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If you’re even half the Europhile we are here Travel off the pathchances are you’re already looking for transatlantic flights now that spring is just around the corner and Europe’s gloomy weather is finally over.
Let’s face it: this really is the best time to jump across the pond, before the blazing summer sun scorches the earth, prices shoot through the roof and the hordes of cruise ships swarm ashore.
If you’re flexible and haven’t yet mapped out where to go, how about an offbeat European island untouched by mass tourism? You know, one that still feels authentically local and lived-in (unlike your Mallorcas and Santorinis), and where you can actually enjoy all that Old World charm in peace and quiet.
Did we say one? Sorry, that’s actually what we meant five:
Aegina, Greece
The pearl of the Saronic Gulf, a short 50 minute ferry ride from Piraeus port (the one that serves Athens), Aegina is all the Mamma Mia ̶s̶u̶m̶m̶e̶r spring you need.
Aegina Town, the main settlement on the island, is a colorful harbor with beautiful neoclassical buildings in pretty pastel colors, family-run seafood restaurants and shops selling Aegina pistachios virtually everywhere you look.
Speaking of Aegina, it is the pistachio capital of Greece, and the local shell-covered seed found here actually has protected status. From gelato to pastries to liqueur and even pesto, you’ll find it in every shape and form imaginable.
If you’re here for the beaches, Agia Marina is one of the longest beaches on the island, about 14 kilometers from the port.
Rent a bike, ride the coastal road northeast and you’ll soon see a beautiful stretch of golden sand in the distance.
Did you come to Greece for the ancient culture? The 2,526 year old Temple of Aphaialocated on a hill with breathtaking views over the Saronic Gulf, it is one of the best preserved in Greece. In fact it forms a ‘Sacred Triangle’ with the Parthenon in Athens and the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion, except…
None of the usual crowds!
Bornholm, Denmark
Bornholm may be an island under Denmark, but given that it lies off the Swedish coast, somewhat separate from the Danish archipelago, and its unique hilly geography, a casual observer could easily mistake it for a Swedish island.
You see, most of Denmark is flat farmland and Dutch-style dredged canals to keep rising sea levels at bay. There’s absolutely no altitude to speak of, or the kind of breathtaking nature you might associate with Scandinavia.
Bornholm feels like a completely different country:
Along the coast it’s mainly rocky cliffs and towering granite sea walls, while inland you’ll encounter lush pine forests and hillier terrain. Needless to say, the entire island is a hiking paradise for nature lovers, and the best part?
Thanks to those everyone’s rats Scandinavian laws govern the use of nature, most of the land is free to roam – although there are stricter rules on camping – and there are hardly any tourists crowding the beautiful Baltic views or polluting the place.
Moreover, Bornholm is home to four rare fortress-like round churchesparticularly Østerlars, and one of the largest medieval ruins in Northern Europe: Hammershus, a former citadel, or what’s left of it, resting on the cliffs above the Baltic Sea.
That said, all that wild nature and beautiful old stuff comes at a price. Bornholm is not exactly the easiest place to get to.
There’s a reason people say this jokingly Bornholm indeed feels more Swedish than Danish. Most people drive from Copenhagen to Sweden, crossing the Øresund Bridge and taking a ferry from the Swedish port of Ystad (the journey takes 3 hours in total).
Alternatively, there is an overnight ferry that departs from Køge, Denmark (5.5 hours), or a shorter ferry from Sassnitz, on the German coast (1.5 hours).
Île d’Oléron, France
Similar to the increasingly trendy Île de Ré, which we’ve written about extensively here, Île d’Oléron is an unusual French island off the coast of Brittany, on the west coast of France.
Unlike Bornholm, getting there is a lot less complicated, thanks to a bridge that permanently connects it to the mainland. That’s not to say it’s not a long way to travel, especially from Paris (5h38), but hey, not getting on and off the ferries is a big win.
We digress.
What does this secret French island you’ve probably never heard of have to offer? How can the pine forests, crisscrossed by cycle paths, pristine dunes and sandy beaches, and picturesque fishing villages with not a beret-clad Instagrammer in sight sound?
The capital and largest city, Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, is where you should go warm, friendly welcome to the island: bustling harbour, shops, cafes and weekend farmers’ markets packed with all the local produce under the sun, from goat’s cheese to freshly caught oysters.
Side note: Oléron is actually the oyster capital of Franceand you won’t find them tastier and fresher than at Auberge le Saint Pierre.
It can be a bit chilly to swim in the North Atlantic Ocean in April, but if you fancy a relaxing stroll along the coast, head to Plage de Gatseau, a wide sandy beach surrounded by shallow, gentle water.
You might even see brave locals sprinting into the surf wearing wetsuits. Please note that this is not the south of France, and the beautiful, clear blue waters you see off the coast are not the warm Mediterranean Sea.
Try dipping your toes first, see how you feel about it before running after it.
Of course it’s not a French island without one castleand Le Château-d’Oléron, a picturesque coastal town a monumental star-shaped fortress built in the 17th century. There are also excellent seafood restaurants and oyster farms nearby.
Ponza, Italy
Forget Capri and its invitation-only beach clubs frequented by celebrities spiaggie: If you’re looking for a tourist-free, tucked-away Italian gem, you should probably visit Ponza, the largest landmass in the Pontine Archipelago, some 37 miles from the nearest mainland at Anzio.
It’s not exactly a cakewalk to get there, whether you travel from Rome or Naples (add to that a short train ride and then a few hours by hydrofoil), but once you step off the boat the island is pristine charm makes every stressful minute of travel worth it.
Rugged cliffs that plunge straight into the clear turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, hidden coves that can only be reached by small boat, and timeless coastal towns with traditional skinny ocher mansions…
Yes, the one with the green shutters, you know, from the postcards.
The main city, Ponza Porto, is the heartbeat of the island. Imagine a harbor lined with boats, gelaterie and seafood trattoria in abundance, colorful houses hanging from cliffs along the coast, and small boutiques.
The perfect day in Ponza Porto consists of sipping an espresso on the quay, watching the fishermen bring in their daily catch, then strolling through the lively streets before swinging by Buco Divino for a casual, but quality lunch.
When it comes to beaches, the crescent-shaped Chiaia di Luna is the most beautiful and perhaps quieter. It is the place where the locals themselves go on the occasional hot spring days, for swimming in the early season or simply for sunbathing.
Due to Ponza’s rugged nature, there are not many sandy areas on the island, but Chiaia di Luna is a rare exception: here you are greeted with soft sand, shallow water at the edges and a clear blue sea.
A Illa de Arousa, Spain
The only island municipality in Galicia, A Illa de Arousa, or simply Arousa, is a quiet gem in the northwest of Spain, where you go to relax and enjoy the beautiful nature. slow coastal life.
With tidal estuaries, reed-lined coves, sandy coves kissed by calm Atlantic waves and tiny fishing villages still largely untouched by tourists – like much of Galicia, for that matter – Arousa is the serene transatlantic escape you’ve been dreaming of.
The island is zparsely populatedwith less than 5,000 inhabitants, so it doesn’t really have a ‘capital’. Think of it as neighborhoods or parish districts that together form one community.
Of these, Carril is perhaps the most important, as it is the busiest port and main landing point. It is probably where you will land if you cross by boat from the mainland.
That said, administratively, San Xulián da Illa de Arousa is the parish and main town, where most local services, shops and the town hall are centered.
Everywhere on the island you will find whitewashed houses, narrow streets and that unmistakable maritime atmosphere that you feel in every corner. However, Arousa’s main attractions are its wild beaches, often lined with soft, golden sand and calm water.
This is northwestern Spain, not the Mediterranean, so you might want to test the waters before diving in. For those coming later in the season, for example early May, try Area da Secada or A Lanzada, without a doubt the best swimming spots on the island.
Of course, no Galician getaway would be complete without a touch of history, and luckily for culture vultures like us you’ll find them all over the island old stone chapelssmall abandoned fortifications and maritime watchtowers dating back centuries
How do you get to this remote slice of paradise, you ask? Drive or take local transportation from Pontevedra or Santiago de Compostela (where nonstop flights from Newark will soon be operating) to the ferry port in Vilagarcía de Arousa, then hop on a short ferry ride to Arousa (5-10 minutes).
