Spring hidden gems: underrated travel destinations hardly anyone knows about

People often ask me where I travel myself. Not as an expert, not as a mystery shopper, just as someone who enjoys discovering new places. My answer regularly surprises them: I avoid almost everything on the top-ten lists.

Not out of stubbornness. But because I have learned over the years that the most memorable travel experiences rarely happen where everyone goes. They happen in places you approach without expectations, where you still meet genuine locals, and where the hotels and restaurants have not yet been tailored for mass tourism.

Spring is the ideal season for exactly this kind of travel. No summer heat, no packed terraces, no queues in front of every attraction. Those who set off now experience Europe as it should be.

Here are my personal spring picks for 2026, places I have visited myself or that are firmly on my radar before the crowds discover them.

1. Plovdiv, Bulgaria: Europe’s most underrated cultural capital

While everyone flies to Sofia, Plovdiv is waiting with something genuinely spectacular. Bulgaria’s second-largest city has one of the best-preserved old towns in the Balkans, an unexpectedly vibrant cultural scene, and a gastronomy that surprises anyone who arrives with low expectations.

In spring the city comes alive. The fortified old town spread across seven hills, a Roman amphitheatre right in the city centre, the colourful 19th-century Zografski houses: all of it without tourist crowds, without souvenir stalls on every corner, without eye-watering entrance fees.

What impresses me most: the boutique hotel scene in Plovdiv is at a level that rivals many Western European cities, at a fraction of the price. Those who value carefully restored properties with real character will find exactly what they are looking for here.

Best time to visit: April to May, before summer temperatures arrive. Direct flights from Zurich and Vienna from around 80 euros.

2. Ulcinj, Montenegro: the last quiet coastal town

Everyone knows Kotor and Budva by now. The Bay of Kotor in summer is barely manageable. Those looking for what Dubrovnik was twenty years ago (authentic, beautiful, not yet overrun) should head to the very south of Montenegro: Ulcinj.

The old town perches on a cliff directly above the sea. The lanes are narrow, the cafés still local, the beaches in spring almost deserted. Ulcinj has a fascinating Ottoman history you feel at every turn, and a warmth from its residents that has long since faded in the more touristic parts of the country.

I am convinced: in two or three years, Ulcinj will appear on the same lists as Kotor does today. Now is the moment.

Best time to visit: April to early June. Flights to Tivat or Podgorica, then an hour’s drive south.

3. Trenčín, Slovakia: European Capital of Culture 2026

Surprisingly few people know that Trenčín is the European Capital of Culture in 2026. And yet the small town in western Slovakia deserves a visit for several reasons: a dramatic castle towering above the Váh river, a well-preserved old town, an impressive cultural programme, and virtually no tourist crowds.

In spring, Trenčín is ideal for a long weekend. The town is compact enough to explore on foot but has enough depth to fill two or three days properly. The accommodation scene has improved significantly with the Capital of Culture status. There are now several very decent boutique hotels.

For a trip with real depth, I recommend combining Trenčín with a drive through the Váh valley. The landscape is stunning and the roads are almost empty in spring.

Best time to visit: May. Direct train connections from Vienna in around two hours.

4. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: history, warmth and the best coffee in Europe

Anyone who allows themselves to be drawn into Sarajevo immediately understands why this city is increasingly appearing on travellers’ radars, and why it is still far from being overrun.

The city carries its history with an openness that is genuinely moving. East and West, Ottoman heritage and Austro-Hungarian architecture, mosque and cathedral within sight of each other. Nowhere else in Europe is the coexistence of different cultures as physically tangible as here. And the Bosnian coffee in the small kafanas of the old town is, without question, the best coffee I have ever had.

In spring, when the snow melts on the surrounding mountains and the outdoor tables reopen, Sarajevo is an experience that stays with you long after you leave. For those staying more than one night: the day trip to Mostar via the spectacular mountain road is not optional.

Best time to visit: April to May. Budget flights available from many European cities; accommodation well below Western European prices.

5. Corsica, France: almost deserted in spring

In summer, Corsica is a different island entirely. Roads jammed, campsites overflowing, coves full of boats. In April and May, all of that is forgotten.

Then the island belongs to itself again. The maquis vegetation is in full bloom, the water is still cool but crystal clear, and the small coastal towns have recovered their unhurried pace. For me, Corsica is one of the few destinations in Europe that simultaneously offers wild nature, excellent regional cuisine, and a genuinely distinct identity.

My recommendation: skip the well-known coastal resorts and head inland. The villages of the interior, such as Corte and Sartène, are architectural gems and almost entirely tourist-free in spring.

Best time to visit: April to early June. Ferry from Nice or Marseille, or direct flights from several Swiss and German airports.

Why spring is the most honest travel season

In my work as a tourism expert I have learned that a destination reveals its true character not in high summer, when everything is polished to a shine and the tourist infrastructure runs at full capacity. It shows itself in spring, when not everything is stage-ready for the main event. Precisely for that reason it is more authentic, more genuine and, in most cases, considerably more hospitable.

Those who travel now travel smarter. And those who discover these five destinations before they appear on every bucket list will not regret it.

Do you have questions about any of these destinations, or would you like to contact Roger Hohl about a media enquiry or a consulting mandate? Get in touch now.