A new study by Avis has revealed the top 10 European road trips for uncrowded scenery – and you can circumnavigate the No. 1 spot in just a few hours.
The smallest of the Canary Islands is a volcanic little curiosity, scattered with around 500 open craters, wind-battered juniper forests, natural sea pools and dramatic rock arches. Its roads climb towards spectacular viewpoints, then plunge back down towards the blazing-blue Atlantic. There are also, pleasingly, very few other people.
The petite speck of land – El Hierro – has been named Europe’s best secluded road trip in a new analysis by Avis revealing the top European island road trips. The study spotlights the top 10 destinations for quiet roads and incredible viewpoints, based on metrics such as tourist density, Google search volume and Instagram presence.
As Europe’s better-known islands groan under the weight of summer crowds, El Hierro proves there are still quiet corners of the continent beyond the usual suspects.
And the Spanish-owned island really is tiny. At just 268 square kilometres, you can drive around the entire island in around 3.5 hours – although with this much scenery, you’ll probably want to take your time.
Why visit El Hierro?
Explore the island’s volcanic sea arches. (Credit: Getty/ underworld111)
El Hierro is the southernmost and westernmost of the Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain located in the Atlantic Ocean off Africa’s northwest coast. A designated UNESCO Global Geopark, the island is home to more than 500 open craters and another 300 covered by lava flows, its dramatic geography sculpted by volcanic forces and the sea.
The island has three amphitheatre-shaped escarpments opening onto the ocean that give the landmass its characteristic three-edge pyramid shape. Viewpoints have been strategically placed to observe the El Golfo Valley, the arches of Las Playas and the archaeological site of El Julan. Twisted juniper trees, lush pine forests, natural stone arches and sea-carved pools dot the landscape, making El Hierro a unique road trip destination far from tourist crowds. It’s little wonder the under-the-radar jewel has been crowned the best secluded road trip in Europe.
How to get to El Hierro
El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands. Credit: (Getty/Tane Mahuta)
The easiest and most direct way to get to El Hierro is to take a short domestic flight from Spain’s Tenerife or Gran Canaria to El Hierro Airport (VDE) or catch a ferry to the port of La Estaca.
The 10 best secluded road trips in Europe
Beyond El Hierro, the new analysis by Avis showcases nine other quiet European destinations worthy of a scenic road trip.
El Hierro, Spain
Lesbos, Greece
Samos, Greece
La Gomera, Spain
Gotland, Sweden
Korčula, Croatia
Faroe Islands, Denmark
Brač, Croatia
Isle of Skye, Scotland
La Palma, Spain
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Eleanor Edström is International Traveller’s Associate Editor. El began her career writing for national magazines including Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel, and has since developed a soft spot for wild landscapes, thoughtful design and the human stories that bring them to life. She holds an honours degree in English and philosophy from the University of Sydney, and has lived abroad in both Switzerland and France – ostensibly to sharpen her French, though the pastries made a strong supporting case. One day, she hopes to swim with humpback whales off the coast of Mo'orea.
Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
