Lonely Planet has released its Best in Europe 2017 top 10 and Eastern Europe counts no less than 4 destinations on this prestigious list: Zagreb in Croatia, Northern Montenegro, Moldova, and Pafos in Cyprus.
Croatia’s Zagreb Leads the Top
Lonely Planet ranks Zagreb as the top 10 destination in its Best in Europe 2017 list, describing it as a flourishing inland capital, cosmopolitan and edgy, perfect for coffee addicts, featuring interesting street art, and affordable to visit. Lonely Planet’s Editorial Director Tom Hall explained the decision to rank Zagreb as the best to see in Europe in 2017:
For Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2017 we’ve compiled our hotlist of destinations across the continent to visit this summer, all offering something new, exciting or undiscovered that make them worth exploring right now. Zagreb tops our list because it ticks all of these boxes. Croatia is one of Europe’s hottest destinations right now but many people head straight to the coast, meaning they miss out on visiting a city that has a dynamic cultural offering, a thriving food and drink scene, and is now easier to reach than ever before.
Durmitor in Montenegro
Northern Montenegro on 4
The fourth position of Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2017 is occupied by Northern Montenegro, particularly interesting for off the beaten track adventures far from the crowds and for exquisite slow food:
Adventure hunters can raft through Europe’s deepest canyon at Tara, or cycle through lunar landscapes around the Durmitor ring. Foodies are catered for in highland towns where you can savor Montenegro’s growing slow food scene with mountain cheeses and hearty beef stews; while history buffs can take a pilgrimage to stunning monasteries etched into cliff faces at Ostrog or nestled in breathtaking valleys at Morača.
The Cricova cellars in Moldova.
Moldova, a Well-deserved 8th Position
We introduced the “secret cellars” of Moldova long before Lonely Planed decided to make a big deal out of them and happily Moldova is finally recognized as a must-see for this particular aspect of its attractions, and also for its monasteries. The prestigious travel guide publishing house also describes Moldova as little visited, lost in time and always surprising.
Petra tou Romiou, also known as Aphrodite’s Rock, in Pafos, Cyprus.
Pafos Ranks 9th Among the Top 10 Best in Europe 2017
Although Pafos is listed for the island of Aphrodite, for catacombs, temples, castles, medieval baths, Roman-era mosaics, and the Unesco World Heritage sites of Kato Pafos and the Tombs of the Kings, there’s a lot more to explore in this part of Cyprus. Cyprus is also the wedding island and there’s so much more to recommend Pafos as one of the top 10 Best in Europe 2017.