Peterjon Cresswell

No hace falta decir que Europa está llena de sitios increíbles. Pero muchos de estos sitios son también bastante obvios. Venecia, Ámsterdam, la costa amalfitana... sí, son impresionantes. Pero el problema es que todo el mundo quiere ir, lo que significa que muchas de las capitales europeas, hubs culturales y bonitos paisajes están llenos de turistas y con precios desorbitados. Algunos de estos destinos incluso han empezado a decir que quieren que los turistas no vayan. Pero para cada sitio abarrotado de visitantes, hay otros que pasan injustamente desapercibidos: lugares donde puedes pasarte horas sin ver a otro turista, o al menos alternativos a los tradicionales destinos de vacaciones. Así que esto es lo que sugerimos: este verano, evitaos romperos el cuello intentando ver la Mona Lisa. Ahorraos las colas del Vaticano, y viajad a algunos destinos menos conocidos del continente. Desde los Balcanes hasta el Báltico, desde el Atlántico hasta la costa Adriática, hemos reunido a escritores de viajes y expertos locales para descubrir las ciudades infravaloradas de Europa, las islas, regiones, playas, pueblos, lagos y todo de por medio. NO TE LO PIERDAS: Los 10 mejores destinos para viajar el 2023

No cal dir que Europa està plena de llocs increïbles. Però molts d'aquests llocs són també bastant obvis. Venècia, Amsterdam, la costa Amalfitana... sí, són impressionants. Però el problema és que tothom vol anar-hi, i moltes de les capitals del continent, hubs culturals i paisatges bonics estan plens de turistes i amb preus desorbitats. Algunes d'aquestes destinacions fins i tot han començat a dir que volen que els turistes no hi vagin. Però per cada lloc que està atapeït de visitants, n'hi ha d'altres que passen injustament desapercebuts: llocs on pots passar-te hores sense veure un altre turista, o almenys alternatius a les tradicionals destinacions de vacances. De manera que això és el que suggerim: aquest estiu, eviteu trencar-vos el coll intentant veure la Mona Lisa. Estalvieu-vos les cues del Vaticà i viatgeu a algunes de les destinacions menys conegudes del continent. Des dels Balcans fins als països bàltics, des de l'Atlàntic Nord fins a la costa Adriàtica, hem reunit escriptors de viatges i experts locals per tal de descobrir les ciutats infravalorades d'Europa, les illes, regions, platges, pobles, llacs i tot el que hi ha al mig.  NO T'HO PERDIS: Les 10 millors destinacions per viatjar el 2023

It goes almost without saying that Europe is full of incredible places. But a lot of those places are also kind of obvious. Barcelona, Venice, Amsterdam, the Amalfi Coast… yes, they’re amazing. But the problem is that everyone and their mums want to go there, meaning many of the continent’s capitals, cultural hubs and beauty spots are majorly overcrowded and eye-wateringly expensive. Some of these major travel destinations have even started saying that they want tourists to stay away. But for every place that’s bursting at the seams with visitors, there are a host that are unfairly overlooked: places where you can spend hours and not see another tourist, or at least low-key alternatives to the regular holiday hotspots. So here’s what we’re suggesting: this summer, save yourself the neck crane trying to glimpse the Mona Lisa. Skip the Vatican queues. Step out of the Sagrada Família crowds – and travel to some of the continent’s lesser-known destinations. From the Balkans to the Baltics, from the North Atlantic sea to the Adriatic coast, we’ve tapped up seasoned travel writers and local experts to uncover Europe’s underrated cities, islands, regions, beaches, towns, lakes – and everything in between. Looking to venture outside of Europe? Read our guide to the most underrated destinations in the world. RECOMMENDED:🏰 The best city breaks in Europe💘 The most romantic places in the world🚞 The ultimate three-week Europe train itinerary

Think of Hungary, and you think of paprika, as fiery red as the top band of its national flag. Walk across Budapest, and it’s hard to miss it: pretty packets of paprika beam bright crimson from market stalls garlanded with strings of spicy peppers while vendors and regulars banter in a language whose roots lie in Asia. It feels a world away from Europe. And it sort of is. Paprika, like coffee, was brought here by the Ottomans in the 1600s. But it only rose from ornamental use to the dining table 200 years later, thanks to a flood, a canny entrepreneur and a Nobel Prize-winning scientist. But first, what is Hungarian paprika? Put simply, it’s the spice that results from grinding dried red peppers like the ones you see hanging in clusters across those market stalls and tourist shops. Hungarian paprika is generally not smoked like its Spanish counterpart, pimentón. It’s used both for flavouring and colouring, especially but not exclusively in traditional Hungarian dishes like goulash and spicy fish soup. Eight grades range from the standard, sweet édesnemes to the strong erős, touching on the aromatic (rózsa) and the mild (csipősmentes). Photograph: Shutterstock.comA paprika shop in Tihany, Hungary Hungary’s paprika trade has traditionally centred on two main hubs: Kalocsa and Szeged, both in the hot Hungarian south, towards Serbia. If you fancy a spicy day trip from Budapest, there’s a paprika museum in each. Kalocsa is smaller and trickier to reach from Budapest by public tr

Whatever you want from a city break, Budapest has it all – but it doesn’t show off about it. The city remains a hidden gem for many, meaning it’s surprisingly affordable, from its delicious Hungarian food to its many attractions. So whether you’re heading there for a cultural excursion or to simply eat your bodyweight in lángos and goulash, you can fit everything in without breaking the bank.  Of course, Budapest is also famed for its nightlife, from its popping ruin bars to its wild thermal bath parties after hours. But you may find you spend much of your time strolling the lake, visiting old buildings and admiring some of its fantastic architecture. Whatever plans you’ve got for this city bursting with character, we’ve got a definitive list of the best things to do, right here.  RECOMMENDED:🏛️ The best spas and baths in Budapest🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Budapest🏨 The best hotels in Budapest🍻 The best bars in Budapest for a great night out

Teletrabalho obrigatório. Escolas encerradas. E nós a pensar em viagens. Claro – vale tudo para não desanimar. E em 2022 não vão faltar razões para dar a volta ao mundo. Aberturas de museus impressionantes, exposições campeãs de likes nas redes sociais, peças de teatro imersivas, festivais de música e até um parque temático de Game of Thrones: todas são óptimas desculpas para apanhar um avião e conhecer uma nova cidade ou revisitar um sítio onde fomos felizes. Seleccionámos 22 destinos e coisas para descobrir em 2022, um género de bucket list do ano novo, em tom de esperança no que aí vem. Recomendado: Precisa de ajuda para cumprir as suas resoluções de ano novo? Aqui vai  

Rijeka is a city with internationally-recognised museums, galleries and collections. For the city's special European Capital of Culture 2020 year, each of the existing institutions alongside the main event organisers have pulled out all the stops in order to fill every space available with exhibitions to satisfy all. From past masters to contemporary art and everything in between, here are some of the best exhibitions of Rijeka European Capital of Culture 2020.RECOMMENDED: The best interactive and installation events of Rijeka European Capital of Culture 2020

Rijeka European Capital of Culture 2020 is not just for spectators. The city's community have helped shape the events happening within the year and some of those extend a further invitation for everyone to join in. From the carnival parade and the bell-ringing of the inauguration ceremony to giant robots you can manipulate and art installations you can walk beneath or touch, here are some of the best things to do within Rijeka European Capital of Culture 2020 at which you can all join in.RECOMMENDED: The best exhibitions of Rijeka European Capital of Culture 2020

Think of Vukovar and you think of its symbols: the prehistoric Vučedol Dove, the Water Tower, and its local shoe factory. Now a new series of images is defining this city on the banks of the Danube. Much of it was created recently – at a major international event here in June 2019, in fact. The third, and so far biggest, stret art festival involved five painters from as far afield as Brazil and Indonesia. Their creations embellished five locations to add to the dozen or so others produced in 2017 and 2018. Zabou 'This is a new concept in the city’s urban culture,' says co-organiser Krešimir Herceg. 'It promotes Vukovar as a place which accepts all artists and creators of exceptional value. We can change the visual identity of the city and make it more beautiful for residents, just as any painted city becomes more attractive to tourists.' Juandres Vera The murals, exemplified by 2019’s Vagabond by Lonac on riverfront Županijska cesta and Dating by Wild Drawing (WD) at out-of-town Hrvatskog ratnog zrakoplovtstva, have one thing in common: they were all created with perspective in mind. Lonac 'It all started in 2016 when the City of Vukovar arranged for Croatia’s only 3D street artist, Filip Mrvelj, to come up with an anamorphic painting on the one small bridge over the narrow river Vuka, in the centre of town,' explains Herceg. 'After the painting was finished, it caused a big stir in the media and the rest is history!' A year later, held over two weeks in June in collabora

Rovinj is Istria at its most chic, a scenic resort of quality restaurants and cocktail bars, galleries and boutiques. Stone houses and cobbled streets lend an authentic air – this is also the most gay-friendly of Croatia’s coastal destinations. RECOMMENDED: more great things to do in Rovinj. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. You can also find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world, or take a look at our list of the 50 best things to do in the world right now.

Istria’s historic main city of Pula is symbolised by its Roman amphitheatre, scene of a surprisingly wide range of outdoor events every summer. Festivals of film and electronic music, and concerts by everyone from Elton John to José Carreras, fill the 2,000-year-old arena, with its near intact walled ring. Roman remains also form Pula’s city centre, dominated by a hilltop Venetian fortress. With docks rather than beaches nearby, many head south for out-of-town seaside fun in Verudela and Medulin. RECOMMENDED: more great things to do in Pula. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. You can also find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world, or take a look at our list of the 50 best things to do in the world right now.

Just over three hours’ drive from Zagreb, Vukovar has plenty to offer the visitor for a city-break weekend. With many of its attractions lining the Danube, it makes perfect sense to stay at a hotel or apartment overlooking the river. From here, most sights, museums and restaurants are only a short walk away.