Europe is a continent that is packed full of amazing destinations ready to be explored. If you’re looking for somewhere different than the well-known locations, we’ve put together some of the top unusual ones in Europe to inspire you.
Merano, Italy
Merano is where Alpine tradition meets Mediterranean settings which creates a unique diversity you won’t find anywhere else. The cuisine is an amalgamation of a spicy and fresh Mediterranean palette together with comforting and hearty Tyrolean food which is an exciting experience for the taste buds. One thing that ties the two landscapes together is nature and you will find this in abundance along the Tappeiner Promenade, one of the longest promenades in Europe.
On our Austrian Alps holiday, we visit the Italian alpine town of Merano and explore its historical highlights for a deeper insight into its diverse culture. Also included in our tour are Innsbbruck and Kitzbühel which highlight the Alpine tradition of Austria and make Merano stand out as an unusual yet inviting location in Europe.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
Why is Saint-Paul-de-Vence an unusual location? Take a look! Due to being built on top of a small obscure hill and surrounded by a high wall, this old town looks like a nest from a distance. It’s intriguing, it’s enticing and sparks curiosity in every traveller that visits this area of France. When visiting Saint Paul, you are able to experience both the coastline and the capped peaks of the Maritime Alps, completely taking your breath away.
This town had to be included in our Nice City Break due to its extraordinary construction and its strong ties to the artist community. On this half-day excursion, you can walk along the cobbled streets and soak in fortress that was admired by famous artists like Picasso and Matisse as well as global cinema stars such as Sophia Loren and Catherine Deneuve.
Gozo, Malta
Go back in time when you visit Gozo in Malta and observe a different way of life. Old traditions such as milking goats and sheep to produce Gozitan cheese and using the Ta’ Kola Windmill to grind wheat can all be experienced by tourists on the island of Gozo. Compared to your everyday life, this is unusual and that’s what makes travelling to different parts of the world so exciting!
Our Malta & Gozo holiday explores a treasure trove of historic sites, including the world’s oldest free-standing temples of Ggantija. This UNESCO world heritage site is one of many iconic monuments steeped with culture we visit on our guided tours, so you can step back into a world that is unfamiliar and totally mesmerising.
Nazaré, Portugal
Carrying on with old traditions, let’s take a trip to Nazaré in Portugal where you will undoubtedly be amazed by the half-moon shaped beach home to one of the oldest ancient fishing traditions. Not only is the beach shape unusual, but the screams that fill the air every Saturday afternoon during the summer is something else. The “Arte Xávega” (Drag Nets) spectacle is where fish is collected from the sea using nets and are sold by shouting codes across the beach.
Without knowing this before travelling, it will come as a shock to you but it is truly fascinating and admirable that this maritime history still occurs to this day. On our Estoril & The Lisbon Coast holiday, we visit the towns of Óbidos, Alcobaça & Nazaré on a full-day excursion so you can soak it all in along with the beautiful beaches and old towns.
Cappadocia, Turkey
It's common knowledge that mother nature is an amazing thing and wherever you travel to, you will find a natural phenomenon that takes you by surprise. One of the most unusual geological landscapes can be experienced in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. Here, you will find unusual clusters of rock formations coined as “fairy chimneys” which were historically used as shelter.
Does this sound like something you want to put on your bucket list? You can tick this off if you choose our Highlights of Turkey holiday where our local guides take you to the UNESCO world heritage site of Goreme where these distinctive, cone-shaped rocks lie. We will also explore its underground city of Kaymakli, amongst many other Turkey highlights.
Choose somewhere unexpected and unusual to travel to this year and be amazed by the wonders our world – and Europe! – has to offer. Book with confidence using Travel Department and browse our holiday destinations today.
