Where to Go in Europe to Avoid the Crowds

Instead of Paris, visit Lyon
Every summer, Paris is packed with the millions of tourists who cram into every sidewalk café and book out every Moulin Rouge show. To avoid being carried away by the masses, head south to the beautiful city of Lyon. With a history dating back to the Romans, Lyon has its own Notre Dam, its own world-class gallery (with France’s largest Impressionist collection outside Paris) and a stunning park with 117 hectares of grass and trees to explore. With so much to do in Lyon, you’ll want to get ready ASAP each AM – packing cubes make it easy to organise your luggage by day, weather, event… You get the idea.

Instead of Dubrovnik, visit Riga
Ever since Croatia’s capital was used to film Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik has been wall-to-wall tourists. But a short flight away, Riga is the perfect alternative. Set near the Baltic Sea on the banks of the River Daugava, Latvia’s capital is full of cobblestone streets, hip bars and modern art museums. And it’s a cooler alternative to Croatia’s baking summers. Convinced? Spacious weekender bags are the perfect cabin size for shorter flights, with brands like Louenhide offering stylish alternatives to hard luggage. 

Instead of Barcelona, visit Valencia
In the past few years, Barcelona old town has become so crowded that locals have started moving out to less crowded neighbourhoods. Luckily, you’ll find the same late-night culture, tasty tapas and trendy design stores a little further south in Valencia. Plus, Valencia has an added laid-back feel that busy Barcelona just can’t match. You’ll avoid the tourists and pay less for the experience. There’s plenty of ways to get from Barcelona to Valencia, with train, bus and plane options all running directly between the two destinations. Keep your luggage intact in transit with a hard case option from Samsonite.

Instead of the Amalfi Coast, visit Camogli
One of Italy’s most stunning coastlines, the Amalfi Coast becomes almost unbearable in summer. Busloads of people come in every day and cafes fill up quickly, the beaches even quicker. Instead, head to Camogli on the northern coast of Italy. This fishing village is only two hours from Milan but it’s relatively undiscovered by tourists. Expect the same beautifully coloured painted buildings as in Amalfi as well as aqua-blue Mediterranean sea, along with delicious local produce.

Instead of Santorini, visit Karpathos
Santorini may have stunning views and beautiful beaches, but it also has a multitude of cruises ships and ferries bringing (literally) boatloads of tourists in every day. To experience Greek island life without the crowds, head to Karpathos in the southeastern Aegan sea instead. A little harder to get to, this Mediterranean paradise is the second largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands and it is stunning. Cool, blue waters, white-washed buildings and you might just have the beach to yourself if you go exploring.