Inimitable Dihovo remains a secret to most travellers, despite being just 6km west of Bitola, in the foothills of Pelister National Park, says Chris Deliso in his short article titled “Unknown Village”, featured in “Secret Europe” tourist guide of Lonely Planet.
The travel guide brand asked its authors to select their choices for the best undiscovered and overlooked destinations across the continent, whittling them down to 50 spots, ranging from hidden cafes to areas of secluded natural beauty.
The village of Dihovo found itself on the 7th place on the list of 50 locations.
“Dihovo makes a great base for hiking the 2600-metre-high Baba Mountain, crowned by two immaculate glacial lakes. It’s a wild and whimsical place; Pelister’s bears have actual y been sued in court for stealing honey (you can buy big combs of med (honey) from Dihovo’s beekeepers),” the article says.
According to Deliso, Dihovo may be quiet (there’s one restaurant, two guesthouses and one lovely church), but it offers visceral experiences like mountain biking and ice-cold swims in the odd outdoor pool, filled with spillover from the River Sapungica.
“Running down from the mountain, this woodland tributary is great for hopping boulders and hunting for frogs and crabs,” he says.
Deliso also recommends an accommodation place in the village.
Villa Dihovo is a grand old village mansion run by skiing/hiking leader Pece Cvetkovski and family, offering a hand-full of rustic rooms and a big lawn where kids can play. The exemplary Macedonian fare relies on home-grown veggies and traditional seasonings.
The beer’s home-brewed, and there’s a good house wine. Except for the alcohol, there are no fixed prices for accommodation or meals, making the villa accessible to people of all budgets.
The list also features numerous spots across Europe that may be missed by tourists. The Kvartira Cafe (also a shop and social space) in Kaliningrad, in the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania, is recommended as "unquestionably one of the coolest hang-outs in [the city]", while the Pripyatsky national park in Belarus, known locally as "the lungs of Europe, is described as one of the "best-kept secrets" in the country".
Visitors to Bergen in Norway are directed to the Potetkjelleren restaurant: "the sort of place that food critics rave about but attracts more locals than tourists". And in Amsterdam travellers are encouraged to step inside the Weeping Tower and enjoy a drink at the old mariner's pub inside.
