5 Hidden European Gems for the Non-Tourist
We know European travel isn’t an option right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t research and build our travel bucket lists in the meantime. It can be overwhelming deciding where to go, especially for those of us who prefer to travel off the beaten path, so we’ve gone ahead and done the hard part for you. We want to share five of our favorite hidden spots in Europe, shared with us by someone who spent her high school years abroad.
Istanbul, Turkey.
Now, we know Istanbul is a well-known place. But did you know that the city straddles Asia and Europe and that you can get to the Asian side by ferry in less than 15 minutes? That’s right, you can spend all day in Europe and hop over to Asia for a quick drink before dinner. We also heard through the grapevine that the nightlife scene is way better on the Asian side, so spend the days exploring the amazing city of Istanbul and do a quick continent switch for a night out in Asia!
Lugano, Switzerland.
If you’re looking to get a sun-kissed tan on vacation, Lugano is the place to go. One of the coolest things about this Swiss town is that it’s located right on the Swiss and Italian border. In certain hotels, you can literally sleep in Switzerland and shower in Italy. It’s the perfect home base if you want to hop between Italy and Switzerland, and it’s a short trip from Milan. The weather is frequently perfect, and the water is amazingly blue, so this destination should absolutely make your travel bucket list!
Lech, Austria.
When we think of the Alps, many of us tend to revert back to childhood memories of The Sound of Music, but the Alps are so much more than that. Lech is a tiny hidden gem, so small that it barely comes up in a Google search. But guys─it’s so cute. It’s a ski village by winter and a hiking village in the summer. It’s definitely a place you go to with an agenda to hike or ski because there isn’t much else to do, but we definitely recommend checking it out!
Traveling by gondola in Lech? We could get used to that.
Gandria, Switzerland.
A short trip from Lugano is Gandria, a beautiful and romantic little town made up of just apartments. But here’s the kicker: many of the apartments double as restaurants and small businesses, each with a private terrace that overlooks the water. The terraces only seat two to three tables (can we say ideal date location?!). If you’re ever in Switzerland, grab a gal pal or your S/O and check out this amazing place.
The key to any woman’s heart: a candle-lit dinner in this exact spot.
Corfu, Greece.
Let us set the scene for you: you sleep in, slowly make your way to the beach and spend your day staring at the bluest water you’ve ever seen. In the afternoon, you wander home to take a nap then spend the evening drinking wine and eating homemade baked honey sesame feta cheese. Sounds like heaven, right?
Well, heaven is real, and it exists in Corfu, Greece. The days move slowly and have little agenda, so it truly is the dream vacation. We do have to note that this island sees very few tourists compared to other islands, so planning is key. Little to no English is spoken on the island, so make sure you visit with a buddy and brush up on the local language before you visit!
These are some of our favorite European spots, but we also have some tips on finding your own hidden gems. For starters, you can look up things like “the prettiest beaches in Europe” or “the best European restaurants,” but scroll past the first several results. You can find some pretty incredible places by doing a little digging (or maybe even stalking a few Instas).
Our second tip is to talk to the locals and the people you encounter along your travels. Most of Europe tends to be very communal and friendly, and there’s nothing wrong with asking the people next to you at dinner if they have any ideas of places you should visit. Now that you have a jumping off point and some pointers, start checking off places on those bucket lists!
All images by Hannah Jankunis.