Unique places to visit in Europe for an unforgettable trip
Europe is home to so many stunning sights recognisable around the globe such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Trevvi fountain in Rome and Big ben in London, but you will find it’s actually packed to the brim with many more unusual, but just as exciting cities and places to visit. This guide aims to show you the parts of Europe you might not have heard of but are certainly worth a trip.
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Plitvice National park, Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park is a magnificent expanse of forested hills and turquoise lakes that is by far Croatia's top natural attraction and the ultimate highlight of the Adriatic hinterland. 16 crystalline lakes tumble into one other via a sequence of waterfalls inside the limits of this densely forested national park. Mineral-rich rivers erode the rock, depositing tufa in ever-changing patterns. The 11 miles of wooden pathways that wrap around and across the thundering river are adorned with clouds of butterflies.
It's so beautiful that it was designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1979. The name is a little deceptive, as the attraction here is the hundreds of waterfalls that connect the lakes, rather than the lakes themselves.
Where to stay
Lake Como, Italy
Lake Como (also known as Lario) is the most 'James Bond' of the Italian lakes, with sparkling Ferraris weaving through little lakeside towns and opulent neoclassical homes. Many of the posh lakeside hotels have a 007 price tag, as parts of the 2006 Bond film Casino Royale were filmed here.
So, what are the options for the common folk like us? Plenty. Como's mountain-backed coastlines are crisscrossed by old roads that snake through charming villages where you may pass away a sunny afternoon for the price of a cappuccino observing gorgeous people in fancy clothes. Even better, several of the historic palaces expose their rooms and gardens to the public, allowing you to live vicariously through history as a former duke or duchess.
Where to stay
Krakow, Poland
The old royal capital of Poland seamlessly blends medieval grandeur with modern-day, student-fueled joy to create a harmonic whole. Throughout Kraków's history, there have been alternating themes of devastation and rebirth, dating back to the 13th century, when the Tatars devastated the city and pierced the town crier's throat with an arrow. Kraków rose to prominence as Poland's capital a century later, only to be dethroned in the 16th century when the capital was moved to Warsaw. Kraków resurfaced after World War I, only to be seized by Nazi Germany 20 years later.
Where to stay
Outdoor pool place, Budapest, Hungary
The Buda Hills intersect with the Great Plain in Budapest, creating a geological fault line. More than 100 thermal springs shoot skyward as a result of this topographical mishap, releasing 40,000m3 of warm, mineral-rich water each day.
More Hamman-style baths (called ilidzas) appeared after the Turkish takeover of Hungary in 1526, including three that are still in use today: Rudas Baths, Király Baths Experience, and Veli Bej Baths. Other baths in the city, such as Széchenyi Baths and Gellért Baths, were erected in the early twentieth century. A must-see destination
Where to stay
Santorini Greece
It's difficult not to be awestruck when you approach Santorini from the sea, by the steep cliffs that soar above a turquoise sea, by the fact that you're sailing in an enormous crater of a drowned volcano, and by the fact that before you lies an island sculpted by a cataclysmic ancient eruption.
Fira and Oia's main villages are a snow-drift of white Cycladic buildings that line the cliff tops and pour down the terraced rock like frozen cornices. Then there are sunsets, when the masses erupt in applause as the sun sinks beyond the horizon.
Where to stay
Europe has thousands of stunning destinations and places to see and do and this guide just scratched the surface of Unique places to visit in Europe. Have you found a hidden gem that you want to share, then comment down below so we know to check it out!
