Data has revealed which country in Europe receives the fewest tourists, with a fraction of visitors staying overnight compared to other countries nearby. Europe has a slew of tourist hotspots that attract visitors from around the globe. Cities like Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome are huge hubs of tourist activity, as are sunny destinations like the south of Spain, the rugged coast of Croatia, and the islands of Greece.
However, there are several underrated countries in Europe that you might not have considered visiting, even though they have plenty to offer tourists. Data has revealed which countries in Europe receive the fewest tourists. It is no surprise which country landed at number one on the list, considering the fact that it is the sixth-smallest country in the world and doesn’t even have its own airport. The country in Europe with the fewest overnight visitors is Liechtenstein.
An analysis of Eurostat data from Riviera Travel has revealed that Liechtenstein only gets 228,579 overnight stays from tourists per year. “The latest figures reveal Europe’s true hidden gems,” said Joanne Lynn, Head of European Travel Product at Riviera Travel.
“As overtourism concerns grow throughout the travel industry, particularly across Europe, travellers seek alternative destinations away from the crowds, where they can fully immerse themselves in their holidays without the bustle.”
Liechtenstein is a tiny country wedged between Switzerland and Austria. The German-speaking micro-state is nestled in the Alps and, therefore, has incredible mountain views, which have been praised by previous visitors.
Its population is incredibly small at just 40,000 people, so it truly is a tiny place wedged amongst some of Europe’s most famous tourist countries.
One travel blogger, Girl About the Globe, described Liechtenstein as a “hiker’s paradise” thanks to its stunning mountain trails.
“Liechtenstein has 400km of marked hiking trails, from valley walks through nature reserves to peak climbs of up to 2600 metres, and the Sareis chairlift at Malbun is an ideal starting point for the majority of the hikes,” she wrote.
Meanwhile, previous visitors to the tiny country have said some positive things about their time there. “An easy trip from Zurich, beautiful setting, and several interesting sights to see,” one person wrote.
Another said: “I was in Liechtenstein for a little while and that is the best cheese I’ve had in the world.” However, not everyone is impressed with what Liechtenstein has to offer.
One person commented: “Personally, when people ask about visiting there, I always tell them that if they want to go for the novelty of visiting Liechtenstein, they should go.
“But if they want to just have a beautiful day of sightseeing, there are other places around that area that have more to offer – especially if you don’t have a lot of time.”
Some of the top-rated attractions in Liechtenstein include Liechtenstein Centre, Vaduz Castle, Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Sareis Charlift and Burg Gutenberg. If you do not want to stay overnight in Liechtenstein, it can be seen as part of an easy day trip from Zurich.
While Liechtenstein was revealed to be the least-visited country in Europe, it was followed by North Macedonia in second place, then Luxembourg, Latvia, Montenegro, Estonia, Albania, Lithuania, Malta and Serbia.
