Relatively unexplored until now, Albania is emerging as another exciting European destination for travellers. Often dubbed the 'new Croatia' due to its striking Adriatic and Ionian coastline, it has enticing turquoise waters and nearly empty golden beaches. According to Explore, bookings to Albania have grown an average of 20% over the last four years. Beyond the beaches, there are countless other reasons to visit the country, from ancient villages and archaeological sites to lush hills and brooding mountains.
One of the country's most spectacular and best preserved archaeological wonders lies in the country's south in Butrint National Park. The Greco-Roman remains of the ancient city of Butrint are set on a picturesque wooded peninsula. The city of Berat – with its 13th-century citadel, steep cobbled streets and Byzantine churches – and the Ottoman city of Gjirokastër are other Albanian UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are well worth a visit.
Now discover the world's most underrated historic small cities
With tropical rainforest, palm-fringed beaches, jutting volcanoes and bubbling hot springs, Costa Rica might be tiny but it's big on exotic beauty. It has lured more visitors this year too and was one of Lastminute.com's top trending destinations – bookings to the Central American country were up 60% year-on-year in 2019 and searches were up 814%. The trend could be fuelled by a growing interest in eco-tourism, of which the country was an early pioneer.
Climb the Gothic cathedral’s northern tower for excellent views, then head down to stroll around the Old Town’s narrow streets. Hrnčiarska is the place to go for local crafts. Learn about the city’s rich history – it was one of the most important centres within the Kingdom of Hungary – at the East Slovak Museum, then seek out a bar to try a glass of Slovakian wine. December is a gorgeous time to visit Košice, when its charming Christmas market brings twinkly lights and all manner of festive treats, including potato pancakes, honey cakes and warming cups of mead.
A loosening of some travel restrictions, along with the country's wealth of historic sites, renowned gastronomy, mountains and striking coastline, are driving more people to discover the delights of Lebanon. Both KE Travel and Andante Travels saw a significant uptake of itineraries to the Middle Eastern country when they reinstated it towards the end of 2019. “We foresee a huge increase regardless of current political issues,” says Tom Sargeant, a Lebanon expert and Middle East product manager for KE, which runs a walking tour to the country.
While Beirut has been deemed safe for some time, many of Lebanon's most significant historic places have been off-limits. Tony O’Connor of Andante Travels says they reinstated tours to the country after the UK's Foreign & Commonwealth Office removed Baalbek from the list of areas it advised against travelling to. “Based on the change of advice, we could visit all the key sites we wanted to include in our tours and we knew there were many people who were waiting for the opportunity to visit Lebanon.” They ran three tours in 2019 after the first sold out in weeks, and will be doubling this in 2020.
Another of Andante’s Lebanon expert archaeologists, Nick Jackson, says: “Baalbek is one of the most important sites from the Roman world and its great temple complex is one of the great sites to visit in the country.” Andante also highlights the old Phoenician city Byblos as one of Lebanon's historical highlights. Just an hour up the coast from buzzy capital Beirut, the harbour town is a worthily popular trip with its Crusader castle ruins, cobbled souks and dreamy Med views.
Another Middle Eastern country making a comeback after several turbulent years is Egypt. Bespoke travel company Black Tomato says it has seen bookings up 175% year-on-year and revenue up 316%. “Faith is returning to travelling in Egypt and successes of neighbours such as Jordan suggest there is plenty of scope for a similar story here,” says Black Tomato’s travel expert Diana Wrangham. With its medieval old city, treasure-stuffed museums and the Pyramids of Giza, Cairo has enduring appeal. Diana continues: “2020 should also see the much-anticipated opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, bringing an added boost of interest."
More tourists are eyeing Egypt's south too, according to Black Tomato, which saw Aswan surge in popularity in 2019. “The southern city has been very strong for us this year,” says Diana. “It’s a destination that offers an intriguing balance of old and new Egypt and is a great jumping off point for the Nile, which many of our guests enjoy exploring aboard traditional feluccas.” Must-dos include a stroll along the riverside Corniche, drinks at the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract hotel (where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile) and a boat trip over to Elephantine Island.
With a stunning stretch of Adriatic coastline, its glorious beaches and little isles are a cheaper and less crowded alternative to nearby Croatia. But don’t spend all your time on the beaches as there are many gorgeous ancient villages and patches of pristine wilderness to explore too. The old towns of Budva and Kotor and fortified island village of Sveti Setfan are some of the country's highlights. Find the top things to do in Montenegro here.
Booking.com ranks Zabljak in northern Montenegro as one of its fastest growing destinations in 2019. The small town is a hop-off point for hikers to discover the splendours of Durmitor National Park, a region of rugged mountains and deep glacial lakes. Ryan Pearson, Booking.com’s regional manager, says, “This destination’s popularity can be attributed to the fact that, whether you’re travelling in winter for an adrenaline-packed trip on the snowy slopes, or during the warmer months to experience thrilling water sports or take part in hiking trails nearby, it can be enjoyed all year round."
Lastminute.com pinpoints the Spanish island of Fuerteventura as another surprisingly popular destination in 2019. It has seen bookings to the isle increase nearly 45% year-on-year while searches increased a whopping 89% year-on-year. The Canary Islands have long lured sun-seekers but the second biggest island is not traditionally the most popular choice compared with winter sun hot spots Tenerife and Lanzarote. Find our guide to the different Canary Islands here.
Seogwipo, the second largest city on Jeju Island, is one of Asia’s fastest growing destinations, according to Booking.com. Known for its striking coastline, lush green hills, temples and delicious seafood, the South Korean island has plenty of allure. "Its surge in popularity can be attributed to its sheer beauty," says Ryan Pearson, regional manager of Booking.com.
Laid-back city Seogwipo lies on the island's southern coast and is a great base for active travellers. "The bustling coastal city is surrounded by natural wonders of the volcanic coastline, and its clear blue waters will prove popular with scuba-diving enthusiasts," says Booking.com's Ryan. There are also wonderful hikes up and around the mighty Mount Hallasan (South Korea’s highest peak) and to see the nearby waterfalls of Cheonjiyeon and Jeongbang. Seogwipo's port is a top spot for a seafood lunch by the water.
One offbeat capital becoming more inviting to tourists is Yerevan in Armenia, which Booking.com points to as one of its fast-growing destinations in 2019. Sitting on the plain of snow-capped peak Mount Ararat, the capital is a great base to explore an undiscovered corner of the Caucasus that is famed for its rich cuisine, beautiful countryside and ancient ruins including Erivan Fortress, one of Yerevan’s must visits (pictured). The city looks set to grow as a city break destination as the first international luxury hotel opened in March – Marriott International’s The Alexander.
Set on the northeastern coast of Malta, the harbour city of Il Gżira is finally getting the attention it deserves – Booking.com tips it as a fast-growing destination in 2019. "The increase of popularity towards this city can undoubtedly be attributed to its cultural offering and coastal location," says Booking.com's regional manager Ryan Pearson. Set between Msida and Sliema on Marsamxett Harbour, Il Gżira overlooks Valletta harbour. Be sure to get the boat over to Manoel Island, once a quarantine hospital and site of impressive 18th-century Fort Manoel, for an insight into the island's rich history.
Few people have heard of Benin let alone visited it but adventure holiday specialist Explore – which offers a Benin and Togo Voodoo Discovery tour – reports a rise in interest to the diminutive west African country. Bookings were up 110% in 2019. “We're seeing growth in a variety of unusual destinations such as Benin, which is a reflection of travellers' evolving tastes. Customers are becoming increasingly adventurous, looking for new experiences in countries they've never visited before,” says worldwide programme manager Hannah Methven.
Visitors will most likely head to Lake Ganvie, home to the largest stilt village in Africa and Ouidah, centre of the country’s religion, voodoo. The Snake Temple is a must as is the town's museum, set in an old Portuguese fort, to learn about voodoo and Benin's past – it was a major port on the slave trade route to the New World. The poignant Arches of No Return commemorate this dark period. The country has a beautiful coastline too while the lush Atakora Mountains are home to remote villages.
The city of Salta in northwest Argentina might not be one of South America’s must-visits but Booking.com tips it as one of its fastest growing destinations in 2019. “The city is a ‘best of both worlds’ destination,” comments Ryan, who says its historic heart, lively cultural offering and proximity to striking natural landscapes make it highly attractive to travellers. The city's main hub, Plaza 9 de Julio, and stunning churches and convents, including the 16th-century Iglesia San Francisco, should be top of your hit list.
While Norway is not such an unusual destination, the far-flung Lofoten islands are less well known. But that looks set to change as Black Tomato reports a 150% increase in bookings year-on-year and a 593% increase in revenue. Destination expert Sunil Metcalfe says, “The last year or so has seen this corner of the world gaining more and more press interest and so as the area becomes better known, it seems likely the upward curve in tourism numbers will continue.”
Sunil says the archipelago’s new-found popularity among non-domestic tourists is also down to more people looking to “reconnect with nature and discover a sense of escapism.” With dramatic scenery and pretty fishing villages, these isles have plenty of that. There's year-round appeal, from Northern Lights-spotting in winter to surfing and kayaking in summer. However, with their charm resting on their remoteness, Sunil says they are conscious of overtourism.
Rich in culture, natural beauty and intriguing cities, Ukraine offers travellers huge diversity, yet it's one of Europe’s most under-visited corners. However, that looks set to change with a number of tour operators reporting a surge in bookings to the Eastern European country. KE Adventure Travel, which offers a hiking holiday to Ukraine and Moldova, highlights the country as one of its more offbeat, fastest-growing destinations.
As well as hikes around the dramatic Carpathian Mountains and city breaks to Kiev, Lviv and Odessa, Pripyat (site of the infamous Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant) has hit the tourist radar. Thanks to the popularity of HBO’s mini-series about the disaster, Travel Republic reports that it has seen a staggering increase of 300% in searches to Ukraine since the series’ premiere, with bookings up 200% too. Tour operator Explore also said bookings for its Discover Chernobyl trip were up 83% year-on-year for 2019.
Now read about destinations you couldn't visit in 2010 but can in 2020
The Ukrainian government designated Chernobyl an official tourist attraction in 2019 and it has proved very popular. Intrepid reported bookings for its tour of Moldova, Ukraine and Romania, which includes a trip to the disaster site, were up 131% in May 2019, compared to the previous year. Regent Holidays, which runs tours of Chernobyl and Kiev, said inquiries were up 90%. You must join an organised tour to visit the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone which includes Pripyat. It's also now possible to visit the epicentre of the disaster, Reactor No. 4, on highly regulated five-minute tours.
With pretty squares, cobbled streets and historic coffeehouses, it’s no surprise that the UNESCO-listed Lviv in the country’s west was the top trending European city for British guests, according to Airbnb. It saw a 166% year-on-year growth between June 2018 and May 2019 – a surge no doubt fuelled by the launch of Ryanair’s new routes to the city. Its charming market square, Ploshcha Rynok, is a great place to soak in city life, or you can take a stroll up High Castle Hill for wonderful views. Here's how to spend a long weekend in Lviv.