Five unusual places in Europe, outside the tourist circuits: cursed mountains, parrots, whales, Vikings or waterfalls

Tourists in search of sensational, out-of-the-ordinary, less crowded places are increasingly turning their attention to other types of destinations that are not among the usual travel circuits.

From the Cursed Mountains or the Albanian Alps, where tourists and shepherds alike get lost, to the place that hosts the largest colony of puffins – northern seabirds – in the world, but also the first Sanctuary of Beluga whales, in Iceland, or the area thanks to which they some of the world’s great masterpieces have been created, from Italy to the Viking Triangle in Ireland, or the land of waterfalls in Wales, here are some suggestions to see Europe with different eyes than those of the usual traveler with extremely crowded popular destinations.

These tourist destinations are also included in a top 52 places to visit in the world in 2024 proposed by the New York Times consultants.

Vestmannaeyjar: from the largest puffin colony to Beluga whales

A new electric ferry is helping connect mainland Iceland with this tiny archipelago — also known as the Vestman Islands — off the country’s south coast, where the world’s largest puffin colony has turned many of residents into conservation activists. Fortunately, the archipelago was not affected by the volcanic eruptions produced in mid-December 2023.

From May to September, Heimaey, the main island, becomes a favorite weekend destination for Icelanders, who stay in stylish new villas during frequent concerts and festivals, while cruise ship passengers can be seen strolling around the islands on speedboats to visit the Beluga Whale Sanctuary and ride ATVs into the crater of the Eldfell Volcano that nearly destroyed the town during the 1973 eruption.

Home to one of the country’s leading fishing communities, with a new seafood festival and a host of culinary offerings including an artisan bakery and craft brewery, Vestmannaeyjar has been praised by local media as “The gastronomic capital of Iceland”.

The Albanian Alps or the Cursed Mountains, the hidden paradise

The isolated mountain range in northern Albania, known as the Cursed Mountains (Prokletije) or the Albanian Alps (although it also extends into Montenegro and Kosovo), has for years fascinated hikers in search of serenity among its peaks. But the lull may not last long, given the growing interest of low-cost airlines in new routes to Albania, so that its hitherto little-explored routes to crystal-clear lakes and other stunning areas become more accessible to adventurers looking for a paradise within reach. What is certain is that the scenery is gorgeous, waterfalls and colorful lakes are hidden among the mountain peaks.

Accessible only by a four-wheel drive vehicle, northern villages like Theth have been linked for several years by a narrow but paved mountain road. Visitors can stay with locals, in guesthouses or on farms to experience rural life before exploring the 200,000-acre Valbona Pass National Park for flower-strewn valleys of the field and saw the shepherds tending their flocks.

Waterford, Viking Triangle

Although Waterford is synonymous with crystal, the city, founded in 914, also shines with its history and natural treasures. In the Viking Triangle, Waterford’s medieval core, a new digital trail brings the past to life through medieval monuments such as Reginald’s Tower.

The city also offers more recent attractions, such as the Irish Wake Museum dedicated to funeral ritual through an exploration of life and death, detailing Irish traditions and superstitions from early Christian times to the 20th century, or the Irish Museum of Time which presents some of the oldest exhibits, from wristwatches to table or pendulum clocks, from several areas of the world: America, Germany, Russia, Japan and Australia.

Waterford’s natural treasures are as valuable as their historical ones, such as the UNESCO Copper Coast Geopark which comprises around 25 kilometers of spectacular coastline consisting of undulating beaches and bays backed and enclosed by rocky headlands (high strips jutting out towards the ocean). . Oceans, volcanoes, deserts and ice caps have combined here to create the rocks, which provide the physical foundation of the natural and cultural landscapes of “Copper Coast”.

Its name itself comes from the 19th century copper mines here. The coast forms part of the Waterford Greenway, a route of around 50 km along a disused railway line. In 2023, a new section connected the Greenway with Waterford city centre.

The adventure can end with afternoon tea in the Mount Congreve Gardens which hold some of the largest collections of plants in Ireland and which reopened in 2023 after a multi-million dollar renovation.

Bannau Brycheiniog, waterfall country hike

Claiming the name Bannau Brycheiniog for a beloved national park in Wales last year was more than a linguistic switch from English to Welsh; it was a change to highlight the Welsh culture of the more than 800km2 park, formerly known as the Brecon Beacons.

The emphasis on the relationship between nature and local culture is also reflected in a new logo. Instead of the burning bowl of the Brecon Beacons, the logo now features an ancient Welsh crown, set in a green forest under the stars, reflecting the park’s commitment to a future where planting native trees restores rainforest, reforesting peatlands sequesters carbon , and the sky reveals its beauty, in the absence of pollution.

While visiting Bannau Brycheiniog, “The Peaks of Brychan’s Kingdom”it is recommended to use public transport and hire the park’s bikes, including the Explore Wales Pass – the card for trains and buses, or take in the scenery by following the hiking trails through the waterfall country starting from Pontneddfechan Village.

Massa-Carrara: masterpieces admired in lesser-known places in Tuscany

In an attempt to reduce congestion in the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, the famous museum has begun transferring some of its masterpieces to lesser-known locations in Tuscany.

As part of the latest initiative in the expanding program called “Diffuse Uffizi”a collection of works including paintings from the studio of the Italian Baroque painter Carlo Dolci was exhibited in the city of Massa at the Palazzo Ducale, which also houses the government offices of the Province of Massa Carrara in northwestern Tuscany.

Art enthusiasts can also explore the surrounding Apuan Alps, where the marble for so many masterpieces — including Michelangelo’s famous sculpture David — comes from.

Visitors can take tours of the marble quarries and perhaps have the opportunity to meet a sculptor working on the side of the road in this tourist destination.