top europe travel destinations 2023

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This surprising city has been voted Europe’s best destination for 2023

Over half a million travellers voted on their favourite European destinations for a new list of places to visit this year

When trying to decide where to travel in 2023 , we wouldn’t blame you for being a bit more adventurous than you have been before. After all, why bother going to the same places everyone else does? New year, new city, we say. 

So forget your Barcelonas and your Berlins. If you’re on the hunt for a less conventional Europe trip in 2023, travel website European Best Destinations has a few suggestions. Over half a million travellers voted on destinations for its list of the continent’s best places to visit this year. And out of a whopping 400 destinations, the 20 most-voted spots made the final round-up.

Alongside the usual suspects, the list includes plenty of lesser-known destinations and takes into account everything from green spaces and safety levels to a destination's historic attractions. 

Top of the pile was... Warsaw ! The Polish capital was singled out for a whole bunch of reasons, from its parks to its historic wonders and overall safety. And, from the spectacular spire of the Palace of Culture and Science to the characterful Old Town Market Square, it’s not hard to see why the city was held in such high regard.

Warsaw was followed by Athens , thanks to its food, art and culture, and Maribor in Slovenia, which got a nod for its natural scenery and summer festivals.

Here are the top ten places to visit this year, according to European Best Destinations.

• Warsaw , Poland
• Athens , Greece
• Maribor , Slovenia
• Vienna , Austria
• Cittadella , Italy
• Essen , Germany
• Veszprém , Hungary
• London , UK
• Grenoble Alpes , France
• Mannheim , Germany

Certainly a bit more interesting than most European 2023 travel lists, right? You can find out more on the European Best Destinations website here . Then read our own list of the 18 best city breaks in Europe for 2023 .

Did you see that these cities are Europe’s new cultural capitals ?

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• Ed Cunningham News Editor, Time Out UK and Time Out London

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Our Europe travel guide for 2023 & 2024

Are you looking to travel Europe in 2023 or 2024? Or maybe you’re a little unsure? Having travelled the continent multiple times, including 6 months in Europe full-time in 2022, we urge you to go for it! We didn’t regret it and it’s likely you won’t either! This blog will cover some key considerations for those looking to travel Europe in 2023 and 2024, along with some of our top recommendations for places that you might not even know exist!

Where should you travel in 2023?

Let’s start with the good stuff, planning what beautiful European destinations you might visit in 2023! The following recommendations are some of our top picks for your 2023 Europe trip , however it isn’t an exhaustive list. Additionally, we have numerous blogs providing further information on travel destinations if you are interested. If you have further questions, please comment below, email us, or engage with us on our Instagram channel.

OUR TOP EUROPE PICKS:

Southern italy:.

The south of Italy was delightful, and somewhere we just can’t wait to return back to! Particularly, Puglia and Sicily , and both destinations that we think are underrated (compared to the popular central/northern Italy) and deserve more attention.

The gem of Puglia is definitely the stunning Polignano a Mare, a seaside town that will always hold a special place in our hearts. Puglia also has numerous charming small inland and seaside towns that you could easily spend weeks exploring.

Sicily is one of the most southern points of Europe, and offers an excellent ‘shoulder season’ destination to prolong your summer. We visited in late September and were treated to excellent weather. The food is exceptional and whilst touristy, we found it less chaotic than the bigger cities in the north of Italy.

Read more about the south of Italy here:

• Take a look at our visit and road trip through Puglia!
• See our thoughts and recommendations on the stunning Polignano a Mare!
• Take a look at our shoulder season visit to Taormina in Sicily.

Portugal remains one of our favourite trips to date! The country offers so much, with highlights and attractions for all types of travellers. Boasting incredible old cities you could spend days wondering, top shelf cuisine (including the delightful Pastel de Nata), stunning beaches, charming small towns and much more! We urge you to consider Portugal for your 2023 travels!

• Check out 14 things we think you MUST DO when you visit Lisbon!
• Take a look at our day trip to the ‘fairy-tale like’ Sintra!
• Porto remains one of our favourite cities in Europe, see why here!
• Keen on visiting the beaches? See our Algarve adventures here!

Croatia is no longer the underrated gem it was in the past, however the popularity is definitely justified! Boasting world-best beaches, delightful seaside towns, and lots of historic towns to explore, Croatia definitely deserves a place on your Europe 2023 travel itinerary. We would strongly recommend you visit the Croatian Islands, and after visiting many of the popular ones, we recommend Vis Island as our favourite! A trip to Croatia also isn’t complete without checking out Dubrovnik (think Game of Thrones). We spend almost 3 weeks in the beautiful country in 2022!

• See our thoughts on our favourite island in Croatia, Vis!
• See our guide to the historic city of Dubrovnik!

Jungfrau region in Switzerland:

The entire country of Switzerland is beautiful, however the Jungfrau region (and surrounding towns/lakes/mountains) was particularly enthralling. Think stunning views, incredible hikes, mountain-top chalets, and lots more! Whilst not a ‘budget friendly’ travel destination, we feel like Switzerland is worth the money, particularly if you are an outdoor/hike lover.

• See our thoughts and guide for your visit to the Jungfrau region.
• Where to stay in the Jungfrau? Consider staying in Wengen!
• Don’t miss Oeschinensee when you travel to the region!

SOME DESTINATIONS TO CONSIDER:

Turkish riviera:.

We visited the stunning Turkish coastline in September 2022, visiting the delightful Kaş . This small seaside town sits a few hours away from Antalya or Fethiye. It offers stunning beaches and crystal clear water, lots of wonderful restaurants, and a definite ‘holiday feel’. See more about one of our favourite places in Europe, Kas!

TRANSYLVANIA:

Transylvania is a picturesque region in central Romania that completely exceeded our expectations. Filled with charming small towns waiting to be explored, Transylvania is definitely an under-rated region of Europe we think you should consider visiting in 2023. We would highly recommend basing yourself in Brasov , and checking out the numerous towns and attractions nearby (like the Transfagarasan Highway). Take a look at our Transylvanian adventures here!

Scandinavia:

Scandinavia commonly refers to the northern European region consisting of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. However, typically countries like Iceland, Finland and Faroe Islands are also included as part of Scandinavia. We have only briefly sampled this region, visiting Denmark and Sweden, and already we know we want to return. Think clean cities, impressive architecture, beautiful nature, friendly locals and everything that runs on time. Wanting to do something a little different in summer? Consider spending time in Scandinavia, where you will be treated to some of the longest summer days in the world! Take a look at our visit to Copenhagen here!

If you have been following our blog/social media for awhile, you will know we just can’t stop raving about Lake Bled . Situated in Slovenia, this lakeside region is stunning! We will endeavour to return in the future, as Lake Bled provided us with stunning views, great hikes, good food and more! Our visit to Lake Bled and recommendations can be found here!

Southern France:

The south of France is so beautiful! Think rolling hills, charming old towns, great wine and lots to explore! We visited the Luberon/Provonce regions, basing ourselves in Avignon. Whilst we loved all of the towns in the region, our highlight was definitely the stunning Gordes ! Take a look at our South of France adventures and recommendations here!

The medieval Scottish city of Edinburgh was seriously impressive! We loved the old architecture, the great food, the charming streets, and the stunning views. Whilst maybe not your top summer pick for Europe, Edinburgh is perfect to add on to the end of your travels. See our thoughts on Edinburgh here!

Please note, this list does not include many of our favourites like Bruges, Leiden, Mostar, Kotor, Antiparos , Gjirokaster, Tuscany, Prague, Budapest, Lake Ohrid, Cappadocia, and more!

A few key considerations, recommendations, and tips for travelling Europe in 2023:

Don’t forget to think about:.

This is a little checklist of things you need to consider when planning your trip. Each of these topics could easily be a blog themselves, however this list is designed to get you thinking.

• Passport! This is a MUST DO! You need to have at least 6 months on your passport from the date you plan to RETURN home! Don’t get caught out here! Check your passport now and plan early!
• Travel insurance – Make sure you get it! Buy your travel insurance early so if you need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances, you might be covered. If you have health issues or things to include in your policy, make sure your policy will cover this and mention it when booking. We often use and recommend Safety Wing as we find it is very reasonably priced, and geared travelers like us, especially those doing extended periods of travel.
• Travel credit card and/or debit card. Get a card that will minimise your oversees bank fees. It is very easy to spend $20 or more on a single ATM withdrawal overseas if you don’t have a good card. We use the 28 Degrees Credit Card, however need to look into better debit card for our next trip (yes, we got stung a bit by transaction fees).
• Saving – earlier is better! We we able to save in advance for our Europe trips, and avoid going in to debt to travel. However, we know many people have have put themselves in reasonable amount of debt with a Europe holiday. Whilst we don’t give financial advice, we urge you to think about saving as early as you can to minimise your debt.
• Travel days take longer than you think. If a flight says 1 hour, be prepared that the total journey will take at least half a day. Travel days end up taking more time than you think and we advise you to plan for this. Read more about travel days and our tips to ‘beat them’ here!
• Book “cheap flights” early. In peak season, flights from carriers like RyanAir between popular destinations will book out!
• Check that your destinations ‘link up’. Even if the itinerary makes sense in your head, you might not be able to get a flight/train etc between them. Depending on the length of your trip, spending a day (rather than a 1 hour flight) to get between locations might not be feasible.

Take a look at our thoughts on more things to know when you are planning your trip!

Planning a 6 month Europe trip – What to know

Our favourite places & where we want to visit in 2023 and beyond:

While we may not be heading back to Europe in 2023, we have a few destinations that are top of our list next time we return. These include Malta, Scandinavia, Puglia, Portugal, Sardinia, Poland and more! Our favourite places from our 6 month European travels in 2022 can be found here! Want to see our 6 month travel itinerary from 2022? See the itinerary and destinations here!

What time of year should you travel?

Not every destination will be perfect for every climate. For example, Seville, a vibrant food lovers paradise in southern Spain, becomes almost unbearably hot in peak summer (sometimes >40 degrees). This is also similar for locations like Turkey, Sicily and more. These destinations are perfect pre/post the peak summer months. Additionally, big cities like Rome and Paris are perfect destinations to visit on the fringe of summer (or in colder months), when the weather is more temperate, and possibly less crowds. If you want to be walking around the cities a lot, consider what the weather might be when you visit. Furthermore, think about what you want to do in each of the locations you visit. E.g., there may be not much point visiting a beachside town in the middle of winter. Thus we recommend you check the average temperatures for the destinations you are thinking of visiting. Take a look at our thoughts on the best destinations for shoulder season in Europe!

Slow vs Fast Travel?

What kind of travel do you prefer? Do you know the difference? Have a read of our blog on slow vs fast travel as you plan the best way to structure your trip. See more here or click below.

Slow Travel vs Fast Travel

Look into your travel destinations a little more..

• See some of the ‘best of’ awards from our travels in Europe with this guide!
• How expensive are the cities you want to visit? Take a look at our thoughts on the most expensive cities in Europe.
• Are the cities you want to visit overrated? Are they overrun with tourists, especially in peak season? See our thoughts here!
• See our picks for the alternative Europe destinations you should consider!
• Have a read of some things you might not expect when travelling Europe!
• See the places in Europe that we would return back to!
• Take a look at our top 6 ‘big cities’ in Europe that we loved!
• See 16 of our favourite small towns around the world!
• Are you a coffee lover? See our list of the BEST Coffee’s in Europe!
• See our Favourite beaches in Europe!
• Check our some of our top day trip locations in Europe!
• Can you drink the tap water in Europe? See our recommendations here!
• Beware of the busiest cities in Europe. Take a look here.
• Proposing in Europe? See some top proposal locations here!
• Trying to save money? See some of the cheapest destinations in Europe!

Europe Itineraries:

• 1 week Europe itineraries: see here!
• 1 month Europe itineraries – take a look!
• 3 month Europe itineraties: see our guide!
• 6 month Europe itinerary? See what we did!

Plan and prepare!

• See our tips on how to save money when travelling full time!
• Download some travel apps to make your life a whole lot easier! See our top picks here!
• Where to stay? See some of our top accommodation picks in Europe here! Research further with these incredible unique accommodation stays to fuel your travel inspiration.
• Travel days suck! See our top travel day tips and advice here!
• How to navigate travel destinations ‘off the tourist path’! Key tips and considerations here!
• See our thoughts on how to maximise a short stay or quick visit to a city!

A bit of perspective?

• Travel can have a big impact on us as people! Have a read about how travelling for 6 months influenced and changed our lives!
• Thinking of travelling and taking a career break? See Ky’s insightful thoughts on the topic here!
• Stay in shape on holidays can be tough. See our thoughts on how to stay in shape on holidays!

Booking Accommodation in Europe in 2023:

Top Tip: get in early! The good stuff often gets booked out fast! This is particularly true for ‘cheaper’ gems in popular locations.

Further Tips:

• Stay close to the action! Depending on how long you are staying, we would urge you to avoid lengthy transportation in/out of the cities.
• Research where to stay beforehand – staying in the ‘centre’ of the city isn’t always the best call. In some cities where you stay makes a massive difference, e.g. we recommend staying the Le Marais in Paris (vs the touristic heart).
• How far away is your accommodation from the train station (or transport options)? This may not stop you from booking somewhere, but it’s definitely a consideration.

Our Favourite Stays: See some of our top accommodation picks from Europe in our blog here!

Support Us: book you hotels through our Booking.com link . This will help fund the running of the website at no extra cost to you.

Should you book a tour?

There are a multitude of tour options out there depending on the type of activity or experience you want. A few of the options below are good to consider:

• Free walking tours: we were a huge fan of “free” walking tours. Most cities have them running multiple times per day in many languages. We found generally the guides we passionate, knowledgeable, and it was a great way to see the city. The tours aren’t really free, as the guides are paid based upon tips. Typically, a normal tip amount is around $10-20 per person, but that varies depending on currency and location.
• Paid private tours: Many cities offer paid private tours from local guides. You can source these through operators like TripAdvisor, Viator and more. Hotels/Airbnb hosts will often also be able to recommend guides for you.
• Viator tours: We have booked tours before through Viator , with this operator providing a variety of different tours in many areas around the world. Private, small group or larger group settings. See more here.
• Intrepid Tours: Offering group tours in many countries, Intrepid are a big brand and generally have great tours. We did an Intrepid tour in Morocco. You can see our pros and cons of a tour in Morocco here.
• Top Deck, Contiki, Sail Croatia, Yacht Week : If sailing around picturesque beaches and partying sounds like your kettle of fish, then there’s a lot of options like Sail Croatia (younger crowd) or Yacht Week. Group tours like Contiki (generally younger crowd, more party focus) and Top Deck are great options. Note that these tours limit your flexibility, and aren’t as cost effective as booking it yourself, however they allow you to see a lot and meet new people.
• Cruises, Luxury Options? This isn’t our area of expertise. In Europe there are a multitude of luxury options like river cruises, train tours and more.

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Tags: 2023 , beach , blog , copenhagen , croatia , drone , Europe , italy , itinerary , portugal , puglia , summer , turkey

Comments (7):

Travel Tips

January 23, 2024 at 5:54 am

This is a really nice post. It’s very informative and well organized. I’ll check back for more posts like this one.

2CupsofTravel

January 23, 2024 at 9:48 am

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Visit Europe Guides - January 2023 Top tips for Europe in 2023

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The new year of 2023 brings fresh events and old favorites to your trip-planning drawing board. Find out about new or refurbished museums, new tours, fabulous new architecture, and impressive new infrastructure. Consider using UNESCO’s renowned lists of tangible and intangible heritage to plan your best trip yet to discover Europe’s treasures for yourself. Seek out the most sustainable options for the greenest travel. Look for reenactments and other ways you can participate in events with the locals. Whether it’s food or folklore, sauna or science, active sports or wellness travel that lights you up, you’ll find it in Europe . Start planning! We’ll see you soon!

Explore our interactive map, or scroll down to find ideas for your trip!

Featured destinations.

10 experiences for 2023

A travel journalist shares her favorite European spots for the new year.

Germany: something for everyone

Extraordinary towns, museums, and traditions.

Denmark’s 2023 Must Do’s

A guide from a rainbow panorama to a secret bunker.

Ireland in 2023

Discover Ireland’s top attractions in 2023.

Czech Republic’s top events in 2023

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The 5 best things to do on your next visit!

The Netherlands’ endless attractions

A small country with a long must-see list for 2023!

Ideas for your trips to Greece in 2023

Greek travels for culture lovers.

Hungary’s exciting capital in 2023

Great programs and new wonders in Budapest.

Highlights of Slovenia in 2023

Why Slovenia should be at the top of your list.

Switzerland’s 2023 best-of list

Experience the best of Swiss culture and events.

Poland: a world of events

Discover unique festivals and shows!

Spain 2023: year of Picasso

The most influential artist of the 20th century.

Belgium: land of Flanders Fields

Forever a silent witness to World War I.

Cyprus’ Cultural Calendar

An abundance of events all year round.

Romania – a must-go in 2023

Explore the Carpathian Garden!

Slovakia´s highlights for 2023

Treat yourself to new travel adventures!

Experience Estonian saunas

Heat it up — 2023 is the Year of the Sauna!

Portugal welcomes you in 2023

Your next great European destination!

The true essence of San Marino

A land with countless stories to tell!

Croatia’s Pelješac Bridge

An amazing new tourist attraction.

February 2024

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Where to go on holiday this year: 23 great travel ideas for 2023

From Croatia’s dramatic sinkhole lakes to rewilded glens in Scotland, our travel writers pick fun and sustainable adventures for the coming year

Fuseta, Portugal Holiday peace in eastern Algarve

If you’re longing for a desert island, head to Fuseta, an almost empty spit of white sand in a turquoise sea that could be in the Indian Ocean (just a little more bracing). This is a relatively unspoilt fishing town about 12 miles east of Faro. It’s small and in summer has wonderful open-air restaurants grilling fish by the harbour. A locals’ favourite is Casa Corvo , where it’s hard to spend more than €18 for straight-from-the-sea dourada (sea bream) on the charcoal grill. Get to the mercado municipal early enough and you may see fishermen unloading their boats.

Fuseta has access to some of the best beaches in the Algarve, along the islands and inlets of the Ria Formosa. A small, inexpensive ferry runs to Fuseta Island, but a couple more euros buys a water taxi ride to deserted beaches such as Praia da Barra Velha or Praia do Homem Nu (“naked man beach”). Praia da Fuseta-Ria, near town, has warmer inlet waters, and sometimes boats selling doughnuts. A 10-minute drive away, Vila Monte (doubles from £150 B&B) is a boutique farmhouse with lovely pool, amazing breakfasts and a view to orange groves and the Moncarapacho hills. Paulo Anunciação

Night trains, Liguria, Italy To the Cinque Terre – while you sleep

The revamping of Europe’s night-train network is gathering pace. Many new sleepers started running last month, among them Basel to Dresden and Stuttgart to Venice. The new overnight train from Munich to Liguria is 15 hours of railway heaven and the perfect way to the Cinque Terre coast.

Travel by day from London via Paris or Brussels to Munich to join the 20.09 to La Spezia Centrale. Cruise south while you sleep, then enjoy breakfast in your compartment as the train slips by the dramatic monastery at Certosa di Pavia. A few minutes later, you’ll cross the River Po before taking to the hills, then dropping steeply down the coast at Genoa. The best is yet to come as the railway skirts the Ligurian coast with fine views of Cinque Terre villages such as Riomaggiore before arriving in La Spezia at 11.10. A shared sleeper compartment for two from Munich starts at €199.80. Book online at nightjet.com or raileurope.com . Nicky Gardner

Kranj, Slovenia Sustainable city break – with a canyon

Slovenia prides itself on its green credentials, which were boosted further when Kranj, its third-largest city, was given 2023’s European Destination of Excellence award for its sustainable tourism. It’s in the Slovenian Alps, halfway between Ljubljana and Lake Bled, and the 30 metre-deep Kokra river canyon runs through the heart of the city. The Kokra flows into the Sava to the south, where shaded riverside paths are a peaceful place to walk.

Beyond the church spires and terracotta rooftops of Kranj’s Renaissance townhouses rise the soaring peaks of Triglav, Grintovec and Stol mountains. A hike up to Šmarjetna Gora to the west brings even better views. In the handsome old town, cafe terraces fill mainly pedestrianised streets of pastel-coloured townhouses, one of which is home to Actum Hotel . Its pleasingly ornate rooms start at €83 B&B, but there’s a superior suite with hot tub from €143. Mary Novakovich

North of England culture Museums and galleries from Liverpool to Northumberland

The north continues to fizz and pop, with exciting regeneration projects reaching completion and lots of hot tickets for cultural events as well as new hotel openings. Manchester Museum reopens in February, after a £15m redevelopment, with a sizeable extension including a new exhibition hall and visitor facilities clad in green-glazed tiles in homage to the Victorian and Edwardian buildings across the city.

In June, Manchester’s Factory International , set to be a flagship cultural centre, launches with a bang, showcasing the work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, with plans for an immersive experience including giant dolls and eye-popping polka-dot spheres.

From spring, the Treehouse Hotel in the formerly dilapidated 15-storey Renaissance hotel in Deansgate will open its doors, with a new rooftop bar as well as the promise of excellent cuisine at two restaurants.

Liverpool will host Eurovision 2023 on behalf of 2022 winner Ukraine, with nine live shows (from 9 May). And the 12th Liverpool Biennial , the UK’s largest contemporary art festival, takes place across the city’s public spaces, galleries and museums from 10 June to 17 September.

In Northumberland, to mark the 125th anniversary of the death of Lewis Carroll, all 15 rooms at the new Tempus hotel in the grounds of Charlton Hall have been inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Over in County Durham the Faith Museum opening in autumn at Auckland Castle, claims to be the first museum in England to explore the story of religion in Britain. Nazia Parveen

Spetses, Greece Glass Onion’s stylish island

It’s easy to see why there’s a buzz about Spetses. For two years in a row the Argo-Saronic isle has featured in Hollywood hits. First came The Lost Daughter, the drama based on the Elena Ferrante novella; then Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery , a new whodunit romp featuring Daniel Craig. The picturesque island is bracing for an even bigger bounce in 2023.

“We’re all feeling blessed to live here,” says Yannis Manitaras, 74, who was born and bred on Spetses.

The trailer for Glass Onion opens with the Poseidonion Grand , an elegant hotel overlooking the waterfront. The brainchild of the Spetsiot tobacco magnate Sotirios Anargyros, the luxury hotel put the pine-clad isle on the tourist map in the 1920s, attracting a mix of Athenian high society and European aristocracy.

But the island’s old-world feel, neo-classical architecture, horse-drawn buggies and absence of cars have long made it a favourite for Athenians. And there are still bargain places to stay (the boutique Oltremare Inn has doubles from £110 B&B). It’s just over two hours by ferry from Athens’ Piraeus port. Helena Smith

Imotski lakes, Croatia Explore the Dalmatian lake district

A half-hour’s drive east from the Adriatic resort of Baška Voda is one of Croatia’s loveliest inland regions. Eleven lakes dot the karst landscape surrounding the town of Imotski , with the most dramatic, Blue Lake, bordering the town. Scrub-covered limestone cliffs rise from an enormous sinkhole filled with vivid blue water. This lake is swimmable by those who follow a serpentine path to the valley bottom. Along with Biokovo nature park , Imotski’s lakes are a contender for gaining Unesco status in 2023.

There’s plenty to do here: kayaking the Vrljika River, hiking the hills, taking in views from Imotski’s medieval Topana Fortress and touring vineyards. The stylish Boutique Rooms 76 has doubles from £56 room-only. MN

Margate, England Food and film on the north Kent coast

Margate will make news again this month with the release of Sam Mendes’s 1980s-themed flick Empire of Light . A new downloadable map (available on the Visit Thanet website from January) will allow visitors to navigate film locations, starting with free-to-enter Dreamland. Its kitsch-kicks roller disco (featured in the film) reopens in April, as does the theme park proper – with a new rollercoaster.

Olivia Colman, who stars in the film, liked Margate’s “three amazing restaurants”. We can think of six worthy of such praise, including the one within in the box-fresh Fort Road Hotel , headed by River Café alumna Daisy Cecil; locals’ favourite Dive for tacos; and the newbie Staple Stores for “cruffins” (a cross between a croissant and a muffin).

Margate’s art HQ, Turner Contemporary , will be the first UK venue to host Sonia Boyce’s award-winning multimedia installation Feeling Her Way (4 Feb-8 May). An ever-growing number of satellite galleries will fill a weekend of wandering, but be sure to include the eccentric new Crab Museum . Damien Gabét

Ridgeway trail, England Favourite hiking route turns 50

Of the 16 national trails in England and Wales, the Ridgeway Trail , which partly follows a prehistoric path, is a cracker, and is 50 years old this year. It runs for 87 miles from Avebury in Wiltshire through the North Wessex Downs and Chilterns to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. It’s probably one of the oldest routes in Britain.

Sections run through ancient beechwood holloways in the Chilterns, and a path links Wayland’s Smithy (a stone age tomb more than 5,500 years old, which can be entered and explored for free) and the mystical Uffington White Horse. Other stretches run across chalk downs to Avebury, home to the largest stone circle in Europe, all following the old ways of ancestors who shaped this landscape.

The Ridgeway is also a haven for wildlife, from rare moths to birds of prey and skylarks. This year’s special events include guided trail runs, family science days, arts competitions and history talks. Every Sunday night, a new #Ridgeway50 story will be shared online, with secret histories, spotting challenges and inspiration to discover something new. Mary-Ann Ochota , archaeologist, broadcaster, walker and patron of the Ridgeway Trail’s 50th anniversary

Ancient cultures, Turkey New life and old civilisations

Off-limits until recently on account of its proximity to war-torn Syria, Turkey’s Kurdish and Arabic south-east has exploded in popularity, with visitors flocking particularly to the cities of Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa (usually called Urfa).

The Upper Euphrates Basin – the fabled Fertile Crescent – is rich in Roman, Arab, Crusader and Turkish culture. But its trump card is its neolithic remains, especially at the Unesco site of Göbekli Tepe ( Taş Tepeler ) near Urfa, where excavations have uncovered exquisite carved stone circles more than twice as old as Stonehenge.

There’s much more to the region, not least Gaziantep and Urfa’s atmospheric bazaars. Both cities boast outstanding archaeological museums (Urfa is home to the world’s oldest statue, dating from about 10,000BC). The supposed birthplace of the Prophet Abraham, Urfa is a pilgrimage site, but it’s also known for its sira gecesi (raucous alfresco evenings of live music and dancing) and as Turkey’s foodie mecca, full of baklava shops and renowned restaurants. The visitor influx has led to the reopening of mothballed hotels such as Anadolu Evleri , a period townhouse in Gaziantep’s old quarter. Jeremy Seal

Donatello’s genius, Italy A Tuscan sculpture crawl

The V&A’s upcoming exhibition Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance may inspire many to visit the birthplace of the “greatest sculptor of all time”. From the Uffizi Gallery to Brunelleschi’s cathedral, there are myriad Donatello sights in Florence, but the artist worked all over Tuscany during his long life, and cheap public transport allows a sculpture crawl of several Renaissance glories.

Among the wonders in Prato, 23 minutes away by train, is an unusual exterior pulpit on the cathedral’s south-east corner, decorated in white marble by Donatello. One of the main sights in Lucca, about one hour west, is the Guinigi Tower, with a group of large oak trees growing on its top. That family’s summer residence, Villa Guinigi, is now a museum, home to a tender pair of terracotta madonna and child sculptures made when the artist was barely out of his teens.

In Pisa, crowds flock to the cathedral and leaning tower, but in the city centre proper, a 15-minute walk away, San Matteo museum’s stunning collection includes a gilded bust of San Rossore by Donatello, said to contain the saint’s actual skull.

Donatello moved to Siena for three years in the mid-1400s and made several dramatic bronzes for the San Giovanni baptistry , plus sombre “virtue” statues Hope and Faith, and cheery putti (cherubs). Last stop Arezzo is slightly off the tourist trail but has a splendid medieval square, and a cathedral housing a luminous Mary Magdalene fresco by Piero della Francesca as well as Donatello’s marble relief of the baptism of Christ.

There are EM Forster views from Fiesole, up the hill from Florence, where Pensione Bencistà (doubles from £130 room only), a converted medieval convent, has been welcoming guests since 1927. It reopens in April after a winter refurb. Liz Boulter

Foodie fun, Hauts-de-France Fine cuisine just over the Channel

The northern region of Hauts-de-France has been named European Region of Gastronomy 2023 for its enticing food experiences. Among the many initiatives are a route de la bière between the many craft breweries, cheese tastings, markets, food festivals, tours and workshops.

Lille is a good first stop: along with its craft beer and waffles, it has star chef Florent Ladeyn giving a modern, eco-friendly spin on Flemish cuisine. He sources all ingredients for canteen-style bistros Bloempot and Bierbuik-Bloemeke and the Michelin-starred Auberge du Vert Mont , at Boeschepe, from within a 50km radius.

Montreuil-sur-Mer has long been a gourmet hotspot. The Saturday market offers cheese, wine, chocolate and coffee, and restaurants include several from star chef Alexandre Gauthier. His newest venture, Sur Mer, will open in Merlimont in spring. Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy a trip to Ch â teau de Chantilly for a taste of the true, decadent whipped crème de Chantilly, and can even learn to make it at fun workshops in the Atelier de la Chantilly ice-cream parlour. Carolyn Boyd

Affric Highlands, Scotland Rewilding in action

Scotland is leading the way when it comes to “rewilding” initiatives, with myriad efforts to rebuild ecosystems. The most ambitious is Affric Highlands, a 30-year initiative on 500,000 acres of land between Loch Ness and Kintail. Launched by charity Trees for Life , Rewilding Europe and a coalition of communities and landowners, it’s the biggest project in the UK and aims to take nature recovery to a new level, restoring forests and habitats and benefiting wildlife from golden eagle and osprey to otters and mountain hare.

Within this area lies Trees for Life ’s 10,000 acre Dundreggan Rewilding Estate, where the world’s first rewilding centre will open in spring. The aim is to encourage people to experience the forests, and learn about their history. Dundreggan is a base for conservation volunteers, but there will be new accommodation at the centre as well as workshops and talks. Jane Dunford

Copenhagen, Denmark Architecture, art and food

Fans of sustainability, livability and design should make a beeline for Copenhagen in 2023, when it will be Unesco capital of architecture. Events, showcases and talks will take place all year; the best place to start is the Danish Architecture Center , which hosts a new exhibition on Danish architecture from 24 March. On the harbour, public pavilions will showcase the work of architects specialising in sustainability. Also by the water will be Opera Park , an urban green space designed for climate resilience.

Two events to look out for are Open House Copenhagen in March, which offers a peek into stunning buildings normally closed to the public, and the Architecture Run in February, July and September, a 5km route through museums and architectural gems.

Other reasons to visit include an upcoming digital art exhibition Refik Anadol – Nature Dreams in the south of the city, and a growing Asian food scene. In Christianshavn, new apart-hotel Kanalhuset (doubles from £75 room-only) is a pocket-friendly place to stay. Laura Hall

Leipzig, Germany Classical music and modern art

Leipzig may feel low-key in comparison with Dresden, but it has plenty to offer the curious traveller, from historic sites such as the Monument to the Battle of the Nations to buzzy nightlife. Wagner was born here, Bach, Mahler and two Schumanns lived and worked in the city, Goethe wrote some of Faust in the Auerbachs Kellar restaurant, and Schiller wrote Ode to Joy in the city too. These legacies can be enjoyed at museums as well as festivals including the Mahler Festival (11-29 May) and Bachfest (8-18 June). Leipzig’s ambitious “Whole city as a stage” campaign, will increase its cultural offerings throughout 2023.

Leipzig has become a contemporary art hub thanks to the Spinnerei , a 19th-century cotton mill turned into 13 galleries and hundreds of artists’ studios. The complex also has an indie cinema, a restaurant, a beer garden and tours. Don’t miss the Palm Gardens , with 19th-century bridges, pavilions and a theatre in an old petrol station. Eisenbahnstrasse in Volkmarsdorf offers multicultural food options, and Karl-Liebknecht-strasse (KarLi for short) is the street for bar-hopping. Paul Sullivan

Málaga, Spain Picasso sites, sea and sardines

To mark the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death, on 8 April, galleries across Spain are planning special exhibitions: eight in Madrid, three each in Barcelona and Málaga, and one each in A Coruña and Bilbão. Málaga, the artist’s birthplace, is particularly proud of its famous son. The Picasso Museum Málaga – also celebrating its 20th anniversary – has Picasso: Matter and Body (8 Aug-10 Sept) and Echo of Picasso (2 Oct-24 March 2024), and the Picasso Birthplace Museum is showing The Ages of Pablo (21 Jun-1 Jan 2024). Fans can also visit the church where he was baptised, the site of his school and the Malagueta bullring, where he watched bullfights with his father.

Málaga has more to offer art lovers than Picasso, though. Its 40 museums and galleries include the Pompidou Centre of Málaga , opened in 2015 in a striking cube by the waterfront; the Carmen Thyssen Museum of 19th-century Spanish painting; and the free Contemporary Art Centre of Málaga . The latter is in Soho, the city’s vibrant street-art district, which also has independent restaurants and shops, and a monthly makers’ market.

Art aside, the capital of the Costa del Sol has 16 beaches; historic sights such as the “one-armed” cathedral, Gibralfaro castle and the 11th-century Alcazaba; and local favourite espetos de sardinas (sardines on a skewer). Rachel Dixon

Canfranc, Huesca, Spain Railway ‘cathedral’ becomes a hotel

What was once an unlikely location for Europe’s second-largest railway station will become a destination hotel 910 metres up in the Spanish Pyrenees when it opens on 1 March. Canfranc Station Royal Hideaway hotel occupies the pharaonic station, whose various misfortunes earned it the epithet “the Titanic of the mountains”. When it was conceived in 1853, Spain wanted to show it was capable of a building on the scale of Europe’s great railway cathedrals, but by the time it was completed in 1928 it was outmoded.

During the second world war it served as a discreet place for the Nazis to hand over gold in exchange for Spanish tungsten, vital in tank production, and was also a crossing point for Jewish refugees fleeing Vichy France. The spectacular station, with its 365 windows and 200-metre-long platform, ceased to operate in 1970, but much of the original detail has been conserved in the 104-bedroom hotel (doubles from €230 room-only) with two restaurants and spa, all amid snow-capped mountains. The area is great for rock climbing, the Camino de Santiago runs through the village, and there are several ski stations nearby. It’s worth taking the scenic 16 mile train ride to the medieval town of Jaca. Canfranc can be reached by rail from Zaragoza (trains run twice daily). Stephen Burgen

Rugby World Cup, France Touch down in nine great cities

In September and October the Rugby World Cup will take over nine host cities, including Lille, Nantes, Nice and Lyon. England and Scotland fans heading to Marseille for their teams’ first matches on 9 and 10 September will catch the late summer sun in this city known for beaches, and diverse culture. Wales and Ireland fans in Bordeaux that weekend can enjoy the city’s wine bars , its atmospheric Chartrons district, Cité du Vin wine museum and the relatively new Bassin des Lumières art-based light show set in a former second world war German submarine base.

There will be a lively atmosphere in all the stadiums, but the crowds in Bordeaux and Toulouse will be particularly impassioned. Toulouse is known as the Ville Rose for its old town’s pink bricks, and its student population adds to its vibrant nightlife.

Fans without tickets to its Stade de Toulouse can watch matches at Chez Tonton on Place Saint-Pierre, on the banks of the Garonne. By day, they can take a Taste of Toulouse food tour; have their minds boggled at the space centre Cité de l’espace ; and admire the giant robotic creations at the Halles de la Machine . The giant robots’ creators hail from fellow host city Nantes , whose own collection includes a giant robotic elephant and three-storey, ocean-themed carousel. CB

Stranraer to Eyemouth cycle route, Scotland Southern stunner for two wheels

The rolling hills and ancient abbeys of the south of Scotland are often overlooked by visitors making a beeline for the Highlands, but a new 250-mile coast-to-coast cycle route, from Stranraer to Eyemouth, will remind people of the beauty at the bottom of the country. The route, which weaves from west to east on quiet roads, will take riders to Newton Stewart and the Galloway Forest Park, the UK’s first Dark Sky Park. From there, a maze of leafy minor roads, with views over the Southern Uplands, lead to the 18th-century market town of Castle Douglas, Dumfries, where Robert Burns spent his final years, and the old mill towns and ruined abbeys of the Scottish Borders, following the River Tweed past Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford and a plethora of Mary Queen of Scots history. The trail finishes in the harbour town of Eyemouth, and is set to open in time for the UCI Cycling World Championships, running in Glasgow and around Scotland in August.

“The south of Scotland has a lot to offer, from Abbotsford and the abbeys to cultural events like book festivals,” says Markus Stitz, of Bikepacking Scotland . “The enthusiasm of the local people and their hospitality make it a wonderful area to explore.”

The south is already well known among mountain bikers for the 7stanes trail centres dotted around the region. It’s hoped that the new route will show that road cycling is just as remarkable. Stuart Kenny

Alpine climbing, Austria Mountaineering village escapes

The beauty of the Alps has long been exploited for the mass tourism market. Grand hotels, second homes, tacky ski resorts and a dense network of lifts are some of its many unaesthetic consequences. But not everybody longs for a sixth schnapps at a slope-side watering hole to the latest après-ski hit. For those who wish to enjoy the natural scenery in peace, away from consumerism and concrete, the Mountaineering Villages are the ideal choice.

This association of holiday destinations, managed by the Austrian Alpine Club , promises a “pure” mountain experience. The 36 villages in Austria (as well as in neighbouring Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Slovenia) are so small and sparsely populated that even locals would need a map to locate some of them. Nevertheless, the inhabitants strive to maintain their culture and traditions. Here, visitors stay in accommodation provided by the inhabitants and small businesses, instead of purpose-built chalet villages.

The mountains have to be climbed with one’s own legs, at one’s own pace – cable cars are a rarity. This is the perfect escape for frazzled city dwellers. I ask Bernhard, a visitor from Vienna, what there is to do in the Styrian municipality of Krakau. “Well, hiking”, he says. And when it rains? “Hiking in the forest.” The lodgings are simple, the population a bit reserved (lacking the professional friendliness of large tourist hubs), the mountain huts are excellent and the scenery formidable.

The association’s website gives detailed descriptions of mountain tours, a list of partner companies and an outline of the history of the area. “It is wonderful: there is nothing going on,” is how Aline, a Viennese woman in her mid-30s, sums up Krakau. She made a stopover in the mountains on her way from Vienna to Italy. Walking is the only thing on the agenda. And if it rains? “Pack a book”. Christopher Brennan

Dún Laoghaire harbour baths, Dublin Chilly dips plus fish and chips

For many intrepid Dubliners as well as visitors to the city, the idea of a sea swim at the Forty Foot promontory in Dún Laoghaire incites near-religious zeal. From late last year, another location has inspired a cult-like following among cold-water lovers in the Irish capital: the Dún Laoghaire Baths, reopened after a 25-year hiatus. A perfectly sited bronze sculpture of 1916 revolutionary Roger Casement towers skywards from the tip of a new 35-metre jetty. He casts his wide gaze over a new design for the area that includes gazebo, cafe, artists’ studios, changing area and beach garden.

After a bracing dip, cross the road to join the queue at Teddy’s for Dublin’s most popular 99 ice-cream cone. Newly opened bike lanes follow much of Dublin’s coastal trail, leading to the Martello Tower in Seapoint, another bathing spot that draws a loyal crowd at high tide. Nobel-prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney lived in Sandymount – that beach is the setting for his three-line poem The Strand. The coastal trail continues to Ringsend and the candy-striped Poolbeg Towers, the city’s unofficial symbol. Stretching three miles out to sea, the Great South Wall was the world’s longest sea wall when it was built in 1731.

Over the Liffey, the trail continues north to windswept Dollymount Strand, where kite surfers perform aerial acrobatics, and on to the cliff walk at Howth Head, finishing at Howth village, for some of Dublin’s best fish and chips. Skerries, in the far north of the county, completes the trail, where waterside pub Stoop Your Head serves Dublin Bay prawns and excellent Guinness. Fergal McCarthy

Versailles, France Marie-Antoinette for a day

With the BBC’s thrilling new drama about Marie Antoinette – starring Emilia Schüle as the 14-year-old future French royal – airing on BBC Two on Thursday nights in January and February, the Sun King’s dazzling abode is the p(a)lace to visit this year.

Apart from the lure of discovering sites linked to the controversial Austrian queen, perhaps the best reason to visit Versailles in 2023 is a thrilling immersive experience that gives visitors the chance to play Marie-Antoinette for the day. Staying at the new Le Grand Contrôle hotel , they can learn the queen’s beauty secrets at a fragrance workshop, then wander in the landscaped gardens of the Petit Trianon, where she once sought refuge from courtly etiquette, before dressing up in one of the elaborate pannier gowns and towering flour-powdered wigs seen in the BBC series (which premiered on 29 December). Heidi Fuller-Love

Appian Way, Italy The first Roman road

It was known as the queen of roads – regina viarum . Completed in 190BC, the Appian Way runs for 350 miles from Rome to Brindisi, and the whole route is up for Unesco recognition this year. Named for magistrate Appius Claudius Caecus, it was ancient Rome’s first highway, and a marvel for its time, with expertly laid flagstones making a truly all-weather surface. But over the centuries most of this disappeared under farmland and villages – or evolved into the SS7 main road.

In 2015, photographer Riccardo Carnovalini and writer Paolo Rumiz used old documents and satellite images to walk the entire Appian Way (GPX of the route is available here ). It is not an easy route to follow, though, which is why the Ministry of Culture has set aside €20m to develop the Appian Way into, it hopes, a pilgrimage route to match the Camino de Santiago, with refreshment and lodging stops.

While its beginnings at Rome’s Forum are long lost, an arrow-straight walkable section can easily be reached by bus (no 118). Near the tomb of Cecilia Metella, at the three-mile mark, the first of the original flagstones are visible, often with cartwheel grooves.

This year the road is being restored near Benevento in Campania, and Mesagne in Puglia. Follow progress on camminodellappia.it , and plan a walk to save the past for the future. LB

Skye, Inner Hebrides, Scotland Wild wilderness comfort

Wildlife, dramatic scenery, lace-like coast … there are lots of reasons to visit the Isle of Skye, but 2023 ups the accommodation ante with the opening of the Bracken Hide , a cool wilderness hotel. Forty-five en suite cabins dot the 52-acre site, and guests can gather at the Hub (home to Frasers restaurant , a whisky bar, a lounge and screening and games rooms).

It’s very eco-friendly, with cabins clad in sustainable timber and hand-dived scallops and local venison on the menu. There are Nordic saunas, plunge pools, a wild swimming pond and views across Loch Portree and the Sound of Raasay.

Run by the duo behind Skye’s Cowshed Boutique Bunkhouse, the Bracken Hide marries hotel comfort with cabin wildness. Skye Adventure is a partner, offering activities from kayaking to climbing, and Portree is within walking distance. It opens in March (booking now), from £150 B&B for two. JD

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23 Best hidden gems in Europe: off the beaten path places for 2023

Home » Destinations » Europe » 23 Best hidden gems in Europe: off the beaten path places for 2023

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Updated: 12th January 2023

Exploring the best hidden gems in Europe often means slow-rumbling scenic bus journeys through less-traversed valleys, epic hikes to almost-forgotten hamlets, or heart-thumping sailings to windswept isolated isles.

Some may call that inconvenient. I call it winning.

If you’re happiest pointing to a random place on a map called Počitelj – as I am often inclined – and dutifully heading there on a whim, then this list, my friends, is for you.

Of course, going off the beaten path in Europe will mean something different for everyone. Thus, I’ve aimed to include a decent balance between remote isles , secluded villages, under-the-radar sustainable city breaks , and lesser-visited lofty peaks.

Whether you’re looking for unique places to visit in Europe or just a city break that isn’t one of the usual suspects, I hope you’ll find a favourite amongst my picks of the best places to visit in Europe this year.

In no particular order, enjoy my 23 best Europe hidden gems for 2023 – let the new year of adventures commence!

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1. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Remotest Corners

One of the best hidden gems in Europe for adventure activities, Ottoman architecture and remote communities

Can I get away with calling a whole county a hidden gem? Maybe not. Yet, for the most part, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a relatively off-the-beaten-path – and affordable – destination in Europe.

After two deep dive visits, I’m convinced the country’s greatest asset is the mesmerising near-photoshopped lakes, the lush countryside, and the lofty hiking trails.

While Mostar is rightly famed for its Ottoman architecture and history-defining bridge, ‘doing’ B&H as a day trip from Dubrovnik will never give the nation the justice it deserves.

Some of my favourite lesser-visited spots ripe for adventure activities include the Neretva River and Zavala. Konjic is the place to go for relaxing river rafting – the water is so clear it might as well be Evian. Kravica Waterfall is another epic water-heavy spot, and the cascades are beyond photogenic.

In Zavala – population two – you can spend the night sleeping in a converted railway station. The abandoned tracks have now been reimagined as an epic cycling adventure. Heaven-reaching Bjelašnica mountain is also rich in trails, leading you to Lukomir , the most isolated hamlet in the country. Here, 1,495 meters above sea level, a community of shepherds, ancient tombstones, and timelessness await.

But the real magic for me in Bosnia and Herzegovina is those little moments. Whether it’s being serenaded by guitar as a chatty host pours homemade wine in Zavala, or sipping a sand-boiled Bosnian coffee overlooking the minarets of Ottoman Počitelj, it’s those journey-defining memories that capture the essence of ‘hidden Europe’ at its best.

Read more: Reasons to visit B&H

Plan your trip: Don’t rush; 7-14 days allows for a deeper dive into these unique places. Late spring through autumn is most suited for outdoor adventures, while winter brings snow and skiing to the peaks. Off-road jeep tours to the mountains can be good for reaching the remote villages, and Highlander Adventures offer a 5-day hiking tour on the Via Dinarica.

Top tip: If you’re struggling to find Sarajevo flights , check Tuzla or Dubrovnik as an alternative.

2. Graz, Austria

One of the most underrated European cities for a sustainable city break, served with a first-class culinary scene and architectural treasures

Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, is still something of a hidden gem on Europe’s city-break scene. Partly due to the lack of direct flight connections, but also because it doesn’t have the legendary status that Salzburg, Vienna or even the Austrian Alps commandeer. Don’t let that deter you; it’s very much the green city’s appeal.

Not only is Graz an extremely sustainable city break (especially if you arrive flight-free), but its setting, surrounded by the Styrian countryside, promises plenty of farm-to-fork dining. Prepare to reconsider all your ideas about Austrian cuisine, as this city takes fresh produce, creative recipes, and vegetarian plates to another level.

Unsurprisingly for a city which has earned two UNESCO designations, there are plenty of things to do in Graz .

On the one hand, Graz’s historic World Heritage-listed core delivers everything you’d expect from a grand European city. There are Italian-esque courtyards aplenty, medieval cobbled streets, the remains of a hilltop fortress, frescoed facades, grand avenues, and church spires climbing to the heavens.

Then you have the other side, where Graz’s status as a ‘City of Design’ shines through. A floating artificial island doubles as a small gallery, a somewhat out-of-place modern art museum presents like a tentacled alien, and up-and-coming neighbourhoods capture the best of off the beaten path Europe.

Graz is a city best savoured slowly; indeed one of my favourite unusual European destinations for a city-cum-countryside getaway.

Read more: Graz travel guide

Plan your trip: Stay at least two nights to soak up the city’s atmosphere; Graz is one of those places where it is just a pleasure to be and explore slowly. Summer and autumn are my suggestions.

Top tip: Trains are the best way to arrive to this Europe hidden gem, either from Vienna (2:30 hours) or Salzburg (4 hours). FlixBus also has long-distance connections.

3. Pico Island, The Azores, Portugal 

One of the best places to visit in Europe for lofty hikes, lava tunnel exploration, Atlantic swell and inspiring wines

With a flurry of new flight routes launching in 2023 – from as far afield as Boston and NYC – the Azores are enjoying a moment in the spotlight. While most attention is focused on São Miguel, the largest isle of the nine-strong archipelago, for a more off-the-beaten-path experience venture to Pico.

Literally called ‘peak’, it should be no surprise Portugal’s highest mountain crowns this verdant-cerulean speck in the Atlantic Ocean.

Towering up to the heavens – and often piercing the clouds – Mount Pico’s summit rewards with far-reaching vistas from 2,351 metres. New restrictions have come into force in 2023 to protect the fragile landscape, and a guide is highly recommended, especially on a night hike .

Adventures also continue far below the surface at Gruta das Torres. Here, you can venture inside the dark depths of the largest lava tube in Portugal and explore more of this unique island .

Back at ground zero, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pico’s vineyards provides a delicious curiosity. Weathered vines rise from the black volcanic rock, telling the back-breaking story of creating viniculture in such an adverse setting.

Then, out in the deep blue, marine-biologist-led boat tours will help you spot dolphins and whales in the wild. This hidden gem of Europe isn’t so easy to visit, but it certainly delivers the goods. 

Read more: Things to do in the Azores

Plan your trip: If you don’t want to DIY-it, Intrepid Travel offers this fast-paced 7-day tour of the Azores , including Pico. Sao Miguel is the primary international airport of the archipelago. Allow at least a week to hop the central three island group of Pico, Faial and São Jorge. Winter can be windy and wet – you’re isolated in the middle of the Atlantic.

Top tip: If you want to travel across the majority of the archipelago by ferry, the long-distance route only runs in summer.

4. Villa Romana del Casale, Italy 

One of the the best hidden gems in Europe for Roman mosaics on the grandest scale

At Villa Romana del Casale, you’ll find what UNESCO call “the finest mosaics in situ anywhere in the Roman world”.

While it might seem that such treasures should be in and around Rome , this well-preserved example is actually in the sun-kissed southern island of Sicily.

As you slowly stroll through the vast villa – constructed in the 4th century AD – you’ll have a constant stream of story-depicting tiles to admire which decorate every inch of floor below the raised walkways. It’s an absolutely mind-blowing site, deserving of its UNESCO recognition, and delivers a cultural side to everything else that Sicily , one of the best islands to visit , offers.

If you aren’t that far south but still want mosaic marvels, head to Palestrina, a 70-minute bus ride from Rome. Here, inside the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Palestrina , you can see the Hellenistic Nile Mosaic, which pre-dates christ. It’s a remarkable and detailed artwork depicting mythical scenes of Egypt.

Read more: Italy’s best experience

Plan your trip: Most of the site is covered, so good year-round. Allow at least two hours for a visit. Day tours from Palermo, which combine Villa Romana del Casale and the Valley of the Temples, can be worth booking if you’re short on time.

Top tip: On arrival at Piazza Armerina, shared taxis usually wait if you don’t want to walk. The cost is around €5pp.

5. Vipava Valley, Slovenia

Perfect for a mountain-backed eco-escape cycling between vineyards and private cellars

Slovenia’s finally getting the attention it deserves. The green city of Ljubljana is becoming a popular weekend break, and the mystical magic of Lake Bled is now a firm traveller favourite.

However, as I see from my Slovenian friends on Facebook, their beloved capital is starting to suffer over-tourism and the related property rent issues that always follow.

Thankfully, much of this lush country remains blissfully off the beaten path, and Vipava Valley is undoubtedly one of Europe’s best hidden gems for now.

Slow travel and sustainability aren’t buzzwords in Slovenia; they are a way of life, and nowhere is this truer than in Vipava Valley. A gorgeous canvas of greenery, hills and vineyards, you could easily mistake this for a Tuscan painting at first glance.

The joy of visiting Vipava is found while cycling or hiking between the hamlets, heading into the art-inspiring mountains, Paragliding powered by the valley’s beloved wind – affectionately nicknamed The Burja – or sampling every zero-kilometre food morsel that is put in front of you.

Then, there are the home-grown wines. With an unknown number of wine cellars here – everyone seems to have one under their house – even the most inauspicious homes often double up as a restaurant. Sipping these signature grapes, such as the indigenous Zelen, while hearing stories of times gone by in candle-lit cellars, is a travel memory you’ll treasure.

Read more: Exploring Vipava Valley

Plan your trip: Ideal for a long weekend or even one week – this underrated destination in Europe is a slow travel destination. Visit from spring through autumn. Trieste, in Italy, is a good arriving point, given Sloevenia’s limited flights.

Top tip: If you want to side trip from Ljubljana without a designated driver, there are day wine tours available. Or, get in touch with my friend Jani at Wajdusna for an active e-bike trip between the vines.

6. León, Spain

One of the best hidden gems in Europe for architecture-admirers seeking a laid-back city break

Spain is home to many of Europe’s hidden gems , even though they are often significant and famed cities. There are just frankly too many destinations in the country to visit, which makes even places like León something of an unusual Europe destination for many travellers.

But it shouldn’t be. This city has the lot.

There’s a great food scene, with an abundance of mouthwatering free-tapas bars packing out the pedestrianised centre. The nightlife is excellent while staying reasonably laid-back, and the city is compact, with the pumping bar quarter a labyrinth of delicious treats and late-night laughter.

León’s main draw, however, is its architecture – and being home to one of Gaudí’s designs has ensured it’s not an off the beaten path European destination for fans of the flamboyant architect. Casa Botines, one of his only works outside Catalonia, brings a Modernist contrast to the city’s otherwise aged-architectural treasures.

From marvelling at the impeccable 13th-century stained-glass windows in the cathedral – some of the best in Europe – to taking in the Romanesque frescoes of the basilica, grandeur and superb artistry are on full display here.

León might not be the most secret spot in Europe, but it steps up to the challenge of diverting people from the likes of Madrid with glee.

Read more: León in a weekend

Plan your trip: León’s architecture makes it one of the best cities in Spain at any time of the year, although winters can be chilly. Using high-speed rail, the journey from Madrid takes around 2 hours by train.

Top tip: Book a night in the Hotel Real Colegiata San Isidoro for an incredible heritage stay.

7. The Georgian Caucasus Mountains

One of the best Europe hidden gems for an affordable mountain retreat of epic hikes

Spanning from Georgia to Azerbaijan and connecting two continents, the Georgian Caucasus Mountains offer incredible hiking trails in the warmer months, while winter brings snowy escapades.

Georgia, especially the capital city of Tbilisi, has been gaining popularity in the digital nomad community for years, thanks to the one-year visa and low nomad tax rates. Still, you’ll find the real community magic of the nation amongst the highest peaks.

Dormant Mount Kazbek, climbing to an elevation of 5,055 metres, is a real sight to behold. The surrounding area around Stepantsminda – a starting-point town – is one of the most popular year-round destinations thanks to its position on the principal Georgia to Russia highway keeping this range (usually) accessible.

Monasteries sit above the clouds, friendly dogs will volunteer to be your trekking ‘guides’, and hospitable homestays will start as a place to crash, before quickly becoming a home with new Chacha (home-brewed brandy) plying friends. The food, from twisted-dough Khinkali dumplings to the cheese-stuffed Khachapuri bread, is the pièce de résistance.

Plan your trip: Outstanding year-round, the snowy peaks can make road access in winter an occasional challenge. Kutaisi airport usually provides more affordable flight connections than Tbilisi. Either come for a couple of days or a more extended hiking escape.

Top tip: Public buses are cheap and relatively frequent from Tbilisi, while group day tours provide an easy, and still affordable, option.

8. The Hague, The Netherlands

One of the best places to visit in Europe for politics and history, beach bars and brews, and plenty of learning

The Hague is one of my favourite underrated European city breaks, and it’s fair to say I was shocked by how cool it is.

For many, Amsterdam is the one-stop go-to in The Netherlands, leaving much of the nation’s other destinations as Europe hidden gem. While that might not be the case here – the city’s world-famous for its international courts – it makes for a great weekend without the often unbearable crowds of the capital.

I was impressed with the fantastic food and bar scene, especially for vegetarians . Then there are the in-depth and fascinating museums such as the refugee-focused Humanity House (currently closed) and the Mauritshuis, home to Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Along the golden sand beach, there are plenty of chic beach clubs, and of course, the critical work the city does internationally for Peace and Justice .

It might not have as many canals or the coffee shops of Amsterdam, but it makes up for it with the laid-back vibes, friendly locals, and culture to gorge on. Seriously, if you are looking for a new European city break in 2023, you can’t go wrong with The Hague.

Read more: The Hague weekend guide

Plan your trip: The Hague makes a decent year-round visit. The beaches are best in summer, and September is a great time to visit. It’s also a more laid-back base to Amsterdam for day trips.

Top tip: The Peace Palace only opens for general public tours a few days of the year. If you want to visit, plan dates around the Peace and Justice weekend .

9. Berat, Albania

One of the best Europe hidden gems for an enchanting village escape after the beaches

Berat – Albania’s cutest village – is often called the ‘City of a Thousand Windows’. On arrival, it’s obvious why, as you gawk at the whitewashed Ottoman houses hugging the side of the fortress-crowned hill.

Atop it all is Berat Castle, with its more than 2500 years of history. Much of what you see today dates from the 13th century, though Byzantine churches are still visible. We arrived here intending to spend one night in the castle walls, but quickly extended our stay to enjoy two days in Berat .

Albania, in general, has recently gone from a lesser-visited hidden gem in Europe, to an in-the-know paradisiacal beach escape. Still, the country’s interior has plenty more to offer, including Gjirokaster, Lake Komani and Bogovë Nature Park – especially the secluded waterfall.

If you don’t have The Balkans on your radar, take a virtual tour of Muslim Europe in the delightful book Minarets in the Mountains . Written by my fellow LP-writer Tharik Hussain, it provides a look at the Muslim history of Europe that’s often not spoken about. 

Read more: Things to do in Albania

Plan your trip: Many people visit Berat as a stop between Tirana and Ksamil’s beaches. But do yourself a favour and stay at least one night – the wide windows under the orange hue make for a magnificent evening setting.

Top tip: Stay in the castle walls. I adored Guesthouse Kris , and the hosts were super friendly – we’re still in touch years later.

10. The Asitz Mountain, Austria

One of the most unique places to visit in Europe for a sustainable summer hike of culture, art and escapism

One of my most recent Europe hidden gem finds is the region of Saalfelden Leogang , set in the Austrian Alps. While many would think of this corner of the world as the ideal winter ski destination, I visited at the start of summer and boy, am I glad I did.

The two towns that make up this region are adorable. Saalfelden is more urban, Leogang is more rural, and the entire valley is absolutely stunning. However, the main reason to venture to this part of Austria is for an unforgettable mountain experience atop the lofty peaks of the Asitz Mountain .

Reaching 655 metres at its highest, this beautiful winter ski destination is also renowned for exhilarating and intense mountain biking routes. Locally known as ‘the mountain of senses’, there is much more to this part of the jagged range than just extreme sports.

Something of a secret European destination still, culture lovers will be well rewarded after riding the gondola to the top. Summer sees art and sculpture trails through the forest for the eyes, water features for paddling, herb gardens for the senses, a ‘nature cinema’, and most magically, outdoor concerts performed against an incredible mountain lake backdrop.

You’ll also find cultured wooden huts – TONspurs – on the mountain. Inside, you can lay back and enjoy the panorama while listening to previous concerts playing through the headrest. Honestly, it’s one of my new favourite European destinations.

Read more: Exploring the Asitz Mountain

Plan your trip: A long weekend or even longer – this is a slow travel destination. In summer, it’s all about hikes and the arts, while the winter snow brings skiing and snowboarding. Train travel from the UK is possible by overnighting and then taking the Alpine Express. The nearest airports are Innsbruck and Salzburg.

Top tip: Stay at the Stockinggut Leogang. It’s a great spot with grand views. See my review here .

11. Porto Santo Island, Portugal

One of the hidden gems in Europe for lazy beach days and winter sun 

Madeira, one of my favourite islands, is another Portuguese destination enjoying its moment in the spotlight. But the largest isle, renowned for its epic hikes and volcanic coastline, isn’t the only option in the archipelago. 

A three-hour ferry away is Porto Santo, the ‘baby-sister’ if you will. Here, it’s a whole other vibe and picture, and the country’s newest biosphere reserve remains one the best off the beaten path Europe beach escapes.

Lauding a nine-kilometre stretch of golden sands – hard to find on the main island where darker shores prevail– this is a perfect place to bury yourself in a book and top-up the tan. For some soft adventure, the rolling hills backing the island make for easy hiking routes.

With a mixture of accommodation options, ranging from upscale resorts to down-to-earth home rentals, Porto Santo is all about easy days relaxing, rounded off with fresh-seafood and spectacular sunsets. Honestly, it’s more of a beach with an island than an island with a beach.

Read more: Madeira in photos

Plan your trip: You could enjoy a beach week or make it a short visit combined with Madeira. The climate is fairly decent year-round. In winter, I basically had the whole beach to myself – though it wasn’t quite tanning weather.

Top tip: It’s often easier and cheaper to fly to Madeira and take the ferry than into Porto Santo directly. In summer, a ferry service operates from mainland Portugal to Madeira for a flight-free choice.

12. Castelmezzano, Italy

One of the most unique places to visit in Europe for that dream mountain village getaway

Perched against the backdrop of the Dolomiti Lucane, Castelmezzano is one of Italy’s most beautiful small villages.

We stumbled upon it after a last-minute detour decision during a southern Italy road trip , and my heart leapt the second the cluster of ochre roofs came into view. Set in the lesser-visited European region of Basilicata, head here for a countryside bolthole.

On the opposite mountain, you’ll find Castelmezzano’s ‘twin’ – Pietrapertosa. Linking them both is The Angel’s Flight – a high-speed zip wire that whisks you between these two beguiling peak-snuggled villages.

While the town is mesmerising – especially when viewed from a distance to admire its unique location – the surrounding area is full of epic hikes, forests and a national park. The age-old charm of an overnight stay in Castelmezzaono’s 10th century settlement makes it a firm Europe hidden gem favourite.

Read more: Italy’s hidden gems

Plan your trip: This is a real ‘get away from it’ kind of village. You can either stay a while and become part of the furniture or call in on a road trip around southern Italy. The zip-line usually shutters from November until May.

Top tip: Don’t miss the city of Matera, a magical land of caves, ancient underground living, and storied streets.

13. Durham, England

One of the best places to visit in Europe for the quintessential British experience

If you are looking for a slice of English city-life with countryside charm, head to Durham.

Most famed for the UNESCO World Heritage-listed castle and cathedral – the oldest being from the 9th century – you’ll want to allow at least a half-day to tour both. There’s also a large university here, meaning plenty of good bars and decent restaurants – including ample vegetarian options.

Outside the city, you can ramble along the Durham Heritage Coast, a European hidden gem for its sea glass-strewn beach . Raby Castle – a privately owned medieval gem which has starred in Downton Abbey – can also be toured. 

Lastly, be sure to visit Beamish Museum , a living museum. I spent a full day here solo; it was that impressive! With an interactive museum-meets-theme-park vibe, you’ll discover the history of England from the 1800s onwards.

From fully staffed old-school sweet shops and dress-up photography studios to vintage trams and buses driving around, the experience is very much ‘lived history’ history. There are even actors in the ‘homes’ and ‘schools’.

Read more: Durham travel guide

Plan your trip: I’d suggest at least three days or a packed weekend. Then you can experience the city, a couple of castles and the fantastic Beamish Museum. As with everywhere in the UK, it’s best in the warmer and dryer months.

Top tip: Always book your train tickets in advance in the UK, it will save you a lot of money. Buses in the region are surprisingly decent, making sights easy to explore.

14. Erfurt and Thuringia, Germany

One of the most undiscovered cities in Europe for quaint corners, classical culture, library lovers and adapted accessibility 

Historic, charming and relatively compact, Erfurt is the capital of the Germany’s lesser-visited State of Thuringia.

The city dates back to around 700 AD and slowly became an important trading destination in the Middle Ages. Thanks to the Old Town surviving WWII, you can still experience it very much as it once was.

Home to Germany’s oldest university, it’s a classic city with a youthful vibe. In the summer months when I visited, the beer gardens were overflowing, walks along the river were divine, and an energy floated through the warm evening air that I hadn’t felt in other German cities. 

The main attractions are the hulking Gothic cathedral and the Petersberg Fortress. Krämerbrücke – a unique arched bridge with a central cobbled street and boutique stores – also deserves a special mention.

You can easily visit more of Europe’s hidden gems nearby, using Erfurt as a base. Weimar is especially worth the journey for the Renaissance-style Anna Amalia Library .

Read more: Exploring Erfurt

Plan your trip: Spend a weekend in Erfurt, or one week exploring some of Thuringia’s highlights. Spring through autumn is the nicest. Frankfurt is the nearest major gateway (2:30 hours), and discounted train tickets are offered for those with booked hotels in the region. Erfurt is also one of the best barrier-free city breaks in Germany.

Top tip: Bundle up the regions of Thuringia and Saxony, Germany into a road trip. Combined, these two states are known as the Cultural Heart of Germany.

15. Bansko & Pirin National Park, Bulgaria

One of the best places to visit in Europe for excellent value skiing by winter and summer hiking

Bansko was meant to be my first skiing trip. Shortly after arrival, I discovered that I was terrible at the winter sport, and quickly resigned myself to being an avid après-skier instead.

Thankfully, a ski trip in Bansko doesn’t break the bank, making it one of the best choices for first-timers who don’t want to commit to expensive options in the Alps – or pros who seek a more off the beaten path Europe experience. 

For example, my chalet room, including dinners, breakfasts, transfers and drinks with Snomads , was around £300 for the week. Lessons and lift passes are also decently priced. Then – away from the slope’s inflated yet not too steep prices – the €1.55 G&Ts went down rather well too. 

Before the pistes, which begin a 30-minute Gondola ride from the resort town, you’ll find all you need in Bansko Old Town. Some streets are lined with heritage buildings, while house museums and a small but stunning Orthodox church provide the culture.

If you visit outside the ski season, you’ll still be able to enjoy the old town and head into the Pirin National Park for some much more verdant hiking to lakes.

Read more: Skiing in Bansko

Plan your trip: Come for the hiking in summer or a skiing week in winter. An overnight stay is enough if you just want to explore the town and take a day hike. 

Top tip: If you want to continue to Plovdiv, the slow and scenic narrow-gauge train provides a pleasant meandering journey.

16. The Frosinone Valley, Italy

One of the best non touristy places to visit for a Rome side trip of verdant walks, offbeat villages, and vineyard vistas

Around halfway between Rome and Naples, the idyllic Province of Frosinone is situated in the southern part of the Lazio region.

Perhaps the most famous attraction here is the Abbey of Montecassino , a vast complex atop the hill in Cassino, which, following its destruction in World War Two, has subsequently been rebuilt.

However, I spent most of my time around the Valle di Comino. Some of Europe’s fiercest battles have taken place in these forested heartlands, but it’s now a serene setting of olive groves, mountains, and beautiful small villages.

If you’re seeking that dreamy and verdant Italy-from-the-movies feel, Frosinone will oblige. Sip delicious award-winning Cabernet in the vineyards of Atina. Discover Arpino – the ‘city of Cicero’ – and explore the ancient L’Acropoli di Civitavecchia. Then head to pretty-as-a-postcard San Donato Val di Comino for mountain-backed village views and overflowing tables in an agriturismo s’ (rural farm accommodation) farm-to-fork restaurant.

Read more: Villages near Rome

Plan your trip: Spring through Autumn are great times to visit – I especially enjoy late September during the wine harvest. You could make this a little post-Rome getaway or a stand-alone extended vacation.

Top tip: Arpino is perhaps the best town to base yourself in for decent restaurants and a bit of life. For a more rural village stay, opt for a farm base in San Donato Val di Comino .

17. Nisyros Island, Greece

One of the best hidden gems in Europe for a whitewashed village escape on an Aegean-enveloped active volcano 

The volcanic island of Nisyros was one of my most accidental discoveries. In fact, I didn’t even know I was going to Greece until I got invited there on a second date. Sadly, the romance never blossomed, but I did replace it with a new lover: this European hidden gem in the Aegean Sea.

While the whole place is rather unique – it’s one hulking volcano – it is hugged by idyllic whitewashed villages serving up typical Greek traits. Tavernas dish out the staples, white and blue set the scene, and bright bougainvillaea adds a splash of colour.

But, what makes this hidden gem of Europe particularly impressive is Stefanos – one of the world’s largest hydrothermal craters. It’s not the only one, either; there are a handful of them on the island. Walking into the caldera, and standing on the space-like floor, is something of a surreal – and sulphur-filled – bucket list experience.

If you stay a while, you can explore the island’s coastal villages and lounge on the dark sand and pebble beaches. Nisyros is a solid pick for that laid-back Greek lifestyle without the overwhelming crowds of, say, Santorini.

Read more: Visit Nisyros Island

Plan your trip: You can day-trip from Kos – combing the two makes for a great multi-centre Greece holiday – or spend a couple of days hiking, or enjoy a week or more escaping it all. While Greece is one of Europe’s warmest winter destinations , I’d suggest avoiding the chillier months.

Top tip: Ferries leave from Kardamena, Kos, or you can book a day tour in advance.

18. Monsanto and Central Portugal’s Schist Villages

One of the most quirky places in europe for mind-boggling boulders, creative retreats, and near-empty trails

In Portugal’s parched interior, Monsanto is a pretty village lauding some unusual features. Boulders call all the shots here, making it a rather unique hidden gem of Europe.

Perched atop a volcanic massif with far-reaching views to the Spanish borders, the hamlet is littered with giant rocks. Not to be deterred from making it their home, previous residents have constructed houses alongside, between and even underneath precarious looking boulders.

Monsanto isn’t a place you come to do much, and that is very much the charm. There are excellent panoramas, the remains of the fortified castle, and a timeless air that sadly is getting lost in Portugal’s ever-growing tourism scene. Side trips include admiring ancient fossils in Penha Garcia, and visiting the remains of a Roman settlement in Idanaha-A-Velha.

Closer to Coimbra, you’ll find more Schist Villages in the Serra da Lousã. Cerdeira , which has been lovingly restored, now provides a bolthole for creativity, with some of hidden Europe’s most tucked-away workshops and retreats.

Read more: On my Portugal website

Plan your trip: Monsanto sits in the central sun-bleached heartlands. Intense heat defines summers, and cold snaps the winter. Come in spring or march, and stay at least a night or two to enjoy the magnificent sunsets.

Top tip: Day trips from Lisbon on public transport are almost impossible, so stay a night. You’ll need to book a tour if you just want a flying peek at Monsanto. 

19. Annecy, France 

One of the best places to visit in Europe for a pretty-as-a-postcard lakeside getaway 

Annecy, in southeastern France, was my last ‘Europe off the beaten path’ visit of 2022. On a gloriously sunny day, the Christmas markets I came for felt slightly out of place, but the charm of this small alpine town shined as brightly as the rays from above.

Walking the excellently preserved medieval centre – the Vieille Ville – you’ll cross canals flanked by pastel-coloured facades. On an island in the largest channel, Le Palais de I’Île, a small castle, hosts a mini museum and provides a prominent photo point. Château d’Annecy – a historical monument and castle – sits higher still and serves as a more impressive museum.

But, I found the real joy in simply ambling – both along the canals and cobbled streets and the lakeside Jardins de l’Europe. The town sits on the edge of Lake Annecy, one of the country’s cleanest, lending itself to waterside strolls. Beyond, the nearby mountain trails help you go off the beaten path in the Haute-Savoie surrounds. 

Read more: Weekend breaks in France

Plan your trip: Annecy is a pretty France weekend break year-round. In December, a Christmas market visit is one of the best things to do in France during winter. It is fairly small, so it could be a day trip, or you can use it as a base to explore the nearby snow-capped peaks.

Top tip: If you’re a fine art enthusiast, take the 80-minute side trip to Grenoble for the Musêe de Grenoble . For a regional museum, it’s incredibly well stacked with masterpieces.

20. Sutherland and Moray, Scotland

One of the best places to visit in Europe for castle touring, coastal walking and clan learning  

Without heading to Scotland’s far-flung isles, it’s getting harder to find ‘hidden gems’ in the ever-popular nation. The mountainous country rich in lochs , legends, myths and munros is one of the most scenic escapes in Europe, and unfathomable crowds descend on the likes of Skye and Edinburgh Festivals in peak summer. 

Sutherland and Moray are two parts of Scotland I love, and you can base yourself bang in the middle in Inverness if you want to explore by public transport. While Inverness isn’t as grand as Edinburgh , the cathedral and castle make for a stately setting to call home.

In Sutherland, the show’s star is Dunrobin Castle, a grand – if relatively modern – turreted delight, set amongst perfectly manicured gardens. Moray brings the older sights, with the impressive ruins of Elgin Cathedral dating back to 1224.

Along this stretch of coast, you’ll find quaint villages and killer views, and hopefully, avoid the crowds heading to the West Highlands and famous valleys such as Glencoe. That said, the NC500 coastal route has become very popular in recent years, so it might be best to skip the high season.

Read more: Scotland road trip

Plan your trip: Either use Inverness as a base to experience the area, or even better, make it a Scotland road trip . Showers can come any time of year in Scotland, but avoiding winter weather and summer crowds is advisable.

Top tip: Dunrobin Castle is closed from November until March.

21. Lake of the Four Cantons, Switzerland

One of the best places to visit in Europe for spectacular backdrops with border-defining history

Switzerland’s lakes, mountains, timepieces, chocolates and banks have long appealed to those with the budget to travel the country. While it’s certainly not a cheap destination, free activities in the great outdoors can make it more palatable for your purse.

Lake Lucerne, or the Lake of the Four Cantons, is one of the country’s prettiest bodies of water. On the edge of the lake, you’ll find some Europe hidden gems such as Tellskapelle, the chapel honouring William Tell , Switzerland’s national hero.

While Tell himself is most likely mythical, the nearby towns provide genuine and important history for this famously neutral nation. In the cantons of Uri and Schwyz, the country established its independence – and two museums share the stories of those crucial days. 

Hiking trails along the water’s edge link some smaller towns together. Beyond the settlements, the backdrop of soaring mountains – with their elevations often reachable by cable car – captivate. 

Round off your visit in the larger city of Lucerne, where medieval architecture makes the Altstadt (Old Town) a pretty setting. Highlights include the Kapellbrücke – a 12th-century wooden bridge decorated with a series of triangular paintings – and the ‘saddest Lion statue’ in the world, a memorial monument dedicated to the Swiss Guards who died in the French Revolution.

Plan your trip: Spring through autumn is an excellent time to visit – I found October great. Plan a couple of days for village-hopping and at least one day in Lucerne. The public ferry pass could be good value if you want to see a few stops around the lake.

Top tip: Private boat tours allow for short sightseeing trips or more indulgent luxury lunch cruises .

22. The Ore Mountains, Saxony

One of the best places to visit in Europe for Christmas traditions, mountain fare, and festive markets 

Look no further than the Ore Mountains for one of the best winter hidden gems in Europe . Located in the eastern state of Saxony, close to the Czech border, a winter wonderland renowned for its festive traditions awaits.

The village of Seiffen is the place to start after you’ve ticked-off the best things to do in Dresden . Here, carpenters, toy-makers, candle crafters, Moravian Star-stitchers and Angel-artists work year-round, creating something of a real-life Santa’s grotto. But, when winter – and the inevitable snow – rolls around, it’s at its finest. 

Long standing seasonal traditions are very much alive, and mainly come courtesy of the surrounding ex-mining towns. Don a hard hat and heat into a decommissioned underground quarry for a candle-lit carol concert. Settle in at the table for a typical miners’ feast using age-old recipes. Then, get your fill of Glühwein and handicrafts at one of the region’s countless markets with marching band parades. Even just in Dresden, the region’s Baroque-heavy capital, you’ll find eleven themed markets, and Leipzig’s market is equally as storied, dating back to 1458.

The Ore Mountains are one of the most unique places to visit in Europe, and make for a great alternative to the continent’s most famous festive destinations. 

Read more: Christmas traditions in Saxony

Plan your trip: This is a land best experienced in the lead-up to Christmas. Plan to stay a night or two as part of a longer Christmas Market road trip so you can visit more of the best places to visit in Saxony, Germany – public transport is more limited around the mountains.

Top tip: If you want to attend some special events – such as parades or miners’ concerts – check for updates on this local website .

23. Kutna Hora, Czech Republic

One of the best places to visit in Europe for a bone-chilling gothic city trip

Whilst Prague may be one of the hottest must-visit cities in Europe, and South Bohemia famous for its castles , the historic and impressive Bohemia city of Kutna Hora is still a relatively under-the-radar gem.

Discover the cobbled streets and grand Gothic architecture – especially the brawny cathedral – and then pay a respectful visit to the unique ‘Bone Church’, which is, as you might have guessed, adorned with bones.

Sedlec Ossuary shares its nearly 1000 years of history with a no-holding-back approach. Some 40,000 human skeletons form the walls, ceilings and even chandeliers. It’s quite the macabre sight.

Read more: Kutna Hora’s chapel

Plan your trip: Decent year-round, but summer is best for exploring the surrounding nature. Make it an overnight visit, or come on a day trip from Prague. Group tours are offered from Prague and cost around €50 , though it’s easy and cheap to go DIY – the train takes approximately one hour. 

Top tip: The Ostuary closes at 4 pm in winter and 6 pm in summer.

+ For the future: Kyiv, Ukraine

Read more: Two days in Kyiv

On my previous European hidden gems list, Kyiv was one of the top entries. Tragically the Russian invasion has caused misery and suffering for those living in Ukraine and, obviously, made tourism impossible. However, I leave this entry as a mention for future travel plans when we can return to Ukraine and help support and rebuild the nation through tourism.

And that’s a wrap for this 2023 edition of list underrated destinations in Europe. Got any suggestions of where I should head next to add to this list or have you visited somewhere above? Let me know in the comments and safe travels!

For my Europe adventures, discover my favourite secret Spain spots , hidden gems in Italy , or these beautiful and lesser visited villages near Rome . Or, find your own favourite amongst all my Europe travel articles .

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Awesome places. Some of the destinations, I came to know about it for the first time through your post. The European ambiance has a different charm to it and it gets tweaked from one country to another. Thanks for sharing these tidbits of information, loved reading it.

I hear so many positives about visiting Slovenia. The Vipava Valley is just another reason to visit and probably significantly cheaper and less crowed than France.

It’s amazing, simply loved this region!

Thanks for sharing this amazing list of places. Really helpful :)

informative blog. thanks a lot spending time to share it with us. really appreciate it. keep up the good work.

What is missing here is one of the best places to go when you go to France. The Dordogne, the place to be, so much to do and the food…….. Checkout and see for youself

Hi Great list and super nice site 😃 I have been to Alentejo, Portugal the cathedral has a great view. Kutna Hora is also a place that I remember for sure. Awesome! 🤩

This is another great guide as always. Europe is definitely the perfect choice if you want a memorable trip, I recommend it for many people especially for couples or honeymoon.

This Guide is full of the most interesting and stunning sites, and I want to thank you for sharing this and give us the inspiration to travel again.

Always dreamed to visit Ukraine and Poland.Great countries.

There are such beautiful places in Europe that you must go there once in your life.In general, I prefer to appreciate the architectural style

What a find! Amazing places being featured here! You should also visit The Old Railway Station in England too

Great site. With all the restrictions on travel it is really nice to virtually explore. I love the options in Italy and will make them an objective post my Positano trip. Also great to see another option for Czech Republic in addition to Prague! Look forward to more stories as you hit the milestone of 60+ countries and counting!

Thank you, hope you have a wonderful time in Italy!

amazing list with usefull information of places to visit in europe

Hey there, this is really very interesting article with great pictures. Thanks so much for sharing such amazing content. Keep up the good work all time.

Wow!!Great post. Thanks for sharing this.

Wooww…Really amazing places. Italy, Greece & Spain are in my bucket list. I want to tick off these places very soon. Your list is quite helpful especially the way you have mentioned the means for travel and how much time we should give to that place. Thank you for sharing it. Waiting for the next list!

Excellent tips! Thanks for sharing

Europe is like a dream. It has so many offbeat places that it becomes impossible to travel to all the destinations in one’s lifetime. Probably we have to take birth once again to travel to all of these beautiful locations.

thanks for the list

Such an amazing list of hidden gems in Europe, Thanks for sharing. Brisighella is one of my favorite place in Italy.

list also gets top marks for including Colchester – I live so close by!

Have you been to Santorini?

I would recommend going and staying at Parrissa Beach. This is not the hill side pictures you see with the amazing views on all the postcards. Although you can rent a four wheeler ($10 euro/day) and get there in 15 minutes. We stayed in Parissa Beach in 2011 in an apartment on the beach for about $400/month (yes per month) when rooms were going for 10x that in the tourist spots of Ios. It’s a cool scene too, tons a great beach bars, a boardwalk of restaurants, out door theaters and best of all it is all cheap as can be.

Hey, i haven’t no – I’d love to go, but it’s so touristy these days I’m not sure I would love it so much. Thanks for the tips.

When I can suggest a great place to go which really offers a real great stay for families with kids, go and see Glamping-Dordogne. They offer safaritents but really, with so much comfort.

Really a place to go.

I really enjoyed reading your go on. I’m waiting for next one

I also enjoyed myself while I was visiting this kind of places.

Hey Daniel, Amazing & Informative list of Europe best visit places. Any Europe Traveler must read this. Thanks!

Well in Europe there are lots of places where you can spend time moreover one of the most tourist island is Mljet island where you can spend your time with your partner beside this there are lots of things too which you can plan during your Day tours in Mljet .

Much appreciate the places of Europe that you have mentioned. Each county of Europe is known for its unique kind of beauty and is generally appreciate for what they have. Besides that, these nations are totally safe.

Very interesting blog. Great review. Thanks for sharing! I love Slovenia, but I want to visit other places on your list!

List is amazing, It is just wonderful getting knowledge about these places and will definattely add it in my bucket list. All these places look amazing!

i really love your article but i am so nervous everytime i go solo to a country but now i am more confident now because of you and you mind checking out my vidon on my youtube channel https://youtu.be/OwuNpq_1N-U

Hello Dan! Last summer I happened upon Monte Isola, an island in the middle of Lago d’Iseo in Lombardy. Have you ever been here? When I went, immediately fell in love with its small town vibe and stunning views. Definitely one of my lesser known places that is a must visit!

It looks amazing, but I haven’t been there yet sadly – hopefully the next time I travel through Milan I can take some days to head there :)

Such a cool round-up! Totally want to add these to my bucket list now. I visited London in the summer of 2017 and was absolutely stunned by the cobble-stoned sidewalks, the countryside and the food.

If you REALLY want to see the prettiest and most fascinating sidewalks in the world, you should defiantly take a vacation to Portugal, here the streets are well preserved and unique

As someone living in Portugal, I have to agree :)

Wow, thanks for the suggestions, guys! Will definitely plan a trip to Portugal :)

I think that Europe might be the only continent in the world that never runs out of its places to visit. The continent itself is covering with beautiful culture, medieval heritage exotic place and legacies of kingdom to read for. You can check out our Europe’s best

Some places I’ve been to, but The Hague is next! Cool write up

The hague is not so nice as Amsterdam

It’s also not so hectic, I love Amsterdam but it’s just hit oveflowing now for much of the year I think.

Definitely bookmarking this post, It’s Very helpful for planning a trip

“The gladdest moment in human life, methinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton , Your posts are amazing Dan

Dear Daniel! I enjou reading your content, please keep up the good work. Youssef.

Planning to visit Portugal in 2020. I cannot imagine how thrilling it must be. I have to say that your list has some pretty cool destinations. If my budget allows, I might add in Albania. Great post!

Food for thought for upcoming trip. Appreciate your time and effort in writing this

I am reading this post in 2019. These places look no less captivating in 2019 :) Thanks for compiling this list.

You wrote awesome. I really read your all story about unique places this is interesting.

Im so glad that i stumble upon this article. Definitely bookmark this for future trips. So many beautiful places i havent visited according to your post. Thank you and keep up your good work!

Definitely pinning, great pictures! Looking to connect with other bloggers and get some tips for my new site.

Hi Dan, It’s so breathtaking! I have some experience in Albania. While visiting my friend there, she get a paddle board from this and suddenly took me to Lake Komani.cause she knows that I love paddling board so much! How impetuous she is!!

wow! The scenery of these trips is so beautiful, I also want to try these places once in a lifetime, thank you for sharing this wonderful thing.

Hey love this post quick question though how do you take your pictures traveling solo?

If I’m in them with a tripod, but I mainly don’t take photos of me.

Czechoslovakia hasn’t been a country for quite some time now. Good pictures and lots of good destinations, though, for sure.

Yup, but I think a few cities still have the celebrations I was told.

I have been telling people about Camogli since I visited this amazing place in 2014. Glad to see it is on your list.

It’s a gem, isn’t it?!

Lagoa beach look GORGEOUS, I’m already in love! Definitely put it in my travel bucket list for this year!

I appreciate your effort. I must say that your shared all these places are the best to have great fun in Europe and tourists can enjoy some time with family and friends. I have a good experience of Lake Komani because I have been there couple of the times in my whole life to enjoy my holidays and every time had a blast of fun at this most amazing and alluring destination.

These are some really beautiful places, I have been wanting to take a vacation to the UK just couldn’t make time, after seeing these images all I wanna do is pack my bags.

Great post, thanks for sharing these awesome gems. I plan to visit Slovenia this summer and Piran wasn’t on my bucket list. I will surely add it now after seeing those wonderful photos of the place.

The pictures are so cool ! I want to go everywhere now, all the places look different and unique.

Wonderful list of amazing places in Europe. I would love to visit Skadar Lake National Park, Montenegro in upcoming days. Thanks, Dan, for sharing such a beautiful place of Europe.

Trough dordognevakantiehuizen.nl I have found a great place to stay in the Dordogne France. A real great area to visit when you go to France.

Nice people and a great place for getting to know the real French life.

Thanks for this post. I’ve recently moved to Leipzig (Saxony) and it’s nice to see it appearing on some blogs now as an area to visit. Gose beer is also from Saxony and one of Germany’s largest Sekt producers (I think it’s in Weimar). I’m looking forward to getting out to the Dresden area soon, especially for a trip over to Bastei. I’m also excited to check out more of Eastern Europe, especially Montenegro, now that I’m so much closer (than Canada). I’ve enjoyed your suggestions!

Thanks Chrissy, I’m really excited to get the chance to visit Leipzig myself in the summer, I’ve heard so many cool things about the city. Hope you enjoy living and travelling in Europe while you are here :)

Beautiful! :) Pluzine from Montenegro is my favorite. All country Montenegro have beautiful nature.

Wonderful! Your List is amazing. Great work keep it up.

Hi! Amazing and inspirational! I live in London now but I would love to show you around Romania and see it through your lenses 😃. Keep walking!

Thanks Teodora! Thats a super kind offer :)

Amazing post, read it for first time and was fascinated by the photos and the true information that you don’t get very often. If you visit Costa Rica, Please Visit this amazing Beach Resort

amazing photos and inspiring travel destinations. I also suggest St. Wolfgang in Austria :)

Thanks for the tip, will check it out :)

What a great list of places. Even though these are written for 2017, they will still be great gems in 2018. I’m heading on a Eastern Europe trip for 4 months in the Summer so unwell certainly be checking out some of these places. Thanks for the ideas !

Thanks Katie. I need to update for 2018 :)

Safe travels!

There is a lot of wonderful places you behind in the post that I need to check out.

Hi Dan, love the article. Two years ago, during a European road trip, we stayed in Schwangau, with the intention of visiting Neuschwanstein Castle. There wasn’t much there, to be honest. Just a nondescript main road. We couldn’t even find the castle when we first arrived, due to the mist obscuring it. It wasn’t until the next day when we were leaving that we saw it peeking out from behind its shroud. We both exclaimed “It was behind us all this time!”.

As we were leaving we drove through the neighbouring town of Füssen. It looks like a much more characterful town and we wished we had stayed there. Next time!

This year’s road trip took in Riquewhir/Colmar/Eguisheim, all stunning. Then onto Lauterbrunnen :0, Orta San Guilio – beautiful and quiet, Sirmione – hot, bustling and lovely. Postojna – dig those caves, through Istria, taking in Buzet and Motovun until we reached Rovinj, which we absolutely love. Stunning old town and the unrivaled Punta Corrente park.

Our return journey took in Venice – on the cheap, there is a campsite on the other side of the lagoon where you can camp for approx €20-30 per night. Then onto Menaggio (Much nicer than Belaggio, not so geared up to selling you expensive baubles). From there to Freiburg, then over the Black Forest high road, across a bit of France, up the length of Luxembourg to Clervaux for the Family of Man exhibit. Clervaux was/is a unique place. I don’t know quite how I’d describe it. They seem to have a thing for anthropomorphic furniture and decorations. They were also pumping Yello’s “The Race” from the town’s PA system, for no discernible reason. Last stop was Bruges, but this isn’t a hidden gem, just a gem.

Sounds like such an amazing trip, hoping to do it myself next year so will keep Fussen in mind as a base.

And also wow, thank you for all these amazing tips of places. Moving back to Europe in 2018 so this has given me lots of new places to adventure too.

Hope the next trip is just as exciting for you :)

Love the list, I definitely need to save some of your recommendations for my next trips:) I would also add Polish capital, Warsaw. Even though I didn’t expect much from it, it turned out to be one of the most amazing destinations I have been to. It is traditional and very modern at the same time, it is such an unique and great combinations. It is truly a stunning city. And the gastronomic aspect of it is incredible – there are tens of amazing restaurants worth visiting. My personal favorite is called the Akademia, a place with modern versions of traditional Polish cuisine. So creative and delicious! I will for sure go back one day :D

I loved Warsaw too, sadly I visited in January and it was just too cold to do anything! Excited to go back and see it in the summer one day. Safe travels :)

If you like visiting cities, I recommend it again Gdańsk, Wrocław, Kraków, Toruń, Zamość, Poznań. In addition to cities, we have mountains and depression, beautiful beaches, many lakes, forests and even dunes and a desert … :) We have all

These little gems look amazing, adding them to our visit list! Thanks for sharing

They are some of my favourites, hope you get to some of them soon :)

Agree with your list of most affordable destinations in 2017. Croatia ,England are going to be in any list of cheap travel destinations……I have been to these places and I can’t forget the wonderful experiences I had…..some countries with unique cultures, amazing nature and exceptional food (very cheap yet delicious)

Dan a great list of which I have visited a number. I went to Hvar from Australia for the first time 16 years ago, it has always had great affordable high quality B&B accommodation. I have been back to Croatia three times since then as it is my favourite summer destination in Europe and Hvar now has more 4 & 5 star hotels and the B&B places are more expensive but are still the main source of accommodation in all of Croatia. Everybody does this and is most peoples major source of income. Some rooms are superb and have views and all for 100 dollars night.It is however a very popular place as is Lake Bled. Another few gem in Croatia that I will let you in on are the town of Betina on the island of Murter and the town of Komiza on the island of Vis. Popular but not over busy. Check them out on Google

Thanks for the tips Dan. I’m really hoping to get back to Croatia this summer and explore more of the Islands so will add these to my list. It’s such a beautiful country to explore.

Another good Spanish town would be Lekeitio, Spain up in Basque country. An adorable little town with a beautiful beach surrounded by those massive cliffs that are sprinkled all over the Basque coastal area, plus this awesome little island right inside the bay that you can walk out to and explore. And pintxos everywhere :) We rented a car and drove all along that coast, there are so many awesome little villages and towns up there it was hard to pick one to stop at!

This places sounds beautiful, I really need to spend some more time in Spain. Thanks for the tips :)

Ahhh Kutna Hora was such a weird and cool town! That bone church was unreal, and I think it was still low season because I felt like I was the only person in town so the whole trip gave me a badass, kind of eery vibe. And Hvar is totally not just for rich people with yachts! My boyfriend and I brought camping gear and camped out by the water for three nights on Hvar and it was gorgeous (getting all glammed up for a night out at a nice restaurant in a tent was a fun little first for me too!). Great post Dan! I can’t wait to see some of these other towns in my future travels :)

Haha, yeah it does have a very forgotten about eiry feel to it. Haha, I loved that you camped in Hvar, people always assume its for the rich and famous but think you proved them wrong :D

So many beautiful places to visit! So little time… ;-) I need to finally get to Gdańsk – it would such a nice weekend trip, as I live just 3h by train from it. Some of those photos are just unbelievably beautiful! Thank you for making this list!

Ahh you really should, and head over to Sopot whilst you are there (especially in summer). Thanks for reading :)

You’ve 100% fuelled my list of “must visit’s” this year. As a side note. I once fell asleep on a train in Liechtenstein and seemingly did the opposite of what you did! I then had to sneak back on a train (platform in the middle of nowhere. With no ticket office) and back into the country (with a “slight” wait in the freezing cold snow.)

Haha, it must be something about the trains there! Who knew it would be so hard to find the country properly ;)

I like this list very much! I was so schocked to see Colchester on there (or Colch as it is locally known). It’s a town I visit sometimes and is only an hour away from me so I never really saw it as a tourist spot before!

Good old Colch. Had to through a few of my home favourites on there :)

Hi, glad to see the list they are all really awesome places. I like to travel to hidden places like you. Here is one, I think you would like it. “Blooming cherry tree street”, Bonn, Germany. It’s not that well known to people but it is one beautiful street. The city Bonn is okay, but this street grabed my attention. It’s best to go in the fall around August and September to get the view of the cherry trees.

This sounds beautiful, just had a quick Google. Germany is somewhere I really owe a longer visit. Safe travels :)

Glad to see Kutna Hora on your list – doesn’t get much mention and the town itself is often overshadowed by the bone church (which is honestly not fair, it’s a great little town).

Although the church is interesting I agree, the town itself deserves a lot more credit. It’s a great spot. Safe travels :)

The walk up to Saint Barbara’s church with all the statues lining the street was so pretty, and a little spooky in a fun sort of way because it was foggy and it the sun was starting to go down. Loved Kutna Hora :)

They sound like places I would love to visit :)

All of these places sound fantastic,I have visited many european countries but I see you don’t mention Greece! So much to discover there. You must visit Kalavrita. It can be reached by a narrow gauge railway as its at the top of a mountain.The train takes you through natrow gorges snd beautiful scenery until you reach the top. It’s history during world war 2 is tragic but I’ll leave you to gen up on that.

I really do need to get back to Greece. I have only been to Athens and Corfu so I have a lot more to explore there. I will certainly be sure to visit Kalavrita next time, sounds like the scenery is a must visit.

Neuschwanstein in Schwangeau is not really a town. The only thing there are the two castles, which are amazing. But the actual town is called Fussen, which is one of the most beautiful and quaint towns I’ve ever been to. It’s surrounded by amazing mountains and trees. Just make sure to get there early enough during the day because they will sell out of tickets, and close fairly early. I was only able to tour one of the castles because they sold out. But Fussen is incredible. The train ride there from Munich isn’t that long. I think it was about an hour and a half, and the ride is as equally beautiful and relaxing. It was definitely a great day trip.

You should also check out many of the small towns in Turkey. It’s one of my favorite countries (I’ve been to 16 so far). On the Mediterranean there is a town called Bodrum. There is a really cool castle there I spent the whole day exploring it. My boyfriend has a house in the town next to Bodrum, called Turgetreis. It’s a small town, but so beautiful. All along the Mediterranean. You can see the Greek islands from pretty much anywhere in the town. We rode scooters around the town and through the sidewalk, ate ice cream and drank fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and ate fresh bread, walked through the bizarre. It’s the place I always think of when I want to escape life. You can take a ferry ride to any of the Greek islands. You can take a bus ride to fehtiye (the Turkish dead sea). There are also small towns next to Turgetreis that are just so small, but beautiful. With little bracelet stands and homemade dishes and locally done paintings. All the beaches along these towns are great for relaxing. You’ll never want to leave, some tourists never do.

Ahhhh, I was misled into thinking Schwangau was a proper town – great to know, thank you. I’m all about castles so if there are two I’ll be a happy man.

Turkey is somewhere I really do need to explore more, three visits to Istanbul and still not made it out of the city. I think I’ll take your scooter tip and go for an explore along the coast, it sounds incredible. Safe travels :)

Great list! Love your top tip for Hof in Iceland, and interestingly I’ve been to Hvar years ago and thought it was incredible too. However friends went this year and thought it was over crowded now

Yeah, I bet most of Croatia is much busier than I remember it being. Hof is a must if you head to Iceland!

I did a Euro Trip in May-June and you hit the description of Bled and Ljubljana spot on – both amazing cities and Bled is a hidden gem. I have been to the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles and I stayed in the adorable little town of Fussen, Germany. It was only a short, inexpensive local bus ride away. I don’t recommend paying to see the inside of the Neuschwanstein because they don’t give you very much access and the beautiful views outside are well-worth it. I HIGHLY recommend walking around the lake (Alpsee) because it is absolutely incredible. Enjoy!

THANK YOU! Love more tips like this, will have a google and try to fit them in :) Safe travels in 2017!

I love that you have Carvoeiro in this list. I stayed in Carvoiero for a few days this summer and I just did not want to leave. I loved Port De Soller too but Pollenca in Mallorca is equally gorgeous and hidden.

Oooh Pollenca, I missed that one but it looks lovely. And yes, it is such a beautiful places – I used to live there and worked at Mungos Bar (if you had a chance to visit) – very overdue a return trip!

Meteora, Greece – beautiful monasteries – 5 or 6 of them. Easily accessible by train from Athens (4 hours). Quaint towns with fabulous restaurants, friendly people and great/inexpensive places to stay.

YES! This is so high on my list, I am sure once I finally visit it will make it onto next years copy :)

Armona island. A ferry ride from Olhao in Portugal. A taste of paradise. No cars!

WOW. Looks beautiful, thanks for the tip. Will see if I can fit it into my Portugal plans for next year :)

These are such great tips for when we don’t have too much time to jet around the world.

I grew up close to Bled and even remember ice-skating on the lake in winter, too bad it doesn’t really freeze anymore. Grmada is my favorite dessert there, a bit different and messier than the famous kremsnita ☺ Bohinj is another beautiful little area close to Bled, even wilder and perfect for a (cold) swim, while the Soča Valley is just completely stunning.

Maya | londondamsel.co.uk

Oh no, I missed a dessert?!?! Haha. Thank you, Bled is just so special I can’t wait to return and travel much more of the country.

Thanks and happy travels :)

Slovenia (and Lake Bled) is one of my most favorite places in Europe and is highly underrated.

I think that is going to change pretty quickly, it is getting a lot of attention now!

I would recommend the Alsacian region in France, particularly the town of Eguisheim, but also Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé and Obernai. While Equisheim, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé are beautiful but very crowded with tourists in the high season, Obernai is a bustling market town, with many nice restaurants, wine bars and little shops, as well as nice architecture.

Thank you for such different suggestions. They have gone on the list :)

Montenegro really surprised me at just how incredible the landscape was, especially around Pluzine :)

I love visiting smaller towns! Gdansk is high on my list — was just daydreaming about a (hopeful) 2017 trip to Poland. I’d also add Lviv in Ukraine — coffee and chocolate capital of the country! It also has a military themed bar and a secret Masonic restaurant. It’s on the western side of Ukraine, easily accessible from Poland and Hungary.

Gdansk is fantastic cause you have Sopot nearby too. I haven’t made it to Ukraine yet but hear a lot of positives about Lviv. – will check it out. Thanks :)

What a fantastic list! I want to go to them all ha ha! I’m hoping we can do a Scandinavia/Arctic trip maybe next year, and Iceland will most definitely be on that list so Glacier Beach looks incredible. Love your photos – stunning & inspiring.

I love Bled! The cake is a must see! Well, eat. I also recommend Beilstein in Germany – tiny and adorable and enticing. I went to Schwangau last month – book a tour so you can make sure you get in to the castle!

Ahhh the cake, ate far too much haha. Thanks for the tip, will check it out. Safe travels :)

Could definitely make a great European road trip of this list! So much fun would that be! Even though I was born and raised in Europe, this continent knows to surprise in the most wonderful ways each and every time

It is one of those continents that just keeps giving for sure! AND wow, what an epic road trip that would be.

Hi Dan, great list! I have been lucky enough to have been to a few of these myself. I have mapped the list out and shared it on my website, check it out if you like … http://www.thetravelblogs.com/europe/southern-europe

Keep up the amazing work and happy travels!

Hey Matt, Thanks so much – safe travels :)

Love this list! Of all the towns that I’ve visited on this list, I can definitely confirm that they are worth a visit! Especially Bled!! This list also gets top marks for including Colchester – I live so close by!

Haha, Colchester needs a little more internet loving I figured. Bled is just magical right? :)

OMG these photos…incredible!

Thank you Tamara :) Such beautiful places to visit!

Amazing list!

Thank you! Love all these spots :)

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Saturday, 11 May, 2024

These are the best European destinations in 2023

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Dana is a Travel Tomorrow reporter. She graduated in Political Science and International Relations. She moved to Brussels from Romania for her studies and Mont des Arts made her fall in love with the city and remain here. She loves animals, especially dogs, and everything food related, but dessert most of all.

The 20 most voted countries of the European Best Destination 2023 competition have been revealed. Over a period of 21 days, more than half a million travellers from 178 countries voted for their favourite places to visit this year.

More than 400 cities entered the competition, out of which 21 were pre-selected by the organisers based on the cultural and touristic offer of the destinations as well as their quality of life, their sustainable development and growth of popularity on social networks during the past 12 months.

This year’s edition saw the largest ever share of votes coming from outside Europe (52%), with less than half (48%) coming from within. This shows that, more than ever, foreign travellers have a strong interest in travelling to Europe.

The 20 winning cities are named Europe’s best for the year, enjoying a special place on European Best Destination’s website until 31 December, as well as promotion by the project’s media partners.

Warsaw is the best European destination to visit in 2023

Without further ado, here are the top European destinations to visit this year. Hopefully you will find inspiration among them for a city break, a sunny vacation, a romantic getaway, shopping, culture or immersion in nature.

1. Warsaw, Poland

Beautiful, friendly, green, open-minded, perfect for a family city break, a cultural city break, a shopping experience, a romantic stay, Warsaw, the European Best Destinations 2023 has something to offer to everyone. Take a walk in its beautiful parks, relax on its city beaches, take advantage of its great gastronomic offer, come at any time of the year and take advantage of its rich calendar of events.

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You will be dazzled by its emblematic places such as the Old Town Market Square and its colourful buildings, the Palace of Culture and Science which is the tallest building in Poland, the Łazienki Park and its palaces, pavilions and orangeries. During your stay in the Best European destination 2023 do not miss to stroll in “Krakowskie Przedmieście” the most prestigious street in Warsaw and to visit The Warsaw Barbican, the historic fortifications that once encircled the city.

2. Athens, Greece

The capital of Greece is a must-see destination for many reasons. First of all, it is the cradle of democracy and philosophy. Many assume that the blue of the sea, the incredible landscapes and the beautiful sunlight help spirits escape from everyday life and arise.

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Athens is a sophisticated cosmopolitan hub with excellent gastronomic delights, electrifying nightlife, creative vibes and a booming art scene. It is an artistic beacon of the ancient world with spectacular Mediterranean landscapes.

3. Maribor, Slovenia

The city of Maribor is a charming cultural, culinary and educational centre in the north-eastern part of Slovenia. The city’s deep cultural and historical roots date back to the Middle Ages and therefore the old city centre offers a rich heritage and a wealth of genuine experiences. In particular, the locals are proud of their Guinness World Record holder, the oldest grapevine in the world.

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Maribor – the European Capital of Culture in 2012 – has a reputation for a happy and hospitable city, hosting numerous international cultural and sporting events throughout the year. Don’t miss the lively atmosphere of summer festivals, and enjoy an active city break just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the city centre on the green Mt. Pohorje. The picturesque natural scenery offers endless opportunities for hiking, biking, skiing, and adrenaline sports.

4. Vienna, Austria

Vienna is an ideal destination for romantics: what better than a horse-drawn carriage ride followed by a visit to the Royal Palaces of Vienna? And in the evening, a waltz to the sound of Strauss’s Blue Danube to transport you to the time of the Empress Sissi? That said, Vienna is also the perfect city for a sparkling, original city break for friends, families, lovers and singles.

The city’s parks classified among the most beautiful city parks in Europe. Its amusement park, “The Prater”, is home to one of the most beautiful Ferris wheels in Europe. It is also considered to be one of the best places for a marriage proposal.

5. Cittadella, Italy

Cittadella is located in the heart of the Veneto Region, in Northern Italy, in a strategic position because it is close to all the most important cities in the area. It is located 60 km from Venice and Verona and only 3h drive from Milan or Florence. From Cittadella you can easily reach both the sea of the Venetian Lagoon and the Dolomite mountains with a daily trip. It is obviously an ideal starting point, given its central position, to visit the Veneto and all of Northern Italy.

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Cittadella is not only the most beautiful walled city in all of Europe, but also the best-preserved walled city in all of Europe. Its origin is medieval, its foundation dates back to 1220. This explains the high historical value of its walls, which in 2020 celebrated 800 years of history and foundation. The walls are impressive and are the symbol of all the walled cities in the area because Cittadella is the only walled city in all of Europe to have a medieval walkway, elliptical in shape and completely walkable.

6. Essen, Germany

Essen is the most exciting big city you may not have heard of before. Germany’s third greenest city, Capital of Culture 2010, European Green Capital and pulsating metropolis in the heart of the Ruhr region. Hardly any other German city stands for so many exciting contrasts.

Here, urban trendy districts meet historic old towns, high culture meets street art, lush green meadows and forests meet the incomparable charm of the spoil heaps of former collieries, the UNESCO World Heritage Zollverein meets the magnificent Villa Hügel, the former family seat of the Krupp family, and a high-tech city tour that is unique in the world meets the oldest fully sculptural statue of the Virgin Mary in the world – the Golden Madonna in Essen Cathedral.

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Explore the green south along Baldeneysee and the Ruhr valley or the urban north with its industrial culture and the old colliery settlements. Discover the city on around 260 km of cycle paths, by train or bus. In hardly any other large city you can reach so many highlights from the city centre in less than 20 minutes by car. And if you simply want to unwind, enjoy the tranquillity of the central 70-hectare Grugapark or the Baldeneysee leisure paradise with its numerous water sports activities.

7. Veszprém, Hungary

The city of Veszprém, the European Capital of Culture 2023, is wedged between the wooded slopes of the Bakony Hills and the northern shore of Lake Balaton. It is a place of rare and distinct natural and environmental assets and an attractive cityscape. This amazing city has been a meeting place for cultures for a thousand years.

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Take your time to explore the contemporary art galleries and experience a diverse creative community’s art through the frequently changing exhibitions. The vibrant music life and the diverse music festivals play an even more significant role in shaping the cultural life of the city. High-quality gastronomy enterprises also make the city inviting: cosy cafés and confectioneries, atmospheric bistros and first-rate restaurants.

8. London, UK

Capital of the United Kingdom, London brings together like no other destination traders, businesspeople, eccentrics, artists, creators, designers and more. Its tourist offer goes well beyond Big Ben, the London Eye and Madame Tussauds, which will always delight young and old. London is also an atmosphere, parks of rare beauty ranked among the most attractive city parks in Europe.

Head for Portobello flea markets and colourful houses that are the backdrop to legendary films like “Notting Hill”. Discover the eccentric and colourful neighbourhood of Camden Town. Stroll between the tidy commercial streets of Regent Street and Oxford Street to the designer, artistic and independent shopping districts of Carnaby Street or Covent Garden; do not miss the gay and LGBTQ district of Soho and marvel at the theatre posters hosting world renowned musicals.

9. Grenoble Alpes, France

Grenoble has an exceptional geographical location, nestled at the heart of emblematic mountain ranges like Vercors, Chartreuse and Belledonne. A pioneer, innovative and inspiring city, the Capital of the Alps is constantly reinventing itself.

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It is the ideal destination for an urban and nature-based stay, accessible without a car, offering a subtle balance between culture, living arts, wide open spaces and outdoor activities in winter as in summer (ski touring at ‘Col de Porte’, urban via-ferrata on the foothills of the Bastille, canoeing on the Isère River, paragliding in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, night skiing with breath-taking views of Grenoble).

10. Mannheim, Germany

Mannheim is the exciting city of experiences at the heart of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. There’s always something going on here. Pure zest for life, enjoyment, a multicultural flair and a jam-packed event calendar await travellers. Known as the city of squares, Mannheim impresses with a host of architectural treasures: the baroque palace, a historic water tower and an Art Nouveau square.

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People from more than 170 nations shape the atmosphere of this university city. The city of culture and festivals attracts everyone from theatre lovers to techno fans, jazz connoisseurs or cinema buffs. While the Reiss-Engelhorn museum complex and Kunsthalle art gallery whisk visitors away into worlds of experiences ranging from the early days of human history to contemporary art, the murals by graffiti artists form an open-air gallery for international street art. The green city on the banks of two rivers combines urbanity with recreational activities in almost entirely untouched natural settings.

11. Porto-Santo, Madeira Islands

This island, little sister of the main island of Madeira, is accessible by plane or by ferry and offers wellness hotels, trendy bars and restaurants, the most beautiful sunsets in Europe, a sunny climate almost all year round. Porto Santo is an invitation to discover paradisiacal beaches, historical heritage and geological exuberance.

Visiting Porto Santo is discovering a golden island, famous for its nine-kilometre sandy beach. The smallest inhabited island of the Madeira Archipelago is only an hour and a half flight away from Lisbon, in the extreme southwest of Europe, 500 km from the African coast and 1000 km from the European continent.

12. Toledo, Spain

Toledo blends eras, styles and identities since it is both one of the best medieval destinations in Europe but also one of the Best Erasmus destinations in Europe, with its famous world-renowned University. A young and historic city, Toledo is authentic and sparkling, traditional and modern.

‘Toledo’ comes from the Latin word “Toletum” which means “fortified population”. Come and discover this city built by the Romans in the 2 nd century BC. Located in the centre of Spain, Toledo is within easy reach from Madrid (30 min by train).

13. Faial, Azores

This year go wild and green and experience eco-responsible adventures in the Azores. Greener than Iceland, less expensive, with a more moderate and milder climate, the Azores are a prime destination for lovers of nature, outdoor sports, hiking, but also gastronomy and even for lovers since they are ranked among the best wedding destinations in Europe.

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Considered by the European Commission as a European Destination of Excellence (EDEN), Faial has many sweeping landscapes, unique birds and plants and iconic geological formations, all of them surrounded by a magnificent blue, pure and lively sea. With Sao Jorges and Pico they form a triptych of unique and bewitching islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The biodiversity of Faial is very rich: 855 vascular plant species that can be found throughout the island, 57 of which are endemic (that exist only in the Azores). The sea of Faial is an extraordinary mosaic of colours, shadows, smells, sounds, silences and emotions, and is emblematic in the life forms it holds, such as cetaceans, seabirds, sharks and all other inhabitants.

14. Rhodes, Greece

The island of Rhodes is a perfect destination for lovers of old stones, heritage, fortresses and castles. This sublime medieval city is one of the best preserved in Europe, so do not miss a visit to the Palace of the Grand Master. When visiting Rhodes do not miss the Ancient Acropolis of Lindos, the historic Rhodes Old Town or just relax on Agios Pavlos beach.

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Rhodes is one of the most beautiful islands in Greece and certainly one of the most beautiful islands in Europe. It is a perfect destination for any type of travellers.

15. Copenhagen, Denmark

One of the trendiest capitals in Europe awaits you this year. Come and see for yourself: the thrift stores, independent boutiques, the Tivoli Garden ranked among the best amusement parks in Europe, Copenhagen’s legendary canal with its romantic cruises and of course the “Copenhagen Hidden Gems”.

There are a thousand activities and experiences to enjoy in Copenhagen. Taste the local specialties and find out why Copenhagen is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. Copenhagen is also the centre of Craft Beer.

16. Tossa de Mar, Spain

Tossa de Mar is enchanting. Its pine forests very near the sea and medieval walls are a magical setting for a perfect holiday in Europe. Tossa de Mar is one of the best hidden gems of the Costa Brava and one of the most beautiful secret destinations in Spain.

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Located just 1h30 from the centre of Barcelona, Tossa de Mar seems unreal: several fine golden sand beaches and a magnificent medieval castle await you. The sweet scent of pine trees is floating in the beautiful fishing village. Tossa de Mar is a destination to put on top of your travel bucket list if you want to discover one of the most beautiful places in Spain and one of the Best Destinations to visit in Europe.

17. Ascona-Locarno, Switzerland

This year stay in Ascona-Locarno and discover a little corner of paradise and one of the Best Places to visit in Europe in 2023. Nature is quiet, beautiful and peaceful. This destination is enriching from a cultural, gastronomic, sporting point of view or even if you are looking for a romantic getaway or a holiday in a city on a human scale with your family.

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The Swiss part of Lake Maggiore, surrounded by the towns Locarno, Ascona, Brissago and further small villages, prides itself on its numerous and extraordinary natural beauty spots. Thanks to the enchanting flowers and plants from all 5 continents, the Botanical Garden of the Brissago Island is of major importance. Near the lakeshore and the centre of Locarno lies the Camellia Park with over 900 species, some of which are very rare.

Locarno is recognized worldwide for its International Film Festival, the biggest cultural event in Switzerland and one of the most important ones in Europe. It also has a strong relationship with flowers: lovers of nature are drawn by the spectacular shows of camellias, mimosas and magnolias.

18. Milos, Greece

Treat yourself to a relaxing day on the beautiful beach of Sarakiniko or on the most exclusive beach of Firiplaka. For history lovers, do not forget to visit the Ancient Theatre of Milos and the Milos Archaelogical Museum.

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Milos Island was voted among the Best Natural Pools in Europe, Best Beaches in Europe (Sarakiniko Beach and its famous volcanic rocks which offer sunbathers a lunar scenery), Best Sculptures in Europe with the Venus of Milo now exhibited in Paris and discovered by a peasant on the island of Milos in Greece by pure chance. Finally Milos is obviously ranked among the Most Beautiful Islands in Greece.

19. Prague, Czech Republic

If you wake up a little earlier than usual, at 5.30 am-6am, you can walk around Prague before city life starts up again. Discover its markets, cafes and restaurants at dawn, watching the sun rise over the most beautiful monuments of Prague. This little tip will cost you nothing (other than a few hours of sleep) and will allow you to see Prague from a different perspective.

The city ranked among the Best Christmas Markets in Europe, Best destinations to celebrate New Year’s Eve, Best honeymoon destinations in Europe, Best places to propose in Europe and Best Fairy tale destinations in Europe.

20. Sóller, Spain

Sóller is the most beautiful village on the island of Mallorca. Surrounded by mountains, it is quiet, relaxing and perfect for a family holiday. Although the location is isolated, Sóller is well connected to Palma de Mallorca, (30 minutes from the airport ) by many lines of trams and buses. And, if you like nature, hiking, gastronomy, Sóller is for you.

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It ranked among the best hidden gems in Europe, Best honeymoon destinations in Europe, Best hidden gems in Spain, but also best cycling destinations in Europe and best destinations to visit by train in Europe (the little train that goes up to the top of the mountain is charming and authentic and will appeal to the whole family). Sóller also ranked among the best places to get retired in Europe.

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The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2023

Where to go in 2023, according to T+L editors — for a breath of fresh air, a big-city adventure, or a glimpse at the future of travel.

Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey.

With much of the world reopened, 2023 is shaping up to be the year travel officially bounces back. We made our list of the 50 best destinations for 2023 a little differently this year: We asked Travel + Leisure's editors where they want to go in the months ahead. Some are raring to get back to Japan, while others have the Trans-Bhutan Trail on their lists. Still more are planning a sail around Greenland, a wine-tasting trip on California’s central coast, and a visit to France’s next big wine region (which is, as it happens, tiny).

A few up-and-coming culinary destinations made our list, as did a remarkable piece of art, the size and scale of which boggles the imagination. While many of the team’s picks are remote, breathe-in-that-fresh-air kinds of places, our list doesn’t skimp on cities where the hustle and bustle is part of the fun.

But with so many choices now back on the map, there are as many styles of trips as there are places to explore. That’s why, for the first time in recent memory, we’ve broken our list of best places to go into categories.

The hope is that, whatever it is you’re after in the year ahead, you’ll find it in one of these 50 places. And who knows? We may just see you there.

— Edited by Paul Brady and Maya Kachroo-Levine

Destination by Category

For cultural riches, alexandria, virginia.

K. Summerer for Visit Alexandria

With postcard-perfect cobblestone streets and quick access to the wineries of northern Virginia , Alexandria is an easy city to love. But these days, the reason to go is to see how effectively the city is confronting its own history, as destinations across the American South grapple with the legacy of the Confederacy . Alexandria, which was founded as a tobacco port in 1749, was for decades of the 19th century the site of the country’s largest domestic slave trade . Today, the Freedom House Museum has three new exhibitions honoring the people who were forcibly brought here. Meanwhile, the African American Heritage Trail, which opened in 2020, follows the Potomac River and encompasses nearly 200 years of history at 11 stops, such as the Torpedo Factory , where many Black men and women worked during World War II. An extension of the route will debut in February 2023 with 20 new stops, including Waterfront Park, the port from which enslaved people were trafficked to places like New Orleans. At Jones Point Park, visitors can learn about Benjamin Banneker , an inventor, mathematician, and free African American from Maryland who was instrumental in the 1791 surveying team that determined the border of the new U.S. capital of Washington, D.C. (For an even deeper look at the city’s Black experience, book with Manumission Tours , which is run by a fourth-generation Alexandrian .) The city’s most elegant stay is Morrison House Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection , which was recently voted one of the best city hotels in the continental U.S. in T+L’s 2022 World’s Best Awards. A new Hotel AKA is slated to open in Old Town in winter 2023. — Liz Cantrell

Cairo and the Nile

Emli Bendixen

It’s almost here: After more than a decade of construction — to say nothing of the hype — the Grand Egyptian Museum may finally open, just a stone’s throw from the Great Pyramids of Giza, this spring. What to expect? More than 1 million square feet of exhibition space, treasures including a 40-foot-high statue of Ramses II, outdoor gardens, and an expansive plaza from which visitors can take in the desert surroundings. Meanwhile, a number of new and luxurious ships have started sailing the Nile: Among the best choices are the Viking Osiris , an all-veranda vessel carrying 82 passengers, and the opulent Sphinx from Uniworld Boutique River Cruises , which has 42 cabins swathed in marble and hand-carved wood, with beds dressed in fine Egyptian cotton sheets. The hotel scene is also, thankfully, getting a refresh with a new Mandarin Oriental slated for downtown Cairo in 2024; the forthcoming 200-room Four Seasons Hotel Luxor is scheduled to debut in 2025 — not that you should wait that long to see the ancient Valley of the Kings. — John Wogan

“City,” Nevada

City, 1970 – 2022 © Michael Heizer. Courtesy Triple Aught Foundation. Photo: Eric Piasecki

Even in a state known for its vast, empty landscapes, Basin and Range National Monument , about a two-hour drive north of Las Vegas, takes “remote” to a new level. The 704,000-acre preserve, created in 2015, provides endless opportunities for hiking, climbing, camping, and cycling; its desert valleys and mountain ranges are also dotted with Indigenous rock art sites. But the reason to go now is “City,” the single largest contemporary artwork in the world, which opened to visitors in September 2022. Made from dirt, rock, and concrete, the monumental open-air sculpture was more than 50 years in the making, a collection of mounds, depressions, and stelae conceived by the artist Michael Heizer . The endeavor — which was made possible by joint contributions from art institutions around the country, including LACMA and MoMA — will open to the public for the 2023 season by reservation only . The mile-and-a-half-long sculpture feels at once ancient and futuristic, a destination just as awe-inspiring as the natural one surrounding it. — John Wogan

Havana, Cuba

Brad Ogbonna

The can-you, can’t-you continues, but the Biden administration has made it a touch easier to visit Cuba as a result of its May 2022 relaxation of some restrictions on travel to the island. These days, Americans can go as part of a group tour or visit individually on a "support for the Cuban people" license, travel advisor Molly Layman told T+L. “It’s one of 12 authorized categories of travel to the island,” she said, adding that “it requires citizens to have a full-time schedule of activities that support the Cuban people, which is easily fulfilled through buying services from Cuban entrepreneurs, staying in local homes, dining in private restaurants, and booking cultural activities.” Those ready to take to the vibrant streets of Havana will also need a visa, said Layman, who works as director of operations at tour company Cuba Candela . Travelers can handle that, she said, “on the day of travel at the airport check-in desk or from a tour provider.” (The cost varies depending on where a visa is purchased but rarely exceeds $100.) While the hoops are undeniable, they may well be worth jumping through in the year ahead. — Christine Burroni

Tangier, Morocco

Issam Elhafti/Getty Images

For decades, this northern Moroccan city has attracted a stream of bohemian expats including, most famously, beat-generation writers Paul Bowles and William S. Burroughs. That’s how it cultivated a reputation as a place where foreigners went to live, rather than simply visit. But Tangier’s reputation could change this spring, thanks in part to the opening of Villa Mabrouka — British designer Jasper Conran’s second Moroccan property, which follows the 2018 opening of L'Hôtel Marrakech . The one-time private residence of fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, the hillside property has gorgeous views over the Bay of Tangier within walking distance to the city’s frenetic medina. Villa Mabrouka joins other newcomers, like the Museum of Contemporary Art , a space displaying work by regional artists, also called the Kasbah Museum, as it's housed in the renovated, 17th-century Kasbah prison. Also new on the proverbial block is the just-opened Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier , set on a refurbished, century-old estate near the old city. Anticipation is already growing for a recently announced Waldorf Astoria, a 115-room and 21-villa resort set to open in 2025. — John Wogan

Lakes Region, Turkey

Istanbul and Bodrum are both rightly popular, but U.S. travelers will find much to love in other pockets of this diverse country — including this inland part of southwestern Anatolia, which travel advisor Engin Kadaster predicts “will be very popular in the years to come.” Kadaster has been including the Lakes Region on more and more itineraries for her clients, and helped coordinate a story in T+L’s August 2022 issue that included destinations such as Isparta, the region’s largest city and a center of rose and lavender production, and the ancient hilltop city of Sagalassos. The region’s most famous feature — naturally — is a series of tectonic lakes, created by ancient earthquakes, in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, but it also holds many ancient Greek and Roman archaeological sites. A blessed lack of mass tourism means that this isn’t a hot spot for luxury hotels, but cozy places like Eskiciler Konaği , a renovated century-old mansion near Lake Eğirdir, or Aliya Konak , a seasonal farmstay on a working lavender operation in Isparta, are warm and welcoming. Intrepid travelers can ditch the hotels altogether by camping along the new Pisidia Heritage Trail , a waymarked route that unites the Lakes Region’s splendid nature and unique history as it passes through ancient sites like Kremna, Adada, and Yazılı Canyon. — Hannah Walhout

The United Kingdom

Courtesy of Peninsula London

T+L’s Destination of the Year may be undergoing a once-in-a-lifetime period of transition, but some things never change. For one, the country’s historic cities will always be home to hotels that mix stately grandeur and affable service. This past summer saw the opening of Gleneagles Townhouse , a chic, urban outpost of the iconic Gleneagles resort, in the heart of Edinburgh; next year London will welcome the cool glam of the Peter Marino–designed Peninsula London . Of the U.K.’s many world-class museums, two have recently gotten upgrades: Glasgow’s Burrell Collection , a stunning assortment of international art and artifacts, and the Manchester Museum , which is dedicated to the natural sciences. The Factory , Manchester’s new cultural center, pays tribute to the famous record label behind '80s rock bands the Happy Mondays and New Order. Gourmands (and the just plain hungry) will want to sample the broad range of culinary delights at London’s new Arcade Food Hall at Battersea Power Station, the latest stage in the rehabilitation of the historic building. No visit to the U.K. is complete without venturing out into its peerless countryside, and Scotland’s first rewilding center, Dundreggan , is one noteworthy place to take it all in: Managed by charitable organization Trees for Life , this 10,000-acre estate on the shores of Scotland’s Loch Ness plans to open a visitor’s center by the end of 2023. Meanwhile, the new Two Toms Trail in Lancashire covers 25 miles and features some of England’s most stunning scenery. — Peter Terzian

Getty Images

The perennially popular city made headlines in 2022 for its day-trip entrance fee , which takes effect in January 2023. But why only go for the day? The Venice Architecture Biennale runs May 20, 2023 to Nov. 26, 2023, with global exhibits curated by Lesley Lokko, the first Black architect to organize the event. Architecture lovers will also want to visit the Procuratie Vecchie, the 16th-century building along St. Mark's Square. Though its façade is one of Italy’s most photographed, the public has only recently been allowed inside, after the completion of a five-year refurbishment led by David Chipperfield Architects . Those looking for nostalgic luxury should plan to arrive in the second half of the year, with their bags packed for a train trip: Belmond’s iconic Venice Simplon-Orient Express will unveil two newly restored carriages from the 1920s and ‘30s in June, with opulent suites modeled to mirror the landscapes of Europe. — Nina Ruggiero

For the Food — and Wine

Courtesy of Four Seasons

It may have a reputation as a stopover city, but Athens deserves a closer look — and at least a few nights — in the year ahead. Not far from the Piraeus port , where travelers hop both domestic ferries and cruise ships that criss-cross the Mediterranean, the Athens Riviera has seen a surge of development. Four Seasons Astir Palace , which opened amid the pandemic, has a private beach on the sparkling Saronic Sea and two spaces designed by Swedish architect Martin Brudnizki, including a midcentury modern cocktail bar and Pelagos restaurant, which has already earned its first Michelin star. In the spring of 2023, One&Only Aesthesis will open just a few miles away, also along the waterfront. Next door is the brand-new Experience Park, with trails, fitness classes, fountains, a Zen garden, and bountiful native plants and flowers; it’s part of an $8-billion waterfront green space called The Ellinikon , on the former site of the city’s international airport, that’s still under development. In central Athens, the 2022 opening of the 43-room Xenodocheio Milos hotel in the Pláka neighborhood brings a bit of cosmopolitan verve, from the team behind international restaurant brand Estiatorio Milos . And while the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the Acropolis isn’t new — the ancient amphitheater first opened about 1,900 years ago — it will bring back a full schedule of shows in 2023 after a pandemic-era slowdown. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

Central Florida

Courtesy of Small World Vacations

This fall, Hurricane Ian took 81 lives and caused $60 billion in damage across Florida. While the hard-hit southwestern part of the state continues to recover, Visit Florida president and CEO Dana Young said in October that other regions are ready to welcome travelers back. Central Florida in particular is worth a closer look, thanks to its ever-growing hospitality scene. Orlando and Tampa recently won a combined 14 Michelin accolades in 2022, when the guidebook publisher released its first-ever guide to Florida restaurants. The area’s family-friendly draws are better than ever: Disney’s recently opened, highly immersive Star Wars : Galactic Starcruiser is a two-night adventure that takes themed entertainment to the next level by allowing guests to eat, sleep, and breathe Star Wars with lightsaber training, out-of-this-world dining (blue shrimp, anyone?), and a trip to Batuu at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Meantime, Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebrations continue through March 2023, with limited-time eats, nighttime spectaculars, and festive décor. In Tampa, the latest Edition Hotel just opened with a sprawling rooftop pool club and restaurant from chef John Fraser. And getting both to and around Central Florida is easier than ever, with the recent opening of Orlando International Airport’s new 15-gate Terminal C and Brightline rail service connecting Orlando to South Florida destinations including Miami and West Palm Beach beginning in 2023. — Elizabeth Rhodes

The Jura, France

Guillaume Megevand

There’s a tiny French region just west of the border with Switzerland that’s producing some big, big wines. Thing is, only a tiny fraction of those bottles ever make it to the U.S., as T+L recently reported . That means you’ve got to go to the Jura — preferably before everyone gets wise to the area’s seven Appellations of Controlled Origin (AOCs) . Among serious oenophiles, word is already spreading about the vin jaune, “yellow wine,” made from native savagnin grapes and aged in the Jura’s distinct sous voile style, in which the wine matures “under a veil.” Not that wine is the only draw. The Jura also boasts a comté cheese trail — as if the région weren’t French enough — that connects no fewer than 150 fromageries and dairy farms. Hiking in the Jura Mountains, through Baume-les-Messieurs village and to the Hérisson waterfalls , is equally enticing, particularly as an antidote to all the wine- and cheese-focused sightseeing. Most surprising, perhaps, is just how accessible this under-the-radar area can be. Getting to the Jura takes two hours from the French capital by high-speed train , departing from Paris’s Gare de Lyon. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

San Luis Obispo County, California

Courtesy of Visit SLO CAL/Acacia Productions

It’s time to stop sleeping on “SLO.” Once considered a quick Pacific Coast Highway stopover for those visiting Hearst Castle — which reopened this past spring 2022 after a two-year closure — the central coast county is now a draw in its own right. SLO’s seven cities, including Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, and San Luis Obispo, are all buzzing, and the area just earned official American Viticulture Area (AVA) recognition in 2022, thanks to more than 200 wineries, many of which are family owned . Two new Nomada Hotel Group properties opening in 2023 will welcome the inevitable influx of oenophiles: Farmhouse, a collection of 26 rustic-chic cottages with fire pits and hammocks, arrives in January; while River Lodge, a mile from the Paso Robles wine trail, is slated for May. Also being reimagined under Nomada is the Gold Rush–era Pozo Saloon , reopening in the town of Santa Margarita in August with outdoor soaking tubs, live music, trails for hiking and horseback riding, and a glamping site. Paso Robles just notched its first Michelin star ( Six Test Kitchen ), while San Luis Obispo’s SLO Public Market will welcome two new restaurants, All Good Grill and Todo Bueno , in 2023. Nature lovers should make a beeline for the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove : The insects were recently put on the endangered list, but this spot still draws over 10,000 annually. — Nina Ruggiero

Victoria, Australia

Matteo Colombo/Getty Images

Australia has reopened, and this southern state is a particularly appealing corner of the country these days, thanks to hot springs resorts that are poised to make it the next big wine-and-wellness destination: Alba Thermal Springs and Spa on the Mornington Peninsula was the first to open in September 2022, with pools powered by solar and a commitment to achieving climate-positive operations. Metung Hot Springs in East Gippsland is set to follow in late 2022, with updated facilities in an area long known for its thermal waters. Phillip Island Hot Springs , which distinguishes itself with several saltwater features, plans to open in early 2023. Out on the Mornington Peninsula — a destination long popular for its world-class wineries — the InterContinental Sorrento began accepting reservations this past August 2022. Melbourne, Victoria’s appealing capital city, is also expecting new openings, including the intimate, seven-suite Hotel Vera Ballarat by year’s end, followed by the highly anticipated Ritz-Carlton Melbourne , set to open in 2023 in Australia’s tallest tower. Qantas is making it easier to get there, too: By December 2022, the airline will have four nonstop flights a week connecting Dallas and Melbourne, a welcome bridge between Victoria and the middle of the U.S. — Sarah Bruning

For Big-city Thrills

Jonathan Filskov/Getty Images

The eternally cool city will highlight its prowess with all things design, as the official UNESCO World Capital of Architecture in 2023. Venues across Copenhagen — contemporary parks, starchitect-designed skyscrapers, even typically humdrum infrastructure like playgrounds — will host events and visitors for a look at the future of the urban environment. One highlight will be the Copenhill Power Plant, the cleanest waste-to-energy plant in the world — that’s also the site of an artificial ski slope. “We’re going to do a lot of open-house events where 50 different venues are going to be open to the public that are usually closed to visitors,” said Copenhagen’s city architect Camilla van Deurs, who mentioned as examples churches; bridges; and the Danmarks Nationalbank, the central bank building planned in part by Danish design legend Arne Jacobsen. “Superkilen,” van Deurs said, “is a playground for kids and adults — and a cultural hub in the middle of Nørrebro, the most ethnically mixed neighborhood in Copenhagen.” New places to stay in the city also deliver a signature blend of modernism and hygge: Find it at the single-suite Kaj Hotel , which floats on a canal near Copenhagen Opera House, or the colorful new 25 Hours Hotel Copenhagen . — Tim Latterner

Lance Childers/Houston First

The 2020 opening of the Kinder Building, the latest addition to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston , cemented the city’s spot among true international arts destinations. The recent reopening of the Rothko Chapel , after a $35-million renovation, has only reinforced that reputation. Today, a wealth of new ventures is poised to raise the profile of Texas’s largest city in other categories as well. Opening next year, the JMK5 Arena will transform a disused racetrack into a 12,500-seat concert stadium poised to rival the venues of Vegas. It arrives on the heels of the relatively more intimate 713 Music Hall , which has attracted artists ranging from Judas Priest to Lil Nas X. The Houston Zoo is undergoing a much-delayed expansion that will include a Galápagos Islands–themed exhibit, which will feature an underwater tunnel and a penguin habitat. And the Houston Botanic Gardens , which opened in 2020, features 132 acres of diverse ecosystems, from wetlands to prairie. — Peter Terzian

Courtesy of Rosewood Villa Magna

The Spanish capital may finally, thankfully, be shaking off its reputation as the country’s somewhat stuffy business hub. A flurry of tony hotel openings throughout the city has helped, by bringing plenty of personality to what had been a staid scene. It began in 2021 with the arrival of the Mandarin Oriental Ritz ; Rosewood Villa Magna ; and Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel . Then came the Edition in April 2022 . Breathing new life into the former Monte de Piedad de Madrid building, the hotel has 177 rooms, 21 suites, and two penthouses, plus two restaurants with food from chef Enrique Olvera and the culinary team behind Mexico City’s acclaimed Pujol . Elsewhere in Madrid, an already electric food scene has only gotten better — particularly in the glamorous Salamanca neighborhood and architecture-rich Chamberi district — with new offerings representing everything from Middle Eastern falafel and Argentinian asado to Spanish-Indian fusion and globally inflected vegan fare. — Sarah Bruning

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Welcome to the new Nashville. The city’s tourism renaissance is being fueled, in part, by a slew of just-opened hotels, including a Conrad , 1 Hotel , and a Soho House . (A Four Seasons just popped up in the bustling SoBro neighborhood, too.) The newly redesigned Hermitage Hotel , meanwhile, now has the first Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant in the South. The Fifth + Broadway complex has new outposts of old favorites, like fried chicken staple Hattie B’s , and the expansive Assembly Food Hall has dozens of choices, including bars, plural. That inimitable Nashville energy can still be found on Broadway, at honky-tonk bars that go until all hours, but there’s also Justin Timberlake’s sexy Twelve Thirty Club or live events like CMA Fest , which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023. Getting there has never been easier, thanks to low-cost carriers such as Breeze Airways and Southwest, both of which have recently added more flights from both coasts, not to mention places like Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Ohio’s Akron-Canton Airport. — Elizabeth Rhodes

Forget the notion that Steel City is just a town for football and factories. The metropolis is working on new cultural destinations that can’t be missed: While the next lunar lander is currently being built in Pittsburgh, the Moonshot Museum , which opened in October 2022, is putting on display mankind’s history of getting to and exploring the lunar surface. The Carnegie Museum of Art is hosting its 58th Carnegie International Exhibition, a huge temporary show of both historical and contemporary art which runs through April 2, 2023. The childhood home of playwright August Wilson has been restored and turned into a museum, complete with studios for arts programming. The city also has a new spate of hotels and bars drawing crowds, like the modern-chic Joinery Hotel Pittsburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton and The Industrialist, Autograph Collection in the Arrott building, one of the city’s first skyscrapers. Across the river in Allentown, Bottlerocket Social Hall is the perfect place to post up with locals and, yes, watch the game. — Tim Latterner

San Francisco

Ryan White/Parks Conservancy

Despite the so-called national conversation, the apocalypse has not yet come to San Francisco. True, this city had the most extreme wealth divide of any in California in 2020, and the seams here can be especially visible. But all the reasons SF shines — the arts, the nature, the dim sum, the sourdough — haven’t gone anywhere. And a slate of recent infrastructure and cultural projects show that many in the city are working to make it a better place to live and a more compelling destination to visit. The new Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco walks the walk of its focus on equity: the museum is completely free and has opted against a permanent collection in order to direct more funds to artists and staff. The city’s urban national park unit, the Presidio of San Francisco , recently gained 14 acres with the opening of the Presidio Tunnel Tops , a green space designed by James Corner Field Operations, the lead firm for New York City’s High Line, which incorporated input from more than 10,000 residents. Another massive community-led park and mixed-use development is underway in India Basin , with sustainability and affordable housing as stated core values. The hospitality scene is also on the come up: 1 Hotel San Francisco , The Line SF , and Beacon Grand (formerly the Sir Francis Drake) have all opened in the past six months, and Auberge Resorts Collection is slated to debut a new hotel in the Hearst Building in 2023. — Hannah Walhout

Don Eim/Travel + Leisure

American travelers can finally get back to the South Korean capital after years of pandemic restrictions — and there’s plenty to catch up on. The city’s arts scene is buzzing, thanks to new venues such as Konig Gallery , not to mention the announcement from Seoul Museum of Art that three new wings will launch by 2024. (An added boost came from Seoul hosting its first edition of Frieze this past September, during which many commenters asked if K-art may well be the next K-pop.) Meanwhile the destination has seen a number of new hotels open, including the surprisingly trendy Fairmont Ambassador Seoul and Josun Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seoul Gangnam , with its sweeping views of the globally famous district and stunning public spaces, including 1914 Lounge & Bar. — Tim Latterner

For Moments on the Water

Cape verde, the gambia, ghana, and guinea-bissau.

Arnau Ferrer

Though Ghana has, in recent years, surged in popularity as a destination for American visitors , particularly Black Americans , West Africa remains unfamiliar to many. One solution may be the innovative West Africa Archipelago cruises that Hurtigruten Expeditions aims to launch in November 2023. These two-week trips, aboard the line’s 180-passenger Spitsbergen , will stop in ports in four countries, with a huge array of activities on the expedition schedule: visits to historically important sites including Gorée Island ; wildlife-watching forays to spot hippos and manatees; and adventures such as scaling volcanoes and scrambling across lava fields. Though some cruise lines occasionally stop in West African ports, Hurtigruten’s deep focus on the region represents a step change — one that’s driven by passenger demand, said Asta Lassesen, the CEO of Hurtigruten Expeditions. “These islands are not as known as our other destinations, but they are teeming with unique wildlife, different cultures, and offer completely different experiences than you’d find in a traditional cruise destination,” Lassesen told T+L. — Paul Brady

Coastal Ecuador

Courtesy of Kontiki Expeditions

Many travelers know the historic capital city of Quito and the incredibly biodiverse Galápagos Islands , but now's the time to visit Ecuador’s stunning Pacific coastline. From surf towns like Montañita to the preserved beaches and cloud forest of Machalilla National Park, coastal Ecuador is packed with outdoor adventures and stunning scenery. Kontiki Expeditions unlocks the region with eight-day yacht cruises that visit five of the country’s 24 provinces, hitting destinations including Isla de la Plata and Salinas. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Kontiki Expeditions operates an intimate ship with just nine staterooms, refined outdoor and indoor spaces, and a nearly 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio. (Guests can book an individual room, or charter the entire 18-passenger yacht.) Getting there has gotten smoother, too: U.S. airlines including American, JetBlue, and Spirit now offer direct flights to Guayaquil, from which Kontiki Expeditions trips depart. — Elizabeth Rhodes

The Explora I

Courtesy of EXPLORA I

Just don’t call it a cruise: Upstart travel company Explora Journeys describes its itineraries as “ocean journeys,” nevermind the fact they’re aboard the newly built, 461-suite Explora I . The vessel is slated to hit the water in July 2023, with trips in the Mediterranean that visit popular cruise destinations such as Barcelona and Civitavecchia, near Rome, as well as lesser-visited ports including Patmos, Greece, and St.-Tropez, France. “It’s a new style of ocean travel that connects you with the things that are important,” Explora CEO Michael Ungerer told T+L. “There’s a craving to learn something new and make authentic connections without leaving your tried and tested luxury environment and services behind.” Indeed, life aboard won’t be monastic: Explora I will have 18 restaurants and bars and a massive spa, among other luxuries. Still, should all that ocean journeying become a bit too wearying, guests can always retreat to their suites, all of which have private verandas. In fact, when it debuts, Explora I will have the most space per passenger of any vessel anywhere. — Paul Brady

Antarctica is so last year. While Greenland may not have penguins, it does promise plenty of beautiful landscapes and seemingly endless horizons. The newly christened National Geographic Resolution will sail the Eastern shore of Greenland in June 2023, with opportunities to explore the Rømer Fjord depending on conditions. Ponant has a dozen distinct itineraries scheduled for 2023, including a number of round trips from Kangerlussuaq, in Western Greenland, that explore Baffin Bay. The brand-new Seabourn Venture, the line’s first expedition ship, will also be there in 2023; one particularly compelling August itinerary starts in Iceland, spends nearly three weeks along Greenland’s coast, then continues through the Northwest Passage before wrapping in Anchorage, Alaska. More conventional operators, such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, are making the polar destination a fixture, too. The Seven Seas Navigator will visit Prince Christian Sound and make calls in Nuuk and Paamiut on a June 2023 sailing between New York City and Reykjavik. — Paul Brady

Hvar, Croatia

Goran Stimac/Getty Images

Those seeking a brighter 2023 will find it on Hvar: This Dalmatian Coast island calls itself the sunniest in Croatia. That means plenty of time for cycling more than 100 miles of bikeable terrain or kayak trips to secluded beaches. At night, those clear skies make for incredible stargazing: Jesla, on the island’s north shore, was named the first International Dark Sky Community in Southern Europe in 2022; and Moeesy , the island’s newest luxury hotel, has one room with an over-the-bed skylight for bedtime viewing. The town of Velo Grablje’s 14th-century charm peaks in July, when the lavender festival blooms with food, drink, and family-friendly activities all centered around the fragrant Mediterranean plant. And in Hvar proper, the harborside Riva Marina hotel reopened in June 2022 with refreshed waterfront terrace suites and a new restaurant and bar concept focused on local ingredients. Just down the block is the island’s first sustainable hotel , Beach Bay , which opened this past summer 2022 with an off-grid solar power system and a commitment to honor UNESCO’s Sustainable Travel Pledge . — Nina Ruggiero

The Path of Totality

©StudioPonant/Laure Patricot

A total solar eclipse, in which the moon blocks the sun and plunges the Earth into momentary darkness, is a “relatively common” phenomenon, NASA heliophysicist Dr. Michael Kirk told T+L. The trick is that most eclipses happen over water or in extremely remote places — which is why spotting the next one, on April 20, 2023, will be all about the chase. The upcoming path of totality will cross the Indian Ocean, graze Western Australia, then sweep across Indonesia and East Timor into the Pacific; astro-enthusiasts can chart its full course with the Totality app . That means the best way to catch the show will be to board a ship , such as the 188-passenger Le Lapérouse, for a Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys cruise from Bali, Indonesia, to Broome, Australia. The new Indonesia-based charter yacht Celestia will also be sailing around the edges of totality, making visits to the islands of Komodo National Park, the Moluccas, and Raja Ampat. The very best odds for viewing, said NASA’s Kirk, will be in Western Australia, where “the Exmouth Peninsula, Barrow Island, and the sea in between should have clear skies.” Eclipse chasers could drive the 750 miles from Perth to Cape Range National Park on the Ningaloo Reef–fringed Exmouth, but Tropical Sails Corp’s Pacific Explorer , which can take you there from Perth on a five-day Indian Ocean sail, seems a far more pleasant journey. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

For Fresh Air and Nature

Courtesy of Pal-Arinsal Ski Resort

This tiny European country, which at 181 square miles is smaller than Chicago, could soon turn into one of the world’s biggest ski destinations. The mountainous country, situated between France and Spain, has long been known for its reliable December-to-April conditions thanks to its high-altitude perch in the Pyrenees. But now, for the first time, three Andorra ski areas have been added to the Ikon Pass , putting a collective 7,600 acres of downhill terrain across 215 runs and 123 lifts into play for holders of the global lift ticket. At the same time, the three destinations of Grandvalira , Ordino Arcalís , and Pal-Arinsal (or, collectively, the Grandvalira Resorts Andorra ) will be available on a single local Andorra Pass , which starts at about $50 a day, a bargain by any big-mountain standards. Alternatively, visitors can opt for a newly launched Nord Pass, a multi-day ticket that works at both Ordino Arcalís and Pal-Arinsal for less than $40 per day. So, while these affordable mountains remain a bit of a challenge to reach — Grandvalira can be a four-hour drive from Barcelona — the days of smaller crowds may soon be a thing of the past. — Jamie Aranoff

Asheville, North Carolina

Tim Robison

This flannel-clad city in the Blue Ridge Mountains checks all the boxes, with year-round outdoor activities, sophisticated dining, and easy access, whether you’re driving or flying. (Asheville Regional Airport is on pace for a record-breaking 2022 , with service from 25 destinations.) But the year ahead offers more reasons to visit, starting with some cool new places to stay: Wrong Way River Lodge has a collection of A-frame cabins along the French Broad River that are perfect for white-water rafters. AutoCamp Asheville , another glamping-esque abode with Airstream campers, is slated to open by mid-2023. Downtown, the new Restoration Hotel promises a properly plush stay; its sister property in Charleston consistently ranks in T+L's World's Best Awards . (For those who’d rather be even closer to nature, The Glamping Collective is a newly opened, 160-acre site with domed pods and glass cabins situated a short drive from the city.) Asheville’s food scene has fresh energy from S&W Market , Asheville’s first food hall and the brainchild of award-winning chef Meherwan Irani. For all that’s new, visitors shouldn’t skip the old standbys: French Broad Chocolates is a local fave that’s since gone national, and Battery Park Book Exchange is the prime spot for a late-night glass of Champagne amid dusty bookshelves. — Samantha Falewée

Aysén, Chile

Stefan Ruiz

Chile’s Aysén region lies between two popular destinations — Torres del Paine National Park and the Lake District — with a captivating landscape of hanging glaciers, magnificent fjords, pristine lakes, and jagged peaks. Yet this 41,000-square-mile swath in northern Patagonia — the least populated in Chile — remains largely unexplored by visitors, in part because of its topography. But now, several outfitters and organizations, including Chile’s Route of Parks , are developing more itineraries and ecotourism routes for the non-mountain-scaling adventure traveler, with less-daunting activities like kayaking, hiking, and biking. Not long ago, travel company Explora opened a lodge in Aysén’s Patagonia National Park (working with nonprofit Rewilding Chile to support conservation and educational efforts) and launched eight- to 12-day trips that make travel across the region convenient, with flights, accommodations, and activities included. Factor in loosened COVID-19 restrictions and a newly elected president (the country’s youngest in history) as additional reasons to go now. Then there’s the continually growing partnership between Delta Air Lines and Latam, which allows for mutual lounge access and easy nonstop flights from Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City to Santiago, which is just a short connecting hop from Coyhaique, the gateway to Aysén. — Alisha Prakash

The Hudson Valley, New York

Andre Maier

Yes, the stretch north of New York City and south of Albany, along the banks of the lordly Hudson River, has been attracting enterprising former urbanites — as well as savvy travelers in search of charming towns and idyllic countryside — for the past century or so. But its transition from quasi-rustic to quietly glam marks a new and intriguing chapter. Next summer, The Ranch Hudson Valley , an offshoot of the West Coast’s rigorous retreat The Ranch Malibu, will open on a grand estate built by financier J.P. Morgan (as a gift for his daughter’s marriage to Alexander Hamilton’s great-grandson) and will offer multi-day programs to revive weary New Yorkers. Meanwhile, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection , a property with 60 freestanding cabins and cottages, will highlight the pastoral side of the region, with a farm-to-table restaurant and 140 acres of orchards and wildflower gardens. The region’s reputation for top-notch cuisine continues with the upscale tavern fare at Merchants Social in Hudson and Stissing House in Pine Plains, the Southern-inflected Darlings in Tilson, and the sweet fantasia of the Catskills Chocolate Co. in Catskill. (Longtime cheesemongers Talbott and Arding have recently moved to a beautiful new space in Hudson, too.) But don’t forget to leave room for culture. In Catskill, Foreland is a self-billed kunsthalle that extends across three 19th-century mills with exhibition spaces and artist studios. And the beloved sculpture park Storm King Art Center is getting a $45-million overhaul that includes an extensive new visitors center. — Peter Terzian

Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia

Thomas Retterath/Getty Images

“Zambia is a destination so many people miss,” said travel advisor Leora Rothschild . “The country’s Lower Zambezi National Park is one of my favorite destinations anywhere. Having a safari on a river adds a dynamic element,” she notes, since being on the water offers a different perspective than travelers get while on a game drive or in camp. Among the best places to take in this wildlife-rich destination is at one of its newest lodges , the luxurious eight-suite Lolebezi , which African Bush Camps opened inside the park and on the banks of the river this past June. It’s an ideal base from which to explore Lower Zambezi, which sits opposite Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to what the agency calls its “ dramatic landscape ” and “huge herds of elephant and buffalo.” Though remote, this corner of Zambia has recently gotten a bit easier to access, as pandemic-era travel regulations have loosened. Air Botswana announced in May 2022 that, following a two-year hiatus, it would relaunch flights from Gaborone, Botswana to Lusaka, Zambia. — Samantha Falewée

Prince Edward Island, Canada

Tourism PEI/Sander Meurs

As Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island might get overlooked in favor of the country’s bigger, badder destinations for outdoor thrills. But this tiny island — known to many as the setting of L.M. Montgomery’s beloved “Anne of Green Gables” series — packs a punch. Here, you’ll find rugged cliffs, red-sand beaches , and a surprisingly robust golf scene, with 27 courses. Perhaps the biggest draw for adventurous travelers right now is the Island Walk , a 435-mile trail that opened in 2021 . Tracing the entire coastline, it passes through dozens of small towns and fishing villages. Walkers can start and end at any point, but the entire loop would take about 32 days, assuming a pace of 12-15 miles a day. Not that you’ve got to be hardcore to enjoy the trail: Towns and villages along the route have plenty to offer even non-hikers, such as the relatively new Slaymaker & Nichols , a cozy inn and gastropub in Charlottetown, the provincial capital. Classic PEI experiences endure, such as the seafood-focused, multi-course “ culinary experience ” from celebrity chef Michael Smith at the Inn at Bay Fortune . — Liz Cantrell

Stephanie Vermillion

When high-speed internet was installed at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak, this past August, it was just the latest example of the new era dawning in Tanzania. The leader of the country’s changing face is President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the first woman of color and the first Muslim to lead this country, who took office in 2021. “I never expected that one day I would be president,” President Hassan told PBS . Not that she’s wasting any time. Since taking power, she’s devoted herself to strengthening infrastructure, women’s businesses, education, health care — she received her COVID-19 vaccine on live television to encourage others to get immunized — and sustainable travel. This summer, the Usangu Expedition Camp in Ruaha National Park opened in partnership with the Tanzania National Parks Authority , and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute ; Selous Safari Company recently refreshed its six-suite private reserve on Fanjove Island, a jumping off point for “marine safaris” by dive boat or kayak. — Samantha Falewée

Uttar Pradesh, India

Luis Dafos/Getty Images

Pummeled by the pandemic, India suffered through a grim 20-month closure, only reopening to travelers at the end of 2021. However, at long last — and with COVID-19 cases now under control thanks to large-scale vaccination programs that have delivered more than 2 billion doses — 2023 is primed to be the year visitors return to this soul-stirring country in full force. While many travelers will opt for Rajasthan’s royal palaces and desert jewels, there’s good reason to discover Uttar Pradesh on your next trip. India’s fourth-largest state is home to classic attractions including the Taj Mahal, in Agra, and the Ganges River ghats of Varanasi, the nation’s holiest city. But the new draws here include Vana, a wellness retreat in the Himalayan foothills of Dehradun. The resort, which is now managed by the World’s Best Award–winning hospitality company Six Senses, has rooms and suites that prioritize the lush landscape with balconies and terraces overlooking the surrounding forest and gardens, offering a true breath of fresh air. — Alisha Prakash

For Beach Vibes

Patrick Michael Chin

Already a favorite weekend getaway for East Coasters, Bermuda will become even easier to get to in 2023. American Airlines resumed flights to the island from New York City's John F. Kennedy International in November, which the carrier had paused in the early days of the pandemic. Upon arrival at L.F. Wade International, travelers are now greeted in a new $400-million terminal with automated immigration gates and preclearance for U.S.-bound passengers — plus unexpected extras like a putting green and an outdoor nature trail. Bermuda’s resort stock is on the rise, too: Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa recently debuted a top-to-bottom renovation, adding villas and a Bermudian outpost of Sunken Harbor Club, the tropical cocktail bar above Brooklyn, New York’s wildly popular steakhouse Gage & Tollner. The St. Regis Bermuda is another high-end hotel option, which opened in 2021 with the nation’s first casino and incredible views of Fort St. Catherine. The island recently rolled back all COVID-19 entry requirements, but the Atlantic country’s  remote work program  — which launched in July 2020 and allows for stays up to one year — is still running for anyone looking to make its pink-sand beaches a new home base. — Liz Cantrell

Cayman Islands

Warren Fleming-Hollinger/Getty Images

It just keeps getting easier to visit the Caymans. As of fall 2022, Cayman Airways flies nonstop from Los Angeles International to Grand Cayman, the first direct route from the West Coast to the British territory. “Getting to Hawaii takes longer,” said Kenneth Bryan, Cayman Islands honorable minister for tourism and transport, in an interview with T+L. Wherever they’re flying in from, visitors will find plenty of new offerings along Seven Mile Beach, on Grand Cayman’s west shore. Chief among them is the freshly renovated Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman , which is now outfitted with a La Prairie Spa and Saint June restaurant, complete with a beachfront bar. (The property is thankfully still home to the long-running, annual Cayman Cookout .) For travelers who prefer heart-pumping adventure to pool- or beachside relaxation, the Caymans can deliver: Hiking reserves like the 100-year-old Mastic Trail on Grand Cayman or the Bluff on Cayman Brac may not be as well known as the islands’ beaches — but they should be. Meanwhile a growing art scene is beginning to draw international attention, thanks to shows at the well-established National Gallery of the Cayman Islands as well as the vibey, creative atmosphere at new hotels such as Palm Heights , as T+L recently reported . — Christine Burroni

Coastal Uruguay

© Tali Kimelman/Posada Ayana

The vast skies, empty beaches, and delicious food of Uruguay remain as alluring as they’ve ever been. Still, 2023 promises to be a breakout year for the country’s lowkey coastal destinations, thanks to an ever-growing art scene that adds a layer of culture to this already inviting stretch along the Southern Atlantic. Among the newest must-sees is the Atchugarry Museum of Contemporary Art in Punta del Este, a 90-acre campus which opened in early 2022. Also nearby is artist James Turrell’s “Ta Khut,” an experiential Skyspace that opened in late 2021 at Posada Ayana, a small hotel in José Ignacio. (The seaside village is also home to intriguing contemporary collections at three Vik Retreats properties, including Bahia Vik , with its oceanfront bungalows.) A short drive from José Ignacio, the village of Garzón has lately become a hub for multidisciplinary artists thanks to Campo , an incubator and non-profit that brings creatives to this still-rural corner of Uruguay. — Paul Brady

Lush mountains, bustling beach towns , and idyllic resorts make Guadeloupe the perfect place for adventurous travelers looking for something Caribbean but different. In recent years, though, it’s been difficult for U.S. travelers to reach this French overseas department — particularly after Norwegian ceased its nonstop flights to the destination in 2019. Now, things are looking up again, as JetBlue has relaunched its nonstop service from New York City to the gateway city of Pointe-à-Pitre in November 2022. SkyTeam faithfuls can also now get there on Air France, on nonstops from either Miami or New York; American Airlines also serves the archipelago from Miami. First-timers tend to focus on two of the islands, Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, the latter of which is home to Guadeloupe National Park. (A local tour company such as Vert Intense can help with the logistics of seeing Carbet Falls and La Grande Soufrière volcano.) Accommodations tend away from big brand names, though — this being France — there is an all-inclusive, beachfront Club Med La Caravelle . Other well-regarded options include the remote, hillside Le Jardin Malanga Hotel , with its dramatic ocean views, or the cliffside villas of the boutique-y La Toubana Hotel & Spa , along the southern shore of Grande-Terre. — Christine Burroni

The Jersey Shore, New Jersey

William Laird

“The real thing is quite different from TV,” George Distefano told T+L. Now a hotelier, Distefano grew up on the Jersey Shore — and today is doing his part to change the narrative around the beloved summer destination. His latest project, The James Bradley , is a 17-room inn that opened in Bradley Beach in August 2022 and is aimed at a crowd that’s perhaps quieter, chicer, and altogether less interesting to MTV producers. In nearby Asbury Park , which has long been a barometer of development, openings of The Asbury Hotel and the Asbury Ocean Club and Residences signal the start of a bougier era. Even Atlantic City is now substantially more chic, after many casino resorts, including Bally’s , Caesars , and Ocean , used the pandemic-induced dip in visitors to undertake hundreds of millions of dollars in renovations. “The area as a whole has had a bit of a renaissance,” Distefano said. One telling indicator of where the Shore is headed next? A Nobu Hotel is slated to open on the boardwalk any day now. — Hannah Walhout

Maui, Hawaii

Hawaii has been in the midst of a multi-year rethink about how tourism impacts the state . “We seek to balance the economic vitality of our industry with the health of our natural environment and the well-being of our communities,” is how Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO John De Fries put it this past summer . On Maui, that balance has been struck recently in efforts to renovate and reimagine some of the island’s most popular resorts. The 54-acre Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua , to take one example, is finishing up a major overhaul that includes a reimagined aquatic complex (with three “zero-edge” swimming pools), an expanded Club Lounge , and programming that will include not just cocktail classes and cooking demonstrations but also lei making and musical performances by Hawaiian artists. On the southwest coast of the island, The Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort is in the midst of its own refresh of all 776 guest rooms and suites; some are, happily, already good to go. There’s other progress beyond hotels: e-bikes are now plentiful on Maui, thanks to a recent rule change that allows them on island roads. Companies like RideSmart Maui lend out wheels that make exploring a breeze, whether your interest lies in the historic sites of Lahaina or the beautiful beaches around Wailea. — John Wogan

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Courtesy of Chablé Hotels

This picturesque stretch of the Yucatán peninsula is in the midst of welcoming four marquee hotels. The Waldorf Astoria Cancun just opened, a brand-new build with 173 rooms and five dining venues all overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Casa Chablé and The St. Regis Kanai Resort are slated to open in early 2023, followed by the Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai in spring 2023. Not new but refreshed is Maroma, a Belmond Hotel , which will reopen in May 2023 after a year-long closure with 10 new oceanfront suites and Latin America's first Guerlain spa. Farther south, closer to Tulum, the ultra-luxurious Hotel Esencia has added a posh new 10,000-square-foot, four-bedroom mansion tricked out with fitness and screening rooms, an underground speakeasy, and three pools — the perfect thing for a friends’ getaway. Not that hotels are the only draw: The last section of the new Maya Train project, which connects Cancun and Tulum, is expected to open by the end of 2023 after delays to address environmental and archeological concerns . The route will make several cultural and historic sites , including Chichén Itzá, more accessible and connect travelers to other destinations in the state of Quintana Roo, including Bacalar, Playa del Carmen, and Puerto Morelos. Also on the horizon is the opening of the long-awaited Tulum airport, which Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said will be completed by the end of 2023. — Sarah Bruning

Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

Courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection

Long a vacationer’s paradise, this section of Mexico’s Pacific coast between Puerto Vallarta and the beach town of San Blas is only getting better in the year ahead. The 59-room Susurros del Corazón , Auberge Resorts Collection, began welcoming guests in November 2022 with experiences that include an introduction to raicilla , a lesser-known agave spirit, and boating excursions in Islas Marietas, a national park known for its biodiversity. On its heels, Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort , which is the second tented camp property from the brand , will open in December 2022. Accommodating just 30 people at a time, the lush 48-acre property is making wellness a key focus, so guests can expect to unwind with options like a temascal ceremony and nocturnal forest bathing sessions. An extra incentive to go? JetBlue launched new nonstop flights from JFK to Puerto Vallarta International, which serves as the gateway to the region. — Sarah Bruning

U.S. Virgin Islands

Courtesy of USVI Department of Tourism; Jamie Aranoff

With no pandemic restrictions, no passport needed, and plenty of inbound flights, the U.S. Virgin Islands are challenging Bermuda for the title of easiest warm-weather getaway for East Coasters. What’s more, the islands just established a Territorial Park System Trust Fund Board which will protect and preserve attractions like St. Croix’s Great Salt Pond and St. John’s Oppenheimer Beach. Caribbean flavors are, once again, another reason to go: The King of the Wing competition on St. Thomas, which celebrates creative chicken cookery, is back after a two-year hiatus; the 23rd annual Taste of St. Croix festival, one of the largest culinary events in the region, happens in April. Carnival , which returned in 2022, will be another event to watch in the year ahead. St. Thomas celebrates from late April through early May with food fairs, pageants, and parades; St. John fetes from late June through July 4, concluding with an Independence Day bash; and St. Croix sparkles from mid-December through Three Kings Day with more traditional, Christmas-centric fanfare. — Jamie Aranoff

For a Look at the Future

This past September, Bhutan, the impossibly scenic country between India and China, reopened to tourists after 30 months. But that’s nothing compared to the 60 years it’s taken to redevelop the 250-mile Trans-Bhutan Trail , which also reopened that month. Once the only way to travel across the Himalayan kingdom, the ancient pilgrimage route is now one of Bhutan’s biggest draws, a must-see for hikers, bikers, and other outdoorsy types. The trail connects 400 historic sites, with museums, fortresses, and temples along the way — plus stunning natural scenery and seemingly endless views. As part of its reopening, Bhutan has ended its policy requiring visitors to be accompanied 24/7 by a guide; instead, the nation has implemented an increased tourism tax, or Sustainable Development Fee, which is intended to fund social and cultural programs, infrastructure improvements, and environmental conservation. (The $200-a-day charge, up from $65, is also deliberately expensive, in an effort to keep visitor numbers low.) On the hotel front, Six Senses opened its fifth and final Bhutan lodge, Six Senses Bumthang , in March 2020, but the eco hideaway tucked in a pine forest in the town of Jakar, of course, has only just become accessible to foreigners. — Alisha Prakash

Boten–Vientiane Railway, Laos

Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua via Getty Images

It’s not every day the world gets a new cross-country railroad. The ambitious Boten–Vientiane railway that stretches across Laos may have opened for business in late 2021, but now’s the time to jump aboard, as travel to Asia reopens to American visitors. The remarkable engineering project is one of many financed by China as part of the country’s Belt and Road Initiative that builds heavy infrastructure across Africa and Asia. In this case, the train has dramatically slashed travel times across the difficult-to-drive if strikingly beautiful landscapes of Laos: Trips that would’ve taken a full day by road can now be done in just a couple hours of train-carriage comfort, as T+L recently reported . The route runs from the northern border town of Boten to Luang Prabang, which is known for its many temples. It then continues on to Vang Vieng, a gateway to some of the country’s most dramatic landscapes, before arriving in the capital, Vientiane, on the border with Thailand. Intermediate stations will help open up to visitors parts of the country that haven’t historically benefited from tourism, as Ruben Derksen, director of product and digital at Bangkok-based tour operator Exo Travel , told T+L. In the years ahead, the 257-mile railway may become even more critical, as just one segment of a Singapore to Shanghai route that will make continent-spanning journeys not just possible, but pleasant. — Paul Brady

Kyoto, Japan

Rudy Sulgan/Getty Images

Kyoto is often thought of as the serene, slowed-down complement to go-go Tokyo. And, certainly, the former Japanese capital has its historic temples, gardens, and teahouses. But since Japan’s October 2022 reopening to independent travelers , this destination and its new draws demand fresh eyes. The city’s famous Gion Matsuri , or festival, is set to return in full force in July 2023 following a pandemic pause, with enormous floats and a wealth of food and drink offerings; the event, which was first held in 869, is said to be Japan’s biggest festival. In August, Kyoto celebrates Gozan Okuribi , a bonfire celebration visible across the city that marks the close of Obon, a festival honoring ancestors. New hotels abound, including hospitality group Banyan Tree’s 138-room Dhawa Yura Kyoto , located in the heart of the city. Another new option is Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto , with 25 rooms set amid lush greenery in front of Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also new — yet firmly rooted in the city’s history — is the recently opened Maana Kiyomizu , where visitors can spend the night in restored machiya , traditional wooden townhouses. Though Japan has only just reopened, it’s already getting even easier to get there, thanks to Delta Air Lines’ brand-new routes from Hawaii to Tokyo plus flights that resumed this fall from Los Angeles. — Alisha Prakash

New Zealand

Barry Tobin; Courtesy of Tourism New Zealand

After a stringent lockdown, New Zealand has at last dropped all travel restrictions. Happily, the country is becoming more accessible than ever, thanks to the nonstop flights between New York and Auckland that Air New Zealand launched in September. (That long haul has also gotten comfier, thanks to the airline’s Economy Skycouch seats.) Wondering if those 17 hours in the air will be worth it? Auckland continues to evolve with no shortage of dazzling new places to stay. The 99-room Hotel Britomart , lined in timber and exuding Zen calm, is at the heart of Auckland’s Britomart District, nine blocks of historic warehouses converted into shops and restaurants. Mawhiti Walheke is a luxurious modern guest pavilion on a vineyard-covered island a short ferry ride from the city. And New Zealand’s spectacular landscape finally has a showstopper of a property to match it: Flock Hill , a fully serviced four-bedroom villa on a sheep ranching station in the Southern Alps region of South Island. — Peter Terzian

Teahupo’o,Tahiti

© Gre goire Le Bacon

The village of Teahupo’o, on the southwestern coast of Tahiti, will take center stage during the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite being 9,800 miles from the French capital. But unless you’re planning to compete, the year ahead is the ideal time for a closer look at this part of French Polynesia, before the world’s attention turns to the South Pacific. Some of the incredible waves here rate among the most fearsome on the planet — hence the name Teahupo’o, which essentially means “wall of skulls” — while others are more rideable for those with some surfing experience. Accommodations such as Tahurai can organize coaching sessions, including some hosted by local surf icon Tereva David. Those more comfortable watching the waves than riding them can get on the water with tour companies such as Teahupo’o Tahiti Surfari , which takes visitors by boat to see the famous Teahupo’o swell, one of the highest and heaviest waves in the world, as well as waterfalls, lagoons, lava tubes, and cliff-diving spots around the island. Meanwhile, it’s gotten easier than ever to reach Tahiti, thanks to Delta Air Lines’ new nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Fa'a'ā International Airport. Air Tahiti Nui has also added connectivity, with the only nonstop flights between Seattle and Tahiti, which took off in October. — Jamie Aranoff

Victoria, British Columbia

Carlina Teteris/Getty Images

What does it look like for a city to meaningfully prioritize “sustainability,” a word that often ends up more “feel-good” than actually “do-good?” Victoria is maximizing its green impact, aiming to make all new buildings carbon neutral by 2025 and halve landfill waste by 2040. Admittedly, few travelers pick destinations based on zero-waste initiatives, but it’s easy to take an environmentally minded trip to Victoria — the city even has suggested “green travel” itineraries , capitalizing on the outdoor beauty of places like Goldstream Provincial Park, one of many green spaces on Vancouver Island. Visitors have their choice of carbon-neutral hotels, such as Inn at Laurel Point and Parkside Hotel & Spa , and can even do carbon-neutral fast food at Big Wheel Burger , Canada’s first such restaurant. Other eco-minded activities include e-biking along the Saanich Peninsula to seaside towns like Sidney — with stops at picturesque wineries or the Butchart Gardens along the way — or hopping aboard an orca-watching cruise with Eagle Wing Tours , which is, of course, part of 1% for the Planet . — Liz Cantrell

JJ Farquitectos/Getty Images

Austria’s capital city may be old — like, Holy Roman Empire old — but 2023 will see neue life in this historic destination. The year ahead is the 150th anniversary of Vienna’s World’s Fair, and the celebrations include 12 months of cultural events. It’s also the 300th anniversary of the opening of the Belvedere , the palatial museum that’s mounting an art nouveau exhibit featuring 90 Gustav Klimt works in February. Adaptive reuse is also on trend here, and the recently opened Rosewood Vienna is but one example, set in a neoclassical building that was once a bank headquarters and, before that, an apartment building where Mozart lived. The now-reopened Reznicek is a contemporary gasthaus inside a 100-year-old inn; Grace ’s Michelin-starred fare is served in a refurbished wood-paneled café reminiscent of the ‘70s. Not that Vienna is only looking to the past: New initiatives have added 1,000 miles of bike paths, carsharing via WienMobil , a robust network of electric buses, and new development in the fast-growing Aspern neighborhood where every public space and street is named after a woman . Other new additions include Hotel Josefine , with its sultry Roaring ‘20s energy and Hotel Gilbert , with a greenery-cloaked façade and Scandi-inspired design. Nonstop flights from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark, New York City, and Washington, D.C. are always an option but the most au courant way in may be the new Paris to Vienna Nightjet train , which runs three days a week, with private cabins with lie-flat beds and breakfast in the morning. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

Related Articles

Top 25 European travel destinations for 2023 - Rome and Barcelona top the list

Two in five Brits want to visit somewhere they have never been before this year - with Italy, Spain, and Greece the most popular European countries

• 11:26, 26 Jan 2023

Italy and Spain are the top European countries Brits want to travel to this year – with Rome, Barcelona, and Venice topping a list of cities that Brits most want to explore in 2023.

A survey of 2,000 adults revealed the top 25 European destinations that sun-seeking Brits hope to discover this year – with Florence and Seville also appearing high on the list.

The Greek islands also came out as popular destinations to travel to, with Rhodes, Corfu, Santorini, and Mykonos all appearing in the list, as well as the capital city of Athens.

And four in ten (41%) of those polled said they want to try visiting somewhere they have never been before.

When booking their break for 2023, the top factors people take into account are location, value for money, and affordability.

And good deals are also appreciated, such as discounts for booking early.

The research was commissioned by Celebrity Cruises to launch its interactive Find the “X” challenge, to win a free luxury cruise holiday for two.

Jo Rzymowska, EMEA managing director at the company, said: “It’s just on our doorstep, yet Europe holds so much to experience.

“I’m not surprised to see iconic cities in Italy, Greece, and Spain feature so high on travellers’ priority list.

“There are so many unique places to visit throughout Europe, and Celebrity Cruises sails to every one of these top 25 destinations.

“As people are wanting to explore unknown shores, they should feel inspired to join us to visit some of the most loved locations such as Barcelona and Rome, sailing on our Edge Series ships – but also visit some of the lesser-known places on this list, too.”

The study also found that 39% agree holidays are a high priority for them in 2023, with almost one in ten (9%) considering them a top priority.

And four in ten (39%) are looking forward to embracing a bit of local culture in their holiday this year.

Cultural authenticity, lots of activities to take part in, and being able to take beautiful photos, all influence those looking to book a dream trip.

And when it comes to accommodation, connectivity is key – with 58% of people putting Wi-Fi at the top of their list of must-haves.

Brits are looking to get more for their money in 2023 by consolidating holiday costs, with 36% appreciating the benefits of booking everything together in one go as a package holiday.

And holiday goers are still looking for value, even for luxury offerings – and are delighted to get extras included like dining options, drinks, or a spa.

The Find the “X” competition, launched by Celebrity Cruises to celebrate its European seven-night sailings, challenges the eagle-eyed to examine five mega-high-resolution images of Dubrovnik, Florence, Santorini, Barcelona, and Athens.

Camouflaged within the scenery of each image is an X-shaped logo containing a unique code.

Zooming in and cracking the puzzle with all five codes allows entry into a draw to win a trip aboard a Celebrity Cruises ship, with a choice of sailings across Europe.

The four billion pixel images were created by specialist gigapixel photographer, Will Pearson.

Jo Rzymowska, from Celebrity Cruises, added: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of this new interactive challenge, which brings to life some of the stunning destinations we sail to in Europe, as well as giving away an incredible luxury cruise holiday for two to a lucky winner.

“The beautiful images highlight the unique beauty and charm of these magnificent cities, allowing in-depth discovery of the places our ships visit, and give a small glimpse into just what you can discover when you travel with us.”

THE TOP 25 EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS BRITS WANT TO VISIT IN 2023:

• Palma de Mallorca

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The Most Googled Travel Destinations of 2023 are Released, Greece Tops Search List

Google announced the ranking of the top ten most searched travel destinations of 2023. The top five are Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Croatia in southern Europe. Ranking 6 to 10 are the resort destinations of Cyprus, Thailand, Egypt, Malta and Morocco. You can put these places into your travel destination shortlist.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN ( Merxwire ) – After the COVID-19, global tourism is booming. Google recently announced the most googled travel destinations of 2023. The top five are Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Croatia in southern Europe. Ranking 6 to 10 are Cyprus, Thailand, Egypt, Malta and Morocco. You can put these places into your travel destination shortlist.

Starting from the end of 2022, everyone is planning international travel that has not been for three years. In addition to listing the places you already want to visit, you can also refer to Google’s “annual search volume” data every year to count the travel destinations searched by users in the 12 months of the year. It includes rankings of the top ten countries and cities, inspiring everyone when planning their travels. Let’s go to different travel destinations to expand our horizons.

In recent years, Croatia has become a tourist hotspot in Europe, mainly because travel costs are relatively affordable for a holiday destination. We can go island hopping on Adriatic shores, and Korčula is one of the most popular islands. You can go on a food tour to the capital Split and Zagreb. You can also walk in the famous ancient walled city of Dubrovnik or take a cable car to watch the beautiful sunset. Don’t forget to walk along the 4,000-kilometer coastline to enjoy the vast sea views and leave wonderful memories.

4. Portugal

Portugal has many unique attractions worth visiting, from the northern region filled with amazing gourmet restaurants to the famous blue waters of the south. Porto is known as a paradise for food lovers and drinkers. It is not only a famous wine-producing area but also has a rich Portuguese food culture, including fresh seafood, egg tarts, roast chicken, and port wine. Famous since ancient Roman times, the hot springs, turquoise lagoons, and São Miguel scenery are quite eye-catching. The capital, Lisbon, has been named Europe’s most budget-friendly city break for 2023. People who love city travel must not miss it.

Italy is considered a country that never gets tired of visiting. It combines beautiful fairy tale towns, bustling cities, and natural beaches, as well as Milan, the fashionable paradise, for shopping. You can experience history and culture at the majestic Roman Colosseum. There are all kinds of cafes in the city worth exploring and enjoying a leisurely time. The Tuscan countryside is picturesque. Florence has world-renowned hotels and is also a mecca for artists. Rome is the capital of history, art, and food. Countless galleries and museums can be visited, making travel more intellectually beautiful. Italy is truly a country worth visiting again and again.

Spain is known as a country that is beautiful all year round. When traveling in summer and winter, you can enjoy blue skies, blue seas, and water sports. You can also explore the city, gourmet food, and visit places of interest. When traveling in spring and autumn, there are fewer tourists and there is a quiet magic in the air. San Sebastian was voted the best city in Europe and the best gastronomic city in the world in 2023. In Barcelona, you could go home to Gaudí’s iconic Sagrada Familia, the Picasso Museum, and the Gothic Quarter, which are must-see attractions. There are also lively markets and natural landscapes to enjoy.

Greece was the most Googled travel destination in 2023 and is world-famous for its whitewashed Mykonos and its sugar cube architecture. Kefalonia is famous for its hiking trails and rural scenery, full of jungle atmosphere. Athens has some of the best bars in the world, as well as the famous ruins of the Acropolis and Parthenon. Santorini crater has unforgettable sunsets, Crete has beautiful late summer sunshine, and Corfu has secluded deserted beaches. No matter where you choose to go, Greece will leave you with unforgettable memories.

In addition to Greece ranking first among countries for tourism, Rhodes also received first place in the city and island rankings. Even though 15% of the island was destroyed by wildfires in 2023 and is now being rebuilt, there is still plenty to see and do. The labyrinth of alleys winds around Byzantine churches in the Old Town. There are Roman ruins and historic old restaurants. On the cliffs along the coast, you can admire the powdery golden beaches that stretch to the Mediterranean Sea. Inland, there are alpine forests where you can hike, and see hilltop castles and historical ruins. These unique sights validate the beauty of Rhode Island.

Does seeing these beautiful countries make you more eager to travel? Arrange the best ones in your mind, make a travel plan that suits you, and go to the attractions you want to visit. Let it stay in your mind and travel map, which can not only enrich your experience but also your life.

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The 20 best European destinations if you like to walk

Posted: December 30, 2023 | Last updated: December 31, 2023

If you or someone you know has ever taken a trip to Europe, one of the first things they’ll tell you is how much walking they did. European cities are much more pedestrian-friendly than most American counterparts. You’ll clock several miles just by hitting the main sights. Additionally, there are plenty of countryside and hiking destinations waiting to be explored on foot. Here are 20 of the best!

London, United Kingdom

Since London is one of the biggest cities in Europe, you might not think that the metropolis would be very walkable. However, it’s frequently cited as a great place to stroll around. You’ll be so busy taking in the English grandeur and catching glimpses of Big Ben that you won’t even notice how high your step count is until you take a rest at the pub!

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The French Alps

The Alps are definitely more of a hiking than a walking destination, but with sweeping mountain and lake views, you won’t want to do much else! Base yourself in Grenoble, Annecy, or Chamonix, and enjoy trails that start right from town.

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Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre is known for brightly colored buildings built into the cliffsides. And while each town is a virtual rainbow dotting the seaside, there’s a better way to enjoy the area than sitting in traffic in a car or bus. Instead, take the many walking paths that connect the towns. Ideally, you’ll base yourself in one of the villages and enjoy hikes along the Mediterranean while visiting others.

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Paris, France

Another large European capital with decent public transportation, it may seem silly to walk all over Paris. Au contraire, your own two feet are the best way to see the City of Light. You can wander along the Seine, crisscross the water with the many bridges, and dip into the 20 diverse arrondissements (neighborhoods.) All while frequently enjoying unbeatable views of the Eiffel Tower, L’Arc de Triomphe, and the ornate Parisian buildings.

The Cotswolds, United Kingdom

If one region on this list is known for walking, it’s the Cotswolds. Well-trodden walking paths connect the numerous villages in the west of England. You can choose a single base and enjoy walking the English countryside to different adorable towns!

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High Tatra, Slovakia

Slovakia isn’t well known by any means, but this country nestled between Hungary, Poland, Austria, and Czechia is a fantastic place to trek, particularly in the Tatras Mountains in the northeast. Travelers will enjoy trails that rival those in the Alps but for a much more affordable price.

Meteora, Greece

A Greek holiday typically involves taking ferries to the islands, where you don’t do much but enjoy the beach and amazing food. Meteroa, roughly a five-and-a-half-hour train ride from Athens, challenges this assumption greatly. Here, you’ll be nestled among mountain villages and paths that connect the six monasteries atop the peaks. Spend a few days or a week exploring the views and sites on foot!

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Basque Country, Spain

This unique part of the country has spectacular natural beauty. It's famously home to the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrimage walk that numerous travelers now partake in every year. The full route includes sections in Portugal and France, but the best views are in Spain!

Haute Route, Switzerland

Honestly, the entire country of Switzerland is any hiker’s paradise, but if you only have time for one trail, head to Zermatt. This is where the stunning Haute Route through the Swiss Alps starts, ending in Chamonix, France. The 132-mile trek isn’t for beginners, but you’ll be rewarded with Matterhorn views and uncrowded trails.

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Lake Constance, Germany

The lake technically spans Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. Complete walking routes in each country or take one that crosses a border or two. One of the most beautiful lakes on the continent, there are numerous routes to choose from! 

South Coast of Iceland

Iceland is another country that could be listed as a great place to walk on the whole, however, for ease of access and proximity of sites. The trails aren’t too far apart, and in general, you’ll never be far from a waterfall, canyon, beach, or glacier.

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Venice, Italy

Okay, a trip to Venice likely conjures up visions of gondola rides on the water. And you should definitely see the city that way. However, it’s also a great place to walk.

Julian Alps, Slovenia

You’ve heard of the French Alps, the Swiss Alps, and the Bavarian Alps. Well, where exactly are the ‘Julian’ Alps? The beautiful gem that is Slovenia! The first Balkan country to join the EU is home to stunning peaks that are just waiting to be discovered by travelers. And you won’t pay Swiss or French prices and have fewer crowds to deal with!

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Munich, Germany

The biggest city in Bavaria is a sprawling center of grandeur and parks. Thus, there’s no better way to explore than by foot. Additionally, there are a bunch of museums, all of which are must-visits. Plan a cultural weekend that also has a bit of exercise in Munich!

Lisbon, Portugal

Famously hilly Lisbon (like San Fransisco) isn’t the place to expect a leisurely stroll. However, if you’re up for some “urban hiking,” you’ll get a great workout while passing the street cars.

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Riga, Latvia

The gorgeous Daugava River runs through the beautiful colored buildings of Riga, inviting you to amble for hours. And as a lesser-known destination, you want to be rubbing elbows with hordes of other American tourists, making for a much more enjoyable trip.

Stockholm, Sweden

Unless you really like frigid walks and bundling up, it’s most advisable to visit Stockholm in the summer months. Then, you can make the most out of rambling around the Scandinavian city in the sun and enjoying fika (Swedish coffee break) afterward.

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Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Sarajevo isn’t so large that enjoying a walking tour is out of the question. However, the best way to use your feet in the area is by hiking up one of the many paths from the city center into the surrounding hills for fantastic vantage points. Alternatively, take the chairlift up and wander back down the old bobsled run from the 1984 Winter Olympics.

Prague, Czechia

While Paris might be a more obvious choice for a walking city, Prague is actually much larger in square miles. In fact, it’s four times as large, with about half the inhabitants. Thus, there’s plenty of room to wander and appreciate the lovely architecture in Prague. Additionally, there are trails in and around the urban center if you want a taste of nature. And, of course, fantastic hiking is never far away.

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Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

The Wild Atlantic Way is one of the best and most rugged walking paths in all of Europe. At 1,600 miles, it’s no surprise that it’s considered one of the longest-marked paths in the world. Located on Ireland’s West Coast, no matter what short section you choose to complete, you’ll have once-in-a-lifetime views of the Atlantic Ocean and Irish countryside for the duration. 

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6 of the best European train routes for summer 2024

May 3, 2024 • 5 min read

From scenic trains through Germany's Rhine Valley to sleeper services from Brussels to Prague, here are the best train routes for summer 2024 © Boarding1Now / Getty Images

Are you planning some European travel this summer? Me too. Getting from A to B by train has never felt so exciting, with a thrilling mix of new routes, classic journeys, and under-the-radar options to choose from.

Here are some of the most enticing European train journeys available for summer 2024. Some services kick in when summer timetables begin in June, while many are in operation now. Either way, it’s time to start planning!

1. There's a new service linking the Baltic capitals

Lithuania has been quietly building up international rail connections in recent years. A cross-border service to Warsaw and Kraków in Poland began in late 2022, and since December last 2023, it has been possible to travel between two of the Baltic capitals by direct train. The journey north from Vilnius to the capital of Latvia , Riga , takes 4 hours and 15 minutes and runs daily, making it a competitive alternative to the bus. Booking in advance is recommended, though. This new route through the Baltics is a precursor to a hoped-for extension towards Tallinn which would link the three capitals. Back in Vilnius, connecting with an onward train to Kaunas is possible. 

How to book: Book online through LTG Link. Ticket prices start at €24.

2. Travel at high speed from Barcelona to Seville

Iryo, a recent entrant into Spain’s seemingly ever-expanding range of high-speed services, has established a foothold on the high-traffic Madrid to Zaragoza and Barcelona route. Its new offering extends from Barcelona and Madrid to the Andalucían cities of Córdoba and Seville , making the journey between the Catalan capital and Seville in 5 hours and 50 minutes. Using the same rolling stock as Trenitalia’s slick Frecciarossa trains, Iryo is also notable for an onboard food service that includes cheese and ham tapas and sustainably sourced Spanish wines to help the high-speed scenery flash past.

How to book: Tickets from €40 one way can be bought online through Iryo .

3. Take the night train from Brussels to Prague

Europe’s night train revolution continues to reshape the experience of traveling across the continent. Only last year, there was no option to reach Prague from the west by sleeper. Now, there are options to lull you to sleep from Paris or Brussels to Berlin , then onto Prague by lunchtime. One approach is the thrice weekly Austrian Nightjet service from Paris and Brussels to Berlin, where you change trains for Prague. More conveniently, there is the privately run European Sleeper train on alternate nights, which takes you all the way. Don’t expect too many frills, though: this train consists of older carriages leased from various train companies around Europe. You will, however, travel directly to Prague with a friendly train crew and enjoy a time-efficient, continent-spanning journey. 

How to book: One-way tickets from Brussels to Prague on the European Sleeper start at €79 for seats, €109 for couchette space, €179 sleeper berth.

See more of Europe on the sleeper train.  Here's our guide to the best routes

4. Scoot along İstanbul's Sirkeci seafront line

If ever a station was a shadow of its former self, it’s Sirkeci, sitting on the shores of the Bosphorus in İstanbul ’s Sultanahmet district . Best known as the one-time terminus for the fabled Orient Express trains, Sirkeci lost its long-distance services in 2013. While the city bustles around Sirkeci, the ground-level platforms have sat unused since, while the underground Marmaray railway flashes underneath the old city bearing travelers from Europe to Asia. There’s life in old Sirkeci yet though. The opening of the new 5.2-mile light rail service to Kazlıçeşme restores trains to the original trainshed. In time, these renewed tracks may even see a return of Sofia - and Bucharest -bound services to the banks of the Bosphorus rather than their less convenient departure point at Halkalı, the western end of the Marmaray line. For now, this is an excuse for nostalgically-minded travelers to hop on a train from one of Europe’s most storied stations, perhaps for a seafood meal in lively Kumkapi, one of the stops on the new line.

How to book: A journey on İstanbul’s trains costs around €0.50. Find out more about transport within İstanbul with our guide to getting around .

5. Ride the summer-only route from Budapest to Koper on Slovenia's Adriatic

Some journeys are so perfectly made for hot weather that they only exist during Europe’s hottest months. Pulling out of Budapest ’s Deli station – not to be confused with the more famous Keleti – the Citadella train noses its way every morning to the Slovenian border and onto the compact capital, Ljubljana . While the views on the Hungarian journey are less remarkable, the stretch of track running alongside the Sava River between Celje and Ljubljana introduces Slovenia’s natural beauty. Between June 16 and August 24, taking this train past the capital to Koper on the Slovene riviera is possible. Koper is home to a historic center stuffed with Venetian architecture and, combined with an unusual journey to get here, more than justifies being added to any central European plans this summer.

How to book:  Tickets cost from €22 one way and can be bought on the MÁV website . 

6. Spend a month traveling Germany by train for just €49

One of the continent’s great travel deals can open up a host of slow journeys in Germany. For €49, travelers can purchase a Deutschlandticket for a month. The price includes regional and suburban (but not ICE or IC long-distance) services across Germany, plus buses, trams and subways. As well as covering urban exploration, this ticket is perfect for hopping around the Rhine and Moselle valleys , taking a tour of the Black Forest or exploring many of the Harz Mountain lines. It also opens up possibilities for some regional international services across borders. Even if you end up paying for the occasional inter-city service, you’ll still save money.

How to book: The Deutschlandtickets (€49 per month) are sold through the DB website , but they're not aimed at visitors, so buying one as a non-German resident can be fiddly. See Seat61's how-to  for the latest guidance.

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Best Eurostar destinations to visit in 2024: Top routes from London to Paris, Amsterdam and more

These are the european hotspots you can visit with just a quick trip over the channel, article bookmarked.

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Since launching in 1994, the Eurostar has carried over 200 million passengers across the UK , France , Belgium, the Netherlands , and Germany .

The famed train service whizzes travellers across the English Channel via the Channel Tunnel, completing the journey from London to its nearest stop, Lille in northern France, in just 1h 22m.

And although some of its previously popular routes, such as London-Marseille and the direct train to Disneyland Paris , have been scrapped due to a combination of Covid and Brexit red tape, the addition of routes to destinations including Amsterdam , Rotterdam and Cologne has ensured that Eurostar remains an increasingly popular and environmentally sustainable way for Brits to travel.

What was once a groundbreaking service continues to innovate, and nowadays it provides a gateway to over 100 European destinations, as well as direct travel to much-loved European cities such as Paris and Brussels, with return tickets available for as little as £78.

Below, The Independent has compiled a list of some of the best places that you can visit directly with Eurostar.

Paris, France

Journey time from london: 2h 16m.

The French capital is Eurostar’s flagship destination, with journeys from London taking just two hours and 16 minutes. In 2023, Paris remains as popular as ever, welcoming over 30 million tourists per year. Its architectural sights and attractions are among some of the most visited in Europe, from the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.

Art lovers can visit the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay galleries – containing works such as the Mona Lisa and Van Gogh’s self-portrait – while many visitors will take the opportunity to explore the city’s different districts (known as arrondissements ).

Read more on Europe travel :

• A weekend trip to this Bucharest wellness retreat costs the same as a day pass to a London spa
• Best budget European city break destinations: Value hot spots for your bucket list
• The best hotels in Europe: Where to stay for a city, beach or retreat break

Many of the main tourist attractions are located in the 1st arrondissement, though neighbourhoods such as the quaint, atmospheric Latin Quarter (5th) or historic, traditional Le Marais (4th) are also well worth exploring. For those who really want to tick off all the sites on their trip, Montmartre (and Sacre Coeur, in the 18th) and the Champs-Elysees (8th) will undoubtedly be on the list.

Best time to visit Paris

June is a month where Paris really shines. The middle of the month plays host to the end of the French Open at Roland Garros, while the weather is usually pleasantly warm and the city receives less rain than almost every other month. With average highs of 23C and average temperatures around 20C, it’s the perfect time to explore the City of Light  – though be aware that in 2024, the city will host the summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games July, August and September.

Where to stay

The beauty of visiting such a large city is that you don’t have to stay in the centre to get the best experience. Le Pigalle is located in the neighbourhood of the same name, just a mile-and-a-half away from Sacre Coeur, the Champs-Elysees and the Louvre, while its prices are far more affordable than city centre rivals.

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Hotel Amenities

Health & wellbeing, amsterdam, netherlands, journey time from london: 3h 50m.

The three hour and 50 minute journey to Amsterdam has quickly soared in popularity since its launch in 2018 due to its simplicity and convenience. Another city that is beloved by Brits, the Dutch capital is famous for its picturesque, gabled-house-lined streets and network of interlocking canals, all of which are resplendent when the sun shines.

From the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum to the Anne Frank house, the city has plenty of cultural and historic landmarks. It is also a great size to explore on foot or by bike, whether wandering the streets of the controversial Red Light District (known as De Wallen) or more trendy neighbourhoods such as Oud-West or De Pijp.

Best time to visit Amsterdam

With a climate similar to that of the UK, Amsterdam is a European city that’s usually bearable to visit at the height of summer; July’s average temperature hovers around 18C (while average daily highs reach 23C). However, with plenty to see and do whatever the weather, it makes for a great year-round city break destination that’s just as charming in winter, autumn and spring.

Located on the grand Herengracht canal, the Ambassade Hotel is within easy walking distance of the Royal Palace, Anne Frank Museum and Rijksmuseum, and offers grand, elegant interiors in its canal-side building.

Brussels, Belgium

Journey time from london: 1h 50m.

Another historic European city, Brussels also acts as Eurostar’s Belgian hub, with connecting trains available for equally scenic cities such as Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent. The journey is one of Eurostar’s shortest (at just over one hour and 50 minutes), though it’s great to spend more than just a day to the Belgian and EU capital.

The city centres around the Grand Place, a 17th-century Unesco Heritage Site adorned with Baroque and Gothic buildings that serves as the city’s central square. Museums such as The Atomium, Royal Museums of Fine Art and House of European History offer different exhibitions on Belgian and European history, arts and science, while those exploring further may come across Brussels icons including Manneken Pis, the Royal Palace or Cinquantenaire Park. When it all gets too much, sit down and sample some of the city’s famous beer, chocolate, waffles or fries.

When to visit Brussels

July and August are the warmest and driest months in Brussels, with average highs reaching 23C. However, travelling outside of school in late spring or early autumn will see accommodation and travel prices drop significantly.

With its own indoor pool, Finnish sauna and hot tub, 9Hotel Sablon is just five minutes away from Grand Place and is well-placed for exploring the city centre.

Lille, France

Journey time from london: 1h 22m.

At just one hour and 22 minutes from London, Lille is Eurostar’s nearest destination and the gateway to northern France. Another 17th-century city, Lille is characterised by its Old Town area, with red brick buildings and paved pedestrian streets centring around its own ‘Grand Place’ (named after famed general, Charles de Gaulle) and buildings such as the old Stock Exchange (known as the Vieille Bourse).

While few cities can compete with the wealth of tourist offerings in Paris , Lille has its own notable gothic cathedral (Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille) and the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, a fine arts museum containing works from artists including Goya and Picasso. You can also easily explore the city on foot, taking in its eclectic mix of Flemish, Baroque, Art Deco and modern architecture.

When to visit Lille

July is the best month to experience the northern French city, when weather is at its all-round best. Expect average highs of 23C, although this can drop as low as 14C at night.

Found on the city’s Grand Place, the Grand Hotel Bellevue is set in a Flemish building just 100 yards away from the metro. The hotel has been recently renovated and offers comfortable rooms with traditional decor and views onto the square.

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Journey time from london: 3h 13m.

The Netherlands’ second city is much less visited than nearby Amsterdam but is a more modern, futuristic alternative to the historic capital. Architecture such as the Erasmus Bridge, the Cube Houses, the Markthal food market and even the city’s central station attest to this, as does the presence of skyscrapers and modern shopping centres in the central district. Nevertheless, the city still has several green spaces and older areas that have contributed to its contemporary identity.

First among the parks are Kralingse Bos and Het Park, where the Euromast tower provides excellent views over the city. To see where the city has preserved more of its history, head to the bustling Rotterdam Harbour – the largest seaport in Europe – and the Maritime Museum, or art and architecture museums such as the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen or the Netherlands Architecture Institute.

When to visit Rotterdam

Much like neighbouring Amsterdam, Rotterdam’s best weather comes at the height of summer when there are plenty of festivals and events on, but it’s similarly suitable to visit at any time of year thanks to its wide range of indoor activities.

Housed in a charming old building that was formerly the head office of the Holland America Line cruise operator, Hotel New York provides spacious rooms with modern interiors, two restaurants, its own terrace and extensive views over the harbour and the river.

Cologne, Germany

Journey time from london: from 4h 11m.

Cologne is the only German city that you can reach on Eurostar trains – though you stop for a connection in Brussels – and is the furthest you can get using only Eurostar. This northern city is famed for its extensive carnival celebrations, it’s Christmas markets and a vast gothic cathedral that took around 600 years to complete. In 2024, it’ll be on the radar of even more tourists after being announced as a host city for the summer’s Euro 2024 football tournament.

One of the city’s most well-known exports is its kölsch , an ale brewed in the city and served in any of the many brauhäuser (brewhouses, which are the local equivalent of pubs) that dot the streets of the old town. Once you’ve taken in the sights and tastes around the cathedral, banks of the Rhine and the botanical garden, take your tastebuds on another journey at the Schokoladen Museum (Chocolate Museum) or indulge your artistic tastes at the Ludwig Museum, home to the third largest collection of Picasso pieces in the world.

When to visit Cologne

If you can brave the cold and potential snow, a visit in December will coincide with one of Germany’s largest and best Christmas markets, while February sees one of the largest carnival celebrations on the continent. To best enjoy the beer gardens and river views, opt for May or June.

The Eden Hotel Früh am Dom offers affordable accommodation in a convenient location near the cathedral. It is part of the Früh am Dom brewhouse, one of the most renowned in the city, and offers easy access to the old town and the riverside.

Travelski Express

Journey time from london: from 8h 17m.

Although the Eurostar Ski Train has been scrapped, tour operator Travelski now provides package skiing holidays including train travel operated by Eurostar. You can visit destinations including Les Arcs, Tignes, Val d’isere, Val Thorens, Courchevel and Meribel, with direct trains running from St Pancras to Moutiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Trains depart on Saturday mornings, arriving in the early evening, and depart the resorts early on Sunday eight days later.

Packages offer “a broad range of accommodation options, from self-catered apartments to hotels and chalets”, and include a seven-day lift pass. The easiest resort to reach is Les Arcs; from Bourg, travellers can simply catch the funicular service up the mountain at no extra cost.

When to visit the French Alps

It is recommended to check conditions before you go (and many resorts will vary depending on altitude), but the best time to ski in the Alps is usually from January to early April, though the season can run from December to late April.

Dates and partner accommodation for 2025 is yet to be announced, but check uk.travelski.com regularly for updates.

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