If you’re looking for a new holiday destination, a little-known “hidden gem” in Europe could be the one for you.
We’ve all got our favourite places to jet off on holiday to. According to data from YouGov in 2024, the most popular travel destinations for Brits are mostly in Europe, with countries such as Spain, Greece, Italy, France, and Portugal topping the list.
These countries are often picked because they don’t take as long to travel to as countries in other continents, they’re often cheaper to visit than some other options, and they offer a sunny escape from the often miserable British weather.
But this year, Brits are being urged to try travelling to a different European country for their summer holidays. While places like Spain and France are excellent locations, they’re hugely popular and can be very busy during the peak months.
However, one travel expert on TikTok has found a “hidden gem” in Europe that most people don’t consider when planning their trips abroad – and it could soon become your new favourite place to visit.
Madeleine Montgomery, a travel content creator from the US, started her video by claiming that she was warned “never” to travel to one particular country because people told her that if she visited it once, she would never want to holiday anywhere else.
And after ignoring their advice and hopping on a plane, she can confidently say they were right – as she’s been back every summer for the past six years. The country in question? Croatia.
In a video warning other people about how appealing the country is, she said: “Be careful if you go to Croatia this summer. A lot of people warned me that this could happen, and I didn’t listen to them, and it turned out to be true.”
She went on to show the stunning blue water at a local beach, before highlighting that she feels “safe” walking alone at night as a woman, and said that not speaking the language isn’t a problem – although locals will appreciate the effort.
Madeline continued: “I love Italy and the south of France, but it just feels so big and overwhelming over there. Obviously, if you’re going to go to [popular Croatian destinations like] Split, Dubrovnik, or Hvar, it’s going to be super crowded, but if you go to some random little towns, it’s still so peaceful even in the height of summer.
“So you might be wondering why I warned you not to come here. There’s a woman I met who told me, if you come here once, you’re never going to be able to stop coming back. I didn’t believe her at the time, but it is six years later now. So if you love visiting new countries, this might ruin your travel plans.”
Commenters on her video who have been to Croatia themselves were also quick to describe how “gorgeous” the country’s landscape is. However, some locals expressed a dislike for the recent increase in tourists.
One person said: “My first trip to Europe was to Croatia in 2019, and I literally have gone back every year, going again this year.” Another added: “I spent a month there and LOVED it. My husband was working, and I went everywhere during the day alone. I felt so safe.”
Travel advice for Croatia
Croatia is part of the Schengen area, which is made up of 29 European countries that have common border rules. For UK residents, this means you must have a valid passport which has an issue date of less than 10 years before you arrive, and an expiry date at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
UK residents can travel to Croatia (or any other Schengen country) without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, provided that you are travelling as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings or cultural and sporting events, or for short-term studies or training.
You can get medically necessary state healthcare in Croatia if you have a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). However, the Gov.UK website recommends you also take out full travel insurance for your trip to ensure you are fully covered.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
