1 of 5 2 of 5 (This story is sponsored by Flight Centre ) What do Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, and La Sagrada Família have in common? They’re all popular tourist attractions—and therefore often crowded with people. While these monuments certainly deserve the attention, they aren’t the only reason to visit Europe. Exploring beyond capital cities and major hubs gives you a truer sense of a place, as well as deeper and more authentic travel experiences.
Take these destination dupes, for example. Handpicked by Flight Centre, they boast just as much character and charm as their mainstream counterparts. Lyon.
Instead of Paris...
Paris will be overflowing with travellers and sports enthusiasts during the 2024 Summer Olympics. Avoid the crowds by going to the famed wine region of Bordeaux or the gastronomic capital of Lyon. Instead of the Amalfi Coast.
.. The Amalfi Coast isn’t the only place to stay in seaside and clifftop towns.
Get a new perspective of Italy by taking in the views from the beaches of Ischia or the mountains of Taormina. York. Instead of London.
.. Approximately 30 million people visit London each year! Trade the hustle and bustle of the capital city for the quieter (but just as historic) streets of York and Cardiff.
Lindos on the island or Rhodes. Instead of Santorini..
. Santorini is home to iconic houses with blue-domed roofs, but that’s certainly not the only architecture worth photographing. Snap a pic of the whitewashed buildings in Naxos or Rhodes.
Va.
