Emilia Romagna is best of Europe says Lonely planet
Holidaymakers booking their holidays for 2018 may be struggling to choose a destination this year that isn’t overrun with tourists – Lonely Planet suggests their top ten
Cities in Spain and Italy have struggled with mass tourism, with measures such as a cap on visitors and removing home letting services, banning Segway tours, restricting cruise ships, segregating visitors from locals, freezing tourism licences and charging eco taxes.
Venice, Madrid, Amsterdam, Florence and Berlin are just some of the few that have experienced the problems over recent years, resulting in tourism protests.
In answer to this, Lonely Planet has revealed a number of beautiful European destinations that holidaymakers should head to avoid over-tourism this year and discover somewhere new without the busy crowds.
Lonely Planet’s number one pick for holidays in 2018 is Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Is Emilia-Romagna the best place to eat in Italy? With a quartetto of culinary traditions originating here, the case is strong: ragù – not to be confused with the misnamed spaghetti bolognese – hails from the delectable capital, Bologna; prosciutto di Parma comes from, you guessed it, Parma; balsamic vinegar is the pride and joy of Modena (along with Osteria Francescana, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant crowned the second-best in the world in 2017); and parmigiano reggiano (Parmesan cheese) was also born in the region.
And the eastern part of Emilia Romagna – Romagna – is a real discovery with its own range of a dozen and more DOP and IGP less known delicacies such as piadina, squacquarone and superb Sangiovese and Albana wines. At one time tourists flocked to its beaches including hedonistic Rimini. Now the superb hilly hinterland with UNESCO world heritage sites in glorious scenery is just being discovered – where you’ll be welcomed like a long-lost friend.
Lonely Planet Best of Europe are:
- Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- Cantabria, Spain
- Friesland, the Netherlands
- Kosovo
- Provence, France
- Dundee, Scotland
- Small Cyclades, Greece
- Vilnius, Lithuania
- Vipava Valley, Slovenia
- Tirana, Albania
Valere Tjolle
Valere
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026