Want to follow the road less traveled? Here are our recommendations of beautiful, overlooked travel destinations.
A summer holiday can be a great relief from life’s stresses and provides us with an excellent opportunity to see more of the globe. But if you want to avoid the crowds or have a little bit more of a unique experience, while cutting down your costs, these recommendations which emulate popular destinations could be the swap you need.
Colmar instead of Bruges
Bruges has a beautiful fairy tale appearance to its architecture and winding paths, but did you know Colmar in North- Eastern France has a similar aesthetic? Classic French quaintness with Germanic architecture, Colmar was flip-flopped between French and German occupation between 1871 and 1945, providing a perfect blend of the two cities in culture and appearance. The quaint buildings even inspired the artists at the beloved Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli, to set one of its magical films, Howl’s Moving Castle, in the city’s centre with some buildings being directly transferred into the film. To catch the hot weather, its warmer season takes place in July and August.
Taormina instead of Maldives
Though Taormina is a relatively popular city in Sicily known for its holidaymakers, the city is not nearly spoken of often enough. Yes, nowhere can replace the once-in-a-lifetime holiday of the Maldives, but Taormina will give you a run for your money. Maldives reminiscent, Taormina is great for snorkelling in clear blue waters or for laying on white sand beaches. At this beautiful mountainside town visit the ancient ruins, Teatro Greco – an ancient Greek outdoor theatre which provides a spectacular backdrop of the vista over the mountainside.
Ljubljana instead of Florence
Capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana is a beautiful ornate European city. With plenty of arts and culture activities such as the National Art Gallery, Ljubljana Castle, and the National Museum of Slovenia. Ljubljana is an ode to the aesthetic of Florence or Prague with its ornate bridges and clustered terracotta roofed buildings. Don’t worry about not speaking Slovenian, Ljubljana is used to tourists so several service providers will speak some English – just don’t pronounce the cities name wrong! It’s pronounced: loo-bee-aa-nuh! The capital also makes for a great home base to explore other parts of Slovenia, most notably the gorgeous Lake Bled notorious for its otherworldly deep blue waters.
Albania instead of Croatia
Croatia used to be a well-kept secret for cheap travel, but now word’s gotten out, it’s quite a busy place to go! Albania could be your next private getaway. Awarded Best in Travel 2023 by Lonely Planet, trusted guidebook company, it sings its praises calling it The Jewel of the Balkans. Sparkling waters and remarkable mountain ranges, Albania has plenty to offer. Korce, nicknamed Little Paris, is a small-town village and is considered to be the hub of the city’s literary and artistic identity, great for wandering around its cobbled streets and sitting in sunlit outdoor cafés.
Cologne instead of Munich
Munich is well known for its beer halls but has recently become quite cramped with tourists in the summertime. If you want to experience Germanic culture Cologne, or Köln if you’re in Germany, is a modern and friendly city. Like Munich, Cologne has plenty of arts and culture attractions. Visit the Roonstrasse Synagogue and learn about its rich history for free, see the modern art museum, Museum Ludwig, or take a trip to Beethoven’s birthplace in Bonn to see his personal manuscripts, instruments, and mementos.