{"id":62546,"date":"2025-08-20T15:07:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T14:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/?p=62546"},"modified":"2025-10-09T12:06:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T11:06:02","slug":"the-layover-the-towns-beyond-tiktok-alternative-destinations-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/the-layover-the-towns-beyond-tiktok-alternative-destinations-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"The Layover: <br>The towns beyond TikTok"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#26647f\">Tired of the usual hot spots between Mallorca and Mykonos, Zack Cahill looks at alternative destinations in Europe, going in search of soon-to-be-hot locations far from the madding crowds\u2026\u00a0And realises he\u2019s part of the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We travellers are always on the hunt for somewhere \u201coff the beaten track\u201d. We whinge about bloody tourists mobbing the places we go, ruining them, spoiling them. Oh yes, unspoilt places only for us, please. We want secret beaches, hidden villages, and restaurants without menus \u2013 just a scowling grandmother who silently fries something while darkly abusing us in her native tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The irony, of course, is that the moment we find one of these hidden gems and book the flight\u2026 we become the thing we swore to destroy. We\u2019re not <em>in<\/em> traffic. We <em>are<\/em> traffic. The call is coming from inside the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And yet, people <em>are<\/em> the worst, aren\u2019t they? Always getting in the way, clogging the view, pausing for selfies, and telling me not to swim in the Trevi Fountain. Or at least to wear trunks. Just me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re creatures of habit, and our habits are Spain and Greece. Nothing wrong with that, but what if this year you were to go rogue? Become a modern-day Shackleton, except one who insists on goose-down pillows and a Nespresso machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that spirit in mind, here are some lesser-known (but not <em>too<\/em> lesser-known \u2013 we\u2019re not animals) European destinations that offer just enough solitude to trick you into thinking you\u2019ve discovered them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"http:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A beach in Tropea, Italy, seen my above. It's the sort of destination making travellers look for alternative destinations in Europe\" class=\"wp-image-62561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_01-1400x934.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The problem: Overcrowded beaches can take the fun out of a holiday, pushing travellers to look for alternative destinations in Europe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vipava Valley, Slovenia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/luxury-travel-inspiration\/slovenia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Slovenian<\/strong><\/a> wine country, near the Italian border, feels like Tuscany before the influencers moved in. Rolling vineyards? Check. Alpine views? Absolutely. Great hiking, great wine, and not a ring light in sight? Triple check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s nestled between the Julian Alps and the Karst Plateau, about an hour\u2019s drive from both Ljubljana and Trieste. That makes it a perfect side trip, or a full-on base camp if you like your adventures with a chilled glass of Malvasia and a view of the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The valley got a boost in the 2010s, when cycling routes, wine tourism, and a handful of Michelin stars started drawing attention. Chef Ana Ro\u0161 (who you may have seen being intense on Netflix\u2019s <em>Chef\u2019s Table<\/em>) helped put Slovenia on the culinary map, and the ripple effect reached right into Vipava.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, it\u2019s windy. The notorious &#8216;bora&#8217; wind will slice through your soul. The town was even designed to avoid creating a wind tunnel. Just lean into it and call your windswept hair a look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vibe: Rustic luxury meets Central European charm, with zero pretension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Best for: Wine lovers, cyclists, and foodies who want Michelin without the smugness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Faroe Islands, Denmark<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A remote, otherworldly archipelago in the North Atlantic with plunging cliffs, turf-roofed houses, puffins, and eerie mist. Weather can be wild, but summer is surprisingly mild and full of long golden hours. There are more sheep than people here, and the locals speak a descendant of Old Norse. But don\u2019t worry. They also speak better English than you. Obviously. This is still technically Scandinavia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a strong folk music scene and not a coffee chain or billboard in sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The food is fish and lamb, and lots of fermented stuff. The menus can read like a dare or a threat. Don\u2019t let that stop you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vibe: Nordic noir meets nature doc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Best for: Hikers, photographers, and anyone looking to feel like they\u2019ve left the planet for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A remote lighthouse in the Faroe Islands, one of many rewarding, alternative destinations in Europe\" class=\"wp-image-62562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_02-1400x934.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The solution: alternative destinations in Europe include the remote Faroe Islands, where travellers can escape the crowds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Albania<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Back when I first started travelling through Europe, I was given several dark warnings: whatever I did, <em>do not<\/em> go to Albania. At the time, it was still shaking off its Soviet mantle and had the kind of reputation that made backpackers clutch their Lonely Planets like rosary beads. The writer Neil Strauss once described it as one of the most corrupt places on earth, and travellers traded stories of bribes, scams, and mysterious disappearances like they were swapping ghost stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was the Wild West \u2013 if the Wild West had communist architecture, crap roads, and a fondness for goat-based cuisine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fast forward twenty years, and the country has undergone a quiet, scrappy glow-up. It\u2019s still rough around the edges in places, but that\u2019s part of the appeal. The beaches along the Albanian Riviera are stunning: think Greece without the cruise ships. The capital, Tirana, is vibrant. And you\u2019ll find ancient ruins, Ottoman towns, dramatic mountains, and enough offbeat charm to make you feel like you\u2019ve pulled one over on the algorithm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vibe: Mediterranean DIY-chic. A bit chaotic, a bit magical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Best for: Adventurous types, and anyone who enjoys some light bribery with their beach holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transylvania, Romania<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dracula\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>that<\/strong><\/a><\/em> Transylvania. Turns out it\u2019s not all capes and crypts. Though, honestly, the Dracula stuff is great fun and weirdly underplayed. What you\u2019ll actually find is rolling green hills, medieval towns, castles, and a real sense of having wandered into a fairytale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The countryside is full of wildflower meadows, bear sightings (actual ones), and horse-drawn carts still used as actual transport. You\u2019re never quite sure whether you\u2019re on holiday or in a Tarkovsky film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vibe: Brothers Grimm meet <em>Top Gear<\/em> special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Best for: Goths, Anne Rice fans, people who think Bran Castle is a fibre supplement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, the ultimate irony is that by reading this list and thinking, <em>ooh, maybe I\u2019ll try one of these<\/em>, you\u2019re already part of the problem. The moment a place gets called \u201cundiscovered\u201d in a travel column, the clock starts ticking. Soon it\u2019ll be awash with foreign fleshbags, boutique hotels, and tasting menus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But don\u2019t let that stop you. Go. Wander. Get gloriously lost. Just\u2026 maybe don\u2019t tag the location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you see me in the fountain, mind your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Illustration by Martin Perry, photography via Unsplash<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<span class=\"et_bloom_bottom_trigger\"><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In his latest The Layover Column, Zack Cahill escapes the masses and journeys to some of Europe&#8217;s lesser-known beaches, mountains and towns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":63648,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2806],"tags":[3509],"class_list":["post-62546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-experientialist","tag-the-layover"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Looking for alternative destinations in Europe? 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These are Europe&#039;s best &#039;non-tourist&#039; tourist destinations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Alternative destinations in Europe offer plenty in the way of crowd-less, cultural immersion, from Slovenia&#039;s Vipava Valley to the Faroe Islands and beyond.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/the-layover-the-towns-beyond-tiktok-alternative-destinations-in-europe\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"OutThere magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-20T14:07:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-09T11:06:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.outthere.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-Layover_Alternative-destinations_FB.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Zack Cahill\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Can&#039;t do crowds? 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