Tired of the usual hot spots between Mallorca and Mykonos, Zack Cahill looks at alternative destinations in Europe, going in search of soon-to-be-hot locations far from the madding crowds… And realises he’s part of the problem.
We travellers are always on the hunt for somewhere “off the beaten track”. We whinge about bloody tourists mobbing the places we go, ruining them, spoiling them. Oh yes, unspoilt places only for us, please. We want secret beaches, hidden villages, and restaurants without menus – just a scowling grandmother who silently fries something while darkly abusing us in her native tongue.
The irony, of course, is that the moment we find one of these hidden gems and book the flight… we become the thing we swore to destroy. We’re not in traffic. We are traffic. The call is coming from inside the house.
And yet, people are the worst, aren’t they? Always getting in the way, clogging the view, pausing for selfies, and telling me not to swim in the Trevi Fountain. Or at least to wear trunks. Just me?
We’re creatures of habit, and our habits are Spain and Greece. Nothing wrong with that, but what if this year you were to go rogue? Become a modern-day Shackleton, except one who insists on goose-down pillows and a Nespresso machine.
With that spirit in mind, here are some lesser-known (but not too lesser-known – we’re not animals) European destinations that offer just enough solitude to trick you into thinking you’ve discovered them.
Vipava Valley, Slovenia
The Slovenian wine country, near the Italian border, feels like Tuscany before the influencers moved in. Rolling vineyards? Check. Alpine views? Absolutely. Great hiking, great wine, and not a ring light in sight? Triple check.
It’s nestled between the Julian Alps and the Karst Plateau, about an hour’s drive from both Ljubljana and Trieste. That makes it a perfect side trip, or a full-on base camp if you like your adventures with a chilled glass of Malvasia and a view of the mountains.
The valley got a boost in the 2010s, when cycling routes, wine tourism, and a handful of Michelin stars started drawing attention. Chef Ana Roš (who you may have seen being intense on Netflix’s Chef’s Table) helped put Slovenia on the culinary map, and the ripple effect reached right into Vipava.
Also, it’s windy. The notorious ‘bora’ wind will slice through your soul. The town was even designed to avoid creating a wind tunnel. Just lean into it and call your windswept hair a look.
Vibe: Rustic luxury meets Central European charm, with zero pretension.
Best for: Wine lovers, cyclists, and foodies who want Michelin without the smugness.
The Faroe Islands, Denmark
A remote, otherworldly archipelago in the North Atlantic with plunging cliffs, turf-roofed houses, puffins, and eerie mist. Weather can be wild, but summer is surprisingly mild and full of long golden hours. There are more sheep than people here, and the locals speak a descendant of Old Norse. But don’t worry. They also speak better English than you. Obviously. This is still technically Scandinavia.
There’s a strong folk music scene and not a coffee chain or billboard in sight.
The food is fish and lamb, and lots of fermented stuff. The menus can read like a dare or a threat. Don’t let that stop you.
Vibe: Nordic noir meets nature doc.
Best for: Hikers, photographers, and anyone looking to feel like they’ve left the planet for a while.
Albania
Back when I first started travelling through Europe, I was given several dark warnings: whatever I did, do not go to Albania. At the time, it was still shaking off its Soviet mantle and had the kind of reputation that made backpackers clutch their Lonely Planets like rosary beads. The writer Neil Strauss once described it as one of the most corrupt places on earth, and travellers traded stories of bribes, scams, and mysterious disappearances like they were swapping ghost stories.
It was the Wild West – if the Wild West had communist architecture, crap roads, and a fondness for goat-based cuisine.
Fast forward twenty years, and the country has undergone a quiet, scrappy glow-up. It’s still rough around the edges in places, but that’s part of the appeal. The beaches along the Albanian Riviera are stunning: think Greece without the cruise ships. The capital, Tirana, is vibrant. And you’ll find ancient ruins, Ottoman towns, dramatic mountains, and enough offbeat charm to make you feel like you’ve pulled one over on the algorithm.
Vibe: Mediterranean DIY-chic. A bit chaotic, a bit magical.
Best for: Adventurous types, and anyone who enjoys some light bribery with their beach holiday.
Transylvania, Romania
Yes, that Transylvania. Turns out it’s not all capes and crypts. Though, honestly, the Dracula stuff is great fun and weirdly underplayed. What you’ll actually find is rolling green hills, medieval towns, castles, and a real sense of having wandered into a fairytale.
The countryside is full of wildflower meadows, bear sightings (actual ones), and horse-drawn carts still used as actual transport. You’re never quite sure whether you’re on holiday or in a Tarkovsky film.
Vibe: Brothers Grimm meet Top Gear special.
Best for: Goths, Anne Rice fans, people who think Bran Castle is a fibre supplement.
Of course, the ultimate irony is that by reading this list and thinking, ooh, maybe I’ll try one of these, you’re already part of the problem. The moment a place gets called “undiscovered” in a travel column, the clock starts ticking. Soon it’ll be awash with foreign fleshbags, boutique hotels, and tasting menus.
But don’t let that stop you. Go. Wander. Get gloriously lost. Just… maybe don’t tag the location.
And if you see me in the fountain, mind your business.
Illustration by Martin Perry, photography via Unsplash
