic monuments and art museums. Escher In Het Paleis is a terrific mathematical museum. Binnenhof is a historical landmark. Madurodam is a beautiful park here. Mauritshuis and Louwman are very popular museums in The Hague. People who are looking for some adventure must visit Familiepark Drievliet amusement park.
9. Lake Komani, Albania
Lake Komani is located in Albania and it is one of the most pristine lakes, so clean and fresh. It is surrounded by valley and hills.
Lake Koman Ferry can take you to the other side and it operates from Koman to Fierza. The ferry journey takes almost 3 hours and is very popular among tourists.This place is surely one of the best vacation destinations in Europe.
Where To Stay
Book Your Tour–Day Trip To Saranda and Butrit National Park From Corfu
Read:
10.Durham,England
The city is known for its beautiful castles. For hikers, the best place for hiking is Durham Heritage Coast. Beamish Museum is really spectacular. Durham Cathedral is an iconic place. I loved spending time in Chester-Le -Street Riverside Park. If you want to experience pristine lakes and wildlife then you must see Hardwick Park.
People who are interested in archaeology should see the wonderful Museum Of Archaeology. Auckland Castle is a major historical landmark.
11.The Azores, Portugal
The Azores is one of the most exotic destinations and also recognized by UNESCO.
But still, not many people are aware of this archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic. It consists of nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic 800 miles off the coast of Portugal.
The islands are characterized by amazing landscapes, green pastures, fishing villages, crater lakes. This is my favorite destination from the list and one of the hidden secret places in Europe. I loved spending time here.
The Azores are also famous for whales and dolphins watching. Sometimes blue whales also pass through on migration routes. It is also famous for watersports.
For hikers, to experience sunset or sunrise you have to climb for three hours. The Azores are also known for paragliding festivals.
Portugal certainly deserves to be one of the top 5 countries to visit in Europe
Where To Stay
Book Your Tour–Sao Miguel West Full-Day Tour With Lunch
Related
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12.Erfurt, Germany
Locate in Thuringia state, Erfurt is a spectacular German city. Kramerbrucke is one of the longest bridges in Europe. Erfurt Cathedral is really special. Petersberg Citadel is a renowned historic town fortress. Egapark is a beautiful public park in Erfurt. Angermuseum is a lovely art museum.
13. Lednice-Valtice, Czech Republic
UNESCO described Lednice castle as an exceptional example of the designed landscape that evolved in the enlightenment and afterward under the care of a single-family.
Lednice Valtice which is also known as Garden of Europe is the largest artificial geographical area.
Valtice Chateau is famous for wines making. I loved Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape.
Where To Stay
Book Your Tour–Prague By Night; 3- Hour Dinner Cruise
Read:
Winter Destinations In Europe-Top 16
Cheap Beach Destinations In Europe-Top 10
14.Brisighella,Italy
It is a small place in Italy. There are hardly any tourists because not many are aware of this beautiful location. Located in Ravenna province, it is a land of beautiful Rock Of Brisighella castle, beautiful cafes, museums, and landmarks.
15. Kyiv, Ukraine
I should have come here earlier, how did I miss this amazing place? It is such a fascinating place, the culture, the food, and everything is special here.
Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is one of the most famous sacred sites here. It is also called as Monastery of the Caves and it is recognized by UNESCO and rightly so.
Kyiv State Historical museum is the most popular museum here. It is also called a green city and has two botanical gardens.
I went to Hydropark island and it has an amusement park, night clubs, and beautiful beaches. I liked the Kyiv Zoo which has more than 300 species. This has to be in your travel bucket list.This is truly one of the best beach destinations in Europe.
Where To Stay
Book Your Tour– 1 Day Group Tour To The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
16.Region Of Murcia,Spain
It is known for its beautiful cathedral and historical landmarks. Floridablanca Gardens is a beautiful garden to spend some quality time. It has some beautiful flowers. Murcia Archaeological museum is a delight for history lovers. You must taste Monastrell wine. It is popular here. There are beautiful beaches here as well.
17. Pag Island, Croatia
Located in Adriatic sea Pag is a Croatian island. It is famous for its moonlike landscape and beautiful beaches.
You will love the color of the water, it’s clean and blue.
Velo Blato and Malo Blato are the two splendid lakes here. Pag Bay is amazingly beautiful. I spend a lot of time here.
Where To stay
Book Your Tour–Peljesac Peninsula and Korcula Island Day Trip
18.Cefalu, Italy
A beautiful coastal city in Sicily, Cefalu is famous for its beautiful cathedral. The view from La Rocca, a 284 climb is surreal. It is a great place for boating and watersports. You will simply love the beautiful Cefalu beach.
19. Nisyros Island, Greece
It is located in the middle of Kos and Tilos, two other beautiful islands in the Aegean sea.
I would recommend you to spend a couple of days here because it is so calm and quiet here and the food here is delicious.For newly weds it is surely one of the dream honeymoon destinations in Europe.
I loved Soumada, a local flavored drink.
To get here you can fly to Kos and then take a boat from Kardamena port. I did some hiking here, loved this volcanic Greek island.
Where To Stay
Book Your Tour–Delphi Guided DayTrip From Athens
20.Adishi,Georgia
It is a small but beautiful village in Georgia. Tetnuldi is a beautiful peak and an amazing place for skiing and snowboarding. Adishi Glacier is simply magical.
21.Clonakilty, Ireland
It is located at the head of Clonakilty Bay and is one of the best places in Ireland.
I really liked the Micahel Collins House museum as it gives a lot of historical facts and the Clonakilty museum also offers unique stories.
Here you can enjoy food in amazing restaurants and has a vibrant nightlife too. If you like surfing head to Inchydoney Beach.It is certainly one of the best destinations in Europe for honeymoon.
Where To Stay
Book Your Tour–Cliffs Of Moher, Burren and Gallaway full-Day Tour
Read
22.Skiathos Island ,Greece
It is a beautiful Greek Island. It takes only half an hour to reach via flight from Athens. The beaches are simply spectacular and the food and drinks are just wonderful. It is a great place to unwind. I loved Evangelistria monastery. You can reach Lalaria beach only through water but it is simply spectacular. Agia Eleni beach is my other favorite. You will also love diving and boat tours.
23.Bogliasco, Italy
Bogliasco is a small town located along the Italian Riviera. Like me, if you love seafood try Al Solito Posto.
There are a couple of beautiful churches here like the Church of San Bernardo, Church of Brethren of Santa Chiara. I really loved Pieve Alta scenic point and Vernazolla beach.
Where To Stay
Book Your Tour–Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
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24.Foix,France
It has some beautiful castles. Parc De Bouycheres is a wonderful park. There are some beautiful museums too.
25.Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
Lake Bohinj is located in Slovenia and it is certainly one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen. It is the largest natural lake in Slovenia. The water is crystal clear. The other beautiful attractions here are Savica Waterfall, Mostnica Gorge, Vintgar Gorge. If you want to see the beauty of the lake from the top take a ride to Vogel Cable Car.
The other attractions are St. John The Baptist Church,water sports and Zlatorog.
26.Aguero,Spain
Located in Huesca province in Spain, Aguero is a small village most famous for the Mallos de Riglos rock formation. It is a favorite spot for mountaineering. Santiago Church is popular here too. Mirador de Los Buitres is a famous observation deck.
27.Sistelo,Portugal
It is one of the hidden gems in Europe. Also known as “The Little Portuguese Tibet”, Sistelo is popular for its amazing scenic view. You will simply love the beautiful Brandas de Sistelo trail. There are beautiful castles and churches. Cachena steak is popular here, you must try it.
Travel Essentials
Whenever I travel I make sure I add some new stuff to my luggage, it makes me feel energized, like if I have a new watch or a new phone or something which is very important in traveling like a good bag or clothes anything I get more excited to travel so I always buy it from amazon.com as I know I can get all the things from here.
Accommodations
For travelers like us, it is very important to have a good view of the hotel and at the same time it should give us warmth and for this, I want a number of options to choose from and that is why I prefer Agoda.com which is a part of world leader Booking Holdings as I know I will get multiple options.
Flights
Trip.com has always been my favorite as it always gives the best deals.
Travel Insurance
When we are far from home we want to be covered from any unfortunate incidents like thefts, accidents, illness or any such unfortunate things and that is why I opt for Worlds Nomad as it is one of the most trusted travel insurance.
Tours
Viator gives a number of option for tours in Europe
After writing this, I am once again excited to visit these extraordinary places.Honestly,I loved my Europe vacation. For you, jump on a plane and experience the magic of hidden secret destinations in Europe.
Let me know if you know any other unique places to visit in Europe, I would love to know about it.I can’t wait to take another Europe trip again next season.
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