Discover 20 European hidden gems for curious gay travellers

Sail the seas of Portugal’s coast to find Ilha das Flores, within the Azores archipelago, a destination labelled as the Hawaii of the mid-Atlantic. Flores comes set with all the natural attractions you could ever wish for, including mud pots, caverns and crater lakes lined with peaceful hiking trails and white-water rivers leading to a paradise coastline where whale- and dolphin-watching is always on the schedule. Base yourself in the old town of Angra do Heroismo on Terceira for a sweet taste of island life and guava jam, moving on horseback or bicycle to the vineyards of Pico for richer fruits yet. To relax, the waterfalls and natural pools of Santa Cruz or the beaches of Lajes das Flores and Faja Grande can help you do just that in style, while adventurers can up the pace with paragliding, diving and canyoning. Fly in direct from Ponta Delgada on San Miguel Island, first touring the island by boat to get the best views of the Santa Cruz das Flores Arch and the flower-covered islet of Maria Vaz.

One third of Georgia’s population has the lucky fortune to call Tbilisi home, a hipster city hype with a techno baseline contrasted by a pretty Old Town where relaxing and drinking wine is the call of the day. Settled in the valley of the Mtatsminda Mountains, Tbilisi comes cooler and less frenetic than Georgia’s other cities. Sure, the Old Town with its winding lanes and ancient architecture can get busy but, uncovering alternative routes will soon lead you to leafy neighbourhoods redolent in village vibes. Stay at a lodging with a balcony overlooking the action, viewing mountains, lively squares and the 1,700-year-old Narikala Fortress foregrounding it all.

A Soviet nation for many years, Georgia still works to shrug off its austere past by investing heavily in its tourism industry. Visitors can benefit from the capital’s warm hospitality, finding cheap and excellent restaurants and the most underrated wine scene in the whole of Europe! What’s more is that Tbilisi lies just an hour from some amazing mountain destinations, including ski resorts and hiking trails to rival the Alps. Brittle in winter and scorching in summer, Georgia is best visited in the shoulder seasons of April to May or October to December when the weather is mild enough for both city slicking and mountain trekking.

Home of Lake Bohinj and countless other natural attractions, Slovenia really should be on everyone’s radar. Tucked away within the Julian Alps, Bohinj comes protected under the UNESCO biosphere reserve of Triglav National Park, one of Europe’s most beautiful parks hosting 1,600 species of plant and 7,000 species of animal. Awarded the EDEN prize for best sustainable tourism in Europe, Bohinj is a winner for ecotourism in view of pine-packed mountains, farming pastures and the centrepiece of Lake Bohinj. Stay in any of the smaller hamlets surrounding the lake, including Ukanc, Stara Fužina, Studor and Srednja Vas, or try the big boy of Bohinjska Bistrica, 6 kilometres east. As well as becoming a skiing paradise in winter, when the snow melts, Bohinj becomes the go-to destination for hiking, cycling and horse-riding, with various wellness resorts ready to ease your tired muscles. For more action meanwhile, stroll on down to the lake where kayaking and water sports take over the crystal waters.

Sheltered within the Bay of Naples, Procida Island lies as one of Italy’s best-kept secrets, enjoying far fewer crowds than its mainland counterpart. Nor is Procida the island you might expect, named as the country’s Capital of Culture 2022 thanks to its inviting local community of 10,000 residents all eager to share their island’s rich history dating back to 1400 BC. As well as producing some of the most famed Roman poets – Hello Virgil – Procida Island remains an artists’ enclave, inspiring the likes of contemporary author Elsa Morante and director Anthony Minghella who both set their stories here. Start your own narrative in the hotels near Marina Grande, Marina Corricella or Marina di Chiaiolella, strolling along traditional harbourside to meet pastel houses heavy with bougainvillaea before venturing to the island’s preferred beach, Lido de Procida.

With Holy Grail beaches, juicy tapas and lemons the size of your head, Spain needs no justification for sun-seeking travellers. Let’s give Madrid and Barcelona amiss and instead head to Spain’s Murcia region, known for its vineyards and historic cities. While the student city of Murcia will have you rapt with its centrepiece cathedral complex and religious heritage (made all the more fun with an atmospheric bar scene), the port city of Cartagena, along the 250-kilometre Costa Calida, is an alternative spot to get your fill of Murcian culture. A naval base dating back 3,000 years, Cartagena lies in sight of some of Spain’s most ruggedly beautiful geography, coves and beaches, with prized excavations and museums charting the Roman occupation in town. Though day trips from the coast can bring you in reach of wild mountains, rural fruit farms and all of the wine, to find the calmest waters, make sure to visit the land strip of La Manga de Mar Menor, a natural beach barrier fronting a seawater lagoon cut off from the choppy Mediterranean Sea.

Laid on hills once full of silver, the medieval city of Kutná Hore in the Czech Republic is next in our rundown of Europe hidden gems. If you like Gothic grandeur, Kutná Hora is the place for you, reachable within a day trip from Prague to find the former site of King Wenceslas II’s royal mint, established in 1308. Though the mines have long since dried up, there remains much in the way of grand architecture and historic intrigue, all within the UNESCO World Heritage town centre, where Pilsner comes tearjerkingly cheap. Walk the town’s cobblestone streets to find talking points such as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Sedlec, the spooky Church of Bones (Sedlecká Kostnice), as well as the impressive 12^th century Krumlov Castle, venturing into the fairy-tale woodland by bike once done with provincial town life.

Put on the map for its moreish olives, Kalamata remains relatively underappreciated as an international destination. Locals aren’t so foolish however and Kalamata has long been a region for domestic tourism without the hiked prices or crowds of resort islands such as Santorini and Mykonos. Instead, what you get from Kalamata is a chilled, unpretentious vibe best enjoyed to the max on a road trip around the Peloponnese peninsula. Stop off at Avia or Voidokilia bay to find the perfect pebbled beach spot, moving back into the cobbled old town to savour regional flavours and artisanal produce (including the famed olives, honey, lalagia and apples). Full to bursting with historic finds, the region also boasts the Theban ruins of Messini, complete with a huge amphitheatre, agora and standing columns, based on the hillside below the village of Mavromati. If the sun burns too hot however, the Archaeological Museum nearby can also help you step back 2,300 years into a time of Theban rule and Spartan conflict.

Another of the hidden gems of Europe lies now in Rijeka, Croatia, a port city en route to outlying islands just off the Kvarner Coast and Dalmatia. Rather than speed through, however, stick around to discover Rijeka and its unique Austro-Hungarian stylings with a diverse population centred on the seafront. Arts is one of the city’s strong points, with locals regularly making way for colourful parades and festivals which transform the historic streets. Of these events, Rijeka Carnival is one of the most vibrant, bringing live music and heightened nightlife across town. Having undergone a total facelift in recent years to become the European Capital of Culture 2020, Rijeka is no longer the concrete lump it once was. Travel down Korzo pedestrian street to see its trendiest side, taking in the restored 19th-century architecture and crumbling fortifications before boarding the old Hungarian railroads to easily access the beaches of Opatija and beyond.

A small slice of middle England replete with a majestic cathedral, castle and cobbled streets, Durham is easily one of the UK’s most underrated cities, beautiful enough for us to honorarily restore its European status! Though overshadowed by Oxford, Durham offers an equal number of quintessentially English affairs, with great transport links connecting all the best pubs and old-school tuck shops dotted about. The city also does well to cater to its student population with river water sports and wild nightlife, but for something a little more muted, spend the morning charting the history of England at the Beamish Museum or venture out into the hilly countryside for hiking and roaming Raby Castle, taking a cosy cream tea along the heritage coast even on the most blustery days. Or, try something a little closer to the capital with our 5 best day trips from London by train.

A tiny landlocked gem less than two hours’ drive southeast of Bologna, San Marino is the epitome of ‘hidden gems in Europe’ that many don’t even know exists! San Marino is a curious nation, having side-stepped Italian rule to become the world’s oldest sovereign state and oldest republic, established in 301AD. Rich as well as fascinating, the nation enjoys the world’s highest GDP per capita with the population split across just 61 kilometres, including Dogana, the largest town, and the more popular, UNESCO-listed capital, Città di San Merino. Based upon Mount Titano, San Merino City offers up its best Adriatic Coast views atop its fortress towers, Cesta Tower in particular, which also hosts a collection of old weapons. Back on the ground, San Marino wows with its hilly, staircase-ridden streets, best tackled in the early morning or outside of peak summer. Stay longer than just a day to witness the best sunsets and sunrises in the whole of Italy, not forgetting to add the regional Italian food capital of Emilia Romagna to your itinerary before heading onto Florence.

One for knowing nature lovers vacationing in Albania is Lake Komani. Reminding some visitors of Norway’s fjord lakes, Lake Komani lies in a valley of the Accursed Mountains and hosts some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes. It’s not just aesthetics however because the area can also keep you busy with its range of water sports, caving and trekking opportunities within the vast Valbona National Park or on neighbouring Lake Skadar. Though some prefer to base themselves in the lively city of Shkoder, with easier access to bars and restaurants, others may try the more off-grid approach, renting an eco guesthouse at the centre of the lake, which comes without electricity but with a good supply of local cheese, honey and liquor.

The political heart of the Neverlands, The Hague is less stuffy than that fact implies, as a big, cosmopolitan city on the North Sea coast with an array of sunny sights to see and experimental culture to get involved in. Travel around with ease on the city tram, first heading to heritage builds such as the stately Noordeinde Palace and arts institutions including Nederlands Dans Theater. More culture is easily had now that the Spuiplein precinct is nearing completion, an area with an exciting culinary scene close to the new party hotspot of Grote Market and the Paard, a popular live music venue. The sandy coastline and its cool beach bars are also never far away, allowing for a break after a heavy museum session at Humanity House and Mauritshaus.

Another medieval port town in the Italian region of Sicily, Cefalu is authenticity personified, combining tradition fishing lifestyles with Europe’s most prized Arab-Norman architecture. As well as picture-perfect plazas and its mosaic-covered cathedral, Cefalu comes surrounded by both mountains and beachfront, allowing for diverse getaways all in one place. Walk easily from the cobbled old centre to the lively fishing hub, taking in the smells of fresh catch and salty Mediterranean air to awaken your tastebuds. Once hungry, sample any of the cafés or restaurants lining the piazzas, venturing to Tempio de Diana for a post-lunch panorama to remember. Other attractions in the area include La Rocca mountain for its coastal vistas, as well as the main beach, most tranquil in the shoulder seasons.