Europe’s most beautiful cities have a strong contender in the form of one underrated spot that has epic coastal views and yet doesn’t have tourist crowds like other hotspots
You’d be forgiven for thinking that a beautiful European city rivalling Santorini with whitewashed buildings and postcard-worthy sea views would also be crammed with tourists.
However there’s one breathtaking spot in Italy which offers just that, but it’s often overlooked by tourists who flock to hotspots such as Amalfi, Positano and Rome when it comes to Italian getaways.
Ostuni isn’t necessarily a hidden gem, but it’s not a classic spot for city breaks despite offering some incredible restaurants and hotels, charming beaches and a hilltop location that means you can get unrivalled views of those crystal-clear waters in the Mediterranean Sea.
Of course there’s more to Ostuni than just gorgeous views. The city is packed with antique shops, hidden eateries serving up that world-famous Italian cuisine, quirky shops and hotels to suit a wide array of budgets. It’s also a great base for exploring the rest of Puglia as it’s within driving distance of plenty of spots such as the likes of Valle d’Itria. (If you are going to drive, take note that the city’s historic centre has strict rules around which cars are allowed in, and often it’s not those available to tourists).
Ostuni boasts balmy weather all through summer, but you can enjoy temperatures of approximately 26C well into September if you do want to avoid peak holiday season crowds in the rest of the region.
As for the beaches, expect pebbled and rocky shores rather than pristine sandy beaches (although you can find a few such as Lido Onda Blu), but they all boast picture-perfect clear waters. Top-rated beaches on Tripadvisor including Spiaggia di Torre Pozzelle and Spiaggia Costa Merlata are popular with locals thanks to those unrivalled views.
The lack of overtourism has seen Ostuni named Europe’s ‘most peaceful’ destination, in a recent study conducted by the travel insiders at Omio. They analysed over 500 destinations to identify the top 100 least crowded spots, and then examined the likes of top-rated Tripadvisor attractions in each location. According to the data, Ostuni ranked as the best overseas destination in Europe. Nancy in France took the second spot, closely followed by the Greek island of Santorini.
The latter may come as a surprise considering this year has seen tourists needing to queue up to get to some of the best viewpoints, restaurants being crowded and prices being hiked up as peak holiday season hit. However, it’s worth noting that these are in concentrated areas on the island, such as the village of Oia. There is actually a quieter side to Santorini including hidden hot springs, and black sand beaches such as Mesa Pigadia and White Beach.
The island is also taking steps to combat the large numbers of tourists that come to its shores. This has included recently upping tourist fees for cruise passengers. Visitors who arrive on cruises between June to September face costs of €20 per night, which will need to be paid at the port.
Meanwhile on the mainland, tourists can expect to pay a tourist tax of €8.00 per night between April and October, or €2.00 per night outside of this peak season. This is compared to the previous charge of €0.50, making for a huge jump. The new charges have been brought in to reportedly help fund efforts against climate change, as well as improving infrastructure and disaster prevention.
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