Trying to escape the unwashed hoards in Europe? Pivot from the hotspots and use these less-visited places as hub cities to see the surrounding areas.
Italy overrun? Try Croatia—or even better Slovenia. Croatia’s coast has become popular, too, especially around Split and Dubrovnik. Try instead some coastal stops further north—or slide over into Slovenia, one of the most geographically diverse countries in Europe.
Lake Bled.
Want Alps? The Julian Alps are stunning—and also offer the chance to explore some unique World War 1 history. Want lakes? Check that off with Lake Bled. Want to see one of Europe’s coolest little capitals? Check out Ljubljana. And Mediterranean coast? Yep, got that, too. Wine country? Also check. And all of these things are relatively close together, and close to Italy and Austria.
I’ve enjoyed Slovenia on previous visits—and I’m going back in summer 2025. [Below, scenes from Ljubljana and the Julian Alps.]
Munich all full? Try Nürnberg and its surrounding towns. Nürnberg itself is Bavaria’s second city, with a walled medieval old town and castle. It’s home to two big WW2 sights, as well as several notable churches and other landmarks, and the faux-medieval Handwerkhof, a tiny village of quirky shops. [See more about Nürnberg here.]
Bayreuth’s famed opera house. Well, one of them.
One of my favorite European travel tips is to use hub cities, and Nürnberg is a handy one. Stay extra nights here and day trip to Bayreuth, which I visited recently. Home to Wagner’s opera houses, one of which may be Europe’s most spectacular, Bayreuth also offers a surprisingly complex and interesting brewery experience at Maisel and Friends’ Liebesbier. And if you want to spend a night or two, there’s a cool art-hotel right there, and a good restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Come to think of it, you could use it as a home base for seeing the area. . . [Seen below: shots from Maisel and Friends. I drank the beer and liked it!]
Also within easy reach: Bamburg, a charming medieval town; Ingolstadt, home to Audi and its museum and tourable factory; Regensburg, a originally a Roman riverside fort, later a medieval city; and Rothenburg, perhaps Germany’s most delightful and best-preserved village. Würzburg (Dirk’s hometown), Augsburg, and buzzing Munich are also a quick trip away.
Vienna and Salzburg crowds overwhelming? Try less-visited Graz (easy to combine with Slovenian stops) or Innsbruck, a gateway to countless mountain experiences.
Like Salzburg, Graz has a mountain fort (or the ruins of one) in the middle of its old town. Like Salzburg, it has a quiver of UNESCO World Heritage sights on tap. Its hyper-modern ‘friendly alien’ museum and floating river-café/performance space contrast with its tiled-roof town center. Graz is also home to one of Europe’s best department stores, Kastner & Öhler. It’s HUGE and terrific. For much more on Graz, see here. [Below: seen in Graz.]
Innsbruck perches on the edge of the Alps and is dotted with interesting sights. Some standouts: the Swarovsky Crystal World, some amazing Zaha Hadid architecture, the famed ‘golden roof,’ and did I mention the mountains? Nearby are Alpine villages, winter skiing, and just across the German border, Ludwig’s castles. [Below: scenes from Innsbruck.]
