When it comes to travel breaks, we’re all huge fans of European travel – it’s incredibly diverse, with a rich culture to discover, picturesque landscapes to explore, and beautiful historical buildings to unearth in every corner.
If you’re like us and prefer to escape the crowds, we recommend avoiding the usual tourist haunts. Here are all our writer’s top picks for the best under-the-radar European destinations to visit this year…
1. Becky Moore – Cascais, Portugal
While most head to the Algarve, the coastal towns located further up the North coast of Portugal are often overlooked but Cascais is actually one of my favourite places in the sun-soaked country filled with beauty!
The crowds here mainly consisted of locals, not the Brits abroad types thankfully and I could easily explore the sleepy little fishing village turned chic coastal resort as it was so compact.
Glorious beaches and sophisticated nightlife aside, the area I love that the area has been a popular haunt of artisans, writers, and artists who came to admire its inspiring and exquisite scenery.
When here, I meandered down winding lanes lined with designer boutiques, small museums, immaculate gardens and glorious old town architecture and then took a stroll to the shiny new marina brimming with yachts which shimmered and glistened in the strong, bright sunshine. I thought it was pure bliss and a place that didn’t dent my bank account too much either!
2. Beth Pinches – Cortona, Tuscany, Italy
My choice for a quiet break in Italy far away from the crowds is the beautiful commune of Cortona, located in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany.
One of my favourite places in Italy, it’s the main cultural and artistic hub of the wonderfully unspoilt province, and I really loved its very distinctive – and very cool – arty vibe. It’s also one of the oldest hill towns in Tuscany and has even been featured in Francis Mayes’ book Under the Tuscan Sun.
It’s actually a place where most tourists overlook in favour of Florence or Pisa but I personally love to visit, soak up the peace and tranquillity and watch the world go by.
As well as the gorgeous surrounding scenery, I found the medieval streets made a very pleasant place to wander, and I was also rewarded with fabulous views of the countryside along the historic town walls.
3. Lee Hubbard – Povlja, Island of Brač, Croatia
Although Croatia is an increasingly popular tourist destination, I love that there are still many places in this beautiful, timeless country where I could easily escape the crowds.
Povlja—a small harbour town nestled on the northern coastline of the island of Brac—is one such place, and I adored it!
Located in a deep cove and steeped in history, the town is known for its ancient Roman ship remains and a Basilica dating from the 5th century.
With its traditional houses, a fine beach and a gorgeous harbour, I could easily see it was once declared the most beautiful destination to visit in Croatia.
4. Emma-Clair Kelly – Antibes, France
This is one of my favourite towns in the French Riviera and it’s a gem of a place! I discovered an ancient citadel transformed into a stunning seaside resort with stretches of golden sand and glistening blue warm water.
A cobbled town square acted as a central thoroughfare for the many side streets and the shops sold everything from locally designed craft, to boutiques opened by aspiring designers and artisan bakeries at every turn.
The famous ‘Cap d’Antibes’ is widely celebrated in literature, and to me I felt in awe of strolling along the same cobbled streets as Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and, of course, Churchill, who often escaped to Antibes for a retreat!
I loved how the string of restaurants unfurl their canopies along the city walls after dark, I also loved people-watching at the famous yacht parties, reveling under the twinkling fairy lights of the harbor, all under the watchful eye of the majestic Le Nomade statue!
5. Scott Balaam – Killarney National Park, Ireland
I was raised in the UK, but I have lived in Ireland for many years and I’ve truly come to appreciate Ireland’s natural beauty, and I’d even say it boasts some of the most stunning scenery in the world.
One of my favourite places, where the tourist masses don’t roam and makes a unique travel destination, is the wonderful Killarney National Park.
Sprawling gracefully over 10,236 hectares I found ancient oak woods, rolling mountains, panoramic views and the country’s only wild herd of native red deer, and idyllic fairy-tale like attractions such as Ross Castle, Muckross House and my personal favourite the magnificent, Torc Waterfall.
6. Gary Nunn – Nas, Icaria, Greece
Greece is always a popular choice for a European break. Although, for a truly under-the-radar break, I would recommend avoiding the package holiday favourites such as Kos, Corfu and Crete and heading to the island of Icaria instead!
Located in the eastern Aegean, I found a quiet and idyllic gem with lots of quirkiness. The small village of Nas which was located on its northwest coast, had a unique, alternative feel which being an arty/creative type I really loved!
It was almost completely sheltered by unique rock formations and the wonderful bay concealed a small pebble and a charming sandy beach at the end of a river canyon.
I especially loved the crumbling remains of The Temple of Artemis was located in ancient Ephesus, a major Greek city, which was surrounded by several villages and settlements in its time.
7. Gaby Maia – Smogen, Sweden
I’m a huge fan of all things Scandinavian, and so my choice for a beautiful, under-the-radar break is the gorgeous island of Smogen in West Sweden.
Scandinavians have always loved holidaying here but just recently it’s also piquing the interest of visitors further afield too and I absolutely adored my trip here. The West Swedish coast is made up of 150 miles of picturesque fjords and charming little inlets, dotted with 8,000 islands and I personally think it’s vastly underrated travel destination.
I discovered a charming holiday town with a superb collection of boutique restaurants and shops, stunning Pink Granite rock formations, and impossibly picturesque clapboard fishing huts, all wrapped in the invigorating embrace of fresh, salty sea air! To me, it was bliss!
8. Michael Anderson – Fornalutx, Majorca
Although Majorca is often associated with major tourist resorts, it’s still possible to escape the crowds if you know where to go! A place I would recommend for a sunny European break is Fornalutx which is located in the much more peaceful north of the island.
Nestled between two mountains high above the town of Soller, I thought it was one of the prettiest and most unspoilt villages in Spain. Offering a taste of traditional Mallorcan life, this peaceful spot felt worlds away from the beer-swilling crowds, and I loved escaping here for its tranquility and slow pace of life.
I thought it was a breathtaking spot with cobbled streets winding through stone saffron-coloured houses adorned with vibrant bougainvillea, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Tramuntana Mountains and lush orange groves.
