New holiday destinations are cropping up all the time, especially with low cost airlines spreading their wings to increasingly obscure parts of Europe. Indeed, most of us have never heard of some of the destinations on offer. So what is there to see in these spots that make excellent Scrabble scores?
Pula
Where? Istria, north-west Croatia.
Why go there? While Dubrovnik, the Adriatic islands and the Dalmatian coast are now firmly on the tourist map, Istria is just beginning to get the plaudits it deserves. Dubbed as a Croatian version of Tuscany, it’s all green hills, rugged coastlines and fabulous beaches. Perfect for a sunshine break, in other words.
Why else: Pula itself is drenched in history, and has some of the best preserved Roman ruins in the world. These include the massive amphitheatre and the city walls.
Getting there: Ryanair flies from London Stansted.
Cluj Napoca
Where? Northern Transylvania, Romania.
Why go there? The home town of The Cheeky Girls has a reputation as being Romania’s party city. A huge student population means that seemingly every other building in the city centre is a bar or club, and drink prices are rock bottom too.
Why else? The real reason people go to Cluj, however, is for outdoor pursuits. Just south-west of the city are the Apuseni mountains, which are full of caves, underground rivers and walking trails through the forests.
Getting there: WizzAir flies to Cluj Napoca from London Luton airport.
Maribor
Where? Stajerska, North-eastern Slovenia.
Why go there? Maribor is the second biggest city in Slovenia, but it doesn’t feel like it. There’s a very relaxed, friendly vibe to the place, while those wanting specific attractions can either head to big castle (you can hardly miss it) or the Fontana Terme spa complex.
Why else? It’s also a bit of an all-action place. There’s good cycling, skiing and horse-riding nearby, while the Pohorje Adrenaline Park offers a test of nerve over towers and high rope courses.
Getting there: Ryanair flies there from London Stansted.
Billund
Where? Central Jutland, Denmark.
Why go there? Billund is famous for having lots of tiny people and buildings – it’s the home of the original Legoland. One of the world’s great theme parks, it manages to pull of the perfect blend of cute kiddy fun and top rides.
Why else? Aside from the Lego, Billund is very much an airport rather than a destination, but it’s close to some of the best spots Denmark has to offer. Just to the north-west is the Danish version of the Lake District, a pretty area of woodland, top canoeing spots and walking trails.
Getting there: Sterling operates bargain flights to Billund from Gatwick airport.
Bydgoszcz
Where: North-west Poland.
Why go there? The cheap flights to Poland are mainly aimed at migrant workers, but Bydgoszcz has been heavily promoting itself as a tourist destination in recent times. It likes to think of itself as a Polish version of Venice, with two rivers and the canals making it a haven for water lovers.
Why else? Nearby Torun combines the historic and the quirky. It was the home town of Copernicus (and you can find out lots about him there), while there’s also a gingerbread museum where you can hand-make the stuff yourself.
Getting there: Ryanair flies from Stansted, Birmingham and Dublin.
This article was originally written for Ninemsn.
Copyright David Whitley
