An Italian cook once informed me over a glass of red wine and stone oven-baked pizza that you can’t really appreciate Italy with your eyes alone. It affects your taste buds (via food), your ears (through music), and, most importantly, your heart. In my search for unusual places in Europe over the years, I’ve come to realize how correct he was. Not only about Italy but about Europe as a whole.

Regrettably, travel in Europe has changed dramatically in the last decade. Locals in renowned tourist destinations such as Barcelona, Venice, and Rome are protesting over tourism. Tourist groups are swarming the streets of Central Amsterdam and Vienna’s main square.

Does this imply that we should abandon our plans to visit Europe? Or that seeing Europe with your heart is no longer possible? If you ask me, it simply implies that we need to look beyond the “must-see” sights and seek out unique European destinations while traveling more ethically.

While the Indian passport now makes land travel from India to Europe hard, we may choose an airline that is committed to sustainability. While traveling on KLM’s invitation, I was intrigued by their usage of bio-jet fuel and research into sustainable aviation fuel, which can significantly reduce air travel’s carbon footprint. 

KLM will begin flying Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flights from Bangalore to Amsterdam next week (it currently flies from Delhi and Mumbai). These planes have a 25% higher fuel economy than other similar planes.

Traveling by train within Europe is an adventure in and of itself (the Eurail pass is worth getting if you plan to take multiple trains), as is staying with locals in eco-friendly accommodations, taking public transportation rather than renting a car, eating local and plant-based food, hiking responsibly, and learning more about the history, culture, and way of life of the region you’re visiting. Overtourism in Europe will be easier to combat in the foreseeable future if we make these intentional decisions.

If you’re looking for unusual spots to visit in Europe, I’ve got you covered! These are some of my favorite alternative sites in Europe to get away from the crowds, based on my excursions over the years:

Slovakia: The High Tatras

While the Swiss and French Alps attract all of Europe’s hikers and tourists (and have begun to suffer from over-tourism), Slovakia’s High Tatras provide relative isolation amid jagged snow-capped peaks, meadows of wildflowers in the spring, rushing rivers, and paths for all fitness levels. I went hiking, riding, taking the electric train, relaxing by glacier lakes, and even spotting a wild fox while trekking alone!

Spain: Segura de la Sierra

Unless you’re a paragliding fanatic, you’ve probably never heard of Segura de la Sierra, a stunning tiny town in eastern Andalusia. Olive trees dominate the landscape (and the cuisine, with fine olive oil); the Arab influence lives on in the form of restored 11th-century steam baths and a Moorish castle adorns the hill; the landscape (and the cuisine, with fine olive oil) is dominated by cobblestoned streets winding along with colorful houses with panoramic views of the rugged Sierra Moena mountains; the Arab influence lives on in the form of restored 11th-century steam baths and a Moorish castle adorns the hill.

Despite the particular beauties of Cordoba and Granada, it was in this modest Andalusian community that I felt truly off the beaten track. The lengthy afternoon siestas, the magnificent treks, and chatting with a local in bad Spanish about a respected local poet all made me nostalgic for my time in Spain.

Germany: Berchtesgaden National Park

Despite the fact that Germany has a lot to see and do, I’ve already been twice to the mountainous Berchtesgaden National Park – which is only 3 hours by train from Munich but feels like a world apart! Hiking through the magnificent Bavarian Alps, discovering turquoise Alpine lakes, cross-country skiing, strolling through picturesque Alpine villages, and spending warm afternoons with a glass of chilled beer in a cozy cafe, watching pro skiers tackle the slopes – it’s a side of Germany that few people get to see.

Croatia: The Istrian Peninsula

With the surge of Game of Thrones-inspired over-tourism taking over Dubrovnik and Split, and spilling over to other magnificent locations, I felt like I was too late to visit Croatia. Fortunately, the Istrian Peninsula still counts as an eccentric destination in Europe, especially during the off-season. 

I met olive farmers, heard local legends of foraging for wild mushrooms and asparagus in the adjacent forests, and saw some beautiful sunrises and sunsets from the (quite popular) village of Motovun while staying with a nice couple in their 400-year-old stone house.

Romania: Maramures

When most people hear Romania, they think of Transylvania and the Dracula legend. While the location has its charms, it also attracts a large number of visitors. But it was the pastoral landscape of Maramures, further north, that captured my heart. 

We spent our days hitchhiking with locals in their antique cars, trucks, and even tractors, and traveling by rickety logging train with loggers, shepherds, sheep, axes, and plenty of palinka (traditional whiskey) to distant communities high in the Carpathian highlands. We found ourselves standing among the tombstones in the graveyard of a 14th-century church to attend Sunday service one Sunday morning. It’s completely bizarre.

Conclusion 

Europe is so large and diverse that it is impossible to see it all in one trip. It is advisable to focus on two or three countries at a time and really investigate them. If you’ve had enough of the well-known equivalents, try one of the odd spots to visit in Europe listed above. 

Isn’t it true that the list has introduced you to a slew of new places you weren’t previously aware of? Plan a unique European vacation and make experiences that will last a lifetime!