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The list was created with travel forecasting company Globetrender and draws on information from local guides, tourism boards and Intrepid teams in 35 countries. Destinations had to receive fewer visitors than comparable places and possess enough infrastructure to accommodate growth. New flights, railway links, tourism projects and cultural events were also considered. The report is not a scientific ranking, but combines available data with local knowledge and editorial judgement. “If we want tourism to continue to be a force for good, we need to constantly rethink how and where we travel,” Intrepid’s general manager of experiences Erica Kritikides said.

Samburu National Reserve leads the list as a quieter alternative to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. It receives around 30,000 to 40,000 visitors annually, roughly one-tenth of the Maasai Mara’s total. Travellers can search for the “Samburu Special Five”, which include Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, beisa oryx and gerenuk. Community-led tourism also helps fund conservation and local services. Second-placed Mestia is a Georgian mountain town surrounded by the traditional villages and medieval defensive towers of UNESCO-listed Upper Svaneti. Improved access and tourism investment are positioning the area as a year-round base for hiking and skiing.

@mandy.hrr Underrated & Unforgettable: Why Samburu National Park Is Kenya’s Best-Kept Secret Far from the crowds, Samburu offers an exclusive safari with rare wildlife like the elegant gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, and Beisa oryx – the “Samburu Special Five.” Add elephants, leopards, and striking desert scenery, and you’ve got a truly wild adventure. #SamburuNationalPark #HiddenGemKenya #SafariSecrets #SpecialFive #UntamedAfrica #WildlifeWonder #BucketListTravel #SaveThisPost #AfricanAdventure #TravelInspo #Safari #Kenya #Kenyasafari #kenia ♬ sonido original – KiaraMarBalto

Jordan’s Northern Highlands occupy third place and show a greener side of a country usually associated with Petra and Wadi Rum. The region combines Roman remains, forest reserves and mountain paths. Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon follows in fourth place, with northern lights, hiking and winter activities among its attractions. A new Arctic tourism initiative is developing community-led cultural, wildlife and adventure experiences. Guided activities can also introduce visitors to the history and traditions of Yukon First Nations.

Alonnisos in Greece takes fifth place after welcoming about 70,000 visitors in 2024, compared with approximately 500,000 on nearby Skiathos. The island lies within Europe’s largest marine protected area, which provides an important habitat for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. Visitors can also explore the Peristera shipwreck, presented as Greece’s first underwater museum. Investments in recycling, desalination, renewable energy and biowaste management are intended to support more sustainable development.

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Dili in Timor-Leste occupies sixth place as new air connections make one of Southeast Asia’s least-visited countries easier to reach. The capital provides access to reefs, beaches and mountains, while its Tais Market showcases the country’s traditional woven cloth. Sri Lanka’s Pekoe Trail follows in seventh place. The 300-kilometre route has 22 stages crossing tea estates, forests and rural communities. Tourism spending can reach local guides, farmers, cafés, craftspeople and guesthouses along the way.

Liepāja, Latvia, is eighth and will host more than 500 events as a European Capital of Culture in 2027. Its Baltic beach, musical heritage and former military district offer reasons to travel beyond Riga. Chile’s Carretera Austral takes ninth place and runs for 1,240 kilometres through the fjords, glaciers and forests of northern Patagonia. Dalsland completes the list with lakes, forests, kayaking, cycling and wild camping. A direct Malmö–Oslo railway service introduced in 2026 has made the Swedish region easier to access. It received around 320,000 visitors in 2025, compared with almost 16 million for Stockholm.

@katiesaway Just came back from the most amazing weekend in Dalsland! We were gifted two nights stay at Nordic Refuge and spent the weekend hiking, swimming, cycling and just enjoying the Swedish summer! Here are all the places we visited: • Håverud and the aquaduct • Fröskogs Kyrka • Vandra i Ronjaland – hiking the trail to see where the film Ronja Röversdotter was shot • Not Quite • Sörknatten Naturreservat • Ärrsjön If you want our full itinerary you can find it on my blog (links in bio) #dalsland #sverige #visitsweden #sverigetiktok #resaisverige #dalsland #svensksommar ♬ Makeba – Jain

Promoting overlooked places can, however, raise fears that tourism pressure will simply be moved to a new destination. “The real test is whether tourism can grow without overwhelming local communities, ecosystems and infrastructure,” Globetrender founder Jenny Southan said. Previous editions have already brought greater attention to featured regions. Intrepid said its Pakistan bookings rose by 67% after Gilgit-Baltistan appeared on an earlier list, while bookings to Kyrgyzstan increased by 62%. The company has introduced five new itineraries connected to the 2027 selection, covering Kenya, Canada, Sri Lanka, Jordan and Georgia.

L’article Kenya’s Samburu leads Intrepid’s 10 ‘Not Hot’ destinations for 2027 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Two cities, complementary strengths

Kazakhstan has a distinctive advantage in this competition: two complementary centres. Almaty, its largest city and former capital, is the commercial, academic and cultural anchor; Astana, the national capital, adds national institutions, international finance and policy innovation. For international visitors, the contrast is equally clear: Almaty combines a major urban economy with mountain tourism and culture, while Astana has developed as a modern capital and a growing hub for international business and events.

Oxford Economics’ 2025 Global Cities Index offers one measure. Among 1,000 cities, Almaty ranked 258^th and Astana 276^th, the two highest positions in Central Asia, while Tashkent, the region’s largest city and a natural benchmark, ranked 471^st. Almaty also placed 64^th globally for human capital.

The economic base is substantial. In 2025, Almaty’s gross regional product reached KZT 36.2 trillion (about US$69.4 billion), while Astana’s was about US$37.6 billion. Together, they generated roughly 35% of Kazakhstan’s GDP. Tashkent, despite its larger population, generated about US$29 billion. Almaty and Tashkent both recorded real growth of 11.3%, meaning Almaty expanded at the same pace but from more than twice the economic base.

Astana is developing particularly quickly. Its population increased by more than 110,000, or 7%, in 2025, while 4.8 million square metres of housing were commissioned. The capital attracted around US$4.9 billion in fixed-capital investment, while gross foreign direct investment inflows reached US$4.1 billion, 2.6 times the previous year’s level. SMEs accounted for 65.9% of GRP, pointing to a broader private economy developing alongside the city’s role as an administrative centre.

Finance, talent and technology

Astana’s clearest institutional asset is the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Launched in 2018 under an independent common-law framework, it includes its own court, arbitration centre, regulator and exchange. In the March 2026 Global Financial Centres Index, Astana ranked 65^th globally and first in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

By mid-2026, the AIFC had more than 6,000 registered companies and reported US$26.3 billion mobilised since 2018. Almaty-based KASE adds domestic depth, with equity-market capitalisation of about US$76 billion at the end of 2025. This division of labour matters: Astana provides an internationally recognisable legal and regulatory gateway, while Almaty offers the deeper commercial market where capital can be deployed.

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Almaty’s strength rests on decades of international business activity and a highly service-oriented economy. Services accounted for 85.9% of GRP in 2025, while the city attracted US$8.58 billion in gross FDI inflows. Trade, transport, finance, technology and professional services have created the concentration of businesses and skilled workers required by companies looking for a regional base. Tourism is increasingly part of that service economy, strengthening Almaty’s position as both a place to do business and a destination in its own right.

Human capital reinforces that position. Kazakhstan has three universities in Astana and Almaty among the global top 400 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, while the country reported more than 35,000 international students in 2025. Foreign institutions have also established a growing presence, including Coventry University in Astana and De Montfort University in Almaty.

Digitalisation is another shared strength. Kazakhstan ranked 24^th among 193 countries in the UN’s 2024 E-Government Development Index, while Almaty ranked 27^th globally in the UN Local Online Service Index. Astana, meanwhile, is developing a Smart City platform with Presight AI, part of Abu Dhabi’s G42 group. More than 60,000 cameras are being integrated alongside AI-enabled video analytics and a digital twin, part of a shift towards city management based increasingly on real-time data.

From city life to mountain tourism

Tourism and culture provide another measure of the cities’ growing international profile. Kazakhstan recorded 15.7 million foreign visits in 2025 as tourism investment and accommodation capacity continued to grow. Almaty alone welcomed about 2.49 million tourists, including 754,000 international visitors.

Its location at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains gives Almaty an unusual combination of metropolitan life and immediate access to nature. Shymbulak ski resort, Medeu and mountain trails sit close to a city already recognised for its cultural and creative offer. For travellers, that creates the possibility of combining a major Central Asian city with skiing, hiking and mountain experiences. Its winter tourism profile will gain further international exposure when Almaty hosts the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

Astana has followed a different route. The capital hosted the World Nomad Games in 2024, bringing more than 2,800 athletes from 89 countries, and has become an increasingly important venue for international cultural, political and sporting events. Such events are helping broaden Astana’s identity beyond that of an administrative capital while generating international arrivals and showcasing Kazakhstan to new audiences. Together, the two cities allow Kazakhstan to offer very different urban experiences within the same destination.

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Two gateways to Central Asia

Connectivity reinforces the same two-city logic. In 2025, Almaty airport handled 11.93 million passengers and Astana 9.2 million. Together they served more than 21 million, compared with 9.96 million at Tashkent. Two major gateways support different commercial, government and tourism flows while reducing reliance on a single hub.

Kazakhstan is also expanding international routes as tourism grows. In June 2026, the European Union and Kazakhstan signed a Horizontal Aviation Agreement opening further opportunities for European airlines to operate between the two markets. Infrastructure is expanding accordingly. A second runway is planned at Astana International Airport, alongside new passenger and cargo facilities, while the capital’s 22.4-kilometre automated LRT links the airport, city centre and Nurly Zhol railway station. Almaty is also investing in its airport and metro infrastructure.

Central Asia will benefit as Tashkent, Bishkek, Dushanbe, Samarkand and other cities expand. Urban development need not produce a single winner. But scale becomes more powerful when supported by institutions, skills and connectivity.

On that measure, Astana and Almaty remain Central Asia’s leading urban pair. Almaty brings commercial scale, talent, finance, tourism, nature and cultural energy; Astana brings international financial infrastructure, state capacity, technological innovation and a growing international events profile. Together, they give Kazakhstan two specialised and increasingly connected centres for business and travel at the heart of Central Asia’s transformation.

L’article How Astana and Almaty are reshaping travel and business in Central Asia est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Visiting Spa means repeatedly coming back to water. It flows beneath the streets, emerges from springs in the surrounding forests, fills the pools of the Thermes de Spa, appears in treatments whose origins stretch back more than 150 years, and leaves the region by the bottle from Spa Monopole. It is impossible to separate the destination from its springs.

That heritage has international significance too. Since 2021, Spa has formed part of UNESCO’s Great Spa Towns of Europe, alongside ten other historic thermal destinations including Bath, Vichy, Baden-Baden and Montecatini Terme. Together, they represent the European spa culture that developed around natural mineral springs and flourished particularly between the early 18^th century and the 1930s.

But in Spa, this heritage is anything but frozen in time.

When Europe came to take the waters

Walking through the centre with local guide Johny Lejeune quickly reveals how profoundly the arrival of visitors seeking the benefits of Spa’s waters transformed what had once been a modest settlement.

The town experienced two particularly prosperous periods: the second half of the 18^th century and, later, the decades stretching from around 1870 until the First World War. Wealthy visitors arriving to “take the waters” became known locally as Bobelins. Aristocrats, monarchs, writers, composers and political figures came not only for treatments but also to socialise, promenade and be entertained.

Spa consequently accumulated an extraordinary collection of visitors over the centuries. Peter the Great, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Giacomo Meyerbeer and the Duke of Wellington are among the names connected with the town. Queen Marie-Henriette of Belgium developed an especially strong relationship with Spa, spending the final seven years of her life here. Her name survives today in perhaps the town’s most important thermal source.

The wealth brought by the Bobelins also produced an architecture intended as much for entertainment as for treatment. Spa’s gaming tradition dates to 1763 with the establishment of La Redoute, the predecessor of today’s Casino de Spa, regarded as the world’s oldest casino still in operation. The competition must have been intense: as Lejeune tells it, by 1787 disputes between Spa’s rival casinos had become so serious that the Prince-Bishop of Liège sent 200 soldiers and two cannons to restore order.

Nearby, the 130-metre Galerie Léopold provided fashionable visitors with a sheltered place to promenade, while the surrounding Parc de Sept Heures takes its name from the hour at which spa guests traditionally came out for their evening walk. Taking the waters was not simply a treatment. It was a social ritual, and water effectively created an entire urban lifestyle.

The waters beneath Spa

Leave Spa’s grand buildings behind, and the original reason for all this prosperity becomes much clearer. The wooded landscape surrounding the town is scattered with springs, or pouhons, whose waters vary considerably in mineral composition and taste.

At one of them, the presence of iron was immediately visible in the reddish deposits surrounding the water. And, naturally, I had to taste it. Slightly sparkling, intensely metallic and with an unmistakable iron aftertaste, it is certainly different from the Spa water most of us know from the familiar bottles on supermarket shelves.

That diversity is fundamental to Spa’s thermal system because different springs have different purposes. Three in particular are closely connected to today’s Thermes de Spa. The naturally carbonated, iron-rich Marie-Henriette spring is used for traditional treatments, including carbonated baths and peat treatments, while water from the Clémentine spring supplies the swimming pools and several balneotherapy treatments.

In Spa, water is therefore not simply a backdrop to the destination or a generic wellness ingredient. Each source has its own characteristics, history and use.

Pierrots hiding in plain sight

Water even appears in one of the most colourful symbols scattered around the city.

Spa Monopole dates back more than a century, and in 1923 a competition was organised to create a symbol for the company. The winning design was the Pierrot, a small figure attempting with both hands to hold back the stream of water bursting from a bottle. More than 100 years later, that same little character can still be found on Spa water labels.

I had barely noticed him before.

Once you know the story, however, the Pierrot suddenly seems to appear everywhere in Spa. Twelve larger Pierrots are scattered around the city, each decorated differently, bringing unexpected splashes of colour to the streets and creating a small discovery trail of their own. I came across several during my visit, each with its own personality.

It is a playful symbol, but an appropriate one. Even here, in the city’s public art, everything comes back to water.

A hotel with a direct line to wellness

Accommodation is naturally part of the experience of staying in Spa, and during my visit I stayed at the Van der Valk Hotel Spa, in the heart of the town and within walking distance of many of its main sights.

The hotel itself has recently undergone a significant transformation. According to Adrien Nys, Business Development Manager at Van der Valk Liège, the ground floor was completely redesigned ahead of its inauguration in April 2025, while a gradual renovation of the bathrooms is still underway.

Its most distinctive feature, however, is its connection with the Thermes de Spa. Although the hotel and the thermal complex are independently managed, a private funicular can be accessed directly from the hotel’s first floor, taking guests up the wooded hillside to the Thermes.

It changes the experience considerably. Rather than driving to the thermal complex and changing there, guests can get ready in their room, put on a bathrobe and head directly to the funicular. As Nys put it during our conversation, you can change “in your own oasis” before making your way up to the Thermes.

As the funicular climbs the wooded hillside, Spa gradually drops away beneath you. Within minutes, you have moved from the architecture and streets of the historic town to a contemporary thermal complex overlooking the valley. It is an extraordinary arrival and, rather than simply being a practical means of reaching the Thermes, the journey feels like part of the experience.

Opened in 2004, the Thermes de Spa sit high above the town, surrounded by greenery, rather than in the historic centre where the former thermal establishment once stood. Yet at the top, the connection with Spa below remains very tangible.

Christel Pire, Reception Manager at the Thermes de Spa, explained that the facility’s philosophy has changed considerably from the days when thermal treatments were more medicalised and could be reimbursed through Belgium’s social security system. Today, the emphasis is primarily on relaxation and wellbeing, while preserving several treatments directly linked to Spa’s thermal tradition.

The Thermes welcome around 170,000 visitors annually, according to Pire, of whom approximately 35,000 book treatments. The majority come for the thermoludic facilities: indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, hammams and relaxation areas. The pools, filled with water from the Clémentine spring and heated to around 33°C, extend outdoors, allowing visitors to float in warm spring water while looking across the surrounding landscape.

1868, still alive in a copper bath

Some of the most fascinating experiences at the Thermes are found away from the pools. In the treatment area, Spa’s past and present come remarkably close together.

The carbonated bath is perhaps the best example. Large copper bathtubs of the type used in Spa since the 19th century are filled with naturally carbonated and ferruginous water from the Marie-Henriette spring, heated to around 36°C. There are no mechanical jets. Instead, tiny naturally occurring bubbles settle over the skin as the body rests in the water.

Pire describes it as one of the Thermes’ traditional treatments, a direct continuation of practices once offered in the old thermal establishment. The water and the copper are not incidental details but part of the treatment itself.

Another survivor is the peat bath. Peat is mixed with carbonated, iron-rich Marie-Henriette water and heated to around 40°C. Unlike most of today’s offer, which is centred on relaxation, Pire says the peat bath retains a stronger therapeutic dimension, with regular clients returning for treatments aimed at relieving rheumatic and joint discomfort.

This is where Spa becomes more than another European wellness destination. Modern pools, relaxation rooms and massages coexist with practices that connect today’s visitor with the generations who travelled here to take the waters.

Spa water meets Sothys

That historical identity has not prevented the Thermes from embracing contemporary wellness. Its treatment institute combines the traditional water-based treatments with a broader beauty and massage offer developed with French professional skincare brand Sothys.

The partnership is particularly interesting because Spa’s own water has also found its way into the collaboration. The relationship between Sothys and the Thermes dates back more than two decades and has included the development of products incorporating water from the Marie-Henriette spring.

It is a good illustration of the balance Spa is trying to maintain. The destination does not need to choose between thermal heritage and contemporary wellness. The two can complement one another, with the springs providing the identity that distinguishes the offer from a wellness centre that could exist almost anywhere else.

Belgian water in Belgian hands

The same water story continues beyond tourism and wellness. Spa Monopole has been bottling water here for more than a century and today belongs to Spadel, a Belgian family-owned group.

That ownership has become increasingly distinctive in Belgium. Chaudfontaine, the country’s other internationally recognised mineral-water name, was acquired by Coca-Cola in 2003, while Spa has remained in Belgian hands through Spadel.

The group is also investing in the future of the site. Around €40 million is being invested in Spa Monopole between 2025 and 2027, including improvements to production lines and the plant’s environmental and energy performance.

There is something particularly striking about seeing how one resource operates at so many different levels. The same landscape that attracted aristocratic Bobelins centuries ago today sustains a major Belgian beverage company, a contemporary wellness destination and a tourism identity recognised around the world.

And that little Pierrot trying to contain the water escaping from his bottle suddenly makes a lot more sense.

Spa at the heart of Europe’s thermal future in 2027

Spa’s position within European thermal culture will come into focus again in June 2027, when the city is set to welcome a major joint event of the European Spas Association (ESPA) and the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA), bringing European thermal heritage and the health tourism sector to the Belgian destination.

The choice of Spa feels particularly appropriate. Across Europe, thermal destinations are increasingly looking towards prevention, wellbeing, healthier lifestyles and longevity while asking how centuries of therapeutic tradition can remain relevant to a new generation of travellers.

Spa has already been navigating that transition for decades. Its old thermal establishment has found a new life, while the modern Thermes have moved wellness onto the hillside without abandoning the springs and traditional treatments that made the destination famous in the first place.

Over two days in Spa, water seemed to be everywhere, but rarely in quite the same form. It was red with iron at a pouhonin the woods, naturally carbonated in a copper bath, warm beneath the open sky at the Thermes, represented by colourful Pierrots in the streets and bottled under a Belgian brand recognised far beyond the country’s borders.

More than two centuries after Europe’s Bobelins came here to take the waters, Spa continues to reinvent what that relationship with water can mean.

L’article The Belgian town where water became a way of life est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since its inauguration in 1826, the Waterloo battlefield and the Lion’s Mound have become some of the best-known destinations in Wallonia. The Mound alone attracts some 175,000 visitors annually.

As a prominent site of historical and symbolic value, the imposing Lion of Waterloo (which is located in Braine-l’Alleud) was the start of a larger project on the grounds of the battlefield, which also includes the historical Hougoumont Farm and the Memorial 1815, a modern underground museum featuring immersive exhibitions. Every year, a number of events and historical weekends bring the history of the grounds alive.

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In order to prepare the Lion’s Mound for its 200^th anniversary, the monument underwent a series of major restoration works between the end of 2025 and May 2026. The works involved repairs to the long staircase to the top, including its steps, balustrade, and handrail. Stone and cast-iron elements were refurbished, as well as the statue of the lion itself. The works cost the Belgian federal government some €650,000, with funding contributed by the National Lottery.

The reopening of the Lion of Waterloo on 22 May 2026 also kicked off a year of celebrations, honouring the Lion’s bicentenary. Several events have been and will be organised in order to put the special occasion in the spotlight it deserves. We selected some unmissable happenings.

Iconic Lion, a photo exhibition

Until 31 December 2026, the Waterloo Battlefield Estate hosts Iconic Lion, an extensive photographic exhibition dedicated to the Lion’s Mound. The first part features the work of two professional photographers, Samuel Bouchoms and Jean-François Schmitz, and is on display at the underground museum Memorial 1815. Outdoors, the photo exhibition takes visitors on a journey past some of the battlefield’s most iconic locations. The selection of shots on show was captured by the public and gathered through a social media contest.

A festive and family-friendly weekend

For the time of a weekend, on 15 and 16 August 2026, the Waterloo Battlefield Estate will be organising a series of family-friendly activities on and around the Lion’s Mound. The programme includes a bouncy castle, games, a climbing wall, and a giant zip line launched from the top of the Lion’s Mound. Visitors will get to enjoy historical activities with the 1815 reenactors, including rifle and cannon firing demonstrations, and tickets (ranging from €0 to €27 per person) include a concert by the band Mister Cover on the evening of 15 August.

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A show for the 200^th anniversary of the Lion’s Mound

On 12 September 2026, the Lion’s Mound’s bicentenary will be celebrated through a grand show, narrated by Patrick Weber. Through a combination of storytelling, historical scenes, projections, and spectacular staging, the events that shaped the iconic site since 1826 will be brought back to life. The event is accessible to all (tickets cost €26 per person), and the experience will be elevated by a musical performance by students from Musica Mundi.

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A little history

On 18 June 1815, a stretch of land located in what is now known as the towns of Braine-l’Alleud and Lasne (just south of Brussels) was the stage of a battle that went on to make history. On that day, the French Imperial Army under the command of Napoleon was met by two allied forces of the Seventh Coalition, led by the Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal Blücher.

The French were defeated; the Battle of Waterloo meant the end of Napoleon’s Hundred Days return from exile, and thereby the end of the Napoleonic Wars. A relative sense of peace came over Europe, but 40,000 men lost their lives on the battlefield, while many more were wounded. One of those men was the then Prince of Orange, William, the eldest son of King William I of the Netherlands. During the battle, the prince was hit in the shoulder by a musket ball and knocked from his horse as a result.

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In 1823, King William I decided to build a monument to commemorate the victory of the Seventh Coalition and to remember the fallen soldiers. For the design, he commissioned his architect, Charles Vander Straeten, who planned the project in such a way as to position it on the spot where the Prince of Orange got hurt.

Over the next three years, the monument took shape. Some 290.486 cubic meters of earth were taken from the battlefield to shape the 40-meter-high mound, a move criticised by many at the time as it undeniably altered the original outlook of the location, chosen precisely because of its rolling landscape. The hill was crowned by a triumphant cast-iron lion – looking towards defeated France – designed by sculptor Jean-Louis van Geel, while 226 steps completed the project.

For more information about Wallonia and to plan your trip, see VISITWallonia.com, the official tourism website for Belgium’s southern region, offering inspiration on destinations, attractions, accommodation, outdoor activities, cultural heritage and local gastronomy.

L’article Lion of Waterloo celebrates 200th anniversary with photo exhibition and grand show est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Step inside Bouillon’s medieval past

The best way to discover Bouillon is simply by wandering its historic streets. The town is wrapped almost entirely by the River Semois, with stone houses, cafes and bridges leading visitors towards the fortress that rises above the valley.

To begin exploring Bouillon, visitors can follow the town’s heritage walk, which passes more than 20 listed buildings and monuments. The route includes the former Convent of the Sépulcrines, now home to the Archeoscope, historic 17^th– and 18^th-century buildings, and the charming Brittany district at the foot of the castle. Along the way, visitors can also see remnants of Bouillon’s 17^th-century defensive walls, including three surviving bastions that once formed part of the town’s fortifications.

Towering above the town is Bouillon Castle, one of Belgium’s oldest and best-preserved medieval fortresses. Built on three rocky peaks overlooking the Semois, the site has guarded this strategic location for almost a thousand years. The earliest written mention of the castle dates back to 988, although historians believe fortifications may have existed even earlier, dating back to the Gallo-Roman era.

Bouillon Castle is deeply connected to the legacy of Godfrey of Bouillon. In 1096, he sold the fortress to the Prince-Bishop of Liège to help fund his participation as one of the leaders of the First Crusade. Following Godfrey’s death in Jerusalem in July 1100, his younger brother Baldwin took over his role and became the first officially crowned King of Jerusalem.

Over the centuries, the fortress changed hands several times before being extensively reinforced by the renowned military engineer Vauban during the reign of Louis XIV. His work created the impressive blend of medieval and early modern military architecture that can still be seen today. 

Inside, the castle is a maze of underground galleries, tunnels, staircases and defensive passages. Visitors can climb towers overlooking the Semois Valley, walk along fortified ramparts and descend into dark dungeons that reveal how the fortress was designed to withstand prolonged sieges. One of its most remarkable engineering features is a deep well, which reaches a depth of 165 metres — below the level of the River Semois — ensuring a continuous water supply for the fortress in the event of a siege. Nearby, a giant wooden wheel once allowed men to draw water from the depths by walking inside the mechanism. 

Among the castle’s highlights is the Primitive Room, one of its oldest surviving sections dating back to the 13^th century. The spacious Godfrey of Bouillon Room, once used as an indoor stable, now displays historical artefacts, while another section of the fortress hosts the permanent Scriptura exhibition, preserving inscriptions left by patients when the upper floor served as a military hospital in the 19^th century. Weapons from the 16^th century line several chambers, adding to the fortress’s immersive atmosphere.

During the visitor season, the castle also hosts falconry demonstrations, showcasing birds of prey against the backdrop of the medieval walls. Evening torchlight tours give visitors a different view of the fortress, guiding them through its historic spaces after dark with views of the town lights below.

Into the woods and waterways of Bouillon

Beyond its medieval heritage, Bouillon is equally appealing for those looking to experience the Ardennes through food and outdoor activities.

Regional specialities reflect both the surrounding countryside and Belgium’s rich culinary traditions. Visitors can sample Bouillonnaise beer, brewed locally, or try L’Oeillet du Château, a hard goat’s cheese traditionally matured in the castle’s cellars. Another local delicacy is Le Croisé, a biscuit reminiscent of speculoos but containing less sugar. Created in 1996 to mark the 900^th anniversary of the First Crusade, the biscuit bears the image of Godfrey of Bouillon and is sold in a decorative metal tin featuring Bouillon Castle. Fish lovers can also enjoy fresh Semois trout, a regional favourite caught in the river flowing through the town. 

Bouillon is also one of Wallonia’s leading destinations for hiking. Several marked trails begin directly in town, making it easy for visitors to combine sightseeing with nature. The 3.5-kilometre Promenade de la Sente aux Geais follows wooded paths and sections of a former tram route while offering panoramic views over the Semois and the historic centre.

For those seeking a more demanding journey, one of the best ways to discover Bouillon’s natural surroundings is the Walk by the Château de Bouillon, a 7 km hiking route that follows the River Semois while revealing new perspectives of the town’s medieval fortress along the way. Starting from the Poulies Bridge on Boulevard Vauban, the moderately challenging trail is marked with red rectangle signs and offers the perfect balance between nature and heritage. Along the way, hikers pass through peaceful natural surroundings and discover landmarks such as L’Abbaye Notre-Dame de Clairefontaine. As the path winds through the area, hikers can enjoy panoramic viewpoints of the castle dominating the skyline before returning to the town. Route descriptions, interactive maps and GPX files are also available for visitors wishing to explore the trail independently.

Cycling provides another way to explore the region. Bike rentals, including electric bikes, are widely available, allowing visitors to tackle the rolling Ardennes landscape with greater ease. One of the most popular excursions leads to the famous Tombeau du Géant (Giant’s Tomb), a spectacular viewpoint around 10 kilometres from Bouillon where the River Semois forms a dramatic loop around a wooded hill. More experienced cyclists can continue on longer circular routes passing Rochehaut, Frahan and even the nearby French border before returning to Bouillon. 

The River Semois itself also becomes part of the experience. During the warmer months, kayaking and pedal boating allow visitors to admire Bouillon from the water while drifting beneath the castle walls. Together with its hiking trails, cycling routes and local gastronomy, these activities make Bouillon far more than a historic stopover, offering travellers the chance to experience one of Belgium’s most scenic corners at a slower pace.

Where to stay in Bouillon

Bouillon offers a wide range of accommodation options, allowing visitors to choose between comfort, nature and outdoor experiences while exploring the Ardennes. Perched above Bouillon’s historic centre, Hotel Panorama offers sweeping views of the Semois Valley and the medieval fortress, making it one of the town’s finest vantage points to admire its main landmarks.

The hotel features comfortable rooms, many with panoramic views of the entire city, offering guests a peaceful retreat after a day of sightseeing or outdoor activities. Its elevated location combines tranquil surroundings with easy access to the town’s main attractions. 

As the sun sets over Bouillon, dinner at Hotel Panorama offers the perfect way to round off a day spent discovering the town’s heritage and landscapes. Served on the terrace overlooking the River Semois and the softly illuminated streets below, the restaurant blends regional hospitality with mesmerising views. The menu features a wide range of fine options, from seafood specialities such as shrimp starters and dorado mains to other carefully prepared dishes and delicate desserts, allowing guests to enjoy a relaxed dining experience surrounded by the Ardennes scenery.

In the morning, guests can start the day with a breakfast buffet featuring fresh breads, pastries, fruit, cheeses, cold cuts and hot drinks. The generous selection provides a pleasant start before setting out to discover Bouillon’s historic charm, scenic trails and natural beauty.

For travellers looking to stay closer to nature, campsites around Bouillon provide options for traditional camping, caravans and motorhomes. These outdoor stays allow visitors to enjoy the surrounding forests and rivers while remaining within easy reach of the town and its heritage sites.

Those seeking a more unusual experience can opt for glamping at Le Hameau de la Semois, where visitors can combine the atmosphere of outdoor living with additional comfort. Set in the Ardennes surroundings, the site offers an alternative way to experience the region while enjoying access to its hiking trails, landscapes and outdoor activities.

Beyond its castle and outdoor activities, Bouillon continues to celebrate its heritage through events that attract visitors throughout the year. The town’s Fête Médiévale de Bouillon, taking place on 8 and 9 August 2026, is one of its biggest annual highlights, welcoming around 50,000 visitors. During the event, Bouillon is transformed into a medieval setting, with residents and visitors dressing in period costumes and bringing the town’s history back to life through a range of activities.

The celebrations continue on 15 August with the annual Marche des Croisés (Crusaders’ Walk), organised by the walking club Les Sabots de Godefroy. Starting from Rochehaut, participants can choose from three mainly forested routes of 6 km, 12 km or 20 km.

In November, Bouillon hosts its Hunting Festival, another major event showcasing the traditions of the Ardennes region. The festival highlights the area’s long connection with hunting culture and brings together locals and visitors for a celebration centred around regional heritage. Together, these events add to Bouillon’s appeal as a destination where history, culture and local traditions remain an important part of the visitor experience.

L’article Why you should visit Bouillon: Belgium’s medieval gem in the Ardennes est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The district is known for its skyscrapers and office towers, as well as the world-famous Grande Arche, not so much as a tourist destination. Straddling Puteaux, Courbevoie and Nanterre in the Hauts-de-Seine department, the district sits at the western end of Paris’s historic axis, a mere 8 km and fifteen minutes by RER from the centre of the French capital.

La Défense’s historical significance and how it came to close a circle in French history that began in 1806 with Napoleon’s victory and the construction of the Arc de Triomphe at the opposite end of this same axis, escapes most of its visitors.

And who can blame them? Most are either business travellers or conference delegates, visible during the lengthy lunch hour at the Hilton restaurant or, at the end of the day, sipping cocktails at the rooftop bar of the Meliá, which, incidentally, offers a formidable panoramic view of the Paris tourists usually come for, namely, the Eiffel Tower rising above the trees, the Arc de Triomphe, Gehry’s Fondation Louis Vuitton, the Bois de Boulogne and, on a clear day, the Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre in the distance. Paris, from up there, is incredibly green.

Officially designated a site of “major architectural creation”, La Défense remains the only high-rise district in France and today counts around sixty skyscrapers. The tallest is The Link, which at 242 metres recently overtook Tour First to become the tallest building in France, and will soon house TotalEnergies’ new headquarters. Hekla, with its jagged, volcanic silhouette, is probably the most striking; and Tour Total is known for its “organ pipe” stack of polygonal volumes, catching the light differently through the day.

Unlike London’s business district, built at the city’s centre and known simply as “The City”, Paris’ rose on its outskirts and took its name from a statue.

Unveiled in 1883, La Défense de Paris by sculptor Louis-Ernest Barrias, chosen over proposals by Rodin and Bartholdi, commemorates the city’s resistance during the siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. The monument depicts Paris as a woman dressed in the uniform of the National Guard, leaning against a cannon, sword in one hand and flag in the other. At her feet, a wounded young soldier loads a final cartridge into his rifle, while behind her stands a young girl, cold and destitute, embodying the suffering of the civilian population during the long winter siege.

The name spread first to the roundabout, then to the whole district.

Had the French won, France’s business district might be called La Victoire today.

Walking the esplanade, past glass towers, it is hard to imagine the same place seventy years ago, when the area, still pockmarked from wartime bombing, consisted of bidonville-like shanties, workshops, small factories, and a handful of farms. For decades, the statue stood in its centre, in near isolation.

It would take a war, and its aftermath, to transform the area. Inspired by the United States, de Gaulle decided Paris needed its own business district, one that would help launch France back onto the world stage after years of occupation and destruction.

Construction began in 1958, when the state created the planning body EPAD and began clearing the neighbourhood. The district’s oldest structure, the CNIT, a gigantic triangular concrete shell, dates from that year.

From the offices of Cœur Défense, Europe’s largest office complex by floor space with some 160,000 square metres of office space across two 40-storey towers, a guide explained how EPAD went on to expropriate roughly 9,250 housing units and relocate more than 25,000 residents, in stages, between 1960 and 1971. The guide’s grandparents were among them, happily relocated to Drancy, she told us, though most went elsewhere, into transit housing and HLM blocks built locally in Nanterre and its neighbouring towns.

Today the district is delimited by the Seine on one side and the Grande Arche at the end, in a direct line facing the Arc de Triomphe. Johann Otto von Spreckelsen, the visionary architect who won the competition launched by François Mitterrand in 1982, wanted his Arche to be a monument to humanity, not to military triumph.

Between Napoleon’s celebration of victory in 1806 and Spreckelsen’s structure in 1989 lies almost two centuries of French history, passing through empire, defeat, occupation, liberation and reconstruction.

More than three decades after the Grande Arche opened, the results are hard to ignore, and France, it seems, has won its victory after all. Roughly 40% of its companies are French, the rest foreign, and it’s now said to be the fourth most attractive business district in the world, behind two in New York and one in Tokyo, and, as of the latest ranking, the top business district in Europe, having just overtaken London. The numbers are staggering: 180,000 people commute in daily to fill the towers, while only 20,000 actually live there.

Yet office towers alone do not make a city district, and Paris is now investing heavily in turning La Défense into a destination in its own right. Once the eyes get accustomed to the high-rises, one is struck by the abundance of major artworks dotting the place: not one or two but 70 of them, among them Agam’s Fountain, Calder’s Spider, and Raymond Moretti’s rainbow-striped Chimney, a 32-metre ventilation shaft wrapped in coloured fibreglass tubes that looks like a giant Paul Smith design. 

Even the benches are part of a public art initiative run by the district’s public body. No two of them alike, and they are scattered all along the Esplanade, offering a place to rest and stare at the surrounding architecture.

The last stretch of the esplanade is watched over by Daniel Buren’s La Ronde: sixteen ten-metre masts flying colourful windsocks, giving it an unmistakable beachy air.

Tucked away from all of it, are some of the most charming hidden gardens; 23% of the site is now green. Increasingly, the district’s future is being framed in terms of urban sustainability. Paris La Défense aims to halve greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030 and eventually become the world’s first post-carbon business district. New parks, cycling infrastructure and one of Europe’s largest pedestrian zones are all part of that ambition.

The shift is partly born of necessity. La Défense has survived the 1973 oil shock, which froze construction for years, the 2008 financial crisis, which hit especially hard in a district built on banks and trading floors, and Covid, which turned it into a ghost town and highlighted the risks of relying too heavily on office workers alone.

Since then, Paris has made little secret of its ambition to make the district more welcoming to visitors. The opening of the Paris La Défense Arena, Europe’s largest concert and event venue, has accelerated that transformation, bringing concerts, sporting events and entirely new crowds to an area once deserted after office hours.

It will remain a business district, but the ambition now is to have it both ways. Fifteen new restaurants opened here in the last year alone, proof of how quickly its character is evolving.

Le Collège de Paris, which opened a campus inside the Grande Arche in 2017 bringing together business, design and digital schools under one roof, is another sign of that evolution.

For travellers, the district’s functional design offers an unexpected perk. Because the offices empty out over weekends and holidays, La Défense quietly opens up to tourists. Its proximity to Paris, and excellent transport links, make it a smart choice for anyone who wants everything Paris offers without Paris prices. Hotels are reportedly around 30% cheaper than in the centre, a saving families in particular might appreciate, staying here and commuting into town each day. There’s also a direct train to Disneyland Paris.

Like a “mille-feuilles”, the district is built on three levels: the lowest for the métro, RER and underground transport; the middle for the highway and cars; and the upper platform, resting on both, entirely pedestrian. Walking from the Seine to the arena takes about 20 minutes for an able-bodied walker.

While La Défense may not justify an entire trip on its own, there are many reasons to spend a day here. Walk this axis end to end, and you’re really walking through three different ideas of what a monument owes its people: conquest, endurance, and, finally, humanity.

L’article Beyond the Eiffel Tower, a day in the other Paris est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

All along this meandering valley in western Germany, farmers are out in the June sunshine, clambering across slate embankments to inspect their beloved crops.

But times are changing in the Mittelmosel surrounding the postcard-pretty town of Cochem. The wine business isn’t what it used to be, and the much-needed tourism it feeds is facing steep challenges, too.

The first thing you notice is that visitors to the area are getting older and they’re more self-sufficient than ever before, staying in their comfortable RVs and cruising the river on their e-bikes.

The region is a “stronghold” for mature and senior visitors (typically aged 55+), though regional tourism strategies are successfully drawing younger “active travellers” (35-50), according to the Tourism and Marketing Office in Trier, a heritage-laden city downriver.

Local businesses are having to adapt to new realities. Hotels, restaurants, wine houses and zimmers have either found new niches to get the zippy bikers to stop in for a local treat, adjusted their opening times, or closed for good.

This is the reality of an increasingly competitive tourism sector here in Germany, but also in other European regions, as pointed out by the EU Tourism Platform.

For starters, wine-tasting weekends are less popular among younger generations who don’t drink as much as their parents, and don’t have spare cash even if they did. As “digital nomads,” they may even prefer to combine work and travel in far-flung destinations like Thailand. Low-cost airlines and better connections make it cheaper and easier too.

That’s a great shame because the Rhineland-Palatinate Holiday Region, as they like to call it, has so much to offer, and it’s only a few hours from major capitals. The pace of life is somehow different, as chilled as the crisp white wines produced here.

Powerful natural forces

A mother swan glides along the river’s edge with this year’s fluffy, grey brood in tow. Farm hands work their way along vine rows, trimming and tidying the already lush growth. In picking season, they will navigate the banks on cable-driven elevators.

It hasn’t always been so tranquil. Powerful natural forces have shaped the Rhenish Massif spanning western Germany, eastern Belgium, Luxembourg and northeastern France. This looping topography is responsible for the hyper-steep, south-facing slopes bathing this cool climate region in warming sunlight. Great for wine-growing, but the historically fast-flowing waterway has also been known to throw seasonal tantrums.

Thanks to huge engineering projects in the mid-20^th century – including a network of locks and barrages – the river has been mostly tamed into a more dependable transport lane. It’s not uncommon today to see cargo barges laden with industrial goods sharing the water with multi-deck cruise boats.

Yet, nature still has its way sometimes. A prolonged heat wave in 2022 nearly crippled shipping along the Mosel and Rhine rivers. Floods (Hochwasser) remain a scourge as well, with the most recent occurring last year. Esplanades, campsites and parking lots in several riverside towns like Zell and Cochem were hit hard. Climate change could make these events more common.

Two wheels, two banks on a loop

For those exploring by land, the bike lanes are smooth sailing for e-biking baby boomers. Paths flank both sides of the Mosel, making it a neat circuit. Cyclists can pedal down one bank, cross a bridge or small passenger ferry, and return up or down the opposite side. That means new sites and scenes at every turn.

Those with time and money to spare can quickly and safely navigate the river and surrounding terrain. What was once a punishing trek is now a gentle, assisted cruise. Couples clad in matching high-vis garb glide effortlessly past medieval backdrops, their panniers packed with picnics and wine.

The undisputed hub of the lower Mosel is Cochem, a bustling town dominated by the Reichsburg (Imperial) Castle, a fairy-tale fortress looming above the vines and timber-framed houses below. Visitors can explore Cochem’s winding alleyways, ride the Sesselbahn chairlift for a panorama of the river and surrounding peaks, or explore the Bundesbank Bunker – a once-secret underground vault that hid billions of Deutsche Marks during the Cold War.

Continuing south, cyclists encounter Beilstein, affectionately known as the “Sleeping Beauty of the Mosel”. Squeezed almost unnaturally between the vines and a bend in the river, this well-preserved medieval village is paternally watched over by the ruins of Metternich Castle. The town’s quirky architecture and cobbled passages have graced many films and holiday albums over the years.

Northern soul you can taste

Visitors love the atmosphere, but no trip to Beilstein or the region is complete without sampling some fresh Rieslings or floral Rivaners. This ‘tasting experience’ is rooted in the traditional Weinhäuser taverns and Straußwirtschaften – makeshift bars run by vintners within their own courtyards and cellars.

The wine culture and distinct flavour notes are a product of the valley’s unique geology, positioning and slatey soil that absorbs heat during the day and distributes it overnight. The end result is German wines with an unmistakable northern soul.

A signature stony minerality, a crisp taste described by those who know such things as “wet stones or rain on hot pavement”. Experts also wax on about “vibrant and sharp acidity” with some “bright and citrus” notes worthy of their warmer southern cousins.

Flammkuchen and other fare

Such distinct vinous profiles demand a culinary counterweight. The food culture of the Mosel Valley is unpretentious, hearty and designed to complement the acidity of the drier whites. Menus feature rich pork dishes, hotpots and locally sourced trout.

But the region’s go-to accompaniment is the traditional flammkuchen (tarte flambée). Originating in the Franco-German borderlands, this flatbread is traditionally topped with schmand (similar to crème fraiche) or scattered generously with smoked lardons (speck), finely sliced onions, and often seasoned with nutmeg.

Traditionally baked in wood-fired ovens for just a few minutes, the edges crisp up while the centre tends to remain soft. The salty, smokiness of this pizza-like tarte is a gastronomic foil to an off-dry Mosel wine.

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A Gen-Z story

Beneath the idyllic surface of this postcard-primed destination, a striking demographic and socio-economic story emerges. Look closely at the patrons stopping for a mid-afternoon tasting these days, and you can’t fail to notice a pattern. Where are the Gen-Zers?

Data confirms a widening behavioural gap. Today, only 18% of young people aged 18 to 31 drink German wine regularly, and fewer still (11%) opt for sparkling varieties or Sekt. For the 39% who do drink, according to a study quoted by the newspaper Die Rheinpfalz, wine is no longer their default; they prefer spirits and ready-to-drink options.

Other ‘drug affinity’ studies in Germany show that those born after 2000 who do enjoy a tipple are opting for organic wines or the increasingly popular category of ‘no or low’ alcohol alternatives neatly branded as ‘NoLo’.

This pattern replaces the traditional all-or-nothing drinking culture. The mindset of Gen-Z drinkers, according to industry observers like Verallia, is more focused on moderation, wellness and sophisticated socialising. Another trend driving NoLo growth, notes this glass bottle and packaging company, is “zebra striping” or alternating alcoholic beverages with NoLo drinks.

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Social and behavioural changes are only half the story. Cost-of-living concerns are a key factor as well. Higher real estate and mortgage costs, steep rent and persistent day-to-day inflationary pressures mean less disposable income across the board for weekend jollies on the Mosel. And premium bottles of wine are simply out of reach for younger consumers.

Competition is another factor. If a young traveller is going to spend limited savings on a holiday, a weekend getaway to the cooler climes of northwestern Europe has less appeal. Easy connections between European capitals and tropical destinations like Phuket and Krabi are a more exotic option for Gen-Zers.

To complicate matters, the German wine industry is battling its own fiscal demons. Rising energy and material costs for glass bottles and increases in the national minimum wage have squeezed profit margins at family-run estates.

While reports of some regions in France being paid to pull up vines to combat oversupply, Mosel vintners are instead facing a quiet crisis of attrition, struggling to pass increased production costs onto a price-sensitive domestic market.

Quiet crossroads

This shift is leaving its mark on local populations. Where tourism and the wine industry have long sustained quiet villages tucked between the vines and the water, that calm certitude is starting to fray.

It is late June – not quite peak summer, but certainly the cusp of the season – and yet many of the local businesses remain closed during the week. Some permanently. In Briedern, one hotel-restaurant seems to be bucking the trend. Business is steady, but staff are under no illusions. A local waitress laments that her establishment feels a bit like “the last man standing”, a winner-takes-all in a town trying to keep up.

While larger, castle-crowned destinations like Cochem and Beilstein still draw the daytime crowds, the smaller intermediate villages appear to be feeling the squeeze.

The vineyards of the Mosel are not about to disappear. Devoted farmers still nurture their crops, and the landscape remains as breathtaking as ever. But as the traditional wine-tourist demographic ages, the region faces a crossroads.

Planning your Mosel visit

Getting there and around

• By car: Distance from Brussels to Cochem is around 340 km or a 3.5-hour drive, depending on traffic.
• By public transport: Regular rail links via Eurostar or ICE trains from Brussels-Midi to Cologne (Köln) or Koblenz. From Koblenz, local regional trains (Moseltal-Bahn) run to Cochem station. The fastest combined routes take over 4 hours.
• Mosel river cruises: Local operators such as Gebrüder Kolb run daily schedules. Options include short panoramic loops from Cochem and scenic “lock cruises” through the Fankel barrage to Beilstein.

Historic sites

• Reichsburg Cochem (Imperial Castle): Open daily for the summer season. Interior visits are accessible via guided tours only.
• Burg Metternich (Beilstein): Through the town and up a steep stairway, the hillside ruins are open daily except Mondays.

Top-rated places to stay

(Based on Booking.com and TripAdvisor guest satisfaction reports, as of 15 June 2026)

In Cochem

• Hotel Villa Vie Cochem (Rating: 9.3/10): A boutique-style hotel located a short walk from the centre with river views.
• Hotel Altes Winzerhaus (Rating: 9.2/10): A family-run B&B sitting directly on the promenade with direct views of the Reichsburg.
• Hotel Villa Vinum Cochem (Rating: 9.1/10): Featuring natural stone architecture and timber-framed accents, the hotel has an upscale vibe.

In Beilstein

• Hotel Lipmann ‘Am Klosterberg’ (Rating: 9.3/10): Rustic and well-situated, overlooking the historic town squares and rolling vineyards.
• Hotel Restaurant Alte Stadtmauer (Rating: 9.2/10): Guests appreciate the hospitality and characterful setting integrated into the village’s old defences.
• Hotel Haus Burg Metternich (Rating: 8.6/10): Traditional charm and a gateway for exploring the castle trail and cobblestone lanes.

L’article Discovering Germany’s Mosel Valley: A journey through vineyards, castles and river villages est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Generally speaking, booking a holiday is no cheap affair. Transportation can cost a lot, meals can add up, and the average price of a holiday rental varies widely depending on where one chooses to go.

In order to identify where travellers are paying the highest premiums, where budget-conscious guests can still find strong value, and what the data reveals about the markets generating the strongest revenue opportunities for hosts, short-term rental data and analytics platform AirDNA has made a handy overview of Europe’s cheapest and most expensive countries for holiday rentals in 2026. Average daily rates, booking lead times, occupancy, and length-of-stay trends across Europe were taken into account to make the ranking as clear as possible.

Europe’s most expensive countries for holiday rentals in 2026:

1. Monaco (€417 per night on average)
2. Iceland (€213)
3. Andorra (€189)
4. Switzerland (€184)
5. United Kingdom (€176)

Rather unsurprisingly, Monaco proved to be the most expensive destination concerning holiday rentals in 2026, with travellers having to pay €417 per night on average. That price can partly be explained through the small amount of listings available – 269 to be precise – and by the fact that major events such as the Monaco Grand Prix tend to drive up the prices during a specific period of time. According to AirDNA, the average booking lead time amounts to 63 days, and the average reservation runs for 3.8 nights.

Although the top three most expensive countries are completed by Iceland and Andorra, their average prices fall far behind Monaco’s. Iceland has 6,900 available listings throughout the country, 2,500 of which are located in its capital, Reykjavik. Although its median lead time of 73 days is the highest in Europe, guests tend to only stay in one place for 2.6 days on average, preferring to travel between accommodations while exploring the country.

Wedged between France and Spain, the Pyrenean principality of Andorra was able to conquer the third spot in the ranking. Mountain getaways are the most popular option, with an average daily rate of €188.57 across 1,020 available listings, and an average length of stay is 3.9 days.

Europe’s cheapest countries for holiday rentals in 2026:

1. Ukraine (€37)
2. North Macedonia (€40)
3. Kosovo (€42)
4. Moldova (€45)
5. Serbia (€51)

“These regions consistently top ‘best value’ lists, making them prime spots for travellers looking to stretch their euros. With fewer crowds than major hotspots, you can explore medieval fortresses, UNESCO sites, and vibrant local customs on a modest budget — and find genuine STR availability without competing against the wave of inbound tourism that defines Western European peak seasons,” AirDNA writes.

At the other end of the list, AirDNA’s map mentions Ukraine as Europe’s cheapest country for holiday rentals in 2026. Given the ongoing war with Russia, however, North Macedonia is put forward as the platform’s best budget choice for 2026. Counting some 5,250 active listings, the country has a median lead time of 13 days, while guests spend approximately 4.4 nights on average in their holiday rental. Kosovo and Moldova follow closely, with travellers spending respectively 4.9 and 5.4 nights on average in the same place, turning them into some of the destinations with the longest stays in Europe.

L’article New study reveals Europe’s cheapest and most expensive countries for holiday rentals in 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Olomouc was designated as the official capital of Moravia by King John of Luxembourg in 1314, and back then it was the centre of religious and royal power. From 1642 to 1650, when Swedish armies conquered and devastated Olomouc during the Thirty Years’ War, the city lost its capital status, but the destruction ultimately paved the way for a remarkable architectural rebirth.

While preserving the medieval street layout, the city gradually developed a new visual identity, as impressive churches, palaces and civic buildings rose across the historic centre in a distinctive local interpretation of the Baroque style later known as “Olomouc Baroque.”

In the centuries that followed, city streets and squares were reshaped through religious, academic, and civic development, reflecting Moravia’s historical evolution. That legacy remains visible today, with UNESCO-listed landmarks forming part of an urban landscape. Here, travellers can trace history through the streets and explore centuries of architecture within a walkable centre. 

Arriving in the historic core, the sense of scale is immediately distinct, as the streets reveal a layered mix of Gothic, Renaissance and especially Baroque influences. 

One of the most prominent landmarks at the main square is the Holy Trinity Column, a monumental baroque structure recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Built in the early 18^th century, it stands not only as an artistic and religious statement but also as a symbol of civic pride and post-plague devotion. 

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The monument features three tiers. The top features the Holy Trinity, while lower levels depict archangels, saints associated with Jesus’ earthly life, and local Moravian patrons. Built over nearly four decades between 1716 and 1754, the Holy Trinity Column became both a masterpiece of local craftsmanship and a symbol of Moravian faith, gratitude and patriotism, as the citizens of Olomouc insisted on employing local artisans and honoured Czech identity through statues of Saint Wenceslas and Saint Adalbert.

From the square, a short walk leads toward Olomouc’s distinctive collection of Baroque fountains, another defining feature of the city’s historic identity. Created in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, this rare ensemble of six monumental fountains is adorned with elaborate stone sculptures depicting figures from classical mythology, including Neptune, Jupiter, Hercules, Mercury, Triton and the historical figure Julius Caesar.

The Caesar Fountain (Caesarova kašna) is closely tied to a long-standing local legend. Although Julius Caesar never visited Moravia, local elites and intellectual circles promoted the idea that the city traced its origins back to him, using this origin myth to elevate its prestige and shape the historic centre around the symbolic concept of a “Moravian Rome.”

Created by sculptor Jan Jiří Schauberger, the fountain features a striking depiction of Gaius Julius Caesar on a rearing horse. The dynamic composition draws inspiration from Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s equestrian statue of Emperor Constantine the Great in the Vatican. As the largest and most complex fountain in Olomouc, it presents Caesar prominently facing Michael’s Hill, traditionally associated with a supposed Roman camp.

Religious architecture is one of Olomouc’s key highlights. The silhouette of the Saint Wenceslas Cathedral stands among the city’s most prominent landmarks, with its soaring Neo-Gothic towers dominating the skyline. Originally founded in the 12^th century as a Romanesque basilica, the cathedral was extensively rebuilt in the Gothic style following a major fire in the 13^th century before acquiring its present Neo-Gothic appearance during a major reconstruction between 1883 and 1892, reflecting centuries of architectural evolution and Moravia’s enduring religious significance.

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Its southern tower rises to 100.65 metres, making it the tallest church tower in Moravia and the second tallest in the Czech Republic, while the cathedral itself is also remembered as the site linked to the assassination of King Wenceslas III in 1306.

Just a short walk from the Cathedral of St. Wenceslas, the Archbishop’s Palace houses its largest and most architecturally significant hall, known for its richly decorated interior. The space is distinguished by 18^th-century Baroque stucco ornamentation on the ceiling, designed by Josef Hladík, complemented by gilded detailing and a monumental portrait of Cardinal Rudolph Johann Habsburg.

The hall also carries notable historical associations, having hosted prominent European figures, including Empress Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz Joseph I and Pope John Paul II, reflecting the palace’s long-standing role in political and ecclesiastical life. Today, it continues to serve a public function, hosting classical music concerts, university graduation ceremonies and official city award events.

Walking through the old town, visitors encounter the astronomical clock on the town hall facade, a reminder of the city’s historical civic identity, which reflects a blend of craftsmanship and public storytelling tradition. Created in the 15^th century, the clock was heavily damaged during the Second World War and later rebuilt in the 1950s in the Socialist Realist style, making it one of the few astronomical clocks in Europe to feature workers, athletes and ordinary citizens instead of religious figures.

The surrounding town hall complex, with its Gothic origins and later modifications, reinforces the civic importance of the square as both an administrative centre and a public gathering point. Even today, it remains a venue for markets, celebrations and seasonal events, including local festivals.

The region is also known for its distinctive culinary tradition, most notably Olomoucké tvarůžky (Olomouc cheese), a strongly aromatic ripened cheese with deep local roots that is widely regarded as a regional specialty and cultural symbol of Moravia. It was surprising to learn that even McDonald’s offers a special burger featuring this cheese.

During an April visit, tourists can experience the Tvarůžky festival at Upper Square, a large open-air gathering where locals set up food stalls to celebrate Olomoucké tvarůžky cheese, which is featured across a range of dishes. On this day, the area is filled with locals, music and dancing, creating a lively public atmosphere.

Close to Olomouc, and conveniently located for travellers on the way to and from Prague, Bouzov Castle is another popular stop for exploring central Moravia. Rising above the surrounding forests, Bouzov Castle is one of the most picturesque medieval-style castles in the country, although its current romantic appearance largely comes from a later Neo-Gothic reconstruction. With its towers, drawbridges, and carefully restored interiors, it has long been associated with a fairytale atmosphere and is frequently used as a filming location for Czech fairy-tale films and historical productions, including Princess Jasnenka and the Flying Shoemaker.

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Bouzov Castle was built in the late 13^th century, with its earliest recorded owners linked to Moravian noble families. Its first recorded owners were the minor aristocratic Bůz of Bludovec family (from whom the castle derives its name), followed by other powerful Moravian dynasties like the Lords of Kunštát. Over the centuries, it changed hands several times and was extensively rebuilt in a Neo-Gothic style at the turn of the 19^th and 20^th centuries, giving it its current romantic, fairytale appearance.

A day in Olomouc does not attempt to compete with larger European capitals in scale or spectacle. Instead, it offers density of meaning, where architecture, history and culture are tightly intertwined. From its Baroque fountains and grand religious architecture to its civic squares and culinary traditions, the city reflects centuries of cultural, spiritual and political change in Czechia. For visitors looking to avoid the crowds, it also offers a quiet escape and a starting point for exploring the Moravian region and its surrounding areas.

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A brief history

Tirana grew from a small trading settlement into Albania’s capital by 1920 due to its central location. The city transformed from an Ottoman town into a capital with Italian-influenced architecture, but later endured a harsh communist dictatorship from 1944 to 1992.

Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha led a harsh, isolationist regime that built bunkers, transformed cityscapes with socialist style housing, and tore down religious buildings.

Today, though, this delightful capital has evolved into a vibrant, colourful European city.

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Communist past

No visit to Tirana is complete without dipping into a period of time that, one imagines, many Albanians may now prefer to consign to history: the communist era.

Having said that, relics from that period are scattered around the city and are now “must see” tourist spots.

These very much include Bunk’art, a communist era nuclear protection bunker which you could easily miss were it not for several large notice boards pointing you in its direction.

This really is a fascinating place to visit. You descend a few steps below ground to encounter several tunnels and rooms, now converted into a museum, art space and learning experience.

@damianos_gkinis Creepy, silent, underground. Bunk’Art #BunkArt #Tirana #VisitAlbania #CreepyPlaces #traveltiktok ♬ Creepy and simple horror background music(1070744) – howlingindicator

These contain sometimes rather harrowing photos and information about the country’s gruesome and recent past.

Located just a few steps from Skanderbeg Square, the city’s main public square, it is arguably at its best when telling the personal stories of those who experienced the worst extremes of communist doctrine.

Another must see attraction is the House of Leaves, a building just outside the city centre that was originally a humble maternity hospital.

It later became an interrogation centre and torture chamber under previous regimes and, again, retells the stories of ordinary Albanians who were sometimes cruelly treated by the feared secret police, known as the “Sigurimi”.

Woe betide anyone considered a “traitor” to the state.

The site also contains an impressive collection showing some of the intriguing ways the political leaders of the time spied on their own people, as well as foreigners.

It seems hardly any conversation escaped recording or monitoring, with listening devices inserted into all manner of objects, including broomsticks, ties and pipes.

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Skanderbeg Square

Think Brussels’ Grand Place but about six times the size and you get some idea of the scale of this huge public space in the centre of Tirana.

It was built by the Austrians in 1917 and is named after Skanderbeg, the 15th century Albanian military leader and national hero. He is also honoured with statues in other cities around the world, including Brussels. Skanderbeg died from malaria in 1468.

The square is surrounded by what can only be described as a highly eclectic mix of architecture, some dating from the communist era, and is a great starting point for any visit to the city.

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Coffee and George W. Bush

Don’t scoff. This city really is in love with both.

Walking around with a cup of coffee has become de rigueur in many places, but here it is deeply ingrained in the local culture as a vital social ritual and not just a caffeine boost.

Tirana is known for having one of the highest numbers of coffee shops per capita in the world. They really do seem to be on every corner. Cafés in Tirana serve as essential hubs for connection, business meetings and leisure.

With the fall of communism in the 1990s, cafés exploded as public social spaces, and you will see people sitting for long periods of time, putting the world to rights over a very often tiny cup of coffee.

This must also be one of the few places with its own dedicated coffee museum.

It is called Komiteti Kafe Museum and, again, is easily missed, not least because it also doubles as a café, albeit one of the most colourfully decorated you are likely to come across.

@eli_radu30 If you’re visiting Tirana, don’t miss Komiteti — Kafe Muzeum, a cafe that feels like stepping into Albania’s story. Every corner is filled with history, vintage decor, and the coziest atmosphere — perfect for a slow coffee moment or an evening drink. Komiteti Kafe Muzeum, Rruga Fatmir Haxhiu, Tirana #tirana #albania #komiteti #travelalbania #cafehopping ♬ original sound – 𝓙ᝰ.ᐟ

It is retro inspired and full of vintage memorabilia, which is worth seeing in itself. But, of course, you should also sample one of its many varieties of coffee and discover more about the country’s coffee culture.

Coffee we understand, but George W. Bush?

While perhaps not quite sharing the same level of obsession, the sometimes ridiculed former US president remains highly popular in Tirana.

This is primarily because he was the first sitting US president to visit the country, doing so in 2007, and for his active support of Albanian interests, particularly Kosovo’s independence and Albania’s NATO membership.

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President Bush received a “rock star” welcome in Tirana and the town of Fushë Krujë, where crowds chanted “Boosh-y”.

There is a major road named after Bush, along with a library just outside the city centre.

More broadly, Albania has long held a deep appreciation for the US, dating back to President Woodrow Wilson’s support for Albanian independence in 1919.

An unexpected link with Belgium

Aside from both sharing an affinity with the EU, you would not necessarily expect to find much connecting this Western Balkans state with Belgium.

But pay a visit to the city’s Catholic cathedral and you may meet one of its priests, who hails from Bruges.

Father Koen Van Kershauer is a Flemish born clergyman who has been in Tirana for some 30 years.

He told this site what brought him to the city, saying: “I was in Germany at the time but I heard about how the former communist regime persecuted and even killed priests and burned down churches.

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“It was just after the fall of communism in the early 1990s and I decided I wanted to come here to help. I did not realise I might stay this long but I am happy here.

“I am also happy to say that today all religions, whatever they are, co exist happily together in Albania. I guess that is the best one can do,” said the 83 year old.

“I have witnessed major improvements in how religion is perceived here and how all denominations are treated.”

The stained glass window to the left of the cathedral’s front door features Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa, who was of Albanian origin.

A statue of Mother Teresa can be found at the entrance of the cathedral, along with a very impressive huge montage made from seashells.

It is a modern looking building that does not resemble a traditional church, but it is well worth a visit.

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So, what else is there to see?

Another religious attraction is the Et’hem Bey Mosque in the city centre, built between 1791 and 1794 by Molla Bey. During the totalitarian rule of the Socialist People’s Republic of Albania, the mosque was closed.

It was later declared a historical monument and underwent restoration in the late 1960s and 1970s.

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On 18 January 1991, despite opposition from the communist authorities, some 10,000 people entered the mosque carrying flags. The event became a milestone in the rebirth of religious freedom in Albania.

The mosque’s frescoes depict trees, waterfalls and bridges.

Other attractions include the Pyramid of Tirana, originally the Enver Hoxha Museum named after the long time communist leader but now transformed into an art space, and the Grand Park of Tirana, ideal for a stroll around its lovely artificial lake.

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Albania and the EU

Earlier this month, the EU celebrated Schuman Day, regarded as the beginning of what would later become the European Union.

While the occasion may have gone largely unnoticed even in some founding member states, there was considerable fanfare in Tirana.

This includes a specially dedicated area in the city centre displaying the flags of all current EU member states alongside the dates they joined the Union.

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Albania, of course, is considered one of the leading frontrunners among Western Balkans countries to join the EU and is aiming to do so by 2030.

Unlike in some current member states, support for the EU is booming here, with public backing for membership said to exceed 90%.

A desire to raise living standards is among the reasons why many Albanians appear eager for their country to become the EU’s next member.

It is also worth noting that prices here remain very favourable, certainly when compared with countries such as Belgium, with a good meal and drink often costing up to 50% less.

L’article From bunkers to cafés: discovering the many faces of Tirana est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.