Sometimes travelling is a bit like fashion; trends come and go, and what was hot six months ago is no longer interesting now that everyone’s doing it. But the underground and the undiscovered is always new, always there, and always fresh… Being cutting edge is damn hard. It’s a massive pain when you think you’ve discovered some hidden gem and everyone tells you – yawn; that’s old news. “I went there two years ago before it was cool, before the tourists overran it.”
These European destinations are still pretty unknown, undiscovered and underrated. Check them out and get to them quick; before everyone else does.
It’s a pity to pass on by: Portbou (Spain)
Port … what? The art of finding underrated destinations can be quite simple and one trick to try out is stop at the places others drive past as they head for already popular climes. There are many places forgotten by history as the well-known tourist spots have eclipsed them over time. Let’s take Portbou: once a border town between Catalonia (Spain) and France and located on a picturesque Mediterranean bay.
Since the Schengen Agreement abolished border checks and easy access motorways were constructed, barely anyone has reason to stop here as they head to the Costa Brava. This is immediately apparent in Portbou, the elegant beach promenade belongs almost entirely to the locals, the streets are hushed, and the promenade is populated by playing children. And it’s beautiful; beautiful and free of tourists.
Totally untypical for France: Toulouse
Can a whole city be undervalued? Apparently so, Toulouse is the most underrated metropolis in France; some would argue that that’s because it’s not typically French.
This begins with its unusually-hued brick facades – the ‘pink city’, as Toulouse is often called – is also culturally colourful, partly due to the mix of Spaniards, Italians, Turks and North Africans who’ve called this city home for generations, meaning visitors very quickly feel at home here.
The street-life is second to none, and the streets are packed with cafes, restaurants and bars creating a heady mix of relaxation and stimulation. Honestly, what have you got Tou-louse?
When Portugal meets Spain: Tui
Nope, we’re not speaking about either the travel company or the native New Zealand songbird – Tui, a notably picturesque town in the Northwest-Spanish region of Galicia (which in itself is not nearly appreciated enough), sit’s on the Miño River, facing Portugal.
Tui is steeped in history and this is reflected in the old city centre and the gorgeous, archaeologically-fertile hills that roll around this town. If you fancy a view of Tui from across the river, just take the bridge across to Portugal and spend a day in the walled city of Valença. History abounds. Tui score -Criminally Underrated.
The eye of the storm: Vis (Croatia)
As a destination, Croatia has exploded, it’s incredibly beautiful – cities and landscape both, cheap, has a great climate and has also featured as a set in one of the world’s most popular TV shows – yes, the one with the dragons.
But even in the most popular of destinations, you can find areas of calm that are beyond imagination. Maybe they’re hard to get to? Maybe accommodation is limited? Or maybe they’re just a bit too off of the beaten path?
Such is the island of Vis: it is part of the Croatian Adriatic of course, but it is by no means as popular as the other islands or even the mainland. Why? Vis lies further out, is relatively small and sleepy, and, after having served as a military outpost for a long time, is only slowly returning to people’s consciousness as being one of the most beautiful parts of the area.
Like another planet: Bohemian Middle-Mountains (Czech Republic)
So, the name isn’t that inspiring. In fact, it’s downright boring, but the Bohemian Middle Mountains are one of the most unusual mountain ranges in our (extended) neighbourhood. The mountains are bookended with two famous European landmarks, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Germany and the red cliffs of Bohemian Switzerland.
The range that traverses the Czech Republic between these two points though is largely unknown except to a few hikers and the locals.
The landscape is primitive and otherworldly. You could be forgiven for believing you’re on another planet.
Countless bald volcanoes (extinct) rise to the sky, the geology made even more unusual by the lava and basalt caught like frozen streams between the cones – many of these peaks are only a few hundred meters high and can easily be climbed, without equipment and with very little experience.
In a country that does not exist: Tiraspol, Transnistria
There are many things that we consider exotic: having a sauna in Finland or sleeping in a yurt in Mongolia, but maybe the most exotic of all is a visit to Tiraspol in Transnistria – a country that does not exist!
Admittedly, the literal road to the city is easy to find: the city is located within Moldova but has belonged to Transnistria since 1990, which is a country that isn’t officially recognised by the UN, so technically doesn’t exist. And you thought local politics was confusing.
However, if you can make it to Moldova, you can make it to Tiraspol, although you have to have your passport with you to enter. And finally, you’ve stepped out of sync and into a city where classical Russian architecture clashes with socialist tower blocks, and it feels like time has stood still. You can guarantee that this is a genuinely once-in-a-lifetime-experience.
An island paradise that’s still pleasantly sleepy: Cape Verde
The Balearic Islands are thronged with tourists; the Canaries jammed with holidaymakers, but the Cape Verde Islands still retain their charm and are ideal for island adventurers who want a little more than the typical package holiday.
Here life is slower; it’s always warm (averaging between 24° and 30° throughout the year), and a light trade wind blows over the beaches. Although there are plenty of luxury hotels in the main tourist areas, Cape Verde doesn’t offer the usual landscape for an Island getaway.
Instead, the islands are part desert, part lush valley and craggy peaks begging t be hiked. All ringed by gorgeous, docile beaches and waters ranging from mirror pool calm to white tipped dream waves for water sport enthusiasts. The Cape Verde Islands are (mostly) deserted deserts isolated in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Geographically, Cape Verde is close to Africa, but the blend of Creole Portuguese-African gives it an international feel and the Cape Verde currency Escudo is linked to the Euro.
Once upon a time: Transylvania, Romania
Generally speaking, when somewhere is mainly known for a singular reason, there’s a good chance that you’re going to find all sorts of largely unknown cool once you get beyond the shadows. For example, almost everyone who heads to Romania is going because of the world’s most famous vampire – Vlad Dracul, Dracula.
Don’t get me wrong, all of the Drac related tourism events are pretty ‘bloody’ cool, but thinking that Transylvania is just the Prince of Darkness character is liking thinking that the Paris is just the Eiffel Tower and nothing more, which is like putting a nail in the fun coffin.
The sheer grandeur of Transylvania makes the whole region feel magical. It’s like stepping directly into the pages of a fairytale. Far away from the industry and cosmopolitan feeling of Bucharest, in Transylvania you’re likely to be overtaken by a farmer on a horse-and-cart or sidestep chickens on the road as you traverse the narrow, cobblestone streets of the various medieval towns and cities.
The ‘Grimm’ feeling is made even more poignant as the entire region is enveloped in a backdrop of wild-romantic castles, steep valleys and the dark Carpathian forests. Just don’t swap your cow for any magic beans.
Under the invisibility cloak: Turin, Italy
There’s another reason that a location often misses out and stays largely undetected, as if it’s under been covered by an invisibility cloak. It’s not that you’ve never heard of the area, it’s just that there’s one thing missing: footprints. A lot of people are herd animals – perfectly content to only go where others have been before. Now, this isn’t a bad thing, and it makes a lot of people very happy, but it does sometimes mean that some corners of the world are hardly noticed for years.
This is definitely the case for Turin. While people scramble to get to Rome and Milan, Turin, the ‘ugly, industrial city’ is totally disregarded. Seriously, there is one city guide for Turin to every ten for Milan. But is this justified?
Sure, Turin is home to Fiat and is an incredibly important city for industry, but, as is often supposed Turin is not defined by it. Also a cultural hub, with a burgeoning art scene that has really taken flight since the 2006 Winter Olympics made people realise that Turin had been getting a bad rap all these years.
Head to Peppino, one of the oldest ice cream parlours in Europe, and take a walk through the city centre. The Boulevards are elegant, and the architecture is Italian seen through a Parisian eye with a touch of Art Nouveau splashed around the balustrades. Splendid and unsurprising when you consider Turin used to seat the House of Savoy.
The Museo Egizio house one of the biggest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the world, and after working up an appetite there, Turian food is also incredibly good and dishes served in the local style are surprisingly inexpensive. There is no Roman chaos, no jammed-to-the-elbows squares as in the Milan, just 100 kilometres away, because hardly anyone knows what they’re missing out on.
African Borderlands: Ceuta, Spain
This location is only for the intrepid explorer, determined to go to the most unusual of places. If you visit this location you’ll almost certainly be the first of your peer group to do so as it A) hardly registers on anyone’s radar and is almost unknown, B) is such a unique meshing of world history that you won’t have read about it in school history books. Ceuta is an autonomous Spanish state located on the North African coast.
A dwarf state with a population of almost 90,000, Ceuta is surrounded by a 6 metre-high wire fence that creates a haphazard and barren border with Morroco, who have massive objections to it. It’s expensive to maintain, a permanent security risk and you don’t even want to know about political functionality.
Tourism chiefly occurs here, because the Spanish can buy their goods duty-free at Ceuta. The ferry only takes an hour, and the city is actually full of well-kept plazas, fantastic tapas bars and a smattering of culture and nightlife. Lovely to relax into, as long as you don’t think too much about that fence.
North (and slightly to the left): Belfast, Northern Ireland
Let’s not forget our cousins in the North – of Ireland that is. Belfast is an amazing city that doesn’t get the amount of traffic it deserves. The massive harbour, where the Titanic was built, will make you feel like you’re king of the world. Take a guided tour of the murals that populate Belfast, a sobering reminder of The Troubles, but also an incredible insight into an important time in history and the people who lived through it.
The evenings are all about the craic, and the small town centre is booming with song, frivolity and a healthy dose of pints and the occasional nip of whiskey.
Originally published 01 2017, updated 05 2022.
