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Thethi, Albania
At the northern edge of Albania, in what locals call the Albanian Alps, a dirt road snakes between unforgiving peaks before finally arriving at the tiny remote village of Thethi. You’ll need to rent a 4×4 or hire a trekking guide to get here. This country, one of Europe’s last frontiers, spent 100 isolated years…
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Korcula, Korcula Island, Croatia
Just off the Dalmation Coast near Dubrovnik, the medieval walled city of Korcula hasn’t completely escaped the reaches of tourism—but Old Europe is certainly alive and well here. This traditional blue-collar shipbuilding and fishing town has deep roots in tradition. Korculans are skilled, respected seamen, and most of the island’s traditional songs are about them…
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Viscri, Transylvania, Romania
This traditional Saxon village in Transylvania is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns. Built and inhabited by Germans who immigrated here in the 1100s, Viscri was all but deserted in 1989 after communism collapsed and Germany’s foreign minister invited Eastern Europe’s German-speaking population to return to the homeland. Only a few families stayed behind in…
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Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway
In the frigid waters of the Norwegian Sea, far above the Arctic Circle, sits a tiny fishing village where hardy locals have weathered harsh conditions for generations, and refuse to leave. Summer in Reine (population: 300) brings the midnight sun, while winter heralds the return of abundant spawning cod stocks. Even today, you’ll see hundreds…
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Garfagnana, Tuscany, Italy
In a river valley hemmed by parallel mountain ranges (the Alpi Apuane and Apennines) this isolated region of northwest Tuscany feels cut off from the rest of the world. Cobblestoned pedestrian-only streets meander through many of Garfagnana’s small hilltop villages. Farmers and artisans, some of whom have never travelled farther than the next village, carry…
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Idanha-a-Velha, Portugal
This tiny hamlet of 150 residents at the remote eastern edge of Portugal may be the country’s most fascinating place that has hardly been written about. Once an important Roman City with its own garrison, Idanha-a-Velha (then called Egitanea) was home to 200,000 people in the first century. It was so prominent that it became…
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Aran Islands, Ireland
A 40-minute ferry ride from Rossaveel just outside Galway on Ireland’s west coast transports you to the Aran Islands, one of the last sanctuaries of traditional Irish life. Vast stretches of farmland, sectioned off by ancient stone walls and ruins of 3,000-year-old Bronze Age stone forts, are reminders of the islands’ rich history. Gaelic is…
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Canillas de Aceituno, Andalusia, Spain
A small, whitewashed village at the edge of Andalucia’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, Canillas de Aceituno was settled 3,000 years ago by the Phoenicians. The original settlers brought with them olive and grape cultivation, and today the majority of residents still make a meager living from these crops. It really is a trip back in…
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St. Sigmund-Praxmar, Valley of Sellrain, Austria
About a 30-minute drive from Innsbruck, the Valley of Sellrain is an unspoiled landscape dotted with mountain villages that have managed to preserve their authentic, rural character. Untouched by commercialism, clusters of traditional Tyrolean chalets are tucked between alpine meadows and rugged mountain slopes. In St. Sigmund-Praxmar (population: 170), there isn’t a single shop, bank,…
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Free Things To Do in London
Explore the eight Royal Parks in London, from pretty St James’s Park to the peaceful Bushy Park. Walk the Thames Path on the South Bank and see some of the major London landmarks: from the Houses of Parliament to Tower Bridge. You can also go beyond the city centre, up to Kew or Hampton Court…
About Author
Isabella Summers
Her experiences, insights, and tips for conscious travel, inspires others to explore the world responsibly and make a positive impact on the places they visit.
