Share the article
Europe is not exactly known for its warmth and receptiveness to tourists, especially after the travel boom in the post-pandemic years.
Whether in bustling Paris or charming canal-lined Amsterdam, locals feel torn by the excessive number of arrivals: while it certainly helps boost the economy, mass tourism is often associated with crowds and a rise in prices.
Heading into 2025, the tourism malaise in Europe is underway reach boiling point: There are now widespread protests against tourism in parts of Spain, while a number of Italian cities impose daily protests visitors capsand that’s just the beginning.
That being said, not all European cities are taking tough action in the field of tourism.
In fact this one 3 lesser known gems actually wouldn’t mind more foreigners visiting, starting with a beautiful fortified port in northern France:
Saint Malo, France
Located on the coast of Brittany, France’s northwesternmost region, Saint-Malo is a popular seaside resort for the French that has only recently begun to gain international fame.
It is known for its old town, reconstructed after it was virtually razed in the Second World War, and for its rich medieval history: the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral has beautiful rose windows that rival the beauty of Notre Dame, and you know never where that one winding alleys will lead into the walled center.
Maybe it’s picturesque place bordered by French bistros or the best creperie that you will ever visit (Bergamotwe’re looking at you).
Saint-Malo’s also has a long sandy beach (Plage du Sillon). defensive wallswhich becomes a popular seaside resort during Normandy’s mildly hot summers, and its busy harbor is guarded by a series of forts situated on tidal islets just off the coast.
This year, Saint-Malo was humiliated by one 18% drop in terms of tourism, and unlike other French destinations, it certainly no longer drives tourists away:
If you visit in 2025, you can expect to be welcomed with open arms.
Thessaloniki, Greece
Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, is an ancient port city full of ruins from the Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine and even Ottoman eras.
It is often skipped by first-time visitors to Greece, who typically arrive in Athens for a one-night stopover before heading straight to the Cyclades, but it should certainly not be underestimated, especially if the attitude towards visitors is much is friendlier. positive.
In total, Thessaloniki received 2.4 million guests in 2023 Statistical data, much less than the 7 million of Athens, or the 3.4 million of Santorini, where it ended up really ugly this year when the crowds got out of hand.
In Thessaloniki you can get all the moussaka and pastitsio you want without having to break the bank during a dinner out, and the hilly Panayia district, with bougainvillea-festooned streets and colorful facades, is still as photogenic as it gets––minus the Instagram hordes.
Besides admiring the 4th-century Rotunda, a ruined Roman church, and exploring the Acropolis of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki is one of the hottest European destinations for 2025 (figuratively and literally), especially because of its grand new opening:
A new subway system combining rapid transit that not only makes traveling around the metropolis much easier, but also allows tourists to delve deeper into the city’s rich past:
For example, at Agias Sofias station there is an entire archaeological site to visit free.
Valladolid, Spain
Forget Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and the like: if you’re going to tourism-saturated Spain in 2025, you might as well try your luck in a more unusual place, where at the very least you won’t be chased by tourist-phobic Spaniards with water guns .
Do you think we’re exaggerating? Maybe you just didn’t get wind of it what went down last summer in Barcelona…
Anyway, back to Valladolid: if you’re flying all the way to Europe for the abundance of medieval treasuresstately royal palaces and fresh, pesticide-free food, small, laid-back Valladolid, don’t become victims yet for overtourism, is the place to go.
The San Pablo Church is comfortably among the most beautiful in southern Europe; Built in the 14th century and with high vaulted ceilings, the pond-strewn Campo Grande Park is a natural oasis amid the ochre-colored sprawl, and if you think Madrid’s Plaza Mayor is the grandest in Spain, just wait until you see the one from Valladolid:
Flanked by arcaded buildings and host to a majestic town hall, it is located in the heart of the old town and is every local’s favorite place for an aperitif and socializing.
If you are a history buff like us, don’t miss the House of Cervantes, where the much-celebrated Don Quixote author lived. In case you didn’t know, Christopher Columbus himself spent his last years herewith much of his life documented at the Christopher Columbus Museum.
✈️Join our Travel Off Path community forum: Where travelers come together, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel companions!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
