Portugal, Greece, France, Spain, Italy, And Germany Each Offer Unique Hidden Gems Where Domestic Travelers Go For Coastal Beauty, Mountain Air, And Cultural Riches Without The British Crowds

Saturday, August 2, 2025

With millions of Europeans choosing to recreation person to home, countries for illustration Portugal, Greece, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany are seeing a surge successful home tourism to lesser-known regions that connection everything from sun-drenched coastlines and tranquil upland landscapes to rich | taste experiences—all without nan crowds typically drawn by world visitors. These hidden gems, often overlooked by British tourists, are wherever locals retreat for authentic holidays filled pinch nature, heritage, and peace, offering a broadside of Europe that remains refreshingly untouched.

Europeans proceed to clasp home travel, choosing to research their location countries complete venturing abroad. In 2023, astir 75% of trips made by EU citizens took spot wrong their ain borders. This rising inclination highlights a renewed appreciation for acquainted destinations, taste roots, and quieter escapes beyond nan emblematic tourer trail.

From Portugal’s overlooked Alentejo region to Germany’s windswept Baltic coast, home travelers are rediscovering nan worth of homegrown holidays. Here’s a look astatine six regions that person go nan go-to destinations for section visitors seeking meaningful, relaxed recreation experiences.

Alentejo Portugal

British visitors proceed to predominate nan Algarve, but Portuguese travelers are looking northward. In 2024, complete 1.1 cardinal home visitors visited Alentejo, making it Portugal’s second-most celebrated section destination aft nan Centre region.

Alentejo stretches betwixt Lisbon and nan Algarve, offering wide-open coastlines, quiet sportfishing villages, and accepted towns. Travelers caput to Azenhas do Mar for a aquatics successful its tidal excavation aliases to Elvas for a locomotion done whitewashed streets and Napoleonic-era fortifications. Just 15 minutes from nan Spanish border, Elvas offers a serene retreat filled pinch history and charm.

Visitors research medieval lanes, marvel astatine nan 16th-century Amoreira Aqueduct, and sensation location wines astatine estates for illustration Azamor. Tour operators connection stepping holidays on Alentejo’s Costa Vicentina, pinch week-long packages starting astatine £1,190. Hotel stays successful historical towns for illustration Elvas besides connection seven-night options from astir £1,000 per person, including flights.

Unsung Greek Islands

Greek locals for illustration nan roadworthy little traveled erstwhile it comes to holidays. Rather than flocking to celebrated islands, galore take distant destinations wherever they person beardown family aliases taste ties.

Tucked distant successful nan Aegean Sea, nan land of Kasos offers a serene flight acold removed from nan scope of wide tourism. Its charm lies successful its slow pace, friends locals, and untouched landscapes that still consciousness authentically Greek. Nearby, nan land of Lemnos offers a akin consciousness of serenity. The coastal municipality of Myrina, nestled beneath nan remnants of a weathered Venetian fortress, opens up to quiet beaches specified arsenic Paralia Plati, wherever nan ambiance remains calm and uncrowded.
Agistri, nan smallest of nan Saronic Islands, lies conscionable an hr by ferry from Athens. Rocky cliffs, pebbled coves, and beloved spots for illustration Paralia Aponisos pull play visitors from nan capital. These islands connection an authentic Greek acquisition pinch less crowds and much section flavor.

Tour packages to Lemnos and Agistri see self-catering apartments and four-star hotels, pinch prices starting from £1,029 per person, including flights and transfers.

Hérault France

Southern France’s Hérault region has go a favourite for French holidaymakers seeking some sun and culture. Located successful Occitania, this area offers everything from Mediterranean beaches to scenic upland valleys.

Tourists relax connected Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone’s five-mile agelong of aureate sand, research nan turquoise Étang de Thau lagoon, and hike successful nan Parc Naturel Régional du Haut-Languedoc. After nan pandemic, French travelers returned successful ample numbers, resulting successful 28.4 cardinal home overnight stays successful nan region past summer.

Historic towns for illustration Sète and Marseillan, known for their canals and seafood, supply charm and calm. Montpellier offers café civilization and elegant streets, while Béziers hosts nan yearly Feria show on nan Canal du Midi.

Travelers tin research nan Occitanie region pinch unlimited train journeys for 2 consecutive days utilizing nan Rail Tour pass, disposable for conscionable €20. Accommodation options scope from coastal hotels to countryside inns, pinch nightly rates starting astatine £82.

Aragon Spain

Spaniards looking to flight nan summertime power and tourer crowds caput northbound to Aragon. In 2023, nan region welcomed complete 6.7 cardinal home travelers, while only 18,000 visitors came from nan UK. This makes Aragon 1 of Spain’s slightest commercialized and astir local-focused destinations.

Zaragoza, nan location capital, blends Roman ruins pinch Islamic architecture. Its El Tubo vicinity invites visitors into a maze of tapas bars and vino spots, wherever they savor section specialties for illustration slow-roasted lamb and spiced breadcrumbs. The Basilica of Our Lady of nan Pillar and nan city’s historical brewery tie those willing successful history and culture.

Just 2 hours to nan north, nan Pyrenees unfold into soaring alpine peaks, drafting hikers eager to research melodramatic upland scenery. Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park offers sweeping trails, heavy valleys, and pristine earthy beauty. Self-guided trekking packages, complete pinch accommodation and luggage transfers, statesman astatine £1,035 per person.

Emilia-Romagna Italy

Italian travelers are progressively favoring Emilia-Romagna complete overseas destinations, pinch nan region signaling much than 28 cardinal home overnight stays successful 2023—making it nan astir visited area successful Italy for section tourism.

Bologna, nan location capital, captivates visitors pinch its towering Gothic cathedrals, miles of arched porticoes, and nan beingness of Europe’s oldest continuously operating university. A small complete an hour’s travel to nan northwest, nan metropolis of Parma weaves together rich | Romanesque architecture pinch a world-famous nutrient segment known for producing parmesan food and finely cured meats. In nan surrounding countryside, villages specified arsenic Montechiarugolo sphere a timeless atmosphere, wherever cobbled lanes and medieval buildings bespeak a deep-rooted contented of artisanal craftsmanship.

Ravenna draws successful some history enthusiasts and formation lovers pinch its dazzling postulation of Byzantine mosaics, while adjacent Rimini appeals to sunseekers pinch its lively shores. Those who task into Rimini’s historical halfway uncover singular Roman relics, including nan Arch of Augustus and nan Tiberius Bridge—structures that person remarkably withstood nan transition of complete 2 millennia.

Budget carriers alert into Bologna and Rimini, pinch coastal hotels and metropolis stays starting astatine £130 per night.

Schleswig-Holstein Germany

Germans spent much connected world recreation successful 2023 than immoderate different EU nation, yet home recreation has besides seen a awesome resurgence. In 2024, 24% of Germans chose to recreation locally—a 2% emergence from nan twelvemonth before. Schleswig-Holstein led nan trend, drafting 9.4 cardinal residents for five-night aliases longer stays.

Positioned betwixt nan North Sea and nan Baltic, this bluish German authorities boasts a operation of land scenery, expansive coastlines, and deep-rooted maritime traditions. Its capital, Kiel, thrives successful nan summertime pinch lively harbor tours, bustling waterfront promenades, and open-air cafés overlooking nan sea. Travelers tin research nan city’s nautical practice astatine nan Maritime Museum, housed successful a restored historical building, earlier unwinding connected nan soft sands of Falckensteiner Strand.

To nan west, nan Kiel Canal links nan North Sea and nan Baltic, creating a captious waterway done nan Jutland Peninsula. Along nan coast, nan Wadden Sea—recognized arsenic a UNESCO World Heritage treasure—invites visitors to research its immense tidal flats connected guided walks. These shifting landscapes, rich | successful marine life and migratory birds, dress up 1 of nan astir ecologically divers marine environments connected Earth.

Europeans are turning to hidden gems wrong Portugal, Greece, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany for their summertime escapes, drawn by coastal beauty, upland air, and taste richness—without nan crowds brought by British tourism. These lesser-known spots connection locals peaceful, authentic getaways that stay disconnected nan emblematic tourer radar.

Travelers tin alert into Hamburg, nan closest awesome world airport, and return a nonstop train to Kiel pinch ease. Local hotels connection rooms starting astatine £70 per night, galore of which see breakfast.