A relatively unknown Spanish town with coloured houses and a stunning beach has been crowned as Europe's most-beautiful and best-kept secret. Images of some of the best-known and most popular places in Europe can be found lining most British travel junkies' Instagram feeds - like the stacked tiny houses of Cinque Terre on the coast of Amalfi, or the vibrant streets of Burano iin Venice. One that is not on everyone's radar is Villajoyosa - which has earned itself the title of Europe's best hidden gem for 2024.
Like Amalfi, it contains brilliantly-painted facades and a picturesque beach. It's surprising that more travellers aren't aware of the small Spanish town, which is tucked away between Alicante and Benidorm . As well as earning the honour in Time Out, it has also topped the European Best Destinations' list of the best secret destinations for this year.
But Villajoyosa is not the only hidden treasure on the list. The second place spot was captured by Ares del Maestre, another Spanish town. In third place is the beautiful coastal village of Primošten in Croatia.
Bokodi, a floating Hungarian village, claimed the fourth spot. The tiny town 50 miles west of Budapest has been built on stilts originally erected in 1961. The decision was made after energy from a nearby power plant warmed the water of Bokodi Lake and stopped it from freezing.
Despite the plant closing in 2015, the destination is incredibly popular for photographers nowadays. Here is the list of the most-beautifu.