Everyone lazes on the beaches of the Mediterranean and skis the pistes of Chamonix. We all want to party in Ibiza’s buzzing bars or taste Spanish tapas in Barcelona. These are some of Europe’s most famous and ubiquitous destinations and activities. But do you know what off-beat activities and destinations the continent has up its sleeve? Strap in and take note, these are the 8 things most travellers miss in Europe (so you don’t have to).
1. Sailing in the Adriatic
You could just join the sunbathers on the beaches of Dalmatia’s resort towns for a whole week – that’s what most holidayers in Croatia will do, after all. But it would mean skipping out on the shimmering blue swells that beckon out on the Adriatic itself. Hopping aboard a yacht and hitting the waves of this sun-kissed sea is surely one of the best ways to experience the beautiful region.
You can wander up the rugged Biokovo Mountain, pass by fir-fringed islands, swim in secluded coves and party the night away with other (champagne-loving) boaters in cool spots like Hvar.
2. Off-the-beaten path Aegean islands
Everyone knows the usual hot spots: Mykonos, Kos, Santorini and its shimmering whitewashed villages. Now we’re not saying those places aren’t darn awesome – they are! But not many travellers will get to experience the more off-the-beaten-path islands in Greece’s best-loved region. For that, you can look to the cascading fishing towns of Syros, or the eucalyptus-spotted Astypalaia and its rugged coves. You could also check the inside of a volcano at Nisyros or the unrivalled snorkelling spots of Ios!
3. Cycling across Ibiza
It’s no secret that most summertime visitors to Ibiza will be coming for the sun, sea and raucous after-dark parties, which erupt from Ibiza town to San Antonio in a haze of laser lights and thumping trance from May to September every year. Only a few will be coming to experience the natural wonders of this tiny Balearic jewel.
While Ibiza’s nightlife scene begs to be indulged like dessert after a hearty meal, make sure to set aside some time to hit the winding cycle tracks that crisscross the gorgeous north shore. You’ll whizz past cacti groves and Arabic-flavoured towns, empty beachfronts (perfect for cooling off) and needle-like cliffs that spurt straight from the Mediterranean.
4. Becoming a yogi in the Canaries
There might just be something about the sun, sea and fresh air of the Canary Islands that act as a magnet for the budding yogi. Why else would there be so many retreats hiding between the volcanic peaks and rock-ribbed cliffs of these gorgeous islands out in the Atlantic? Unfortunately, most travellers still head to these parts to simply soak up the sun and party down the bar streets of Las Palmas, not to pull downward dogs on the shores or soothe their chakras with some mindfulness training. Next time you head off to the Canary Islands, make sure you stop by some of the yoga sessions along these local paths.
5. Skiing in Poland
There’s simply no denying the bucket-list-busting qualities of skiing in the Alps. From the chiselled Italian Dolomites to the glacial summits of Mont Blanc, this snow-mantled range is surely one of the top winter sports destinations on the planet. But it’s not all Europe has to offer in the way of awesome riding mountains. The hills of Poland have risen to become some of the best in eastern Europe in the last decade. Resorts pepper the High Tatra mountains outside of the enchanting town of Zakopane, and you can even combine the holiday with a partying jaunt to the wild city of Krakow!
6. Surfing in San Sebastian
Once you’re done touring the ubiquitous spots of Andalusia and the sun-kissed Costa Brava of the south, you should be sure to cross the heart of Spain and head for the Basque Country. It’s here that the buzzing little city of San Sebastian makes its home, edging out into the cobalt-green waters of the Bay of Biscay from the wild mountains that surround it. By night you can tour the thumping student bars and tapas joints of the Parte Vieja old town. And by day, you can work away the hangover by riding the rolling swells of the Atlantic Ocean (they are even great for beginners)!
7. Beach hopping on the Baltic
Every traveller to Europe will know of the fabled beaches of the Mediterranean, threading their way along the shores from the shimmering stretches of Spain’s Costa del Sol to the Israeli port towns in the east. But whoever says they’re going on a sun and sand odyssey in the continent’s more northern reaches, up where the famously cold swells of the Baltic batter the shores? It’s not as goose bump-inducing in summer as you might think, with some truly gorgeous spots and popular resorts in places like Jurmala (Latvia) and the Curonian Spit of Lithuania.
8. An artistic jaunt in Cluj-Napoca
There’s not many a globetrotter who’ll be familiar with Romania‘s second city. It remains distinctly off-beat and away from the usual tourist route through the continent. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the detour through the misty hills and vampire-haunted castles of Transylvania. Quirky and cool, it’s packed with independent art galleries and contemporary art workshops. Being a popular student town, the nightlife packs one hefty punch to boot!
