The 5 Least Visited Countries In Europe
/Travelers choose different criteria when picking a holiday destination. Some care about access to the sea, others focus on food, and others focus on known landmarks. The multitude of travelers seen at every corner, in every restaurant, and in other interesting places are not pleasant. Such people often decide to go to countries not very popular on the tourist map of Europe. Which countries are worth visiting if we want to avoid crowds?
What holiday destinations should you avoid?
If we want to avoid many tourists, we must give up traveling to the most crowded places. The peak of the season, i.e., the summer months (June-August), is not necessarily a good idea. In choosing a place where you can rest peacefully, it will help analyze the trends carried out by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which analyzes the behavior and choices every year. This makes it easy to predict the three most-visited countries in 2018. Honorable places on the podium were taken by:
France - 89 million visitors
Spain - 83 million
Italy 62 - millions of visitors
Of course nowadays, due to the pandemic and how vaccinations for COVID-19 are shared across Europe, those numbers might be a bit irrelevant. It’s always good to double-check the regulation a country has for COVID-19 and also to bear in mind that it might change a few hours before you go, or even during your trip in that specific country.
Least visited countries in Europe
Data collected by UNWTO also allows indicating which countries in Europe were visited least often in 2018. The fact that the least tourists come to these countries does not mean that they are not worthy of attention. Quite the opposite - most of them are still undiscovered gems, which will probably soon become more popular. It's worth going there while we can avoid the crowds. Below is a list of the 5 least-visited countries in Europe. Of course, these numbers might change over time, so it’s always good to have a look at the website and see what are the projections for the new year.
Macedonia - 707 thousand visitors
Macedonia is the most popular among countries at the bottom of the ranking, which from February 12, 2019, should be referred to as Northern Macedonia. This is the result of an agreement with Greece.
What is worth seeing in this country? First of all, the capital Skopje and Ohrid (Lake Ohrid is on the UNESCO World Heritage List) and Bitola. You can also check out the extremely picturesque national parks - Pelister, which lies in the Adriatic and Aegean Sea waters department, Galiczica and Mawrowo, densely covered with beech and fir forests.
It is worth mentioning that there is no EHIC in Macedonia.
Bosnia and Herzegovina - 536,000 visitors
This country is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, so, surprisingly, so few tourists visit it. Its attractiveness is especially the Dinaric Alps, which occupy most of the territory of this country. Its capital is Sarajevo, which on the one hand, resembles Vienna and, on the other, Istanbul. Lovers of nature and historical monuments will not be bored here. Relatively low prices are also an important advantage.
Monaco - 347 thousand visitors
The Small Principality is not very popular among tourists, primarily because it is costly. So they are visited by rich people, often the owners of yachts, who can enjoy the luxury that even flows from many parts of this country.
Certainly, it will not be a good choice for nature lovers. Virtually the entire territory covers the city - in some places; you can only see palm trees planted by people.
Moldova - 160,000 visitors
Most people associate this country only with good wine, and thus a huge number of vineyards. However, as it turns out, there are many more reasons to visit Moldova.
Why is it worth visiting Moldova? The country boasts beautiful views - there is no sea or great mountains here, but the endless fields and hills look very climatic. Tourists also praise Moldovian food and cheap prices. Moldova is also famous for its extremely nice and hospitable inhabitants.
The EHIC is also not applicable here. The absence of a European insurance card should encourage you to take out an additional travel insurance policy.
San Marino - 84,000 visitors
t is a tiny country surrounded by Italy from all sides. Tourists admire the beautiful nature, as well as medieval fortifications, squares, and houses. It will be an excellent choice for lovers of old fortresses and cathedrals.
Although San Marino is not visited very often, it is really worth going there. When Italy turns out to be the main holiday destination, especially coastal Rimini - the city is only 15 kilometers away from the border (25-30 minutes by car).
What to remember before traveling?
Regardless of the destination, preparation must be made before leaving. They will be connected with packing the most necessary things and collecting information about the country, which is the destination. It is worth checking the most important regulations (for example, drinking alcohol in public places) and transport connections that can be used on site.
Would you travel to non-crowded countries to avoid the pandemic? Don’t forget to check the regulations each country has.
