Undiscovered Europe: 10 Offbeat Destinations to Explore

A typical European holiday involves exploring popular destinations such as France, Italy, Germany and Spain, all full of tourist seas. There are more than 40 countries on the European continent, each of them offering unique terms of culture, history, natural features and overall. These offbeat destinations have started to promote tourism rigorously and are friendly to travellers from across the globe. The other amazing aspect about exploring Europe is how convenient it is to get to the smaller destinations thanks to the comprehensive bus and rail links available, particularly provided buses can often be the best way to access Europe’s hidden gems. 

Places to visit

Santorini, Greece

Santorini, also known as Thira, is a world-famous volcanic island found in Greece, in the southernmost portion of the Cyclades chain of islands at the Aegean Sea. This island is renowned for its magnificent beaches, breathtaking landscapes, traditional food, spectacular scenery, vibrant nightlife and outstanding wines. Santorini is Greece’s most luxurious island, and must also include offbeat destinations in the Europe Tour Packages. Lined up with unique beaches in exotic black, red and white volcanic sand colours, Santorini is growing as a popular “wedding destination” both in Greece and around the world. A must-see is Fira, Oia, caldera, Akrotiri Archeological Site and Red Sand, Pyrgos etc.

Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is a picturesque town set amidst the Serra de Sintra pine-covered hills in Portugal. Renowned for its rippling mountains, thick forests, exotic gardens and exquisite palaces and fairy tale castles, this Portuguese city is one of Portugal’s wealthiest municipalities and one of Europe’s best-hidden destinations. Sintra, once the country’s royal town, now holds a UNESCO world heritage status and attracts tourists from around the globe. Sintra Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca, Moors Castle, Monserrate Park and Palace, Queluz Palace, Praia da Adraga and Praia da Ursa are the must-see spots in Sintra.

Ronda, Spain

Ronda is a beautiful little town founded in the province of Malaga, Spain, spanning 150 m deep El Tajo gorge. Surrounded by lush valleys of the river and set above the deep ravine, Ronda boasts extraordinary beauty, charm and dramatic history littered with outlaws, bandits, guerrilla warriors and rebels. Ronda’s most striking feature is the Puente Nuevo, a bridge that joins the town’s two sections. The old town of Ronda is filled with historic mosques and palaces, while the new town of Ronda has numerous parks and walks that look round the surrounding mountains. Plaza de Toros, Arab Baths Mondragon Palace, Arabic walls and city gates, Duquesa de Parcent Square and Duquesa de Parcent Square are the best places to visit during your Europe Trip in Ronda! Ronda is also the birthplace of modern bullfighting that was invented almost in the late 18th century. If you want to witness this bullfight, then plan your Europe Trip at the beginning of September during the spectacular Feria Goyesca.

Meteora, Greece

Meteora is among Greece’s most impressive regions with huge rocks rising from the plains of Thessaly 60 million years old. A trip to Meteora offers the unique experience of the grandeur of nature in combination with the rich history, the spectacular landscape, the wonderful architecture and the eternal desire of man to connect with the Divine. Many monasteries were built in Byzantine times on top of these impressive peaks of sandstone but only six are in operation today. A site of UNESCO since 1988, after Mount Athos, Meteora is the second-largest complex of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece. The monasteries on the massive smooth rock pinnacles are the perfect setting for a science fiction or fantasy tale.

Bregenz, Austria

Nestled up to Lake Constance – Bregenz is an idyllic alpine base to visit Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria or Lichtenstein! Bregenz is known both for its festival of summer performing arts and idyllic skiing in the winter.

Locals are going to tell that it’s really all about the Pfänder hiking.

Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor is a protected town on the northern coast of Montenegro, in the secluded Boka Kotorska sea. Decorated with stunning scenery and rich cultural tradition, Kotor is one of the best-preserved sights in the Mediterranean region. Medieval architecture and various temples rendered the picturesque town of Kotor land on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks Church, Kotor’s Old Town, San Giovanni Castle, St. John’s Fortress, Maritime Museum, St. Typhoon Cathedral, St. Nikola and St. Luke Churches, Bastion Citadel and the South Gate are the must-see places in Kotor during your Europe Tour.

Sofia, Bulgaria

Bulgarian capital Sofia is not a city that has experienced the comfort of strong ads. However, the comfortably laid-back capital of Bulgaria is undoubtedly one of the best offbeat destinations in Europe, as it offers Ottoman mosques and stubborn Red Army monuments something different for its tourists from the onion-domed churches too. In addition, Sofia boasts many of the finest museums, galleries, vast parks and manicured gardens, restaurants, and clubs in Bulgaria. As part of Europe Packages, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Boyana Church, St. George Church, National Historical Museum and Vitosha National Park are some of the popular venues to visit in Sofia.

Bled, Slovenia

The European summers are famous and beautiful with a clear blue sky and vivid flower beds all over. Bled in Slovenia is the best place to experience the true joy of summer than the crowded tourist countries such as France and Italy. With its glacial lake, a picture-postcard church on an islet, a medieval castle on a rocky cliff and some of the highest peaks in the Julian Alps, Bled is one of the most beautiful alpine resorts and one of Europe’s most beautiful offbeat destinations. Bled’s biggest draw is the magnificent Lake with a tiny island in its middle. In addition, Bled Castle or Ljubljana ‘s Palace, Mary’s Assumption Chapel, and Vintgar Gorge, Pokljuka Plateau, Triglav National Park and St Martin’s Chapel are the main tourist attractions in Bled.

Plan your trip with Pickyourtrail

Whilst getting ready for your Europe Tour Packages isn’t a difficult task having a trusted travel partner, that provides a wide range to offer tarting with DIY itineraries to have one-stop-shop for all travel needs, can be another advantage. Pickyourtrail not only ensures quick and trouble-free travel but also keeps the cost-efficiency on top priority as well. To know more, sign in to pickyourtrail.com.