These 4 beautiful European islands have less crowds and an authentic atmosphere

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Euro summer is just around the cornerand if you’re anything like us, chances are you’re probably halfway through planning your next hop across the pond.

We’re really sorry to hold you back, but before you book Capri, Santorini, Mallorca and all the usual checklist islands that the average tourist heads to, we’d like to give you a warning:

That idyllic European vibe you long for from your favorite Insta blogger, so beautifully sold in those cinematic roles, only exists on social media.

Head to Oia, the world-famous town of Santorini, in July and you’ll be lucky if the wait time for those postcard-worthy blue dome photos is less than 2 hours. That is, if you manage to push your way through an invisible mass of bodies on the way to the main street itself.

If you don’t mind your European islands being a little rough, rough around the edges, but beautiful nonetheless, we have 5 alternatives for you that might be sufficient.

Think smaller crowds, authentic culture and unspoilt charm everywhere:

Folegandros, Greece

Since we kicked this off by blowing off Santorini as usual, it’s only fair that we give Greece her flowers and proclaim one of the most beautiful islands in the Aegean that has yet to be overrun by the maddening crowd.

Just under an hour’s ferry ride from Santorini itself, Folegandros feels like the jet-set island of 40 years ago, before BVLGARI boutiques and flying dress photo shoots were a thing.

The main town, Chora, sits at the foot of a Byzantine-era church reached by a strenuous, scenic, all-same uphill path. it has the traditional whitewashed cube-shaped houses of Santoriniand a few domed, chalk-covered churches… minus the crossing hordes.

Piatsa restaurant in the heart of Chora is one of the best places in the entire Cyclades to try local fava and marinated anchovies. May I add: the perfect setting, with outdoor seating right on the town’s main square, in the shade of centuries-old olive trees, is nothing but pure European summer bliss.

Folegandros is also a completely walkable island, at least if you don’t like walking. It’s only about 13 kilometers long, and at its widest point it stretches for a narrow 3.7 kilometers, so all those beautiful deserted coves and pebble-paved beaches lined with turquoise waters are usually a 30 to 40-minute walk from Chora.

My favorite, you ask? Try Agkali Beach, on the downhill path from Ano Meria. The seas are just surreal, and I have never tasted anything fresher than the seafood served at Taverna Agali.

Last but certainly not least, perhaps what I like most about Greece is how safe it can feel, even amid the influx of visitors. I mean, islands like Folegandros tend to be pretty chill and quiet, but no matter which island you choose, Greece will generally feel relaxed, welcoming and easy to travel through.

As you can see from the Traveler Safety Index, he scores an impressive 89/100:

Pantelleria, Italy

Few European islands are as remote as Pantelleria. It lies south of Sicily, but in fact closer to the North African coast than to mainland Europe proper, and it is Italy that the ordinary tourist traveling to Rome remains blissfully unaware.

Not that we’re complaining here.

We get to see the magical hill-strewn, volcanic hinterland and scenic coast of Pantelleria, interspersed with unspoilt calas and natural lava-formed pools, and a unique rural character all to ourselves.

There really is nothing like the first damn sighting in the distance, surrounded by rolling vineyards and in the background an azure blue Mediterranean Sea.

In case you’re wondering, the dammusi are the traditional rural farmhouses of Pantelleria, and an architectural style only found on this 32 square kilometer landmass in the middle of the ocean.

Think one-story farm houses built from local volcanic stone, with exceptionally thick walls and a white domed roof.

Some of my favorite places on the island are Specchio di Venere, a natural lake filled with warm, thermal water. Legend has it that goddess Venus, after whom it is named, used it as a mirror as she beautified herself on her way to Bacchus.

Pantelleria is not really an island for sightseeing. It’s really all about atmosphere, relaxation and just enjoying the scorching sun, but if so An What you should definitely add to your list is Arco dell’Elefante, the iconic rock in the shape of an elephant’s trunk that plunges straight into the blue-green water.

Gozo, Malta

We’re already off to a strong start, but if you come to Europe for that unmistakable Mediterranean flair, with a combination of both beaches And ancient towns that look like your favorite storybook brought to life, Gozo is where you need to go.

The smaller sister of the already unusual Malta, which, by the way, Americans can fly to non-stop this summer, is that pocket-sized slice of heaven that takes about 25 minutes to drive from north to south, and 30 minutes from west to east.

However small it may be, it contains a lot of stunning sights.

The capital Victoria (or as the Maltese call it, Rabat) is a typical fortified European city dominated by a towering Baroque cathedral.

Cross the citadel via the imposing drawbridge and you are greeted with a compact cobbled maze of narrow streets, ocher buildings with brightly colored shutters and the occasional ice cream shop that is a lifesaver in the brutal Maltese heat.

People like to go to Malta for the Blue Hole in Comino, the smallest of the three islands in the archipelago. If crowded ferries, tight return schedules and the feeling of being a sweaty extra in a sea of ​​sardines are your idea of ​​fun, then by all means, be our guest.

If you like turquoise seas but keep the crowds to a minimum, then you’ll want to visit Dwejra Bay. Honestly, the rock-shielded, crystal clear one Blue Hole is even more beautiful hereand you can really relax on the rocks without an exhausted guide shouting that your time is up.

Wait a minute. Before you start packing your bags and booking flights to Europe, be sure to double-check the Entry Requirements page for any documentation you’ll need as a US citizen proving you not aware of.

Gotland, Sweden

This one is for those who don’t mind cold winds and unpredictable weather forecasts in the middle of the high summer holidays. Thousands of kilometers away from the sun-drenched Mediterranean, in the gray-hued Baltic Sea, lies Gotland, a Swedish island known for its well-preserved Viking heritage, wild nature and off-road appeal.

Unless you have a particular penchant for icy swimming and wind-inducing breezes, this isn’t one of those islands where you’ll spend hours sunbathing and lounging, unless it’s a single hot August day when temperatures soar to 80°F and beyond.

Most days, though, it’s all about that sitting comfortably with a book in a coffee shop in the old towntrying different pastries from local bakeries around Gotland – the best cinnamon roll on the island? Try Själsö Bageri’s and take a few day trips into nature to admire the limestone sea stacks (rauks) and windswept coastal cliffs.

The real star of the show here, if you ask me, is the city of Visby, a UNESCO World Heritage Site:

Still surrounded by medieval city walls, with cobbled streets lined with picturesque little townhouses and their flower-draped balconies, and church towers that only add to the storybook charm.

In addition to walking along the walls, hanging out at Stora Torget, the main square, is a must for architecture buffs and people watchers. There are approx half a dozen different café terraces to choose from, and the pastel-colored facades are beautiful.

Nearby St. Mary’s Cathedral is a 12th-century church with a plain exterior and a contrastingly decorated nave. I’m talking elaborate arches, intricate woodwork and stained glass details. Scandi-Gothic in all its power.

Want to know a little local secret? I’m not a big fan of botanical gardens myself, but Botaniska Trädgården in Gotland, on the edge of Visby’s Old Town, near the sea, has to be one of the most unexpectedly peaceful places I’ve ever seen.

Roses, ruins, sea breeze and ocean air: you’ll find it all here, and the best? For one time, it costs a total of 0 Swedish Krona to participate.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.