FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD...

The top 10 European destinations for blissful solitude... by travel insiders

- By Emily Wright

ROM Rome to Rhodes, Madrid to Madeira, you don't need to be a travel expert to know where Europe's most visited destinations of 2025 will be. Venice will be achingly beautiful but hideously busy, while Santorini will be swarming with sweaty cruise ship passengers. Tenerife, a go-to favourite for its sub-tropical climate, might just have protesters pounding the streets again telling tourists to go home.

But there are less-travelled routes that could lead to your dream destination and leave your friends and family in awe of your globe-trotting insight.

Not sure where to start, or how to sort the boutique from the bog standard? Here, the travel experts reveal where the smart holidaymakers are spending summer.

SÃO JORGE, AZORES, PORTUGAL

"The Azores is still considered an underrated destination, but there is a little bit of noise starting about how special the archipelago is," says Elaina Vieira, founder and CEO of the travel company, Mind Over Matter Travel, who has visited 35 countries in Europe.

"However, most people head to the largest island of São Miguel. Smaller islands like São Jorge get overlooked, despite having so much to offer."

With its dramatic clifftop views, the island is nicknamed "the viewpoint of the Azores" - with hiking, canyoning and quad biking among the activities to keep visitors busy.

São Jorge is also renowned for its cheese production and the local cheese factory offers tours. If there's not enough on the island to keep you busy for an entire week, it lies a short ferry ride away from two other incredible islands: Pico and Faial.

• How to get there: Fly from Luton to Ponta Delgada (PDL) with one stop at Faro with easyJet and Azores Airlines from £121 return, then take a ferry to the island (£8.90). One week with breakfast included at the Hotel Sao Jore Garden starts from £444; visitazores.com/en/the-azores/sao-jorge

SIGHNAGHI, GEORGIA