If you’re planning to visit some of Europe’s most popular sites this summer, get ready to join a long queue.
Last week, Brehat in Brittany became the latest short haul holiday destination to introduce tourism quotas in a bid to curb overcrowding. Between 8.30am and 2.30pm during week days, a maximum of 4,700 visitors is allowed.
The French island is part of a growing movement hoping to curtail the damaging effects of overtourism. In Venice, day-trippers must now pay a €5 entry fee, Florence has banned Airbnbs in the centre of the city, and last year Amsterdam hit back at nuisance party tourism with a ‘Stay Away’ campaign.
Of course, you could accept the new rules and join the throng. But with so many equally brilliant destinations to visit in Europe, why bother with the stress? Rather than follow the crowds, choose to go off-piste and discover some of the continent’s best kept secrets before everyone else cottons on.
Ditch Dubrovnik for Solta
Read more on Europe travel:
A combination of cruise ships and Game Of Thrones hysteria has turned Croatia’s Dubrovnik into a bit of a tourist trap during high season. If you’re searching for the stuff of Adriatic legends, head further up the coast to the island of Solta, a one-hour ferry ride from Split. One road connects eight sleepy villages, surrounded by olive groves, pine forests and vineyards. Stand-up paddleboard and snorkel in Necujam Bay, exploring ancient underwater ruins and a shipwreck.
Much Better Adventures offers a six-night Hike, Kayak And Snorkel A Hidden Croatian Island trip from £1,162pp (two sharing), excluding flights; muchbetteradventures.com.
Swap Brehat for island hopping in Guernsey and Sark
Northern France has always been an easy holiday option for British and Irish travellers, but a cluster of less crowded islands lie even closer to our shores. Sharing a similar climate to Brehat, Channel Island Guernsey also enjoys the same green, rugged coastline and relaxed pace of life. The cuisine is equally award-winning, with an array of gourmet products procured from the sea and soil. Stay in St Peter Port to wine, dine and visit historic landmarks, then take a ferry to Sark, where (like in Brehat) cars are banned.
Condor Breaks offers a three-night B&B stay at The Duke of Richmond, including…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…