With the summer coming up, everyone’s starting to look at where to go for holiday, even if it’s just for the weekend. Places like Berlin and Barcelona – even Budapest nowadays – can, however, start to feel overwhelmingly touristy as they are swarmed during the summer months. No one likes queuing for hours to get into a museum when it’s 25+ degrees outside (I’m looking at you Versailles), so it’s good to keep in mind that there is still a lot left to discover in (and around) Europe – especially in Eastern Europe, which is still pretty cheap and definitely very underrated. You can find amazing city holidays and beautiful beaches here, and you won’t be surrounded by hundreds of other tourists. I’ve listed some of my top travel destinations that are totally underrated! Go as soon as you can!
The Albanian coast (or Riviera, as it is sometimes called) is stunning: think white sand and turquoise water. It is a bit tricky to get to, to be fair – you’ll need to take a ferry from Corfu or a car from Tirana (which takes about 6 hours) but is definitely worth it. It’s still very unaffected by tourism, and the coastline is great for backpacking through! These top travel destinations are ones you do not want to miss out on.
Tallinn’s great for a weekend away – it’s got lots of small cafes and restaurants and the Old Town is stunning! The history of Estonia is interesting, too (the country was a part of the USSR), so this is the perfect place for anyone wanting to soak up some history on a budget.
Belgrade is one of my favourite places – you can get such great food for such a low price, and the weather is usually great. The city’s got a great street art scene, too, as well as being good for nightlife. There’re party boats all along the Sava River, and the Savamala district is host to lots of bars and clubs. The art scene of the country is really up-and-coming, too.
Located in the Mediterranean, Valletta’s 2018’s City of Culture, and has featured on Game of Thrones: not really underrated, but not one that has been on my radar, until now. The city has a stunning blend of beautiful architecture, history, and culture – as well as being close to beaches, making for a perfect for a week away.
Marrakech has seen a rise in popularity over the recent years. With warm weather and cheap, good food, as well as a fascinating culture and rich history, you can’t really go wrong. The Yves Saint Laurent Museum is definitely worth a visit!
Helsinki’s fantastic for a long weekend. The city’s good for wandering around, as you’ll find lots of cafes, restaurants, pubs, and bars that way! A visit to the sea fortress, ‘Suomenlinna’, is a must. Flow Festival, held every August, is rising in popularity, too: this year’s line-up includes Kendrick Lamar, Brockhampton, Patti Smith, Bonobo, Arctic Monkeys, and more.
This is another place that will definitely get super popular over the next few years. The country has stunning mountains and crystal-clear waters, as well as a rich history. Visit Budva for beaches and medieval history!
Sarajevo is fascinating, and definitely underrated as a travel destination. It has a mix of Ottoman influences and more traditional baroque architecture, and a fascinating (but tragic) history – the museums here are fantastic for learning more about the country.
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