He says that Puscica is a small village on the island Brac. “It feels like a lost town, far from the hustle of Bol, on the other side of the Island,” he said.
Carter says that the region of Istria has also been left largely undeveloped. He describes Rovinj as a “stunning town” on the Istrian Coast, with medieval pedestrianized roads, colorful buildings, and small cafes, bars, and restaurants perched directly over the sea.
Avoiding July and August will make for a more relaxing trip. “May to mid June is the best time to visit Croatia for less crowds, although swimming can be a little cooler.” Jan AcornVacation consultant at Gateway Destinations. “September is the best time to swim as it is still warm, but there are fewer people around because students have returned to school and European tourists have finished their summer holidays.”
1. Slovenia
Virtuoso claims that Slovenia will be the most popular destination in Europe for summer 2018. According to Virtuoso, sales of summer travel to Slovenia are up 473% year-over-year.
It’s not necessary to fight through the crowds just because it is popular to visit this small country that shares borders with Italy and Croatia. Plan your visit for late June or September. Matej Knific, founding partner at Luxury Slovenia. He said that “the weather is beautiful, but the tourist flows are lighter.” But “Slovenia makes a wonderful destination between April and Oktober.”
There are some lesser-known places that are well worth visiting, such as the Slovenian part of Istria. This area has historic towns as well as a culture and cuisine that is a mix of Slovenian, Croatian, and Italian. The Goriška Brda wine region, is also a hidden gem known as “Slovenia’s Tuscany,” according to Knific.
It is also known for its breathtaking nature. “I always recommend going into the Julian Alps outside of the lovely city of Ljubljana,” says Rachel MendizabalSenior travel expert at Scott Dunn. “In the Alps such as the Triglav National Park you can enjoy a wide range of alpine sports such as hiking and cycling, rafting, rafting canyoning etc., with plenty of room to escape the crowds.”
Although it seems that the country is becoming more popular, crowds still aren’t as bad in comparison to other European tourist hotspots. Knific notes that Slovenia is less crowded even during peak season than other European tourist hotspots like Venice, Paris or Dubrovnik. “Compared with those destinations, Slovenia has never been truly crowded.”
