Slow tourism in Europe: discover a new way of travelling

When you think of travelling, your mind probably goes straight to images of a busy tourist beach, with young people drinking all day wearing funny hats and T-shirts, maybe a local guitar player in the corner playing the same tunes, without anyone really listening. That's precisely what slow tourism is not about. Slow travel isn't neither necessarily cheap nor necessarily pricey, it's not meant to be elitist, but it is not always low budget. And it should not be about going once in a lifetime on a trip you will remember for many years to come. It doesn't come with preconceptions and stereotypes. It is about exploring a whole new philosophy of travelling and making a habit of it. It is about going around the world discovering the "slow" side of it.

What is slow tourism?

Slow tourism is a growing trend that allows travellers to experience life at a local level by interacting with local people and immersing themselves in the culture of the place they are visiting. Put simply, some of us get bored with the idea of holidays packed with run-of-the-mill activities, hotels, and restaurants. We want to take our time and soak up the atmosphere in a place we have always wanted to visit. Or one we had never heard of before accidentally ending up there after taking a wrong turn. We want to go full Alice in Wonderland, minus the crazy monarch.

Slow tourism is not just about going on holiday: it’s about discovering a new way of travelling that gives you time to enjoy every moment and discover new things about yourself as well as your whereabouts. It's about appreciating the journey, rather than just the destination. It's about exploring your own personal interests and discovering new places that you never knew existed.

Why is it becoming increasingly popular?

Slow tourism has been around for decades but it’s only recently that it has become so popular among travellers, especially millennials who value experiences over material possessions. There are many reasons why people choose this type of travel, including:

The chance to explore new places and cultures,
A desire to match the “external” journey with an inner one,
The chance to meet locals who will share their knowledge about their country or city,
An opportunity to relax and unwind.

Why is Europe the perfect destination for slow tourism?

If you are planning your “slow” vacation, Europe is the place to start. And yes, we might not be entirely impartial here, but there's more to it than the fact that Europe happens to be The Aia's home.

Short distances that can be easily covered by train

Europe is home to some of the most beautiful train routes in the world. From scenic journeys through mountain ranges and valleys, to narrow-gauge railways that wind their way through picturesque villages and lush forests, there are endless possibilities for train travel in Europe.

Whether you want to explore France by train or take an epic journey from London to Istanbul via Paris, Rome or Athens, there's no better way to get around than by rail! This means you will be able to take in wildly different landscapes, cultures, and atmospheres, even if you do not have an exceedingly long time or unlimited budget.

Slow walk (or hike) through nature parks & national parks

Europe is home to some of the most beautiful nature parks and national parks in the world — so why not take advantage of it and choose an all-natural route that will take you through forests and canyons, along beaches and up mountains – often in the same day and without compromising the “slowness” of the whole experience.

Slow tourism is more sustainable than traditional mass tourism

The main idea behind slow travel is sustainability: rather than going from one country to another in just a few days, it encourages you to spend more time in one place, discover its culture and learn more about its history, reducing your carbon footprint into the bargain. That's why most slow travellers also pick sustainable accommodation and means of transportation, and shop locally rather than looking for mass-produced souvenirs or food franchises.

Slow tourism is about travelling with a conscience, but it's also about getting to know a place in a different way than you would if you were on a guided tour or just sightseeing on your own.

It doesn't mean that slow travellers don't move around: they do! But they prefer using public transport or renting bikes or cars instead of planes or buses. They also avoid staying in hotels if possible: instead, they look for accommodation which are run by locals (like B&Bs) or they rent rooms from private owners.

This type of tourism creates deeper and more intense human and cultural experiences.

This is the kind of vacation you might pick if you are not a fan of rushing from one place to another, and instead like spending time in one location, experiencing it fully, getting to know the people who live there, learning about their culture, history and cuisine enjoying nature with all its seasons; being immersed in local traditions, customs, and local folklore; enjoying authentic moments; having an intimate look at how people live their lives.

This type of tourism goes beyond what we are used to seeing on our Instagram feeds: picturesque landscapes, sunsets over mountain peaks or beautiful beaches – all kinds of pictures that give us a general idea (but not much more) about what a country looks like. Slow tourism shows us another side of things – it tells us stories about the real life of people who live in these places and invites us into their daily routines, their homes, kitchens, and workshops.

Slow tourism is to regular tourism what Slow Food is to fast food. Slow travel allows you to discover new things and give attention to small details. It makes you go back in time and experience another culture, not as a tourist but as a citizen of the world looking for intercultural exchange. As the name of the movement suggests, it's all about taking your time and doing less activities but doing them really well – so that you actually feel like part of the place you are visiting. There has been a surge in slow tourism across Europe and we are delighted to see it grow. As the movement expands, there will be even more opportunities available for those ready to take a break from their day-to-day life, and truly immerse themselves into whatever country they visit.