Much of the most essential Europe travel advice out there focuses on avoiding crowds, and for good reason: Being shoulder-to-shoulder with other visitors takes a lot of the fun out of visiting Europe. Fortunately, there are plenty of places that don’t get the huge tourist numbers like Venice and Barcelona do.

If you want to see parts of Europe that many visitors never make it to, plan a trip to the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, where you’ll find pristine forests, historic castles, and vibrant cities in equal measure. If the Baltics are too far away for you, consider Slovakia in Central Europe, which offers a similar low-key vibe without the crowds of the neighboring Czech Republic.