Hidden Travel Gems in Europe: From Andorra to Greenland

Europe has been so thoroughly traveled over so many centuries that you’d think there hasn’t been a hidden travel gem in Europe since the Gauls somehow overlooked Liechtenstein.

You’d be wrong, actually. While none of these locations require a National Treasure-level of effort to find, they’re far enough off the beaten path that you may actually have room to turn around during peak season. And in off-peak season – gosh, it’ll be just like being back home in Topeka.

Wales

You know Wales best as the country with the language that’s an in-joke among linguists.

While Wales might seem like a place where Scrabble fiends go to get rid of their extra letters, it’s actually a gloriously beautiful land, with mountains to climb, wild places to explore, rugged coastline to seek out, and gentle and friendly people who have apparently not been let in on the joke.

What makes it even better is that it’s accessible. Trains run to Cardiff from London, and getting to London’s a breeze. Rent a car in Cardiff, set off in search of adventure and you’ll likely find it, either in cities like Swansea (or Wrexham, if you fancy watching Ryan Reynolds’ soccer team), or in preserves like Bannau Brycheiniog and Eryri National Park, or Gower and Clwydian Range national landscapes.

Wales is much of the best of the U.K. in a green, compact package. It’s worth the diversion.

Also Read: What to Look for in a Luxury Trip: Comfort, Convenience, and Costly Experiences

Andorra

Europe has this whole tiny-country thing down. While San Marino, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and Malta may be small, they each have a rich history and unique charm. It's reassuring to know they exist – and that some of them actually have royal families. Andorra is the most rugged of the bunch. High in the Pyrenees between Spain and France, Andorra was best known to stamp collectors as the country that would alternately copy French and Spanish stamps and put “Andorra” where the other countries’ names would ordinarily go.

The reason was because at that time the country couldn’t bring in a graphic designer without increasing its population 25 percent, but it sort of sums up this country that embraces Spain and France at the same time it also pushes them away.

What’s it like in Andorra? Quiet. If you want to get away, Andorra can accommodate you. Just find a secluded village and hide from the world. The Wi-Fi’s good, though, so it’s a fine place to be a digital nomad(the government approves, too).

On the other hand, if you like to ski and prefer a ski resort with a Spanish flavor, Andorra has Grandvalira. There are French-style ski resorts in Andorra, too, but Grandvalira is much more exotic, and better. Because there are ski resorts there are also spas, which makes Andorra an even better place to unwind.

When you’re ready to wind back up, the hiking and mountain biking are challenging but reward you with breathtaking views, especially in the UNESCO World Heritage region of Madriu-Perafita-Claror. The food’s delicious as well, especially the Basque-style tapas.

Andorra is way off the beaten path, but that’s sort of the point.

Also read: Best Travel Apps for Finding Things to Do on Vacation

The other Greek islands

Everyone wants to visit Santorini for the Santorini Shot. You know – the blue-topped white buildings and the dazzling blue water, or the night shot where everything glows like the set of Mamma Mia.

That’s fine if that’s what you want, but that’s not the only great shot or dazzling water to be found in the Greek Islands.

Milos offers scores of beautiful beaches like Alogomántra, Icelandic-style rock formations near Sarakíniko and Kléftiko, and hot springs that remind you of these islands’ volcanic origins.

Ikaria is the legendary home of Icarus and super laid back. Imagine if Anguilla were a Greek island and you get the picture.

Kythira, located between the Greek mainland and Crete, is home to a Venetian castle, gorges, waterfalls, and more than 30 sparsely populated beaches.

Leros leans into all the Greek-Island tropes from tavernas to windmills. You half-expect to see Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep come bursting out of a doorway singing “Voulez-Vous.”

And Ithaca – Ithaca might just be the perfect all-around Greek Island.

As you can see, there’s a lot to explore and a lot of Greek Islands to explore. So what are you waiting for?

Also Read: How You Can Use Travel Protection Before Your Trip Begins

Mini-river cruising in the Netherlands

In the cruising world there are ocean cruises, river cruises, and what we might call creek cruises –the small little waterways that the Marchioness of the Estuarial Sump can’t navigate.

In the Netherlands, many smaller boats and barges ply canals and small rivers. Why are these special? Because they take you to the real Netherlands and places where many tourists want to go but can’t.

In addition, these small boats provide a cruising experience that’s intimate even by river-cruise standards.

Most of these cruises start in Amsterdam. Some give you a short whirl around the Amsterdam area, but others range further north into Friesland. Specialty cruises are focus on cheese or flowers.

If you’re looking for an intimate cruising experience that gives you unique insight into a country inexorably tied to the sea, try one of these cruises. It’s a routine-breaker for sure.

Eastern (and northern) Norway

Most people’s travel around Norway consists of seeing Oslo and/or the fjords, which is great, only they’re missing most of the country.

Spoiler alert: the fjords are the scenic part, but the rest of Norway is no slouch. There are museums to explore in Hadeland and Lillehammer, great train trips – including the Bergen Line, considered the world’s most scenic train trip – and cities and towns like Fredrikstad or Follo to wander through.

If you’re really bold, consider far northern Norway, where towns like Svalbard, with its arts, cuisine, culture, and looks redefine what an Arctic city can be.

Do yourself a favor: Next time you visit Norway, visit all of Norway. The only thing you’ll miss is all the tourists. The only thing you’ll gain is a new appreciation for this amazing country.

Also read: The Slow Travel Trend

Greenland

Greenland is still relatively unspoiled, and its wild places are quite wild, meaning you can get a real taste of northern native culture in towns like Nuuk or Ittoqqortoormiit, then head out to the tundra and see reindeer, arctic fox, and other native species.

Greenland’s not easy to get to and isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for truly unspoiled territory in the European sphere it can’t be beat.

Also read: How to Weave Wellness Travel into Any Trip

North Macedonia and/or Herzegovina

North Macedonia is better known as “the country formerly known as ... uh, whatever that country was formerly known as.” The answer is Macedonia, actually. It had to change its name because of what amounted to a naming dispute with Greece. It’s a landlocked country sandwiched between Greece, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, and Bulgaria.

As you might expect, North Macedonia has rugged terrain, excellent hiking, mountain biking, old-timey cities, friendly people, wicked native libations, and a turbulent past.

Fortunately, the past is past, and modern North Macedonia is modern indeed, and a great place for American tourists. The best spots to visit are the mid-country lake region – home to lakes Ohrid, Prespa, and Dojran and more than 50 small glacial lakes – and the bordering mountains.

The city of Skopje is also worth touring.

As for Herzegovina, it’s the junior partner in a combo country that was also once part of Yugoslavia. It’s the southern and eastern part of the country and is largely rural, with some lakes, mountains, and rolling countryside – great biking country.

Why Herzegovina in particular? Because few Americans go there, because it’s a prime place to see rural southeastern Europe, and because it’s so close to Croatia you can take a day trip from Split and see a lot.

Either North Macedonia or Herzegovina is going to show you a different face of Europe – and isn’t that what you want from a hidden gem?

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