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Holidays in Europe: 15 overlooked travel destinations

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Europe is full of known places - but also full of unknown. Join 15 of the best overlooked destinations in Europe.
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Holidays in Europe: 15 overlooked destinations is written by The editorial staff, RejsRejsRejs..

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Holidays in Europe: Few visitors, great experiences

There are a lot of people who take to Paris, Majorcaa or Barcelona, and although they are cool destinations, there are also many overlooked ones travel destinations i Europa.

A number of travel bloggers across Europe have been asked, and here is their overall take on 15 travel destinations in Europe where there are (relatively) few visitors and many great experiences.

Read along and be inspired for your next holiday in Europe.

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Asturias - covadonga monastery - holiday in Europe

Asturias offers unspoiled beaches with clear water, fantastic hiking routes in beautiful surroundings, delicious food and lots of culture. It is undoubtedly number 1 on the list.

While there, definitely visit the Covadonga Monastery, which also serves as the entrance to the Picos de Europa National Park.

Because Asturias is an overlooked tourist destination in the north Spain, the prices are affordable.

Malta - Mdina

Mdina, Zebbug and the most overlooked travel destination in Europe

Although Malta is the 9th smallest country in the world, it has a lot to offer and a string of attractions. This small country lies just south of Sicily and benefits from the same fantastic climate.

In Malta you will find everything from turquoise lagoons and spectacular cliffs to cultural medieval towns that bear the imprint of the Arab period.

Mdina boasts stunning baroque architecture, historical sites and various palaces, while the town of Zebbug is known for its “festas” (feasts) – celebrations that last 3 or more days and have thousands of visitors.

Malta has also previously been named “Most Overlooked Travel Destination in Europe” by Lonely Planet.

Austria - Hallstatt lake - holiday in Europe

Head to Lake Hallstatt and experience true idyll on your holiday in Europe

Tucked away in the heart of the charming Salzkammergut region in the north Austria lies the idyllic lake Hallstatt close Salzburg. It is without a doubt one of the most breathtaking alpine lakes in the country.

In addition to the beautiful surroundings, the area has a lot to offer of activities and sports, whether you visit Hallstatt in the winter or summer period. The area is fantastic for both a winter holiday or a summer holiday in Europe. Take the tram to the dramatic Mammoth Cave, located at Obertraun, or the equally impressive Dachstein Ice Caves.

You can also take the train through the mountains and visit the historic salt mines and have a delicious lunch made with ingredients from the local area. Heavenly beautiful.

Hallstatt is not as overlooked anymore as it used to be, so plan your visit well in advance.


Azores – Take a holiday in Europe and visit the Atlantichavets Hawaii

Azores is an independent region of Portugal, and consists of 9 islands in the Atlantichavet. The Azores are still fairly untouched by mass tourism, although you can easily get there.

The Azores offer volcanoes, waterfalls and picturesque fishing villages, and the landscape of this paradise is generally deeply fascinating.

The islands are often described as 'Atlanteshavets Hawaii', and is home to Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal.

If your holiday in Europe goes to Portugal, the Azores are a great bid for a destination.

montenegro - perast - holiday in europe

Perast - Venetian architecture and crystal clear water on a budget

Montenegro is every budget traveler's dream because you can get an extravagant travel experience for a reasonable price.

The cozy and beautiful town of Perast is still relatively untouched by mass tourism, and the town is adorned with picture-perfect Venetian architecture and crystal clear water.

You can also go on an excursion to the Adriatichavets only artificial island, Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela), and the island of St. George (Sveti Đorđe).

Czech Republic - Lednice castle - holiday in Europe

Lednice-Valtice - World Heritage Site and a huge garden

The Czech region, Lednice-Valtice is close by Austria and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It can best be described as a 200 square kilometer garden. It is Europe's largest man - made natural area and home to Lednice Castle; a very tall mansion that looks like something taken from a fairy tale.

The building has a fascinating history. It was originally a Renaissance villa and has been extended many times – most recently in the Neo-Gothic style. There is everything from the ruins of a medieval castle to a 60 meter high minaret that you can climb up.

You can also take a boat trip on the river and be lucky to spot waders.

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Croatia - Pag - Travel - holiday in Europe

Pag - Fill your holiday in Europe with local wine and goat cheese

Pag is an island in the south Croatia, and with its beautiful surroundings, it is one of the most dramatic and unique places on the Adriatichavet in Croatia.

Among other things, local wines and goat cheese are produced on the island, which are affordable, and the residents of the island warmly welcome visitors.

Here you can enjoy your holiday in Europe in peace and content.

Estonia - Øsel - holiday in Europe

Donkey in Estonia - meteors, myths and medieval castles

Saaremaa – with the Danish name Øsel – is Estonia's largest island located in the Baltic Sea.

The island is home to the fascinating Kaali craters; a series of nine large craters that are the result of a meteor impact 3500 years ago.

The largest crater today is the unique, green-toned Lake Kaali; in fact, locals consider the lake sacred, and many myths and legends still exist in the area.

The island's only town, Kuressaare, is located on the Gulf of Riga, where you can find the beautiful medieval castle, which also houses the local museum of Saaremaa.

Greece - Pelion - holiday in Europe

Volos and Pelion in Greece - Follow in Mamma Mia's footsteps

With its location in Thessaly halfway between Athens and Thessaloniki on Greece east coast, Volos is a treasure trove of archeological sites, bars and great places to eat when on holiday in Europe. Here are also idyllic beaches with turquoise waters on one side and Mount Pelion on the other.

The harbor town of Damouchari was the setting for the well-known film Mamma Mia, and the dramatic landscape in it Volos and Pelion-the region offers visitors an opportunity to escape mass tourism.

Slovenia - Velika Planina - Travel - holiday in Europe

Velika Planina - one of the oldest tribal villages in Europe

Though Slovenia is a small country, it is densely packed with beautiful places to visit.

In Velika Planina you will find mountain meadows only an hour from the capital Ljubljana. Here lies one of the oldest preserved tribal villages in Europe, and it looks like something from The Lord of the Rings.

Just south is the Kamnik Alpe, where over 60 festivals are held a year, including sporting events, flower shows and a beauty contest where the national costumes from Slovenia is displayed.

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Poland - Kashubia

Kashubia - Stonehenge in Polish

Kashubia is a beautiful region in the north Poland close to the big city Gdansk.

The region has several small traditional villages and not least stone circles known as the "Polish Stonehenge". They are sacred ancient sites for religious rituals and burial grounds. They were also used as an astronomical calendar sometime between the first and third centuries, and some believe they have healing powers. One must see on your holiday in Europe.

The nearby Lake Wdzydze is a paradise for water sports and outdoor activities, and prices for both food and accommodation are still reasonably low compared to other travel destinations in Europe.

Europe Holland - Fortress - Naarden Travels

Naarden - A star-shaped fortress close to Amsterdam

Naarden i The Netherlands is a remarkable star-shaped fortress town from the 16th century and it is only 30 kilometers from Amsterdam. It is the only fortress in Europe with double walls and moats.

The town has many cozy houses and is generally a really charming town to visit and explore.

You can, for example, walk along the fortresses, or take a boat trip around the moat. With a lot of historic architecture, large churches and exciting museums, Naarden is one must see for anyone visiting the province of North Holland.

Europe Latvia Domesnæs Travel

Domesnæs - Soviet military base and Latvia's response to Skagen

Domesnæs i Latvia is located right where the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea meet in the National Park Slitere - a perfect place for holidays in Europe. The headland is home to a fascinating natural phenomenon: it is where the two seas meet, and therefore fantastic patterns are formed when the different colored currents come together and intertwine - a bit in the style of Skagen.

Domesnæs was a military base under the Soviet Union, and the area has therefore not been accessible to the public for decades. It has therefore not yet been discovered by the masses. This makes Domesnæs a quiet and unspoilt place with relatively low prices.

Europe Romania Flamingo Danube

Danube Delta - Local guesthouses and luxury spa hotels

The Danube River is Europe's second largest river, and it divides into countless channels that run through forest, marshland and sandbanks in the delta. The area became a national park in 1938 and is home to a lot of different plants, birds and freshwater fish.

Part of the delta is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and visitors will be pleasantly surprised by the many different and affordable accommodation options there are; ranging from luxury spa hotels to cozy little guesthouses.

Romania is also an exciting country that offers many cheap experiences.

Europe Hungary - Lake Balaton

Lake Balaton - a clear must-see on your holiday in Europe

Balaton-felvidéki National Park is located just a few kilometers north of Central Europe's largest freshwater lake, Lake Balaton.

It is Hungary answer to Provence or Toscana.

It is an area with breathtaking views, underground lakes, ancient small villages with small white houses and a wealth of wonderful places to spend the night.

As such, Lake Balaton is a well-known tourist area, but it is also large and there is plenty of space around it, so you can easily find a peaceful corner in this area.

The Faroe Islands - Green Mountain - travel

Travel destinations in Europe: Large, diverse and absolutely fantastic

It was a list of perhaps the 15 most overlooked travel destinations in Europe, but there are so many great places in Europa, which is just waiting to be visited.

If, for example, you have not yet been in Transylvania, the Resins or Faroe Islands, you have great nature experiences to look forward to, and it's easy and cheap to get there.

So you can have some incredible experiences on a budget if you go on holiday to one of these travel destinations in Europe.

Read about car-free island destinations in Europe here

Good trip to the overlooked places in Europe.

Translated travel destinations in Europe:

  • Asturias
  • Malta
  • Hallstatt Lake
  • Azores
  • Perast
  • Lednice-Valtice
  • Pag
  • Saaremaa
  • Volos
  • Velika Planina
  • Kashubia
  • Naarden
  • Domesnæs
  • Danube Delta
  • Lake Balaton

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The editorial staff, RejsRejsRejs

RejsRejsRejs.dk's regular editorial staff shares both their own personal tips and tricks and tells about everything that happens in the travel world.
We write articles and guides, do competitions and give you the best travel deals, travel lectures and travel fun.

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