Best undiscovered backpacker destinations in Europe?

Question

Who's done some backpacking and wants to recommend some off the beaten track places to visit? I will be going from August to December 2008. I'd really like to visit places that aren't really touristy (e.g. Paris), places that you kind of just stumble into and are pleasantly suprised. So let me know of anywhere you've discovered on your adventures!
Thanks! :)

Answer 1

I would like to recommend a tour around Lake Balaton in Hungary. Most of the tourists are gone by now, and quite frankly life slows down a bit. But the lake itself is wonderful! It is 77km long and it is surrounded by hills on the Northern side, where you can sample local wines. A little North from Lake Balaton is a 'mountain' called Bakony, where you can enjoy the autumn in its full swing.
If you want to can pop into a termal bath in Heviz, but generally anywhere you go on the Hungarian countryside is good!

Answer 2

I have been traveling in Europe for many years and I still stumble into nice places all the time.

Just take the train out of the big town and get out when you are in the country. That way it is a real surprice where you end up.
Or take a good guidebook and go for the smaller/smallest towns and villages.

I often use the Lonely Planet series, as they are detailed, helpfull, list many smaller places and how to get there.
You will need to buy their country guides rather than the ones covering several countries or half the continent. Or even a region guide.
You can find their guides by clicking on the map on this site:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/

I love can not give you one destination I liked better than any other, every time I try to make a list I think of all the other places I like too.
Even in a town like Paris, walking from one great sight to an other I managed to get of the beaten track. I have seen a wine yard on Mont Martre, timbre framed houses in the Marais, residental streets in the center of town and so on, just by wandering around.

Talk with locals, ask the French to recommend you a place in France, ask English people to send you to a town in England and so on.
Go to national parks and areas of outstanding beauty, as many of those host many lovely villages.
And travel the smaller towns in September-October, as in many of the smaller towns the hotels and sights close for winter and are booked out in August.
August would be a good month to go to Scandinavia or the Baltic republics.
November-December for the South of Europe, like Spain, Italy or Greece as the season is longer there, or for the bigger towns as every thing will be open year round in them but will be slightly cheaper as the year comes to an end.

Remember that the west is more expensive, east of Germany-Austria-Italy-Greece will be cheaper.
Scandinavia, the UK and the bigger towns are most expensive, but if you can afford it, worth going.

Traveling for such long periode, do not buy rail or bus passes, just buy tickets as you go, or fly if you want to cover long distances and can book well ahead.

Finally a list of places, just a few out of many I like:
Martin-Slovakia, Doolin- Ireland, Baltimore + Clear Island-Ireland, Arnhem-Netherlands, Kautenbach-Luxembourg, Andalsness-Norway, Oslo-Norway, Luzern-Switzerland.