Plenty of Europe’s well-known destinations boast ‘gram-worthy smatterings of colour – just think of the stacked little houses of Cinque Terre on the Amalfi coast or the vibrant streets of Burano in Venice.
However, Villajoyosa, Europe’s best hidden gem for 2024, also consists of brilliantly painted facades along a really gorgeous beach – it’s surprising more travellers don’t know about it. The small Spanish town, tucked away between Alicante and Benidorm, is top of European Best Destinations’ list of the best secret destinations for this year, but there are plenty more lesser-known treasures on the list, too.
Another Spanish destination, Ares del Maestre, claims second place, and in third it’s Primošten, a stunning coastal village in Croatia. And in fourth it’s Bokodi, a floating village in Hungary.
Yes, you read that right – the tiny town, which is about 80 km west of Budapest, consists of houses built on stilts, which were created in 1961 when energy from a nearby power plant warmed the Bokodi Lake’s water and kept it from freezing. That plant closed in 2015, but the destination is (unsurprisingly) ridiculously popular with photographers today.
These are the 18 most beautiful destinations in Europe
- Villajoyosa, Spain
- Ares del Maestre, Spain
- Primosten, Croatia
- Bokodi, Hungary
- Naantali, Finland
- Bour, Faroe Islands
- Blavand, Denmark
- Ulm, Germany
- Aljezur, Portugal
- Dartlo, Georgia
- Castro Urdiales, Spain
- Landmannalaugar, Iceland
- Cicmany, Slovakia
- Pico Island, Azores
- Pont-en-Royans, France
- Wuppertal, Germany
- Le Puy en Velay, France
- Staithes, England
You can read about European Best Destinations’ other top picks on their website here.
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