7 Hidden European Getaways Where Locals Flock – Discover Them Now!

British vacationers adhere strictly to traditions. The data supplied by the Spanish Tourist Office demonstrated that in 2023, a significant 52% of the 17 million UK visitors to Spain chose to go to either the Canary Islands or the Balearic Islands. This occurred even though many local residents on these islands were protesting against overcrowding caused by tourism.

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A recent Which? Travel The inquiry uncovered a consistent narrative throughout the bustling continent. Hosting 44 million international visitors in 2023, Paris stands as the top tourist destination in Europe. The probe also identified Zakynthos — a favoured escape for British tourists — has become the epicentre of overtourism in Greece, recording an astounding 6 million overnight stays on an island with just a small resident population of 40,000.

To avoid being surrounded by a sea of British chatter or anti-tourism placards, peace-seeking holidaymakers need to rediscover the joy of unfamiliar destinations. Venture off Europe’s beaten track and you’ll be rewarded with lower prices, quiet beaches and meaningful local interactions. From the gorgeous winelands of La Rioja From northern Spain to the unspoiled mountains of Montenegro, these seven European regions remain off the radar for many Britons.

La Rioja, Spain

More than 5m Brits descend on the Canary Islands Each year, however, data provided by the Spanish Tourist Office show that in mainland areas, La Rioja attracted only 10,000 British tourists – which represents 0.1 percent of UK holidaymakers who visited Spain in 2023.

The Spanish region of La Rioja offers visitors an opportunity to explore beyond conventional tourist routes and appreciate the mild climate and diverse scenery of northern Spain," states Manuel Butler, director at the Spanish Tourist Office. "Beyond its globally renowned wines, Rioja is still surprisingly under-the-radar, yet it’s a fulfilling area with varied landscapes including woodland-clothed mountains, olive orchards, and vineyards.”

Bring along your Spanish phrasebook and set up camp in Logroño, where the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage path meets a city established by the Romans. A local business can assist you with this. Rioja Like a Native provides half-day and full-day vineyard tours starting at €170 per person. If you visit in late June, you can immerse yourself in La Rioja’s wine culture (quite literally) at the Batalla del Vino (The Wine Battle), an yearly festival in the town of Haro marking the local cuisine, wine – and plenty more wine.

Vueling Flies from Gatwick to Bilbao, which is a one-and-a-half-hour drive north of Logrono, for £25 per trip each way. Rooms start at doubles. Sercotel Calle Mayor A transformed 16th-century palace starting from £65 for room-only rates.

Maremma, Italy

In 2024, Italy hosted 68 million tourists, which intensified anti-tourism feelings in popular areas such as Rome. Venice Nevertheless, serene havens of seclusion still exist, such as Maremma—a laid-back coastal area in southern Tuscany—where sun-kissed shores and countryside hideaways are cherished primarily by local travelers instead of foreign visitors.

Maremma boasts all the elements of an idyllic Italian retreat with barely a hint of British presence. Medieval villages like Sorano showcase their ancient stone fortifications towering over the landscape. dotted with vineyards . Dive into Saturnia’s therapeutic hot springs, explore coastal trails within the Parco Regionale della Maremma, and embrace la dolce vita in Talamone, a charming fishing village with views of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Fly into Florence or Rome, then make your way to Grosseto—a two-hour drive away—which serves as the heart of Maremma. The rooms await you there. Grand Hotel Bastiani In Grosseto’s historic downtown area, prices begin at £50 per night for a room-only stay.

Lika, Croatia

Approximately 21.3 million international tourists arrived Croatia In 2024, many travellers (including Brits) are flocking to popular seaside spots like Split and Dubrovnik. However, Bisera Fabrio, who leads the Croatian National Tourist Board in London, suggests exploring inland areas instead, particularly the expansive but sparsely inhabited region of Lika.

"Situated between the Adriatic Sea and central Croatia, Lika is a wild landscape featuring stunning mountains, historic woodlands, and pristine rivers that beckon you to take deep breaths and rediscover nature," explains Fabrio. She speaks about this mountainous area — which includes a Unesco World Heritage site — as an untouched paradise for adventurers. Plitvice Lakes National Park , where waterfalls plummet into vivid blue lakes encircled by limestone cliff formations – dubbed a "Croatian fairy tale".

Fabrio emphasizes how rural customs and warm welcomes flourish in Lika, allowing visitors to savor handcrafted cheeses, seasoned sausages, and homemade plum rakija, all while listening to tales that transform each dining session into a cultural journey. Travel to Split, Zadar, or Zagreb by air before making your way to Plitvice Lakes National Park, with accommodations available nearby. Hotel Jezero start from £102 B&B.

Durmitor National Park, Montenegro

Each year, Montenegro attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors, with only three percent coming from the United Kingdom, as reported by the Statistical Office of Montenegro.

The former Yugoslav nation might not be the Balkan secret it once was – endless cruise ships dock in Kotor in summer – but Ben Heywood, co-founder of Undiscovered Balkans , says: “there are many areas in Montenegro qualifying for off-the-beaten-track status, once you get away from the coast.”

He recommends chasing waterfalls, kayaking alpine lakes, white-water rafting, tackling hiking trails, e-biking and mountain climbing in Durmitor National Park, home to soaring peaks (the highest, Bobotov Kuk, is 8,277ft) and Europe’s deepest gorge (Tara Canyon at 4,265ft) in the north.

Unexplored Montenegro’s Ultra Adventure Vacation features adventures starting at £1,195 per person. Wizz Air offers flights from Gatwick to Podgorica, which is just 90 minutes away, with fares beginning at £22 for a one-way trip.

Pays de la Loire, France

During the height of summer, even then, 86.3 percent of the tourists visiting Pays de la Loire come from within the country itself. This area takes its name from the Loire River—the nation's second-longest—boasting numerous vineyards, castles, and urban centres like Le Mans, which is renowned for hosting an iconic 24-hour race track—and charmingly artistic towns. Nantes With its grand, mechanized guest experiences.

The French tourism board recommends going off-piste in Pays de la Loire, by basing yourself in lesser-visited Mayenne. This small town in the region’s north, home to a 10th-century Carolingian chateau and 12th-century basilica, is a short drive from the crumbling ramparts and ramshackle lanes of Sainte-Suzanne, which boldly styles itself as one of the “most beautiful villages in France”.

Doubles at Logis la Marjolaine A castle-converted hotel located outside Mayenne begins at £96.

EasyJet flies to nearby Rennes from £31, or travel overland by train from London via Paris and Laval.

Ikaria, Greece

Sections of Greece are grappling with overtourism. Zakynthos attracts the highest number of visitors on a per-capita basis within the nation, as reported. Which? overtourism report ), while Athens hosts the second largest number of visitors per square kilometre in Europe, after Paris.

But less-visited Ikaria has long existed in splendid isolation next to its larger island neighbour, Samos. Ancient Greek sailors feared the seas surrounding this tiny island (Homer warned of them in his epic poems), and Ikarians even destroyed their own harbours to keep away would-be invaders in medieval times.

“Unlike its more tourist-heavy counterparts, Ikaria has remained largely untouched by mass tourism, offering a glimpse into a slower, more authentic way of life,” says Eleni Skarveli, director of the Greek National Tourism Office , UK & Ireland. "This island is ideal for visitors seeking relaxation and an opportunity to delve into authentic Greek traditions."

The people of Ikaria could have some valuable insights since their island is considered one of the globe’s "Blue Zones," places known for an unusually large proportion of residents who reach ages over 90, or sometimes even surpassing 100 years old.

Skarveli suggests trying the island’s thermal baths and natural hot springs, while indulging in a diet filled with locally grown vegetables and freshly caught seafood will ensure you feel thoroughly revitalized.

Tui birds fly from Gatwick to Samos; then, you can catch a ferry to Ikaria.

Alternatively, take a flight through Athens with Aegean Airlines . Erofili Beach Hotel provides bed and breakfast for £60, with views of the stunning northern coast.

Costa Vicentina, Portugal

Rebecca Bruce, who manages products for Inntravel, is consistently impressed by Portugal’s Costa Vicentina. This area stands out with its rugged charm and salty breeze, offering a serene alternative to bustling Algarve.

"It stands far apart from the towering resorts along the southern coast, featuring instead quaint rustic lodges and guesthouses that extend heartfelt greetings to every visitor," remarks Bruce. This shoreline—shielded by one of Europe’s biggest natural parks, the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina remains unchanged as it appears to be a proper noun referring to a specific natural park location. — is home to the lengthy Fishermen’s Trail hiking route. "In addition to this, it's an excellent area for observing wildlife, apart from the well-known marine storks that construct their sizable nests anywhere they can find space, including atop telephone poles! It really embodies genuine Portugal," remarks Bruce.

Inntravel Offers seven-day walking vacations starting at £1,190 per person, covering the finest parts of the Fishermen’s Trail, a route that spans 140 miles along Portugal’s southwestern coastline. This area is accessible via Lisbon or Faro.