Off the beaten track alternatives to the bustling destinations of Edinburgh, Santorini, Venice, Barcelona & Dubrovnik
Avoid the crowds with our little-celebrated swaps for five jam-packed tourist traps
THE Netherlands wants to discourage holidaymakers from visiting tourist hotspots.
Visitors trampling tulips and Amsterdam residents being squeezed off the property market by all the incomers are a couple of the motivations behind the tourism board’s new twin policies of “develop and discourage”, as it aims to guide visitors toward some of the country’s lesser-known gems.
But Amsterdam is not the only destination suffering from the effects of booming tourism.
Holiday in any capital or cultural hotspot in Europe this summer and you are likely to feel cramped among the hordes of sightseers.
So to help you travel without the hassle of the maddening crowds, we selected little-celebrated alternatives to five jam-packed tourist traps.
Read on to discover our super substitutes to bustling destinations Edinburgh, Santorini, Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik.
SWAP Venice for Genoa
FANCY an Italian break? Like Venice, Genoa is an ancient city built on sea trade – and while you will not find any canals, the port city’s narrow lanes opening into huge piazzas will be familiar to anyone who knows Venice.
Genoa’s medieval district is not yet given over to tourism but the largely residential neighbourhood offers a growing number of bars, restaurants and shops in its maze of alleyways.
Do not miss the Piazza De Ferrari, with its impressive fountain, between the city’s historic and modern parts.
Outside the city centre, stroll in the seaside district of Boccadasse with its pink and yellow buildings.
Take a pilgrimage to Portofino, the home of pesto. Less than an hour’s drive down the coast, this fishing village full of fantastic seafood restaurants is also where focaccia was born.
For a great night’s kip, check out the modern NH Genova Centro, from £39 per person and offering newly refurbished rooms in a great central location.
SWAP Edinburgh for St Andrews
DITCH Edinburgh for a city break fit for royalty in the university town where Wills and Kate first met, as students.
Just as visitors to capital city Edinburgh come for its history, stunning buildings, nearby beach and excellent accommodation, St Andrews has got plenty to offer.
History lovers can stroll along the medieval streets and shop for food and gifts in the quaint shops.
At St Andrews Cathedral walk the steps of the 12th-century St Rule’s Tower and enjoy views from the top. Or visit Scotland’s Secret Bunker, deep underground in nearby Troywood, where the nation would have been run from in the event of nuclear war.
Splash out with a stay at the Old Course Hotel, beside the famous St Andrews Golf Club, from £169 per person. Or opt for one of the high-quality guest houses and B&Bs. For William and Kate fans looking to stay where the couple met, St Andrews University offers rooms on a B&B basis in summer.
Eat like a king at The Seafood Restaurant, with views over the bay.
SWAP Dubrovnik For Korcula
CROATIA fans, take note – known as Mini Dubrovnik, the island of Korcula offers a wonderful alternative to the ancient city, with its own claims to fame and plenty to attract your tourist money.
A laidback place, it’s the most populous Croatian island not connected to the mainland by road.
The birthplace of Marco Polo, Korcula, boasts fantastic wine and cuisine – with the Korculanske Pjatance food festival held every spring.
Enjoy lunch with sea views at one of the restaurants on the ancient city walls, – then climb down to the small coves that surround the battlements, for a dip in the Adriatic.
Due to its dark pine forests, ancient Greek settlers originally dubbed the island Korkyra Melaina or Black Corfu.
Thankfully, this island has managed to avoid the over-tourism of both its Greek and Croatian namesakes.
Stay at the 4H Aminess Lume from £39 per person, for a secluded seafront hotel with a restaurant overlooking the sea, live entertainment and a pool and a gym.
SWAP Santorini for Patmos
IF Greece is your thing, Patmos boasts a lace-like coast, sheer cliffs and volcanic soil – and is ideal for those who love the idea of fellow Aegean isle Santorini but without the crowds.
The sacred island, inset, where Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation was designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1999. In the area of Hóra, humble white houses glittering under the sun stand happily among two- storey mansions.
Follow the narrow cobbled streets all the way from the monastery down to Skála, the island’s port, and discover restaurants, cafés, shops and traditional bakeries.
Enjoy cheese pies and bow tie-shaped fried dough with honey and nuts, called diples.
The beach in Kámpos, with its watersports and fish tavernas, is the island’s most lively – while Psili Ammos offers an off-the-beaten-track experience that can only be reached by boat.
Stay by the beach, at the laidback 5H Patmos Aktis Suites and Spa from £44pp per night, where some rooms come with their own pool.
MOST READ IN TRAVEL
SWAP Barcelona for Girona
NESTLED between the Costa Brava and Pyrenees, the Catalan city of Girona is a mere 40 miles from the French border and just 60 from Barcelona.
With Roman and medieval ruins, plus an historic Jewish quarter, the city’s rich heritage has furnished it with fantastic architecture worth taking your time to explore, from Romanesque to modernist buildings.
Visit in May for the Temps de Flors (Girona Flower Festival) when the entire city is in bloom with floral art installations in monuments, courtyards and gardens around the city.
A stroll along the landscaped gardens which line the Passeig Arqueològic – a walkway following the Old Quarter’s medieval walls and watchtowers – is a must at any time of year.
Be sure to stop by a local bakery for Xuixo, a typical Girona fried pastry filled with cream.
For a room in the centre of things, stay at Hotel Ultonia from £37.50 per person per night, where you can relax after a day exploring on the spacious rooftop terrace.