It’s hard to get off the beaten track. When you’ve got a limited amount of time and you know it could be years, if ever, before you’re back in the same country, it’s tempting to hit only the major spots. Who wants to miss out on anything? But visiting places that don’t get the tourist crowds can be one of the most rewarding parts of a trip. People seem to be friendlier. The cuisine is authentic. The prices are better.
The drawbacks? It’s possible there’s no one who speaks English. That authentic cuisine may be difficult to identify. There might not be a McDonald’s. If you’re alone, you might feel really alone.
But a day drip to a small, random village is a safe bet. You can always return at night, so you’ve got a safety net. And best of all, you can say you’ve been somewhere that possibly no one at home has ever heard of.
Fodor’s explores three such villages in Europe. But be warned: by the time you get there, they just might not be off the beaten track anymore.
Want more information on Europe? Check out our Europe destination guide.