Share the article
National Geographic has long been a standard bearer of travel and a fixture in my mailbox, which I pretend I don’t receive bills in.
Even if you’re the type who avoids long paragraphs and simply turns pages to see what great destinations they show, Nat Geo never disappoints.
While I may be old-school with snail mail magazines, we’ve delved into the digital world and discovered what the popular publication is asking for a price wonderful lakeside getaway in Europe, without the usual names like Como.
This trio reveals three almost unheard of lakeside wonders that almost no one could point out on a map and proves that you don’t have to follow the crowds to the shore or household names to experience a truly unforgettable Euro trip.
1) My personal favorite: Ohrid, North Macedonia 🇲🇰
After crossing 45 countries, I can’t think of another lakeside city I’d move to in a heartbeat if the universe aligned.
One of the biggest surprises of my European getaways is none other than Ohrid, a picturesque lakeside city where the water is clearer than my dusty wine glasses and the old town lets you wander with rich history, cobbled streets and enchanting views at every turn.
North Macedonia is often overshadowed by the ever-trendy Albania and of course Greece, which is hard to leave once you’ve had a taste of it. But next time I’m in the region, I’ll undoubtedly make more time for Ohrid; the lakeside square, the hillside views and the famous 365 churches are reason enough to come back, even for a non-religious guy like me.
One of them is the Church of St. John in Kaneohyped by Nat Geo, for its impeccable views.
When it’s time to take a break from the cobbled steps winding uphill, there are scenic boat trips across perhaps the most beautiful lake in Europe (no offense to Como).
Macedonia is also very safe to visit and currently ranks an impressive 85/100 on our safety index:
2) Thun: A piece of Swiss that you should not miss 🇨🇭
You know Zurich, and maybe Geneva, if you’re glued to talking heads on TV, but the one country Anthony Bourdain refused to visit has a lot more to offer than its urban sprawl.
In fact, Switzerland is more known for its nature and the kind of mountain scenery that many travelers imagine The sound of music territory, although that classic film belongs to Austria.
Still, the lakeside city of Thun may not strike a chord.
Nat Geo claims Thun seamlessly combines sweeping mountain views and turquoise glacial water for an indelible, if pricey, outing you’ll never forget.
But let’s not skip the indispensable 12th century Spiez Castle or, surrounded by picturesque vineyards leading to one of Europe’s most vibrant marinas, despite being such an underrated destination.
That’s right: you’ve got castles, wine and sparkling blue water, all backed by vertiginous mountains.
Besides Switzerland’s infamous sky-high prices, what else is there to love?
It’s undeniably bucket list worthy: a place you should visit at least once, even if you lose a comma from your bank account.
Better yet, Switzerland is one of the safest countries in Europe, with a current score of 90/100:
3) Ribčev Laz: Slovenian lake town that no one knows about 🇸🇮
Full disclosure: Nat Geo doesn’t specifically mention Ribčev Laz, but it does mention Lake Bohinj – and Ribčev Laz is essentially the front door to Lake Bohinj.
So, in other words, call us geniuses.
Despite still flying under the radar as a country, Slovenia is home to one of the world’s most sought-after lake destinations, once crowned one of the most coveted photo ops in the world, in fact, for Lake Bled’s fairytale island church.
Now that Lake Bled has become less and less of a ‘hidden gem’, that’s all the more reason to head to Ribčev Laz, where you don’t have to queue or take other tourists out of your epic photos.
This charming town is full of cozy places to stay along the glassy alpine waters of Lake Bohinj, setting you up for boat rides you’d never want to end, and views that give Bled serious value for money – just without the Olympic Photo Bombs.
Wherever you go, whether in search of Luka Dončić sightings or one of the many beautiful lakeside villages, it’s safe to explore from start to finish.
Slovenia currently has a score of 87/100 as voted by travelers:
