Secret Europe: Eight gorgeous hidden gems to visit on the continent

It doesn't have the glamour of Bled - the blockbuster Slovenian lake with a storybook island, complete with a majestic church. Which is precisely why Lake Bohinj - just 25 minutes' drive south-west - doesn't get as many tourists. But when it comes to natural beauty, Bohinj is second to none. Kayaking, canoeing, swimming, fishing and boating are just some of the experiences you can enjoy in the country's largest natural lake, where waters warm up to about 24 degrees in summer. There's no shortage of places to stay in the Bohinj region, but none of them are super glamorous; and that's precisely the point. bohinj.si/en

It is best known for being the home of the world's only suspended monorail, which first opened in 1901 and still follows the course of Wupper river for a few kilometres. But there's more to Wuppertal - just 30 minutes east of Dusseldorf Airport - than the pioneering track. More than 400 architectural monuments, world-class cultural centres such as Von der Heydt Museum and a thriving nightlife are some other reasons to visit the German city. germany.travel

Centuries of history, generations of culture, unforgettable scenery and a wine scene that can give some other gourmet regions of France a run for their ... grapes - is there anything this gorgeous town, which looks just like it did in the 16th century, doesn't do? Which leads us to our next question: how has it kept the crowds at bay? Maybe because it's hidden between the Vosges mountains and the rolling vineyards. ribeauville-riquewihr.com/en

They head to Sintra en masse for its palace perched on a hill. Thousands also make their way to the gorgeous coastal village of Cascais. But most people visiting Lisbon fail to put Azenhas do Mar - located within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park - on their list. Located just 45 minutes west of Lisbon, it's a sleepy seaside town defined by snow-white buildings with bright orange roofs tumbling down a steep cliff against the backdrop of the restless North Atlantic Ocean. visitportugal.com

Long before Captain James Cook came to Australia, he went to the fishing village of Staithes in North Yorkshire, where he worked as a shopkeeper's apprentice. And while the world has followed in his footsteps and discovered Australia, the gorgeous settlement of Staithes - plonked between a hill and harbour - still remains a bit of a locals' secret. Stay at the Captain Cook Inn for sweeping sea views and great ales. visitwhitby.com

The mere sight of Castelmezzano - complete with its ochre roofs set against the backdrop of the towering Dolomiti Lucane mountain range - is enough to make your heart race. It's one of the most stunning Italian towns (population 710) and doesn't get many visitors because it's remote: the closest major city is Bari and getting here using public transport can be a real pain. So combine a southern Italian road trip with a short stay in this town, and get ready for those heart-stopping views. italia.it/en

It's not easy to get to this Greek island. You have to take a one-hour flight from Athens to Kos, and then a 1.5-hour-long ferry from Kos to Nisyros. The other option is even more arduous: 17 hours on a ferry from Athens to Nisyros. No wonder, most people don't make it here. Which is such a shame because Nisyros has everything you expect from a gorgeous Greek island - dramatic calderas, white-washed villages, buzzing tavernas, bougainvillaea-lined laneways and those impossibly scenic Mediterranean sunsets. Just no crowds. visitgreece.gr

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Perched high on a rocky outcrop, Ares del Maestrat is about three hours south of Barcelona, with a gorgeous main square, Plaza Mayor, and ruins of an ancient castle. And what it doesn't have in sea views and beaches, it more than makes up for with sweeping panoramas of the rugged El Maestrazgo region. Discover the history of the castle, then explore the town on foot - visit the 18th-century parish church complete with a baroque facade as well as the Barranc dels Molins (the site of five 17th- and 18th-century water mills). spain.info

Pictures: Unsplash