No more tourist traps: how to find a region’s real treasures

Last Updated on 14 January 2026

Every region in Europe has its own special characteristics, from local delicacies and agricultural traditions to arts and crafts. But as a tourist, you can only discover these unique features if you are open to new places and encounters. If you hide away in an all-inclusive hotel, you’ll miss out. So go around, explore the city, and also explore the new Dragon Slots casino.

When you think of your favorite vacation destination, is it only the view that sticks in your memory? Or is it the smells, tastes, and encounters that linger: the scent of herbs on the alpine pastures, the taste of freshly baked bread, the rustling of leaves in the meadows? And the people who bring the region to life with their traditions? Regionality is not just a buzzword – it is the soul of a place, which can be felt when you travel with your eyes open.

Alpine pastures and vineyards: when traditions shape entire landscapes

In the Alps, alpine pastures are more than just huts: they are living landscapes. Cows and sheep keep the mountain meadows open, cultivate flowers and herbs, and prevent nature from becoming overgrown. Those who bring animals to the alpine pastures in summer protect biodiversity and preserve the characteristic image of the region. Each alpine pasture is a small, living microcosm: tradition and nature work together.

This idyll attracts many vacationers to the mountains. Many even have working in a mountain hut or alpine pasture on their bucket list. However, you have to be prepared for the simple life in the mountains and hard work.

Old traditional alpine pasture on a mountainside

Alpine pastures characterize the mountain landscape, combining tradition and nature conservation, and sometimes also offering local delicacies. It is not only in the Alps that people shape the landscape through tradition: in regions such as Vogelsberg in Hesse or the Bliesgau Biosphere Reserve (Saarland), orchards, mushroom and herb walks, and harvesting activities ensure biodiversity. Those who join in here become part of a cycle that connects landscape, culture, and regionality.

Winegrowing is also a tradition that has a lasting impact on the landscape. Whether on steep mountain slopes in South Tyrol or clayey soil in Croatia, the soil and landscape conditions shape the taste of the wine. On wine hikes, you can discover the landscape between the vines and learn to taste the differences between the growing regions.

How cuisine reflects the special characteristics of a region

You can taste regionality: those who rely on local ingredients and seasonal products also immerse themselves in the culture of a region. In Montafon in Vorarlberg, for example, alpine farming directly influences taste: meat and cheese from animals that graze on summer pastures are considered particularly aromatic. Vegan and vegetarian dishes made from farm-grown or regional products also tell stories of craftsmanship and tradition.

Farm shops and farm cafés are lively places of regionality almost everywhere. Whether homemade cakes, fresh bread from the farm’s own bakery, or seasonal jams and spreads – those who shop here not only experience the region culinarily, but also often get to know the people who produce the products with traditional knowledge and craftsmanship.

Craftsmanship as a traditional form of cultural expression

Regionality is also evident in craftsmanship. In Gmunden, Upper Austria, for example, ceramics production has shaped the region since 1492. The characteristic flame technique was developed in the 18th century. Typical patterns such as loops, slings, or waves tell stories of the landscape, the material, and the people who shape it.

Regionality is similarly evident in traditionally patterned tiles (“azulejos”) in Portugal, in English landscape gardens, and in many places at festivals and markets: tradition, landscape, and culture merge. Anyone who visits craft fairs, markets, or festivals understands how closely regionality is linked to the identity of a region—and how it brings people together.