Travelling to Europe in the summer months is a rite of passage – steamy nights spent in the south of Spain, snoozy days on the most beautiful Greek islands, breezy afternoons sipping rosé on a terrace in the South of France. But as tourism levels continue to rise after a few quiet years, and peak-season temperatures climb from Italy to Croatia, is the appeal of a big European summer holiday dwindling?
Savvy, conscientious travellers are staying clued-up on the pitfalls of height-of-summer travel to over-touristed destinations, and choosing a different track. That might mean visiting the most popular hotspots in the shoulder season or off-season, and eschewing these places in favour of lesser-known or unsung regions when travelling during the summer. But where should you go? We tapped our editors and contributors to answer that very question – and here, they give guides to some of their most beloved alternative destinations to visit this summer, from northern Spain to Norway.
What summer travel to Europe will look like this year
To travel in Europe in the summer of 2023 was to experience first-hand a single season of contrasting extremes. Now, travellers are moving towards visiting lesser-known – and cooler – destinations.
The best alternative destinations for your European summer bucket list
Ah, summer in Europe. The only thing that can disrupt the pure bliss is the threat of heaving streets, packed bars or overbooked restaurants – a reality that is, unfortunately, all too common in the continent’s most popular destinations. While we would never suggest avoiding these places altogether, there is much to be said for choosing a lesser-known spot. There's a rapidly growing trend for travelling to alternative destinations, too – #dupe or #dupes amassed 342,000 posts on TikTok as part of the surging interest. Thoughtful travellers are reacting to the world around them and selecting off-beat destinations to visit instead.
Antwerp is Europe's effortlessly cool design destination
Buzzing with entrepreneurial energy, Antwerp’s creative culture is cooler than ever. Often bypassed by international visitors for other European cities, Antwerp offers an embarrassment of riches in a compact city at the crossroads of Europe. From buzzy new hotels to the ambitious art exhibits, it’s a design destination like no other…
Asturias: Spain's unsung holiday spot that's worth uncovering this summer
This corner of northern Spain has its own language, culture, and cuisine – and is finally edging onto the radar of nature-loving travellers.
A summer wellness getaway in Budapest's storied baths
Budapest’s plentiful thermal springs gush mineral-laden waters that are both a geological wonder and an invitation to partake in a restorative, distinctly Hungarian ritual. The City of Baths, also known for its rambunctious ruin bars, has for centuries beckoned travellers with a salve for their ailments. But beyond purported curative powers, these historic bathhouses also mesmerise with a transportive Old-World ambience.
In Kosovo's self-preserving tourism, old traditions and thrilling new adventures
Just 25 years after the war that established it, the tiny nation gives a masterclass in preserving culture – one that was almost lost forever.
Bodø: north Norway’s evolving cultural capital
For a long time seen as a jumping-off point for the Lofoten Islands, Bodø’s arts-led reinvention and rich vein of outdoor pursuits mean there’s plenty worth sticking around for.
Discovering the Dolomites: a journey through Italy's deliciously underrated mountain region
The Dolomites – meaning pale mountains – span a vast area of 16,000 square kilometres, over 2000 mountains and hug Austria to the north (the South Tyrol was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1919) and Verona in the south and incorporate several regions within its boundaries, from Alto Adige to Trentino and Belluno. This is where to eat, stay, and play across northeastern Italy's spectacularly imposing mountain range.
The best alternative beaches in Europe for crowd-free shores
From the cerulean waters of Karpas Peninsula in Portugal (a popular nesting ground for sea turtles) to cave-clad Ramla Bay in Malta and beyond, these are our favourite seaside spots for when you’re keen to not follow the crowd.