Secretplaces Blog

Sicily – discovering the island’s most beautiful and authentic places to stay Tourism has changed a lot in recent years. With the rise of social media, many hidden gems – once known only to locals – have become popular destinations, often losing...

The weather and temperature were the main reasons why we chose Crete as a destination for our road trip in October. As our last trip had taken us to mostly undiscovered regions, such as the islands of Lefkada and Kythira, and the Mani Peninsula on...

Located on the beautiful island of Ortigia in Sicily, Italy, Syracuse, known as Siracusa in Italian, prides itself on a rich history that dates back over two millennia, making it one of the most captivating destinations in the world. Syracuse is a...

Schönbrunn Palace, St Stephen's Cathedral, the Opera, the Giant Ferris Wheel, the Danube Canal... Vienna is full of sights and unique places to discover. When exploring the many attractions of the Austrian capital, you will quickly find yours...

Roundtrip Peloponnese Part 2: Kythira island   After a great lunch at the Taverna Neraida in the village of Agios Nikolaos we drove down to Neapoli to catch the ferry to Kythira island. The ferry to Kythira takes a bit more than an hour an...

Roundtrip Peloponnese Part 1: Athens, Nafplio, Sparti and Monemvasia When planning your tour of the Peloponnese and Kythira Island, the decision to stay in Athens beforehand largely depends on your arrival time and whether you've already explore...

Roundtrip Peloponnese Part 3: Gythio, Skoutari and the Deep Mani   Gythio und Skoutari When driving down from Athens, Nafplio or Monemvasia to the Deep Mani, we recommend the route via Gythio or the Lower Mani. The main reason is that Gyt...

Lefkada is still somewhat of a secret island, having been spared the mass tourism of the other, more famous, Greek islands. It is also the only Greek island that can be reached by car as it is connected to the region of Epirus via a bridge. Bri...

We, the Secretplaces team, are based in Lisbon. As a guide to some of the most beautiful and authentic places to stay, we thought it is about time to share our local knowledge and favourite spots in Lisbon with you. True secret places that have no...

The stunning Amalfi Coast is on most travellers' bucket list for a reason. The views over the small Italian villages built into the cliffs with the crystal clear turquoise sea rolling onto the beaches or crashing onto the coast are like no other....

Anyone who lives in a noisy, congested big city knows that feeling for sure: On holiday, what we look for most is relaxation in untouched nature. We hike through green-covered mountains and valleys, observe native plant and animal species that we...

Just a few kilometres west of the world-famous town of Sintra with its crowds of tourists spending a sightseeing day away from Lisbon, you will find a beautiful and authentic landscape with picturesque villages, stunning beaches and magic rain for...

What makes a hotel a true Secret Place? A location in an unspoilt setting? A family atmosphere? A unique interior and decoration? Definitely. But last but not least, a special background story. One of our favourite hotels in Italy is the Bed &...

Porto You should definitely spend two days in Porto at the beginning or at the end of the round trip through Northern Portugal. This beautiful city, previously forgotten by visitors, has become one of the most popular travel destinations in Portu...

Green, greener, green hotels. Lately a special type of hotels has appeared in searches more and more often, but a lot of people don’t really know what this eco-friendly holiday option is all about. What is special about a green hotel, what i...

This is the fourth of a series of 4 posts about the little paradises we found during our recent trip along the coast of Southern Bahia in Brazil. The other three are Trancoso, the only one that is a bit more known, at least in Brazil, Caraí...

This is the third of a series of 4 posts about the little paradises we found during our recent trip along the coast of Southern Bahia in Brazil. The other three are Trancoso, the only one that is a bit more known (at least in Brazil), Caraí...

This is the second of a series of 4 posts about the little paradises we found during our recent trip along the coast of Southern Bahia in Brazil. Caraíva is one of our favourites. The other three are Trancoso, the only one that is a bit mor...

This is the first of a series of 4 posts about 4 little paradises we found during our recent trip along the coast of Southern Bahia in Brazil. Trancoso is the only one that is a bit more known, at least in Brazil. The other three (Caraíva,...

Up until a few years ago, you would be forgiven for not knowing much or anything at all about the Azores, a Paradisaical archipelago situated 800 miles from mainland Europe.  Fast forward and these luscious green islands in the middle of the...

  We adore Austria, and especially its capital. Vienna is a nonconformist aristocrat. It cherishes its glorious historical patrimony without repressing its constant desire for new horizons.This beautiful city is perfect for a visit any t...

Do you think mass tourism has conquered even the last remaining paradises of Europe? Not really. Those landscapes that make us look in awe at what nature can accomplish still exist. The area between the Sado estuary and the port city of Sines...