Hidden gems: Six shining detour destinations not to miss
By Julian Hirst, Regional Director EMEA, Busbud
In 2025, there has been an increased interest in detour destinations, smaller destinations near major tourist spots, ideal for a day or weekend trip. Whether you want to explore ancient ruins, discover great culture, laze at a café, shop up a storm, or meander with only pleasure in mind, detour destinations are a brilliant way to go. Less crowded and expensive than established tourist hotspots, these cities and towns are a world of delight — and well under two hours from the nearest big metropolis via coach and train.
From incredible art to delectable chocolate, these European standouts are a joy to discover and a thrill to explore.
Bruges
Travel time from Brussels by bus: 1 hour 20 minutes
Ticket price: From £4
So romantic that it’s often described as a fairytale setting, Bruges is a wonderland of curving canals, cobbled streets and intricate Gothic architecture. Take a horse-drawn cart or boat or simply wander through this “Venice of the North” to explore medieval masterpieces lavished with stained glass, artistic marvels like Michaelangelo’s ‘Madonna and Child’, welcoming cafes, great stores and tranquil secret gardens.
It’s no surprise that the entire city has been declared a World Heritage site! Bruges’ food deserves an award too, with stellar chefs and temptations like artisanal beers, rich croquettes, amazing seafood and most famously, mussels with golden fries and piping-hot waffles.
The Hague
Travel time from Amsterdam by bus: 40 minutes
Ticket price: From £4
A political hub for nine centuries, the Hague combines official status as home to the Dutch parliament and two royal residences with an engaging waterfront mood. Culture abounds in its noble architecture and museums, most especially the opulent Mauritshuis palace where Vermeer’s luminous ‘Girl With The Pearl Earring’ hangs alongside Rembrandt and Rubens masterworks.
For eating, drinking and people-watching, the Grote Markt and Het Plein neighbourhoods buzz with cafes and restaurants. Shoppers can choose between street markets, trendy boutiques and designer stores. And for easy-going fun, the North Sea Coast just 15 minutes from the centre, features wide beaches, ocean-front eateries and a relaxed pier.
Turin
Travel time from Milan by bus: 1 hour 25 minutes
Ticket price: From £4
Elegant boulevards, Baroque grandeur, beautiful squares plus glorious food. Turin literally and metaphorically epitomises the Italian ideal of la dolce vita (the sweet life). Its museums alone are a thrill for any number of interests. At the ancient end, Museo Egizio houses one of the world’s greatest Egyptian collections. On the modern side, Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile is a must-see for car buffs, while the regal Palazzo Reale showcases glorious art in all its forms.
As famous for its markets as its glamorous sidewalks and boutiques, the city is a dream for antique collectors, fashion fans and bargain hunters. And, as the chocolate-covered cherry on top, Turin is so dedicated to its centuries-old chocolate tradition that it hosts a 10-day annual chocolate festival every November.
Salerno
Travel time from Naples by bus: 55 minutes
Ticket price: From £4
Accessible beaches, seaside restaurants, exquisite views and architecture, and the genuine atmosphere of a working port make Salerno a standout. The difference between Salerno and other, more visited spots on Italy’s Amalfi Coast? Salerno is more authentic, less touristy and better priced. This is not to say it lacks history, fun or flavour. Founded by the Romans in the second century BC, its attractions include the wonderfully preserved historical centre and Romanesque and Baroque Cathedral Salerno Cathedral with its panoramic city and ocean views.
Hungry after all the walking? Say per favore to the region’s seafood pasta, scialatielli, creamy sfogliatella pastries and, naturally, a glass of locally produced limoncello.
Coimbra
Travel time from Porto by bus: 1 hour 15 minutes
Ticket price: From £4
Riverfront Coimbra rates as one of Europe’s easiest-to-enjoy cities, starring all the appeal of a great cultural centre but none of the intensity of a major metropolis. Distinctive and charming, it’s rich in atmosphere, from the tiny shop and tascas (eateries) in the medieval old town to the historic University with its splendid Baroque library and 18th-century bell tower — all reached via meandering hillside lanes. The Cathedral of Coimbra dazzles with Romanesque design.
For scenic fresh air, wander along the Mondego River or visit Bussaco Palace and Forest for a regal experience followed by a nature walk. Come evening and Coimbra enchants with ‘Coimbra Fado’ — traditional folk music passionately performed in chapels, cafes, clubs and on the streets.
Tarragona
Travel time from Barcelona by bus: 1 hour 5 minutes
Ticket price: From £9
Cultured, cool and cosmopolitan, the port city of Tarragona is often overlooked in favour of the wildly popular Barcelona some 62 miles away. But that only makes it all the more worth visiting. On the itinerary in this vibrant spot: outstanding beaches, breath-taking vistas, spacious squares and historic jewels like the ruins from its time as the Roman colony of Tarraco. Visitors here are spoilt for choice, with attractions like the Amfiteatre Romà (a second-century arena), Necropolis, walled medieval Old Town and towering Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral. And Tarragona’s food is an attraction in itself — sensational tapas enticing Catalonian cuisine with all the appeal of coastal ingredients and great wine.