Choosing a lesser known holiday destination during the peak summer months is now a critical need. There is a rapidly growing trend for travel to alternative destinations which have garnered 342,000 posts on TikTok as part of the growing interest. Below, the magazine of Conde Nast Traveler suggests its favourite alternative European destinations to try this summer.
- Braga, Portugal : Despite being in the shadow of neighboring Porto, Braga is a deserving destination in its own right. Pootle along narrow, cobbled lanes to unearth restaurants serving platters of traditional Portuguese dishes—Tabique, for example, specializes in slow-cooked meat and rich and thick sauces with potatoes for mopping, while just outside of the city, Dona Júlia is renowned for its sleek interiors and farm-to-table cooking.
- Bordeaux, France : This city may not be lesser-known, but when compared with the number of travelers that flock to Paris during the summer (especially this one), we deem it worthy of a mention in this list. There’s world-class wine, proximity to the sea, and more than 350 historical buildings and monuments to visit. It’s largely pedestrianized, so travelers can shake off the blurry haze that settles in after a few wine tastings by exploring foot.
- Rotterdam, The Netherlands : Amsterdam’s cool little sister is finally getting the attention it deserves. Rotterdam, an old industrial port town, has slowly moulded itself into a hub of culture and design. Its climate-conscious outlook is also enticing travelers looking for a new summer city break.
- Bergen, Norway : Hiding behind the shiny prestige of Oslo, Bergen is a nature-lover’s paradise. The city itself is known for its colorful wooden houses. Crucially important, in the summer you might spot snow-capped mountains, which cast long shadows of glittering fjords and hiking trails, providing the perfect playground for a summer adventure escape.
- Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina : Mostar is an alluring city break, with its fairytale-like streets, craggy hillsides and ancient stone bridges, complete with surrounding vineyards, waterfalls and mountain hikes nearby.
