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secret places in europe

10 Secret Places in Europe You Can Still Visit on a Budget

Secret Places to Visit in Europe

Dreaming of a European getaway? Check out these 10 secret places in Europe that are still affordable, just do it before their tourism booms hit.

Asturias and Covadonga Convent, Spain

(Photo: © mrks_v / stock.adobe.com)

In the Asturias region of Spain, you’ll find over 200 beaches, some of the best hiking trails in Spain, and the Covadonga Convent, considered to be one of the most historical locations in the country and one of the top secret places in Europe.

Check Prices for Hotel Palacio de Luces - Relais & Chateaux in Luces

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Mdina and Zebbug, Malta

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Explore the hidden laneways and medieval architecture of Mdina. Mdina is one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient Arabic walled city, and Zebbug is famous for a three-day (or more) festa that draws hundreds of people in celebration.

Check Prices for The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux in Mdina

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Salzkammergut Region, Austria

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Hidden in Austria’s Salzkammergut region is Lake Hallstatt, one of the most beautiful Alpine lakes in the country. You can rent bicycles, rowboats, and pedal boats to explore Lake Hallstatt or hike to explore nearby ice caves.

Check Prices for Aldiana Club Salzkammergut und GrimmingTherme in Bad Mitterndorf

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The Azores, Portugal

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The Azores is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic, 800 miles off the coast of Portugal. Breathtaking landscapes, volcanoes, crater lakes, fishing villages, and waterfalls are just some of the unique features you’ll find on the island chain.

Check Prices for The Lince Azores Great Hotel in Ponta Delgada

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Perast, Montenegro

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Perast is a former Venetian port town on the steep slopes of the Bay of Kotor. The Balkan town is known for its Venetian stone heritage buildings that look out onto two small islands in the bay.

Check Prices for Casa del Mare - Mediterraneo in Josice

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Lednice-Valtice, Czech Republic

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The Lednice-Valtice complex is two palaces connected by vast parklands and gardens in the Czech Republic. The palaces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and often referred to as the “Garden of Europe.” The palaces are one of the top secret places in Europe, and thanks to a strong U.S. dollar, the Czech Republic is extremely affordable right now.

Check Prices for Penzion Valtice in Valtice

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Pag Island, Croatia

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The island of Pag is one of the most striking and unique spots on the Croatian Adriatic coast. Its known for moon-like landscapes and salt, lace, and cheese production. Plus, the heat of hot summer days is helpfully reduced by a light sea breeze. Croatia’s tourism boom is about to hit strong, so visit this secret place in Europe before everyone else.

Check Prices for Ville Sunca in Novalja

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Saaremaa Island, Estonia

(Photo: © Simone Vasta / 500px.com)

If you like beer and windmills, this island (Estonia’s largest) located in the Baltic Sea is for you. The island is also home to the Kaali craters—the result of several meteorites that impacted some 3,500 years ago—forming the unique, green-colored Kaali Lake.

Check Prices for Georg Ots Spa Hotel in Kuressaare

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Vols and Pelion Region, Greece

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This region, rich in historical and architectural sites, good restaurants, a vibrant nightlife, is bordered by beautiful beaches on one side, and by Mount Pelion on the other. As one of the best secret places in Europe, the Grecian region is still affordable right now.

Check Prices for Pelion Resort in Portaria

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Kamnik Alps, Slovenia

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The breathtaking Kamnik Alps offer many outdoor experiences for the adventure lovers: hiking, skiing, kayaking, and rafting. There are also well preserved medieval towns and wooden huts of the oldest herdsmen settlement in Europe.

Check Prices for Alp Penzion in Bled

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Caz and Craig Makepeace are a married couple from the Central Coast of Australia, but they like to call the world their home. Visit them at y Travel for more travel tips.

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