Hidden gem: the perfect European country for a winter vacation has been named

Croatia is considered one of the best options for a summer vacation - clean beaches, beautiful landscapes, incredible architecture, and a warm climate. Few people will choose this country as a destination for winter tourism. And that's a shame.

While well-known cities such as Dubrovnik and Split continue to attract crowds of beach lovers, there are also lesser-explored regions that offer unique charm and scenic beauty in winter. To discover these hidden gems, VIP Holiday Bookers experts conducted a detailed study.

The analysis took into account factors such as the size of the local population, popularity on social media, and overall tourist appeal.

The results have identified destinations that are not very popular among travelers but offer incredible local flavor and will be the best option for a winter vacation.

The first place was taken by the little-known fortress town of Motovun, located on a hilltop on the Istrian peninsula, 30 km from the Adriatic coast and surrounded by stunning vineyards and valleys. The Mirna River flows at the foot of the hill.

The city is a well-preserved example of medieval architecture with narrow cobblestone streets, stone buildings and a fortified city wall. The Old Town is a unique combination of Gothic and Renaissance styles.

The city gate has been the entrance to Motovun since ancient times. The central road leads to the market square, to the Church of St. Stephen.

An incredible authentic attraction is the staircase leading from the bottom of the hill to the main square.

Due to its hilltop location, the city offers stunning views of the surrounding Mirna Valley and the Istrian hill towns, which are especially beautiful in spring and autumn, when the landscape is filled with bright colors.

Nature lovers should explore the Motovun Forest, the only floodplain forest in the Mediterranean that has remained intact.

The area around Motovun is also known for its winemaking, especially the regional Teran wine. Here, as in France, there is a tradition of "truffle hunting" - trained dogs are used to search for these valuable mushrooms in the surrounding forests.

Tripadvisor users write that Motovun looks like the set of a historical movie.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA on Telegram and Viber channels to keep up with the latest developments.