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🏰 🍄‍🟫Go back to Europe: TRAVEL DUPES beyond the usual trails 🇸🇮🇧🇪🇲🇪

It's time to immerse yourself in some other European cities. From the green capital to a World Heritage Site, are you ready for this adventure?

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Plan V
October 06, 2025

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This guide takes you through four sustainably-minded European cities that embrace slow tourism, offer rich cultural experiences, and welcome travelers who want to tread lightly on the planet. These destinations reward those willing to venture beyond the familiar.

Now you can immerse yourself in places where English isn't the primary language, where cultural nuances require patience and curiosity, and where fewer tourists mean authentic interactions with locals.

🇸🇮 Ljubljana, Slovenia: Europe’s Green Capital

Ljubljana earned the European Green Capital award in 2016. The city has closed its historic center to cars, implemented a comprehensive zero-waste strategy, and achieved 68% waste recycling rates—among the highest in Europe.

Ljubljana is built on the site of the Roman city of Emona, founded in 15 BC. The archaeological remains found throughout the city portray the history of two millennia.

Although it is a classic, Ljubljana also blends medieval and modernist design. The Triple Bridge, designed by architect Jože Plečnik, is a true example of this. It was this construction that transformed the city in the 1930s.

🏰 Must Seen

  • Ljubljana Castle: A 12th-century fortress offering panoramic views of the entire city.

  • Metelkova Mesto: A former military barracks transformed into an autonomous cultural center covered in colorful street art.

  • Central Market: Designed by Plečnik, this riverside market operates daily with local produce and artisan goods.

  • Tivoli Park: Five square kilometers of walking trails, gardens, and contemporary art installations.

🥩 What to eat?

  • štruklji: rolled dumplings with various fillings.

  • Carniolan sausage: parboiled sausage made from high-quality pork, pork fat, garlic, salt, and pepper.

🍴 Where to eat?

  • Gostilna Šestica: for authentic Slovenian cuisine in a family-run setting.

  •  Čevabdžinica Sarajevo '84: Authentic Bosnian food, čevapčiči is their signature dish, but they offer more options.

The city stands out for its sustainable practices:

  • Free electric tourist train that runs through the pedestrianized historic center.

  • BicikeLJ: Public bike-sharing system with more than 600 bikes and 80 stations.

  • Composting program that serves 75% of households.

  • Eco-certified accommodations that meet strict environmental standards.

It is recommended to visit Slovenia during spring to take advantage of its festivals and avoid crowds, and during autumn.

🇧🇪 Ghent, Belgium: Medieval Sustainability

Bruges isn't the only city worth visiting in Belgium; Ghent is a rather hidden gem. The city introduced Thursdays Veggie Day in 2009, making it the first city worldwide to officially promote weekly plant-based eating. Ghent's mobility plan has reduced car traffic in the city center by 65% since 2017, and the Gent en Garde program ensures 80% of city events meet strict sustainability criteria.

The Castle of the Counts, built in 1180, remains one of Europe's best-preserved medieval fortresses. Few visitors know that the Ghent Altarpiece, housed in Saint Bavo's Cathedral, is considered the first major oil painting in art history—created by the Van Eyck brothers in 1432 and called The Mystic Lamb.

 🏰 Must Seen

  • Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts): Walk through torture chambers and climb ramparts for city views.

  • Saint Bavo's Cathedral: Home to the Ghent Altarpiece.

  • Graslei and Korenlei: Medieval guild houses lining the canal, stunning at golden hour.

  • STAM Ghent City Museum: Interactive exhibits spanning Ghent's 1,000-year history.

  • Patershol Quarter: Narrow cobblestone streets filled with independent boutiques and restaurants.

🫛 What to eat?

  • Waterzooi (creamy chicken or fish stew) is the city's signature dish—try it at De Graslei.

  • Komkommertijd offers exceptional plant-based interpretations of Belgian classics.

  • Cuberdons: one-shaped raspberry candies) from the vendors on Groentenmarkt square.

  • The Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market) has operated continuously since the 12th century, offering local produce, cheese, and flowers every Friday morning.

Some sustainable practices in Ghent:

  • Car-free city center.

  • Circular economy initiatives, including city-wide plastic reduction targets.

  • Urban agriculture projects with over 100 community gardens.

  • Climate-neutral public transportation by 2035 goal with electric bus fleet expansion.

Best time to visit: mid-April to early June or mid-September to October.

SPANISH SECTION:

¿Qué necesito para viajar a Reino Unido? Guía Actualizada

Si eres ciudadano mexicano y vas a territorio inglés con fines turísticos, de visita o para estancias menores a seis meses, no necesitas una visa; pero sí una autorización electrónica.

En esta guía te explico qué documentos son necesarios, dónde tramitarlos y cuáles son las nuevas normas a seguir.

Desde el 2 de abril de 2025, todos los ciudadanos que deseen entrar al Reino Unido y estén exentos de visa deberán tramitar un permiso ETA. Además de portar los documentos necesarios para su ingreso.

🇲🇪 Kotor, Montenegro: Where Mountains Meet the Adriatic

Kotor offers beauty without the high prices and crowds of Croatia. The Bay of Kotor is often considered Europe's southernmost fjord, although it's technically a submerged river canyon. Its breathtaking landscapes, with towering limestone cliffs plunging into turquoise waters, are a must-see on your trip to Europe.

Kotor's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves more than 2,000 years of history within its medieval walls.

The city prospered under Venetian rule from 1420 to 1797, which explains the Italian architectural influence. The fortifications stretch for 4.5 kilometers with walls up to 20 meters high. These were built between the 9th and 19th centuries. Kotor was a major maritime power, with ships reaching as far south as America in the 16th century, but few people remember this fact now.

🏰 Must Seen

  • San Giovanni Fortress: climb 1,350 steps to this place. From here, you have a unique view of the walled city.

  • Cathedral of Saint Tryphon: Romanesque church from 1166, housing religious artifacts and a treasury.

  • Maritime Museum: chronicles Kotor's seafaring history across 2,500 years.

  • Our Lady of the Rocks: artificial island with a 17th-century church (€1 boat ride from Perast, 15 minutes away).

  • Old Town labyrinth: wander car-free limestone streets, discovering hidden squares and churches.

🎣 What to eat?

  • Buzara: shellfish in white wine and garlic sauce.

  • Pršut: air-dried ham.

  • Njeguški sir: smoked cheese from nearby mountains.

🍴 Where to eat?

  • Galion: waterfront dining with fresh seafood.

  • Cesarica: serves traditional dishes in the Old Town.

  • Kotor Green Market operates daily with local produce, homemade cheese, and olive oil.

🍷 Extra:

  • Sample Montenegrin wine from the Plantaže winery—the Vranac grape varietal thrives in this region.

Some special sustainable practices:

  • Car-free Old Town preserves medieval character and reduces emissions.

  • Protected bay area with fishing quotas and marine conservation zones

  • Eco-certification program for accommodations and tour operators.

  • National park buffer zones limiting development around the Lovćen and Durmitor mountains.

Best time to visit: May to early June or September to mid-October. May features pleasant temperatures (18-24°C) and the Kotor Carnival, while September provides warm swimming conditions (22°C water temperature) without summer crowds.

See you next time,

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