4 Destinations for a Less-Traveled European Trip

Uzès, France

Southern France is awash in olive groves, lavender fields and medieval towns. Add in the mild Mediterranean climate, and Provence — the coastal southeast region of France — is an ideal warm-weather destination. Uzès is a charming town northwest of Marseille but without that city’s hustle or the crowds. “The French do food and wine so well, and Uzès is no exception,” Ball says. Artisanal markets feature fresh vegetable and fruit sellers, cheesemongers and more. Narrow, cobblestone streets and winding roads date back to the Roman occupation in the first century. Renowned for its preserved ancient monuments, architecture and art, Uzès was also the origination point of the Eure Valley’s 52-kilometer Roman aqueduct that ferried water from Uzès to Nîmes; visitors can marvel at the engineering prowess at the Pont du Gard, aqueduct ruins that transferred water for five centuries. While there, explore nearby towns, including Nîmes, famous for its Roman amphitheater. Adventurous travelers might opt to cycle, as the picturesque roads are conducive to cycling year-round. And you need not worry about being fit enough to pedal. “Electric bikes are quite popular there,” Ball says, “which make the travel and the hills relatively easy.”

Boats line a pier in Opatija, Croatia, along the Adriatic Sea.

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Opatija, Croatia

This town on the Adriatic Sea has drawn Europeans for its healthy air and waters for more than a century, says Wanda S. Radetti, founder of visitcroatia.com. “It was the playground for Europe before the French Riviera became so popular.” Stroll the Lungomare, a roughly 7-mile promenade connecting Opatija with other coastal fishing villages. Completed in 1911, the Lungomare represents Opatija’s renown as a late-19th-century retreat as it traverses lush groves of holm oaks and laurel. Throughout the year, the oils from magnolia and laurel trees perfume the air, Radetti says. Croatian pastry shops abound, and in the winter, oysters are a local specialty. In addition to the natural and man-made beauty, winter visitors to Opatija — and Croatia in general — will be astonished by the light reflecting off the water and cliffs. “We call it ‘illumination,’ and it is absolutely beautiful,” Radetti says. Although Croatia has seen an uptick in tourism in recent years, the numbers lag other European destinations, which means winter visitors will have ample opportunity to experience authentic Croatian hospitality.