Slovenia. |
I loved Slovenia. It is tiny and inexpensive. Lubijana has a charming pedestrian zone and Lake Bled is straight out of a fairy tale. |
Lake Balaton in Hungary |
Eger in Hungary - red wine, underground caves, castles and history. |
Soca Valley in Slovenia |
Gdansk is probably less known but we found so much to do there - solidarity and ship museum, nearby castle. The food was amazing. I also loved the charm of Zakopane in southern Poland. Please stop with the “go!” |
In southern Poland you could start in Krakow and explore south. Rafting on the Dunajec River is lovely. There are a number of small "spa" towns like Krynica and Polanica. Nowy Sacz, near Krynica is cute. Ojcow National Park is great and has a castle to visit.
In a bit of a different direction, Zamosc is a wonderful little town to visit also. |
I know English isn’t your first language and so this is a little challenging for you, but this thread is about UNpopular locations. Nobody knows why your b1tchy self is even here. OP doesn’t want your insight about popular destinations OP hike in Bulgaria in lavender season |
I was wondering if Hungary (Lake Balaton) and Slovenia (Lake Bled, Soca Valley, etc) “counted” but we’ve enjoyed both a lot.
Have heard good things about Tallin and Romania and Bulgaria but haven’t been |
My son just did a hike in the Albanian Alps and it was stunning. |
If this suggestion interests OP, about 90 minutes drive away is a vacation area for locals in the White Carpathian Mountains near the Slovakian/Czech border. People like to hike and bicycle there. I think it's kind of like the Laurel Highlands in SW Pennsylvania. Near Myjava. There are a variety of hotels and cottages. If you wanted to go counterculture you can rent a cottage at this organic hemp farm. https://biofarmakaska.sk/o-nas https://www.rentbyowner.com/property/biofarma-ka%C5%A1ka/BC-12276041 I haven't been to this area yet. I have been exploring my genealogy and it connects to this area. |
Plus one to Gdansk and Zakopane. I stopped in Torun on the way to Gdansk. It's a World Heritage site. Tallinn and Riga are super-charming and mini-Praguish to me. And bonus for being able to take a long day-trip to Finland from Tallinn! Tons of small towns in the Czech Republic, but most probably known at this point and maybe firmly on the beaten path now (I lived there in the early 90s). Agree that Slovenia is a stunner, and it's got everything with mountains/hiking, coast/Italian influence, lovely capital. |
Wineries in Moldova. |
Ditto on Transylvania and then up to northern Romania where you get into the forests/Painted Monasteries. It was amazing, one of my favorite trips ever. My kids loved it too, especially when we rented a farm and had fresh milk from the family cows daily. So relaxing! Only go in summer, though, as it gets chilly at night even then.
We loved Montenegro. May is a great time before the beaches are crowded. |
Lithuania? I went to a conf in Vilnius and thought it was a pretty little city. Did a bus ride out of it to Trakai Island Castle. Nice people too. |