The other Europe- off the beaten path, extreme and remote

Europe is one of the most favorite places to travel for many people in the world. London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Vienna- all these places are dreams for millions of tourists. Of course, undoubtedly you know that there are many other popular, less popular and almost unknown places in Europe. But are you sure you know how big is Europe and how many more interesting places exist somewhere on its surface? You will be surprised, unless you are good in geography, or live in some of those places. So, let’s make a journey to the off the beaten path boundaries of Europe, the so-called “Old Continent”.

Last updated: October 2026 — geographic definitions, access to Jan Mayen and Svalbard, current Arctic travel regulations, visa information, and the practical context of travel in Russia and Kazakhstan have been reviewed.

Let’s define Europe

If you think you know Europe well geographically, think again- its boundaries are among the most conventional and debated of all the continents. Europe and Asia are traditionally treated as separate continents, but physically they form one continuous landmass: Eurasia. For this reason, the Europe-Asia boundary is based largely on historical and cultural convention rather than on a complete natural separation.

Anyway, let’s talk only about this part of Eurasia, called Europe. Let’s dive into geography, and define its borders. Europe can be your favorite part of the world to travel, but do you know where it begins, and where it ends? There are several points of view, and depending on them, Europe has different shapes.

Mainland Europe

If we divide the Earth’s land into continents and islands, Mainland Europe would exclude places such as Britain, Ireland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Malta, Cyprus, Sicily, Sardinia, and many other islands. Its eastern boundary with Asia is conventional rather than universally fixed. One of the most widely used definitions follows the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, and then the Greater Caucasus watershed toward the Black Sea, although alternative definitions place parts of the Caucasus differently.

Let’s add the islands

From geographical and geological point of view, the continents don’t finish at their coastlines, but they still proceed underwater. In other words, some parts of the continents are just lower than the sea level and they are submerged. These underwater parts are called “continental shelf”. And there are many pieces of land, that rise from this shelf above the sea level. They are the continental islands. Thus, they belong to the continent, so, let’s add them to Europe.

Now, in this way, Britain, Ireland, Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, and many other islands are natural parts of Europe. But the shelf also finishes somewhere underwater, and the bottom of the ocean suddenly drops deep below the surface. There are still other islands located further, but they are completely separated from the continent and its shelf. Among them, we can see Iceland, and the Azores. They are located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which doesn’t belong to any continent. Other islands like Madeira and Canary are not on this ridge, but still separated from the shelf of Europe- in fact, they are closer to Africa. Then, the only thing that makes all these separated islands „European” is the politics.

The connection with Asia

It is not clearly defined even until today. But in general, it passes on the watershed of Ural Mountains, then on Ural River and the Caspian Sea. From there it passes on the watershed of Caucasus to Black Sea. But again- although this line follows natural things like watersheds and rivers, it is more cultural, than natural. As a result, there are several „trans-continental” countries, divided into European and Asian parts: Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and even the Central Asian country Kazakhstan- yes, this country also has its small European part.

Europe’s most off the beaten path places

So, let’s accept the „largest version” of Europe- including not only the mainland and the islands belonging to its shelf, but also some other islands which are completely separate from the continent, but culturally and politically belong to Europe. Then, let’s look at the map. What places are we looking for? The popular destinations are everywhere in Europe and can be found in most of the countries. Even the not so popular places in the middle of the continent- „hidden gem” villages, lakes, valleys, caves, are still too „European”. But we are looking for something more different, something that is in Europe, but doesn’t look „European”, and at the same time- less popular, almost unknown and even difficult to reach.

Iceland? Yes, its nature is not just “non-European”, but almost otherworldly. But its breathtaking beauty has become too popular in recent years, so it is no longer “off the beaten” place.

Faeroes? The same, although not as popular as Iceland. Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands? They have a different beauty, and are not so “European” too. But their popularity is growing every year.

Of course, not every corner of the above islands is touristy and popular. But here we are looking for whole lands, large territories, where you can go and can’t believe that you are in Europe. So, let’s make an adventurous journey to these lands.

Current travel note (2026): Several of the remote regions described below are in Russia. Their geography has not changed, but the practical travel situation has. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, international flight connections, border crossings, payment systems, consular support, and security conditions have changed substantially. As of October 2026, for example, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all travel to Russia. Before considering any Russian destination in this article, check the current advice of your own government and current Russian entry and regional-access rules. UK Foreign Travel Advice — Russia

The list below is primarily geographical rather than a recommendation that every place is currently suitable for tourism. Some of these regions are easily accessible, while others require permits, expedition logistics, or are currently affected by political and security restrictions. Always separate the question “Where is this place?” from “Can I responsibly and legally travel there now?”

Kalmykia

Have you heard about this land? It is an autonomous republic within the Russian Federation, located north of the Caucasus Mountains. It is far from the tourists and quite unknown by them. But here is what makes it “non-European”: if you go there, you will see that everything looks Mongol. People, culture, buildings- everything looks like you are in the heart of Asia.

The Kalmyks are a people from the Oirat-Mongol family, and they arrived here in the 17th century. They are Buddhists, and this is the main religion in this European land today. The whole land is plain, with a large semi-desert areas, reaching the coast of the Caspian Sea. And yes, this is another „non-European” feature in Kalmykia- there are sandy deserts.

Kalmykia’s capital is Elista, and do you know what is this city best known for? Chess! Yes, it is the favorite game of the Kalmyks, and it is their national sport. There are monuments, dedicated to this game, and even a Chess City- a place in Elista where the chess events are held.

How to reach Kalmykia

Geographically, Kalmykia remains connected with other parts of southern Russia by road and domestic transport, with Elista as the main gateway. However, for international travelers the practical situation is very different from when this article was written in 2020. Entry to Russia, international connections, payment methods, insurance, and security conditions should all be checked immediately before travel. See the current Russia travel advice and your own government’s guidance before planning the trip.

Jan Mayen

You know Iceland- the island country, located between Europe and Greenland (in fact, closer to Greenland, but still considered a European country). But if you look the map of Europe, have you noticed another island, located again in the middle of the ocean, north of Iceland, and much smaller than this country? This Jan Mayen- a desolate piece of land with harsh climate, yet considered a part of Europe.

Jan Mayen is an island belonging to Norway. It was probably discovered more than a thousand years ago, but due to its isolation and harsh conditions, it was left unexplored until the 17th century. Even later, there was no human activity for at least 200 years. Only recently the island got the interest of the scientist and the army.

Jan Mayen has no permanent civilian population; a small rotating Norwegian military and meteorological staff operates the station at Olonkinbyen. The island is surrounded by an extreme Arctic environment dominated by the Beerenberg volcano, tundra, glaciers, seabirds, and marine wildlife. Unlike Svalbard, Jan Mayen does not have resident polar bears.

How to reach Jan Mayen

Visiting Jan Mayen is still possible only under highly restricted conditions. Foreign visitors must obtain permission in advance, and ship landings have to be coordinated with the Jan Mayen Station Commander. There is no normal tourist airport service, harbour, accommodation, or visitor infrastructure, and landings can be cancelled at short notice because of weather or operational conditions. Access is currently even more limited because major construction work is underway from 2025 through the winter of 2027/28. Check the latest rules on the official Jan Mayen visitor page before planning any expedition.

Svalbard

Ok, let’s look at another piece of Europe, which is not only politically a part of Norway, but geographically is an archipelago, belonging to the European continental shelf. Although it is north of Jan Mayen, which supposes an even harsher and colder climate, it is a little bit more popular than it. This is Svalbard (called also Spitsbergen).

As you can see on the map, Svalbard is located very close to the North Pole, and you can guess that it is a very cold place. And yes, the islands are covered by glaciers and arctic tundra only. But unlike other pieces of land, located in the same latitude, Svalbard is a bit warmer, due to some warm currents coming from the Atlantic.

Its population is a little more than 2000 people. Most of them are Norwegians, living in several towns scattered along the main island Spitsbergen. The largest town is called Longyearbyen, and is the capital of the archipelago, with its own shops, cinema, museums, sport centers and all other things that makes is a “town”. However, the other islands of the archipelago are uninhabited, and turned into national parks.

How to reach Svalbard

Longyearbyen is currently reached mainly by scheduled flights from Oslo and Tromsø, operated by Norwegian and SAS, while expedition cruises also visit the archipelago. Svalbard is part of Norway but outside the Schengen Area. Norway does not require a separate visa for entry to Svalbard itself, but travelers who normally require a Schengen visa must have the necessary Schengen entries to travel through mainland Norway on the way to and from the archipelago. Check the current rules on the Governor of Svalbard’s visa and immigration page and current flight information through Visit Svalbard.

Svalbard has local roads around Longyearbyen and a few other settlements, but there is no road network connecting the settlements across the archipelago. Travel beyond inhabited areas therefore depends on snowmobiles, boats, organised expeditions, hiking, and in limited cases aircraft. Since 1 January 2026, new field-safety regulations apply, and some independent trips outside the main travel area require advance application, insurance, and communication equipment. Check the latest requirements on the Governor of Svalbard travel page.

Svalbard’s nature regulations have also become stricter. In protected areas, tourist landings are limited to designated sites, and visitors must keep at least 300 m away from polar bears, increasing to 500 m from 1 March to 30 June. Do not approach, follow, or deliberately seek close encounters with polar bears. Current rules are published by the Governor of Svalbard.

Kola Peninsula

If you have watched the map of Europe, you most probably have noticed something like a small “horse head without ears” looking eastward, on the northern coasts of the continent. This is Kola Peninsula, a strange and cold appendage behind the Scandinavia. It is a part of Russia, and its main city is Murmansk- one of the northernmost cities on the Earth.

Kola Peninsula consists of low mountains, hills and plains, and is covered by taiga and tundra. Again, although most of it lies behind the Arctic Circle, there are no extreme cold temperatures. Its population is sparse, and consists of Russians and the aboriginal Saami people. Unfortunately, the Soviet Union era remained heavy pollution around the area, which recovers slowly, but still need centuries to back to its pre-Soviet cleanliness.

This is the place of the deepest hole, made by humans on our planet. It is called Kola Super Deep Borehole, and is located near Zapolarny. The humans tried to dig a hole toward the center of the Earth, but reached only a little more than 12 km (7 miles), which is less than 0,1% of the distance to the Earth’s center. Then, in 1992, due to the increasing heat, they abandoned the hole. Now it remains empty and silent, veiled by a lot of legends.

How to reach Kola Peninsula

The Kola Peninsula remains connected internally with the rest of Russia by road, rail, and domestic flights, especially through Murmansk. However, the international travel context has changed substantially since 2020, and some northern or border areas may have additional access restrictions. Do not assume that a standard Russian visa alone is sufficient for every location. Check current Russian entry requirements, regional restrictions, and your government’s travel advice before planning the journey. Current Russia travel advice

Komi

Again, look at the far northeast of Europe. There is Russia, but focus behind Moscow. You will see the Arctic Ocean on the north, and the Ural Mountains on the east. And there is a large area, separated from the ocean, but reaching the mountains, which is mainly green, if you look at it through Google Earth. This is Komi- the largest administrative unit in the whole Europe.

Yes, Komi is really large, only slightly smaller than Spain- just like a large, but unknown European country, a part of Russia. But what kind of Europe? A little like Finland, however, far from any tourist stream. Endless taiga forests, curving rivers, wild tundra- this is the main landscape of Komi.

Its capital is Syktyvkar, a relatively large city. All other settlements are small towns and villages, scattered in the taiga. The main part of Komi’s inhabitants are the Komi people, from the same group with the Hungarians and the Finns. So, what can you see in Komi? First- you can enjoy wild forest adventures. But maybe the most mysterious spot in this isolated republic is Manpupuner (Seven Strong Men) Rock Formations. It is seven rock pillars, raising on the foot of Ural Mountains- high as 8-storey buildings, standing cold, still and silent in the desolate tundra.

How to reach Komi

Within Russia, Syktyvkar is connected by domestic air, rail, and road services, while the more remote parts of Komi require increasingly complex logistics. For an international traveler, however, reaching the region now also depends on the wider 2026 travel situation in Russia. Check current entry, transport, payment, and security conditions before treating Komi as a normal independent travel destination. Current Russia travel advice

European Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is well-known as the largest Central Asian country. But look at its western part. You will see a river, flowing from the Ural Mountains, crossing the two westernmost provinces of the country and reaching the Caspian Sea. This is the Ural River, which is considered a part of the border between Europe and Asia. And the Kazakhstan area west of this river belongs to Europe. Let’s focus on this extreme piece of the „Old Continent”.

The European part of Kazakhstan is divided into the western parts of the country’s westernmost two provinces (regions)- Atyrau and West Kazakhstan. You definitely know Istanbul, right? Yes, it is the big megacity in Turkey, located on the both sides of the Bosphorus, divided into European and Asian parts. But there is another city, divided into European and Asian parts, on the both sides of Ural River. It is Atyrau- a modern city with some interesting history. Its biggest landmark is Imangali Mosque, located in Europe. Another interesting spot is the History Museum, but it is in Asia, so you have to cross into Asia through one of the Ural River’s bridges.

Another large city in the European Kazakhstan is Oral (Uralsk). It is almost entirely in Europe, and is a nice and relaxing city to explore. There are many museums, memorials, churches, mosques and other buildings, featuring Russian architectural style.

The rest of the European Kazakhstan consists of a flat plain, covered by dry steppes and semi-deserts. There are some small towns and villages in this part of Europe, but they are scattered and isolated. Nothing much to see there, but it may be good for adventures.

How to reach European Kazakhstan

Atyrau and Oral (Uralsk) are well connected with other parts of Kazakhstan by air, rail, and road. Entry requirements depend on nationality: many foreign citizens can currently enter Kazakhstan visa-free for short stays, while others still require a visa. Check your nationality on the official Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-regime page. Exploring the sparsely populated steppe away from the main cities requires more planning because roads, fuel, services, and public transport become increasingly limited.

Nenetsia

Now, let’s back to the north. We saw Komi, the largest administrative region in Europe. But there is more land between Komi and the Arctic Ocean. This is Nenetsia- a wildland with harsh conditions, covered mainly by tundra.

Nenetsia is an autonomous district (okrug), a part of the larger Arkhangelskaya Oblast. It is the homeland of the Nenets, the indigenous people living along the coast of the Arctic Ocean on the both sides of the Ural Mountains. They belong to the Samoyedic branch of the Ugro-Finns (Uralic) group. You can still see their traditional way of life in their tents, carrying reindeer herds.

Nenetsia is a very sparsely populated land. Its size is similar to that of California, but its population is no more than 43 000 people. The capital is Naryan-Mar, with only around 21 000 people (around the half of the total population of Nenetsia). Naryan-Mar is a nice town, but there is nothing too special to see there. Still, the main attraction in this land is to visit the Nenets people in their tents and try their sleighs, pulled by reindeers.

How to reach Nenetsia

Nenets Autonomous Okrug remains one of the most logistically difficult inhabited regions of European Russia. Naryan-Mar is the main gateway, while travel beyond the town depends heavily on season, weather, local aviation, winter routes, snowmobiles, boats, and specialised local transport. Do not rely on old flight or road information from this article; current access should be confirmed locally and considered together with the wider 2026 travel situation in Russia.

Novaya Zemlya

Let’s get even further. Look at the map again. Can you see a significant, narrow and long curved island, located north of Nenetsia, like a giant worm through the Arctic Ocean? This is Novaya Zemlya (New Land)- a desolate and lonely piece of land, with feeling like „the end of the world”, yet still a part of Europe.

Actually, Novaya Zemlya consists of two islands- Northern and Southern, but they are so close to each other, and the strait between them (called Matochkin Strait) is so narrow that you have to zoom deeply to notice it.

Novaya Zemlya is an arctic desert. Part of it is covered by tundra, and another part- by glaciers. Polar bears wander around the silent and cold land. However, there is still some population on the islands- around 2400 people, most of which live in the main settlement Belushya Guba.

The islands are known as a site of the most powerful nuclear bomb testing during the Soviet Era- the detonation of the so-called „Tsar Bomba”. There have been many other nuclear tests and more military activity, which undoubtedly caused some pollution on the islands. But now they are almost silent, remote, desolated and still. And this is the main thing that you can enjoy there, in this strange, almost ghostly part of Europe.

How to reach Novaya Zemlya

Novaya Zemlya remains a highly restricted and strategically sensitive Arctic territory with major military activity. It should not be treated as a normal independent travel destination, and access for outsiders depends on special permission and current Russian security regulations. Do not plan around old schedules or transport descriptions from this article; verify whether civilian access is legally possible at all before considering a journey. The wider current travel context should also be checked through your government’s advice, for example the UK Russia travel advisory.

Even if legal access is obtained, movement on Novaya Zemlya is highly constrained by its military status, protected areas, lack of normal public infrastructure, and Arctic conditions. Any permitted visit would have to follow the rules and logistics imposed by the relevant Russian authorities rather than an independent overland itinerary.

Zemlya Frants-Josef

Novaya Zemlya is a very extreme place. But it is still not „the end of Europe”, there is an even further, more extreme piece of land, which is closer to the North Pole than anything else in the „Old Continent”. Yet it is still the same Europe, where Paris, London and Rome are located. This is Zemlya Frants-Joseph- a desolate and remote uninhabited archipelago, surrounded by ice and veiled by cold and silence. Finally, this is the „extreme end” of Europe- there is no more of the continent further.

Zemlya Frants-Josef (or Zemlya Frantsa-Josifa, Frants-Josef Land) is a polar archipelago, consisting of 192 islands. Maybe if it was in the tropics, it would be a popular tourist destination with beaches, resorts and many other attractions. But now, it is one of the northernmost pieces of land on the Earth, and there is nothing else but only some arctic tundra, rocks, glaciers, as well as polar bears and other arctic animals wandering around.

The archipelago is uninhabited. The only human presence there is two military-scientific bases- Nagurskoe and Graham Bell airfields. They are the Russian northernmost bases. And the rest is a pure, cold and remote wilderness- something that would attract the most adventurous explorers.

How to reach Zemlya Frants-Josef

Franz Josef Land remains one of the most remote and tightly controlled Arctic archipelagos associated with Europe. It lies within the Russian Arctic National Park system and also has strategic and military significance. Access for ordinary foreign travelers is highly restricted and should not be assumed to be available through normal expedition tourism.

Expedition-cruise routes that existed before 2022 cannot be treated as a current access option in 2026. Anyone researching a possible visit would first need to establish whether civilian foreign access is legally and practically available under current Russian rules, while also considering the broader international travel advice for Russia.

Ural Mountains- a walk on the border between Europe and Asia

One of the most widely used conventional boundaries between Europe and Asia follows the watershed of the Ural Mountains before continuing south toward the Ural River. There is no dramatic natural line on the ground separating two different continents: the mountain landscape continues continuously across both sides. The boundary is primarily a geographic convention imposed on the larger Eurasian landmass.

Don’t forget, there is only one natural continent- Eurasia, so the division between „Europe” and „Asia” is only cultural and partly political. But, it doesn’t mean that you can’t be excited to make a picnic on the summit of Ural, put your backpack in Asia, your snacks with water in Europe, then take a nap putting your legs in Europe and your head in Asia.

No matter how do you look toward Europe and what is Europe for you, it obviously has much more to reveal than most of the popular tourist destinations present. Yes, naturally, it is not a separate continent, but even if we think about it from natural point of view, we can always think of it just as „the western part of Eurasia”. Anyway, for us it always remains as we know it- Europe, „the Old Continent”.

Check out some books about geography, travel and adventures to the ends of Europe!

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Krasen and Ying Ying

Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually.

So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.

And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality.

Enjoy!

Krasen and Ying Ying

Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually. So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration. And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality. Enjoy!