Europe is home to some of the world's most popular holiday destinations, but that doesn't mean there's nothing new to see or explore. In fact, leaving tourist hotspots often means fleeing the crowds, and an opportunity to discover hidden gems that may not.
Cities like Barcelona, Venice and Lisbon are struggling with the growing impact of overtourism, so more tourists are trying to detour from busy cities, according to travel experts at Welcome Pickup. Airport transfer services explained a noticeable change in destination preferences that are slightly detoured from popular, often overcrowded destinations.
Portugal saw a record year of tourism last year. As more than 8 million tourists visit Lisbon alone, there have also been anti-tourism demonstrations this summer.
However, there is Óbidos, just an hour away from Lisbon. This is a little known destination with cute cobbled streets and whitewash homes that are worth adventure and create memorable detours.
Dimitris Floros, CCO at the welcome pickup, said: “These towns and small cities make travelers more authentic and slow paced to find in capitals that are plagued by local food, local characters and tourism.”
Originally a Roman settlement, Óbidos is one of Portugal's most well-preserved historic destinations, hosting a medieval fair every July, celebrating history with live music and horse-mounted halves.
Speaking of their visit, one TripAdvisor user said: “A wonderful location 80 km from Lisbon. With its beautiful painted home, this charming town is surrounded by fortified walls.
Not only does it put pressure from your destination on the detour, it can also be a more enjoyable experience for visitors who are trying to relax on their holidays.
Located just a 52-minute drive from Lisbon, Óbidos can be reached by flying directly to Lisbon and taking coaches or cars from the airport. According to welcome pickups, a one-way flight from London to Lisbon is £27 in August.
