A traveller never stops. We are going through difficult times, but we need to clear our minds to better cope with these tough times. We have been confined for weeks in our homes, but for our own protection and that of our community. However, the question is how are we going to recover from the times when we were strong and fought against this outbreak together. What is the solution? Yes, it is to travel, to replenish ourselves and to take a moment to rejuvenate yourselves beneath the sun, smelling the nature, heading to unusual and surreal shores and landscapes. Today, we have listed some of the safest European destinations to travel amidst a pandemic. So, unwind and set off to these places.
Portugal has been one of the countries in Europe least affected by the epidemic and has managed to contain the infection through the early closure of schools and all government institutes. We have four places in Portugal that have been particularly unaffected by the virus and where no fatalities have occurred so far. And fortunately, these places are one of the best destinations in Portugal. Keep reading to find out more about these four places that are absolutely safe for travelling.
Madeira is a group of autonomous islands of Portugal located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Known for its spectacular scenery, dramatic mountains, picturesque towns and vibrant markets, Madeira islands have been listed as the safest to travel with only 279 cases so far and 0 fatalities. Madeira Islands are one of the places in Europe that enjoy sunshine for several months. In addition, Madeira has also been voted as the best Christmas destination in Europe and the most romantic European destinations. So set off for this exquisite island, far away from the turmoil that the world is currently experiencing.
Azores:
The Azores are the next group of archipelagos in Portugal. And these islands are Portugal's treasures. The island enjoys a subtropical climate throughout the year, making it very suitable for visits at any time of the year. Made up of tiny fishing villages, which is also one of the main economic activities of the islands, the island has pristine unspoiled lands and coasts that will leave you speechless. By far the best feature of the island is its hot water springs, which are soothing and rich in minerals. The island is also awarded the title of “Sustainable Touristic Destination”. Nonetheless, the number of cases of the virus recorded so far in the Azores is 296, which is exceptionally low. The Azores as well as Madeira have put in place appropriate measures to further contain the transmission of the virus. Visitors are tested before entering the islands and social distance is maintained during all activities.
Alentejo:
This region, located between Lisbon and Algarve, is an absolutely unexplored paradise. More importantly, Alentejo is almost free of COVID-19 with only 20 cases reported as recently as September. Alentejo borders Andalusia and Extremadura to the east. The region has 170 km of coastline and enjoys a lot of sunshine throughout the year. The gastronomy of this region is also worth exploring, and dishes such as açorda, which is a simple recipe for bread dipped in herb soup, are well worth trying. The numerous castles that can be found here are also worth exploring.
Algarve:
Our star destination in Villanovo! Although Algarve is a quite popular and densely populated region, it has maintained a fairly good rate of infection control. Since the pandemic began around this year and up to now, in the 10th month of the year, Algarve has recorded around 1900 cases, which is quite good in the overall average in Europe. This is why the health authorities are taking additional safety measures to reduce the number of cases and not to increase it further. So, head off to the beautiful Algarve and relax with your family and friends. Algarve, in particular, is an ideal surfing destination and is a great place to visit during the harsh winter months in Europe.
Just like Portugal, Greece is also another European country which is least affected by the virus. Greece is up to 50% less reporting cases from the average in Europe. We have 2 Greek islands for you which are almost free of the outbreak and perfect for you to travel and have a relaxing time.
This ancient island in the northern Ionian Sea has been attracting travellers not only from the recent times, but since antiquity. Armies have fought to take possession of the island's land and empires wanted to have this piece of paradise. Corfu is surrounded by lush green hills, some of the best beaches in Greece, coves and caves, stone-paved alleys, fascinating museums and much more. The island is also one of the safest so far to travel, as mentioned in the official tourism and travel websites.
Another seaside city in Greece famous for its Mediterranean ambience. Preveza is known to be one of the dreamlike cities with colourful alleys filled with cafes, bars and restaurants serving scrumptious Greek food in every corner and the gateway to the stunning island of Lefkada. This region has been reporting fewer and fewer cases every day. And the Monolithi beach which is the main beach in Preveza also the longest beach in Europe is 22 km long. So, you can head to the beach, find an isolated corner and chill without worrying about crowds.
Rijeka is the known as the gateway to Croatia and has been awarded as the Cultural Capital of European. It has also been awarded as the most preferred holiday destination in Europe many times. Rijeka is not only one of the safest places to travel in Europe but it is one of the currently safest places unaffected by the pandemic in general too. Rijeka is Croatia’s largest port city and is ornate with stunning architectures and monuments. Travel here to experience an unwinding vacation that you need to soothe yourself.
The capital of Croatia is equally safe to travel to right now. Being the capital city inevitably make sit more populous than the rest of the cities in Croatia but surprisingly, Zagreb has reported cases compared to other European capitals. Additionally, the recovery rate in Zagreb is over 90%. Croatia has a commendable healthcare system owing to which the country ha been extremely successful in maintaining a lower number of infections. Pack your bags and head to this colourful city of Zagreb and enjoy your holidays without stress.
