13 Fascinating Hidden Gems in Europe Beyond the Usual Tourist Stops

During your first trip or two to Europe, you’ll probably find yourself in some of the same places as everyone else. There’s a reason Barcelona, Amsterdam and Rome are so popular, and they’re amazing places to start getting to know the continent. But once you start exploring beyond those familiar routes, you can find some fascinating hidden gems in Europe that make you wonder why more people don’t visit them.

Some of these places are favorites from my own travels, and others have made it onto my increasingly ridiculous list of places to go next. They’re not all completely undiscovered, but the places on this list often sit outside a first-time visitor’s usual route, or have much more to explore than a quick visit reveals.

Keep reading for cool little European mountain villages, islands with hard-to-reach coves, uncrowded beaches, and hiking areas that will make you want to extend your trip… and I’m speaking from experience on that last one!

1. Lake Bohinj, Slovenia: Lake Bled’s Lesser-Known Sister

Lake Bohinj is in northwestern Slovenia, in Triglav National Park among the Julian Alps, only 30 minutes or so from its much more famous neighbor, Lake Bled. I think of it as Bled’s lesser-known sister, although it’s actually the bigger lake. It’s just as beautiful, feels much more natural around the shoreline, and has SO much to do if you love being outdoors. Bled gets plenty of attention for its island church and castle, but the mountains surrounding Bohinj are pretty hard to compete with.

You can walk all the way around the lake on a stunning hike, find a little pebbly spot for a swim, or get out on the water in a kayak or on a paddleboard. The Vogel cable car takes you above the lake for views across the Julian Alps, including Mount Triglav (the highest mountain in the area/Slovenia at over 2800m); this area is a ski resort in the winter but trust me, it’s still worth visiting in the summer for the views.

Oh, and Štrudl Restaurant in the town was my favorite restaurant in Slovenia – you’ll find that and my other recommendations in my Slovenia itinerary. After a full day of hiking and swimming, your evening might involve putting your feet up with a book or playing online games such as those at Rocket Play Australia.

2. The Albanian Riviera: Incredible Water and a Festival I’d Go Back For

The Albanian Riviera runs along the Ionian coast in southern Albania, with mountains rising behind beach towns and coves of ridiculously clear water. It has the same beautiful seas that people travel to Italy, Croatia and Greece for, and you can still find quieter stretches and more affordable places to stay – for now. Dhërmi is already popular, but there are plenty of smaller bays and villages to explore along this coast.

I went to Dhërmi for Kala Festival, which I would absolutely go back to, and came over from the Greek island of Corfu on my way there. Corfu is also gorgeous, by the way, so combining the two makes a pretty excellent trip. Dhërmi’s old village sits on the hillside above the beach, with stone houses and churches looking out toward the sea. Farther along the coast, places such as Himarë and Gjipe, a beach tucked below a canyon, give you even more reasons to spend a few days exploring – and swimming, obviously.

3. Vis, Croatia: Military Tunnels and Some of Croatia’s Best Coves

I debated adding Vis because plenty of Croatia sailing tours stop here, and I’ve visited many, many times while working as a guide. But I always recommend choosing a sailing itinerary that includes it, and there are so many things that make this island more unique than others nearby. Vis sits farther out from Split than islands such as Brač and Hvar, with some absolutely gorgeous coves that take a bit more effort to reach.

The island was a Yugoslav military stronghold and restricted to foreign visitors until the late 1980s, leaving behind tunnels, shelters and abandoned military sites you can explore on tours. There’s also Fort George above Vis Town with incredible sea views(the view pictured above), an old submarine port you can jump into, and Komiža on the other side of the island, which became one of my favorite Croatian towns when I finally made it there. Stiniva is the famous cove, but places such as Stončica Bay deserve some time too, especially if you rent a scooter and explore beyond the sailing stops. My guide to Vis has all my favorite places, including the military sights and swimming spots.

4. Ribeira Sacra, Spain: Wine Growing on Ridiculously Steep Hillsides

Ribeira Sacra is in inland Galicia, in northwestern Spain, where the Sil and Miño rivers wind between steep hills covered in vineyards – and I mean STEEP! The vines grow on narrow terraces stacked above the water, with forest and old monasteries scattered through the already-dreamy landscape. This is a part of Spain to explore by following the rivers and little roads between wineries, well away from the usual big-city-and-beach itinerary.

The region calls its winemaking “heroic viticulture”, because growing grapes on these slopes involves difficult manual work in places machinery can’t easily reach. Looking at those terraces, I can understand the name. You can take a boat through the Sil Canyon to see the vineyards from below, then head up to the viewpoints for a completely different perspective. And after seeing how much effort goes into growing the grapes, trying the local wine seems pretty necessary to me.

5. Motovun, Croatia: A Hilltop Town Surrounded by Truffle Country

Motovun is in inland Istria, the peninsula in northwestern Croatia, and I absolutely love it. The old town sits right on top of a hill, with stone streets winding their way up and walls overlooking the Mirna Valley and the surrounding countryside. Most people associate Croatia with the coast, but heading inland here brings you into a landscape of little hilltop towns, vineyards and forest. You can spot Motovun perched above it all before you even arrive – they call it the Tuscany of Croatia!

And that forest is important, because this is truffle country. Between eating local food, trying Istrian wine and wandering up through the old streets, there’s plenty to keep you occupied in such a small town. When we visited, we stayed outside town near the Fakin winery, which worked well as we had a car. I’ve included Motovun in my Balkans road trip itinerary, and it’s one of my favorite examples of why you should explore Croatia beyond its beaches.

6. The Alentejo Coast, Portugal: Little Beach Towns Between Lisbon and the Algarve

The Alentejo Coast is on Portugal’s western side, south of Lisbon and north of the Algarve. If you’re already traveling between the two, you can leave the main highway and spend some time exploring the more hidden-gem towns along the water. Around Porto Covo and Zambujeira do Mar, whitewashed buildings sit close to sandy coves and cliffs above the Atlantic. It’s the smaller towns and stretches of coastline between them that make this area so appealing.

Vila Nova de Milfontes has a different setting again, with beaches around the mouth of the Mira River where it meets the sea. The Fishermen’s Trail, part of the Rota Vicentina, follows sections of this coast, with paths looking down over beaches and rocky headlands. I love the idea of walking part of the coast, then heading into a village for seafood and finding somewhere by the water for the evening- a true local experience. Being on Portugal’s west coast means sunsets over the sea, too, which is obviously a big part of the appeal for me.

7. Kravice Waterfalls, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Waterfalls You Can Swim Beneath

Kravice Waterfalls are in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, roughly an hour from Mostar. A whole curve of waterfalls tumbles through greenery into the pool below, so the view is much bigger than one narrow stream dropping over a cliff. It’s an established day trip in Herzegovina, but an easy place to miss if your travels through the Balkans stay along the Croatian coast as many peoples’ do.

I’ve seen a lot of waterfalls, and I still love these – especially because you can swim in the pool beneath them in summer. The water is chilly at first, but on a hot day that’s part of what makes it so good, and there are places around the water to sit and have something to eat afterward. My Kravice Waterfalls guide covers the visit in more detail, and I recommend combining it with some time in another of my favorite places (almost a hidden gem) – Mostar. You’ll find plenty more nearby stops in my Mostar travel guide, including Blagaj and Počitelj.

8. Gozo, Malta: Little Stone Villages and Seriously Beautiful Water

Gozo is the smaller island just northwest of Malta’s main island, reached by ferry, with pale limestone villages, elaborate churches and little bays surrounded by cliffs. I somehow didn’t even know about it, and I’m a travel blogger. Looking at the buildings and then the WATER, I’m honestly a little annoyed it took me this long. Malta gets the name recognition, while Gozo has its own villages, countryside, and coastline to explore across the channel.

Victoria, the main town, has a fortified Citadel rising above the rooftops, while Xlendi has waterfront restaurants beneath steep cliffs. The place that really caught my attention is Wied il-Għasri, a narrow inlet where blue-green seawater winds between high rock walls toward a tiny pebbly beach. Steps cut into the cliff lead down to the water, and the view along that little gorge is incredible. Old Mediterranean buildings, coastal walks and swimming spots like this? Yeah, Gozo had to go on the list of hidden gems in Europe.

9. Soča Valley, Slovenia: Turquoise Rivers Between Pale Rock Walls

The Soča Valley is in northwestern Slovenia, on the western side of the Julian Alps near Italy. While Bohinj has the lake and its surrounding mountains, this area is all about the river, which squeezes through pale limestone gorges and opens into stretches of incredibly turquoise water that don’t even seem real. Bovec and Kobarid are useful bases for rafting, walking and exploring the valley, farther west than the familiar Ljubljana and Lake Bled stops.

One place to save is Kozjak Waterfall, near Kobarid, where water drops into a green pool inside an almost enclosed chamber of rock. The dark walls surrounding that bright water make it look like a little underground world, even though the waterfall is open above. The valley is already well known among adventure travelers, and with scenery like this, I can see why. Between the river here and the lake at Bohinj, there’s a very good chance your Slovenia trip will end up being mostly outdoors.

10. The Zagori Villages, Greece: Stone Bridges in the Mountains

Zagori is in northwestern Greece, in the mountainous region of Epirus near Ioannina. Its villages have stone houses, slate roofs and little squares shaded by plane trees, with old bridges crossing the rivers between them. Some bridges rise in such high, narrow arches that they look almost unreal against the forest and rocky riverbeds. This is a whole hidden gem side of Greece that an island-hopping trip won’t show you.

Those bridges and paths once connected the communities, and the Zagori Cultural Landscape is now UNESCO-listed. Papigo and Monodendri are two villages to explore, with the enormous Vikos Gorge cutting through the mountains nearby. I love the combination of old stone buildings and such dramatic nature right around them. You can spend part of the day wandering through the village streets and then head out to see those huge cliffs and forested slopes stretching into the distance.

11. Kihnu Island, Estonia: Striped Skirts, Folk Songs and Island Life

Kihnu is a small island off southwestern Estonia, in the Gulf of Riga, reached by ferry from the mainland. What makes it stand out as a hidden gem in Europe is the culture of the island itself: colorful striped skirts, traditional songs and dances, and intricate handicrafts passed down through generations. These traditions are part of the Kihnu cultural space recognized by UNESCO, and some are still very much part of everyday life.

For generations, men spent long periods at sea, while women played a central role in running the community and preserving its traditions. The island museum explains some of that history, and cycling is a popular way to explore the villages and coast. Kihnu takes a separate journey from Tallinn or a trip between the Baltic capitals, so it’s somewhere you have to choose to go. The colorful clothing and the stories behind this little island community are what caught my attention – there’s a lot more here than a pretty stretch of coastline.

12. Val di Mello, Italy: Huge Granite Cliffs Around a Little Alpine Valley

Val di Mello is in Lombardy in northern Italy, northeast of Lake Como, branching off the Val Masino near San Martino. Enormous granite walls rise above meadows, boulders and clear streams, with tiny buildings below the mountains giving you some idea of their scale. The scenery has earned comparisons with Yosemite, which immediately got my attention as a Californian. It’s an intriguing detour inland from the much more famous northern Italian lakes.

The main walk through Val di Mello follows the valley floor, so you can look up at those massive walls while walking beside the water. Climbers already know the granite faces well, and harder trails continue into the mountains, but the scenery starts right down in the valley. One of its clear pools is called the Bidet della Contessa, or the Countess’s Bidet, which is a fairly excellent name 😛 Personally, the combination of those huge cliffs and little blue-green pools is what makes this one stand out.

13. The Apuseni Mountains, Romania: Caves and Underground Ice

The Apuseni Mountains are in western Romania, along the western side of Transylvania, with wooded hills and small settlements spread through a landscape of limestone. That limestone is what makes the area especially interesting: it’s full of caves, sinkholes and gorges, with huge openings disappearing into the mountains. Apuseni Natural Park includes caves that even contain ice.

Scărișoara Ice Cave is one of the best-known examples, with a massive underground ice deposit beneath its entrance shaft. Other parts of the region have forest walks and rural roads connecting small mountain communities, so this is somewhere to spend a few days exploring rather than visit one attraction and leave. It’s a good choice for a Romania trip focused on nature, particularly if the places currently on your map are mostly castles and cities. The underground scenery is what earns it a place on this list for me.

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Hopefully a few of these hidden gems in Europe have made it onto your map. Let me know which ones you’ve visited and what else belongs on the list—I’m always happy to add another swimming spot, tiny town or ridiculous mountain view to a future trip.