As Europe’s top destinations get even busier, some of the world’s top travel experts have revealed the best hidden gems you should explore next. From Rome to Rhodes, Madrid to Madeira, Lisbon to Lanzarote – you don’t need a bookshelf full of Lonely Planet guidebooks to know where some of Europe’s most visited destinations are likely to be in 2025. Venice will be achingly beautiful but hideously busy, Santorini will be swarming with thousands of sweaty cruise ship passengers, and Tenerife might just have protesters pounding the streets again telling tourists to go home. So more and more of us will be looking for somewhere a little different for our summer holidays and weekend city breaks. Ideally somewhere that leaves your friends looking confused while you sport a wry grin, knowing that you’ve just been somewhere stunning that barely anybody else has heard of. Travel experts and influencers have helped the Daily Express build a list of some of Europe’s best hidden gems, which you may soon be tempted to check out.

To read recommendations from Mercedes Zach, a travel expert at ASAP Tickets, click here.