HIDDEN GEMS IN EUROPE
Best Hidden Gems in Europe:
15 underrated places to visit
Popular places like Paris, London and Venice are great but they are usually packed with tourists.
If you don‘t want to wander through the streets with thousands of others, check out our list of secret destinations in Europe for an unique experience.
1. Kotor, Montenegro
Nestled in a bay on Montenegro's Adriatic coast, the sleepy medieval town of Kotor gave us the feeling of traveling back in time.
From the surrounding mountains the view is just super beautiful!
2. Transylvania, Romania
Romania is not only the home country of Dracula who used to live in a castle but also has many other beautiful places that should be on your bucket list.
One of them is Corvin Castle!
We also loved: Transfagarasan, Peleș castle.
3. Meteora, Greece
We can all agree that Santorini, Mykonos and Milos are beautiful Greek islands but does the mainland has anything to offer? The answer is: Yes!
We were really impressed by the Meteora monasteries built on sandstone cliffs in a breathtaking setting.
When the sun rises in the morning and the rocks disappear into the mist it almost seems as if the monasteries are floating.
4. Pueblos Blancos, Spain
A route along the country road through Andalusia in southern Spain leads through a number of white villages in the mountains that look like a painting. Each village is special in its own way but our favorites were Vejer de La Frontera, Montefrío, Setenil de las Bodegas, Casares, Ronda, Olvera, Zahara de La Sierra and Mojácar.
5. Zamek Moszna, Poland
Did you know that there is a Disney Castle in Poland? Yes, exactly.
It is beautiful and dogs are also allowed in the castle park.
The castle itself, as well as the castle park, is super impressive and just beautiful.
It was built in the 17th century and today even includes a hotel.
So it's perfect for a weekend getaway.
6. Lago di Sorapis, Italy
The reason why this breathtaking mountain lake in the Dolomites is not crowded is probably the path you have to take to get to there.
But believe us: It‘s worth it!
After two hours of hiking we stood in front of the ice blue lake in the middle of the mountains at over 1925 meters and just couldn't stop smiling.
7. Spello, Italy
This small village is a real insider tip and worth a visit if you are near Perugia or driving from Rome to Tuscany.
There are very few tourists in Spello, so you can expect an authentic Italian experience.
The special thing is that the residents decorate the alleys, front doors and balconies with lots of flowers.
8. Étretat, France
Paris and the South of France are great but don't forget Étretat in Normandy.
The chalk cliffs rise dizzyingly high from the sea into the sky.
Not only the view from up there is great but the region also offers many caves to explore.
9. Azenhas do Mar, Portugal
Only 40km from Lisbon is the small fishing village of Azenhas do Mar, on whose cliffs the waves crash just a few meters below the houses.
We can particularly recommend to have a picnic during sunset on the meadow facing the village.
10. Eguisheim, France
In the Alsace region in France many places are really beautiful but especially Eguisheim is worth a visit.
We also loved: Colmar & Strasbourg
11. Calpe, Spain
The view over Calpe on the Spanish Mediterranean coast says more than a thousand words, doesn't it?
We ended up here by accident and couldn't believe how lucky we are.
12. Villefranche Sur Mer, France
When I saw a photo of Villefranche Sur Mer for the first time, I knew: I want to retire here someday haha.
The city is not far from Nice and allows you to enjoy the French Mediterranean coast (Cote d'Azur) without being surrounded by thousands of others.
13. Praia da Ursa, Portugal
There are hundreds of beautiful beaches in Portugal but this one is special.
After parking our car on a dirt road, we had to climb down hill for 15 minutes to get to Praia da Ursa. Afterwards we were rewarded with a deserted beach and the best view.
14. Cochem, Germany
Along the river Mosel in Germany are not only vineyards but also many beautiful places like Cochem. We especially liked it there because the castle on the hill is like the icing on the cake.
15. Costa Nova, Portugal
Striped houses and long sandy beaches can be found in the fishing village of Costa Nova in Portugal. Each corner there is very photogenic!