Travel expert Helana Jackson, a flight attendant turned influencer, recommends three specific detours in Europe to escape overtourism: Lake Molveno in Italy, Berchtesgaden in Germany, and Gosausee in Austria. These destinations offer scenic alternatives to crowded hotspots like the Dolomites, Salzburg, and Hallstatt, according to her advice shared with Metro.
Why Take a Detour?
Overtourism continues to overwhelm popular destinations, degrade environments, and price out residents, prompting experts to suggest venturing beyond city centers. Jackson, known for sharing hidden gems and adventurous locations, often hires a car after exploring a city to go off the beaten path.
'Unplanned stops are some of the best parts of a trip,' says Jackson. 'Not only does it help spread out tourism, but you end up finding places you'd never heard of, or didn't expect, and can sometimes discover your new favourite part of the world.'
Lake Molveno: A Detour from the Dolomites
On her most recent trip to the Dolomites, Jackson discovered Lake Molveno in Trentino, a province between Lake Garda and the Alps. 'It was our last day in the Dolomites, and we weren't flying from Milan until the evening, so I decided to see where we could go on the way to the airport,' she explains. The detour took her on a scenic drive instead of toll roads, and she was 'lost for words' upon arrival.
'It was so pretty everywhere you looked. There were lovely restaurants and buildings surrounding the lake, and people were on boats, swimming and paddleboarding,' she says. Visitors can relax on the pebbly shore or grassy lawns. For hikers, the 'lake loop' is a non-negotiable—an easy circular walk or cycle on designated paths. Alternatively, the Molveno-Pradel Cableway offers panoramic views from the Pradel Plateau.
Berchtesgaden: A Day Trip from Salzburg
Salzburg, Austria's popular city welcoming around three million tourists annually, is close to the German border, as Jackson discovered. 'When I checked Google Maps to search what was around, I didn't realise how close we were to the German border,' she says. She zoomed in on Berchtesgaden, a historic alpine town in Bavaria known for dramatic mountain scenery, Lake Königssee, and the Eagle's Nest—Adolf Hitler's former retreat, now a restaurant.
'Berchtesgaden is just a 30-minute drive from Salzburg, so I decided to take a day trip,' says Jackson. 'It was amazing, and the views were insane. My favourite part was Königssee Lake, a stunning emerald green lake surrounded by mountains.' Visitors can take a wooden boat to St. Bartholomä church, and the town itself is fairytale-like. 'We sat in a local cafe and looked at the old alpine buildings before hiking to a mountain hut for some food,' she adds. The wider area is the only alpine National Park, with over 260km of hiking trails.
Gosausee: A Natural Reserve Near Hallstatt
After exploring Hallstatt in Upper Austria, Jackson discovered Gosausee, a cluster of alpine lakes in the Salzkammergut region, about a 30-minute drive away. Parts of Salzkammergut hold UNESCO status for alpine scenery and salt-mining history dating back to prehistoric times. Jackson was greeted by crystal-clear turquoise water, 'apparently so clean it's safe to drink,' and views of the Dachstein glacier mountains. 'It has to be seen to be believed,' she says.
Gosausee is a nature reserve, perfect for swimming, paddleboarding, or renting boats in summer. The Gosaukammbahn cable car goes up to the Zwieselalm ski resort, a beautiful hiking area. A flat 2.7-mile trail around Vorderer Gosausee takes roughly an hour, while the Hinterer Gosausee walk features mountainous terrain and alpine huts.
For getting to the starting points, Ryanair offers flights from London Stansted to Salzburg for £20 on September 30, with a journey time of one hour and 55 minutes. For the Dolomites, Venice Marco Polo Airport is closest, with Ryanair flights from Stansted to Venice for £17 on the same date, taking two hours and five minutes. Seasonal express buses run from Venice airport to Cortina d'Ampezzo, costing around €15 (£13) one-way and taking roughly two and a half hours.
