If you’ve ever wished you could flip a switch and slow down the world, you’re in luck.
“Old Europe” is alive and well in these 10 destinations, all steadfast holdouts of the simple, unhurried life.
Here’s where to find small villages, barely explored countries, and untouristed gems—the sorts of places where you’re likely to see more sheep than smartphones.
St. Sigmund-Praxmar, Valley of Sellrain, Austria
About a 30-minute drive from Innsbruck, the Valley of Sellrain is an unspoiled landscape dotted with mountain villages that have managed to preserve their authentic, rural character. Untouched by commercialism, clusters of traditional Tyrolean chalets are tucked between alpine meadows and rugged mountain slopes. In St. Sigmund-Praxmar (population: 170), there isn't a single shop, bank, or post office. The area is part of a "quiet zone" that for the last 30 years has been protected by the Austrian Alpine Club's strong sense of environmental awareness and motto: "Movement under your own steam." Here mountains are still climbed in the traditional way, without lifts or cable cars. Hikers can follow an extensive network of hut-to-hut trails; or ski and snowshoe pristine, undeveloped areas.
Canillas de Aceituno, Andalusia, Spain
A small, whitewashed village at the edge of Andalucia's Sierra Nevada mountain range, Canillas de Aceituno was settled 3,000 years ago by the Phoenicians. The original settlers brought with them olive and grape cultivation, and today the majority of residents still make a meager living from these crops. It really is a trip back in time—farming is mostly done by hand with mules pulling the plows, locals often have to pause as goats cross the road, and the local Andaluz dialect of Spanish is unintelligible even to many Spaniards. "Though the village is only about a 30-minute drive from the coast, many of the older inhabitants have still never been to the sea," says Alan Hazel, a local and owner of the Cortijo El Carligto villa. Wander the winding cobblestone streets and hidden alleyways to see Islamic-influenced arches and Moorish motifs from an earlier era. This is one of the villages on the Mudejar Route.
Aran Islands, Ireland
A 40-minute ferry ride from Rossaveel just outside Galway on Ireland's west coast transports you to the Aran Islands, one of the last sanctuaries of traditional Irish life. Vast stretches of farmland, sectioned off by ancient stone walls and ruins of 3,000-year-old Bronze Age stone forts, are reminders of the islands' rich history. Gaelic is still spoken here, and many residents get around by walking or cycling down the narrow grassy lanes. At the end of each day, fishermen on the two smaller islands return to isolated fishing villages in their traditional Curah boats with the day's catch. Lively pubs bring together this strong-knit community of islanders, who gather for nightly dancing and performances of traditional, unaccompanied Sean Nos songs.
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