In need of some holiday inspo? Wanting to go somewhere on holiday different to your routine destination? Look no further!
We’ve gathered up a few of our favourite places that are lesser-known than your usual holiday suspects. Whether you’re looking for a city break offering something different or a beach break somewhere new, we’ve got you covered with these exciting escapes…
Thingvellir, Iceland
Have you ever wished you could be in two places at once? Well, here’s a little secret that not many people know – you actually can be!
Take a trip to amazing Iceland and you’ll discover a place on earth that is truly magical.
Everyone who comes to Iceland usually knows about the Blue Lagoon, the glaciers…but how many times have you heard of Thingvellir or the Silfra fissure?
Located just an hour’s drive away from Reykjavik, this hidden gem should be on your bucket list – especially if you’re an adventure or nature lover.
This area is steeped in cultural and geological history, and within this natural park lies the boundaries of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates – meaning all at once, you can be both in Europe and America.
And to add to the astonishment here, each year the tectonic plates actually drift away from each other, slowly shifting apart by about 2cm, changing the landscape as it does and creating an unbelievable sight.
You can actually walk in the seismic rift valley that marks the border between the two continents, or if you’re more of a swimmer, you can actually swim in between Europe and America by taking a dip at the Silfra Fissure.
Here you can choose to snorkel or dive between the plates, in some of the clearest water on the planet. Talk about a unique experience!
Visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site is an absolute must for anyone staying in Reykjavic, and an experience you’ll likely never forget.
Porto Santo, Portugal
Portugal might already be a much-loved holiday destination for us Brits, but have you heard of the little and pretty island of Porto Santo?
This tiny island is only a mere seven miles long and only four miles wide. It has all the Portuguese feel of the mainland, with island touches that make it a truly memorable place to jet off to.
It’s one of a few small islands that make up the Madeira archipelago, and although there’s areas of modernisation, this idyllic island remains calm and quiet, with a lot of its beautiful landscape largely untouched.
If you’re wanting a getaway that feels like a slice of your very own paradise, without hopping on a plane to the other side of the world to a Caribbean island, then Porto Santo should be high on your list.
The locals here will welcome you in with open arms, and in Vila Baleria, the only town on the island, you’ll discover rustic restaurants serving everything from delicious fresh fish to petiscos (Portugese tapas).
If you love nothing more than laying on a sandy beach, then you’ll love the south part of the island the most – Porto Santo’s sandy beach is like something off of a postcard.
If you’re more of an explorer, the north of the island is characterised by scraggy landscapes, majestic cliffs and small rocky beaches. So take your pick – or switch it up with visits to both sides!
If you’re hoping for somewhere with insta-worthy photo ops, then Porto Santo delivers on that front, too. At Pico de Ana Ferreira, the highest point on the west of the island, you’ll be mesermmised by an array of rock columns that mimic a cityscape, formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago.
And finally there’s our favourite spot in Porto Santo – Flores viewpoint. Also on the west side of the island, this area serves up stunning views of the beach below as well as the spectacular sight that is the small islands of Ferro, Cal and Cima in the distance. It’s island heaven!
Formentera, Balearic Islands
Everyone’s heard of Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca…but are you forgetting the fourth Balearic Island? Formentera may be the smallest of these Spanish islands, but it’s certainly not small on amazing experiences!
If beaches are what bring you abroad, then Formentera is the place for you. This laidback slice of heaven really delivers on blemish-free beaches, being known as ‘the last paradise’ due to the fact there’s a blanket ban on beachfront buildings here – so you can expect to see wonderfully white sands in all their unspoilt glory.
You’ll lose track of time discovering colourful markets and sleepy harbour towns, and the island’s so small that you can hire a car and see it all in a day – although we’d recommend living by the locals’ motto of taking things easy.
Holidays here are all about enjoying things at a slower pace, from taking scenic strolls along the beach to watching a spectacular sunset with a glass of your favourite tipple in hand.
The nightlife here is a much more relaxed affair than the surrounding islands, but that’s not to say it isn’t as impressive. We’re talking late night entertainment on the beach, and bars that are perfectly positioned to serve up serene sunsets alongside live music and colourful cocktails.
But if you fancy livening things up a bit, you can choose to catch the ferry and visit Forementera’s big sister for the day – Ibiza! It’s only 10 miles away by boat, so you can be there and back in a day no problem.
Formentera is so small it has no airport of its own, so you’ll actually reach it by flying into Ibiza and hopping on a boat transfer from Ibiza Town. It gives your escape that remote feel to it – like a Mediterranean version of the Maldives!
If you’ve ticked off all the other Balearics islands, it makes sense to complete them all with a visit to this lesser known island. We promise you’ll be back for more!
La Palma
Everyone knows its big sisters – Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria – but how many people can say they’ve been to lovely La Palma?
Along with El Hierro and La Gomera, it’s definitely one of the lesser known Canary Islands, meaning you get all the benefits of a Canary Island adventure – beautiful black sand beaches, wonderful weather and stunning landscapes – but with one massive bonus. Less crowds!
Forget streets with masses of people and overcrowded restaurants, bars and beaches – this island escape will have a much more secluded feel to it.
La Palma’s landscapes are simply stunning, and there’s a multitude of ways to soak it all in – on foot, on bike, in the sky – the options are endless!
Whether you’re normally super active or not, everyone will love getting out and about on this island. From taking a walk through lush greenery to hiking up dramatic hillsides, your efforts will be rewarded with unbelievable views at every turn.
Hop on a bike and whizz around in no time, or take to the sky and go paragliding – the views from the sky above the sea are nothing short of spectacular.
And it’s not just the views on land that will blow you away – La Palma is home to the clearest skies in Europe, making it the place to be for out-of-this-world stargazing. Up in the very peaks of the island at 2,400 metres high, are clusters of domes housing some of the world’s biggest telescopes – including the famous Gran Telescopio Canarias, one of the biggest observatories in the world.
A star gazing tour on La Palma will be an experience that stays with you forever – this opportunity to look out at the vast universe twinkling above will leave you in awe of the wonderful world we live in. La Palma’s clear skies, high altitude and low light pollution make it one of the best spots in the world to feel at one with the stars.
The island of La Palma isn’t called La Isla Bonita aka ‘The Beautiful Island’ for nothing – change up your usual Canary Island holiday with a visit here and you’ll soon discover why for yourself!
Puglia, Italy
Located in the ‘heel’ of Italy’s boot, the pristine area of Puglia may be one of the country’s lesser known regions, but that only makes it all the more beautiful and unspoilt.
With an enchanting natural beauty that will have you swooning from the moment you arrive, you’ll be spoilt with miles of sun-kissed coastline boasting beautiful beaches and wonderfully blue waters. The beauty of this region cannot be understated – if you love the quirkiness of the Amalfi Coast, you’re bound to fall in love with this hidden hotspot.
Aside from its unique beauty, Puglia is known for its vast olive groves, with some trees standing tall at hundreds of years old. The lush landscapes here provide some of the country’s richest and most authentic wines and oils, and you can take part in olive grove tours that’ll have you trying out and tasting some of the region’s most famed products.
The region has been a historic site for a number of different visitors, from the Greeks to the Romans, as well as clans from Germany, France and Spain. This makes the area enormously culturally rich, with traces of each left upon Puglia’s art, architecture and cuisine offering.
Puglia is also famed for its unique take on Italian cooking, known specifically as ‘cucina povera’ – an authentic style of cooking that strips things back and keeps cooking simple, focusing on fine, fresh ingredients. To put it bluntly, foodies will be in their element!
Visit one of the street side restaurants and have your meat cooked and grilled in front of you, or if you’re brave enough, tuck into the tradition of eating sea urchins, octopus and other local fish raw. If you’d rather skip the seafood, Puglia is famed for its locally made cheeses – with the ‘burrata di Andria’, a soft and sweet mozzarella, being a favourite to try.
If you want to treat all your senses – a holiday to Puglia will surpass all your expectations.
Budva, Montenegro
Montenegro might be one of the smallest countries in Europe, but its holiday offering is big – and largely unexplored. If you’re looking for a summer holiday destination with a difference – somewhere that not many can say they’ve been to – then say hello to beautiful Budva.
It’s the seventh country in the world with the largest number of UNESCO protected areas per square metre, meaning you’re about to be surrounded by natural beauty. Not only that, but did you know Montenegro is home to the deepest canyon in Europe – and only second in the world, after the Grand Canyon?!
Tara River Canyon is certainly a sight to behold, with exceptional landscapes and imposing mountains taking your breath away – it looks likes something out of a fairytale. Montenegro is also home to the southernmost fjord in Europe – so if you want to tick off big and beautiful sights, this is the place to do it.
The allure of the glittering Adriatic sea is what makes these Balkan countries so beautifully tempting, with nearby Croatia having a similar stretch of coastline – but many would say that’s no longer the hidden gem it once was. Montenegro on the other hand, still boasts a magical quality that most tourists are yet to discover.
Budva’s charm is apparent from the moment you arrive – we’re talking beautifully-lit bars, rustic restaurants and an impressive Old Town. The beaches here come to life too, with seafront bars that pop up in the summer and an array of festivals that take place on the sand.
The cities’ impressive stone walls were built by the Venetians and surround the narrow streets of the medieval Old Town in all its glory – you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time wandering these winding cobbled paths.
If you’re heading away as a couple or with friends, Budva’s nightlife won’t disappoint either. From open-air clubs to bars with live music and parties on the beach, you’ll find a multitude of ways to enjoy a dance and a few drinks in this lively but laidback location.
Valencia, Spain
We’ve given you some wholesome new holiday options, but what about a splendid city break? If you’ve visited superb Spanish cities like Barcelona and Madrid, we’ve got a similar stylish city up our sleeves for you to try out – say hello to Valencia.
You can expect to be truly wowed during your time in this city – Valencia is well known for its City of Arts and Sciences. One-of-a-kind futuristic structures will leave you mesmerised from the moment you arrive, from an interactive museum to the one-of-a-kind opera house.
If you fancy doing something different on an overcast day, head on over to Hemisferic for a cinema trip like no other. You won’t believe the digital 3D experience on offer, thanks to an enormous 900 metre concave screen! It might just be the best film you ever see.
Of course, the past is prevalent in this region too – you can go from walking along a promenade that feels like you’re on the set of a sci-fi movie to being in the heart of one of the largest medieval quarters in Europe in a flash. How many other cities have that scope?
Head on down to Barrio Del Carmen where you’ll find stunning architecture at every turn. This 1,000 year old city is the historical epicentre of Valencia and shouldn’t be missed. Standing tall and proud as the gateways to the city, the Serranos and Quart Towers open up to reveal a labyrinth of charming cobbled streets.
Make sure to stop off for a frothy coffee at one of the many outdoor terraces on offer, or if you’re feeling peckish then it would be rude not to opt for some typical tapas or a piping hot paella. Wash it all down with an Agua de Valencia – the local cocktail, of course!
For a Spanish city with a twist, we simply love Valencia. We’re sure you will too!
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