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We know that at this point in the run-up to summer you’re probably already bombarded with Mykonos girls and scenic Amalfi Coast attractions on your feed, but just in case this is your first Euro summer and you’re longing for a taste of that idyllic, slow-paced life, let us hold your hand while we say this:
Those are not the ways to go about it.
Instagram only offers you a spotless, heavily composed snapshot of a broader, much more brutal scene.
What they don’t tell you about Mykonos is that the only way to really enjoy it is to barricade yourself in a $1,000-a-night villa away from the madness of Little Venice, or that you aren’t even allowed to take your rental car to the Amalfi Coast on certain dates, depending on whether you have an even or odd license plate number, and that several beaches require advance reservations.
Europe is meant to be enjoyed slowly and spontaneously, not a carefully planned, logistically arduous, budget-busting vacation.
Skyscanner is well aware of this and has just released their own selection The best beaches in Europe without crowdsbut we have decided to limit it to the top 3 that we have been to ourselves, and can guarantee that Eurosummer happiness is personified.
Finished? Okay, let’s do this:
PLUS: We’ve built an interactive quiz for you at the end of this article to help you find your perfect match!
Curonian Spit, Lithuania
Lithuania is probably not the first destination if you put Euro and summer together, but before you close the tab, hear us out.
The Mediterranean is probably the last place you want to be this season if you hate feeling uncomfortably hot, like you’re melting after taking just ten steps in the blazing sun and having to fight your way through the crowds at every turn.
At the top of the Curonian Spit, a narrow isthmus stretching from Lithuania to Russia’s Kaliningrad region, the weather is much milder, more refreshing and crowds are usually kept to a minimum. That is, local families who don’t mind going to Greece in the summer.
Before you panic, Lithuania does perfect safe. It shares a border with Europe’s current enemy number one, and the Curonian Spit is one of the closest points you can get to Mother Russia without actually crossing the border.
However, the region of Russia with which it shares a border is the Kaliningrad exclave, hundreds of kilometers away from the mainland, where most of the geopolitical tensions take place, and here in these parts the situation is relatively calm and stable.
Lithuania has not been the target of any major Russian aggression in recent years according to the Traveler Safety Indexthat is informed by on-the-spot reports from travelers, it scores a great 82/100 regarding safety:
This is a UNESCO-protected sandbank that stretches for 90 kilometers, and between the calm waters of the lagoon and the white-sand beaches overlooking the Baltic Sea, there are plenty of secluded, virtually unspoilt swimming spots to choose from.
Nida Beach is a highlight, surrounded by pine forests and surrounded by soft white sand and azure water. Now the sea here is not Spain warm…these are the Baltic states— but if you’re used to East Coast waters, or have ever swum off the coast of Maine, it won’t come as much of a shock.
Fuerteventura, Spain
We know what you’re probably thinking: Spain? Are you on a list of the least crowded European sunny places? Please bear with us:
The Spain of huge cruise crowds, $15 sangrias and hours-long lines for beach access is limited to just a handful of destinations. Think Barcelona, Mallorca, Ibiza, Costa Del Sol and other marginal Mediterranean hubs that are currently essentially collapsing under the weight of overtourism.
Fly to Fuerteventura instead and you’ll get one complete other side of Spain.
For starters, this is a remote island thousands of miles away from the crowded mainland, part of what we call the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands are actually quite popular with beachgoers, with the overtourism situation probably being just as bad in Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Fuerteventura, on the other hand, feels relatively quiet, more relaxedand it doesn’t tend to attract the British stag or hen parties or all-inclusive holidaymakers like its neighbors do.
It has a warm climate all year round and the nature here can best be described as wild and rugged. It’s not exactly that untouched by tourism, but given the wide choice of beaches and a more restrained approach to development, it never comes across as overrun or ‘gimmicky Spain’ as the rest.
Skyscanner calls Flag Beach one of the best beaches in Europe, and we won’t be ones to dispute that. If you like golden sand, clear blue water and kitesurfing, this is definitely the place to be.
Us own Favorite coastal spots in Fuerteventura include Sotavento, known for its shallow lagoons and family-friendly atmosphere, El Cotillo, a charming fishing village painted gold at sunset, and Cofete, an unusual coastal area backed by imposing mountains.
Check entry rules for Europe before flying
If you’re going to Europe this season, you want to stay informed with the rapidly changing travel rules.
The Old Continent now expects all Americans to agree to being fingerprinted and facial scanned upon arrival, and soon you will have to apply for a mandatory travel permit. forward of flying, possibly as early as September.
Before heading to the airport, you will need to complete a small destination check on the Entry Requirements Check page here.
Isola Bella, Sicily (Italy)
The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has no shortage of beautiful old towns situated atop volcanic hills, picturesque beaches embraced by blue-green colored seas and scenic country roads to explore, yet a majority of visitors will be heading to the White Lotus-with Taormina and Noto.
If they aren’t easily frightened by that unhinged southern Italian chaos and attitude, they might plan a city trip to Catania or Palermo. Either way, they will only blow through most of Sicily for a short time.
That’s a shame, like the most idyllic, picturesque, cinematic beach destination on the island is still criminally overlooked. In fact, all those buses to Taormina just whiz past, without even looking over their shoulders at the Ionian coast.
Skyscanner approved, Isola Bella is a small island just off the coast of Taormina. To get here, you have to walk down the hill, rather than up the winding roads that lead to the glamorous picture postcard town.
Usually accessible at low tide, the island features small pebble beaches, lush greenery and mysterious sea caves.
The steep paths leading to the highest point are littered with bushes and ruined walls, and at the very top you’ll find a historic villa that once belonged to a wealthy baron.
Luckily for the masses like us, it’s now open to visitors a small fee of $5.
Mazzarò is located directly opposite Isola Bella, on the mainland. It’s a pebbled beach with both lido clubs and free areas, and a family-run trattoria on the water where you can get some arancini and freshly caught fish. Of course we know it’s busy, but at some point take the bus uphill to Taormina.
After sunset, the crowds usually thin out along the city’s bustling main street, and the sunset views atop the ancient theater are nothing short of breathtaking.
Take this quiz now to find your perfect match!
