Regardless of what popular tourist destinations like Barcelona and Paris are flooded with millions of visitors every year, travel trends are changing.

According to predictions, by 2030, more and more travelers will seek out lesser-known tourist destinations, away from the crowds. But why wait for the future when you can explore Europe's hidden treasures now?

British cruise company Riviera Travel decided to investigate these hidden places. They analyzed the data of Eurostat for 2023 and made a list of European destinations that are least visited by tourists.

At the top of the list of least visited countries is Luxembourg, with a total of 3,4 million overnight stays. For comparison, Spain recorded an impressive 484,9 million overnight stays in the same year.

Although it is often overshadowed by its larger neighbors, France, Germany, and Belgium, Luxemburg Offering a rich nature, ideal for hiking, exploring gorges and lush forests, as well as a charming capital full of history and cultural attractions, this small country is the perfect destination for those looking to escape the busy lifestyle and enjoy the peace of unspoiled nature.

The country's official motto, which reads "mir velle bleive vat mir sinn", translates to "we want to remain what we are", says a lot about Luxembourg itself. This very sentence is an indicator of the very turbulent past that this country has, but also of its desire to remain independent. Luxembourg is also known as an exceptionally safe country. In 2019, it even won the title of the safest country in the world, and there are only 2.800 police officers and three prisons in the entire country. It is also one of the richest in the world, or rather, at the very top. In addition, according to data from 2023, it is a country with highest minimum wage in the world. At that time it was 2.571 euros per month..

The second least visited destination is Latvia, a country in which tourists have achieved 4,3 million overnight stays in 2023, while Estonia is in third place with 6,3 million.While these numbers may seem extremely low, the Baltics have another advantage – accessibility. The entire region is known for its affordable prices, and many of its cities regularly appear on lists of the cheapest European destinations worth visiting.

In addition to Luxembourg, Latvia and Estonia, the list of least visited European destinations is rounded out by Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. According to the research, these European countries offer diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage and authentic experiences far from mass tourism. From the picturesque Slovenian lakes and Slovak castles to the untouched Bulgarian nature and the thermal springs of Hungary, each of these destinations hides stories that are worth experiencing first-hand at least once in your life, writes "Travel suitcase".