This is part 1 of a 3 part series about Euro Summer spots that are less crowded & easier to enjoy. It is important to note that this spots are NO less amazing!
Camogli, Italy
It is no secret that this is one of my favorite places on Earth! If you have read my blog or follow me on instagram you know this. However, the secret isn’t fully out yet to the world. Camogli is certainly gaining in popularity, but it retains so much of its true Italian charm. You wont find tons of souvenir shops or tourist trap restaurants here. Even though it is very close to the popular Euro Summer spots like Cinque Terre and Genoa.
Camogli is incredibly colorful and has a long stretch of beach that hugs the edge of the town. It also has a really lovely small port with dreamy Italian views as well. The port is truly perfection at sunset. The easiest way to reach Camogli is by train, but you can also arrive by boat or car. Your days here can be spent by taking a boat out to see other areas of Liguria, hiking through the incredible landscapes by the sea, relaxing on the beach and eating focaccia, or visiting nearby towns along the train or ferry lines.
When you come home to Camogli in the evenings you can enjoy aperitivo and sunset, a lovely meal, and the best vibes as the local kids play soccer and families share in enjoying the evening together. When you’re here, you really feel like you’re a part of the Italian life in the most peaceful and beautiful way. This is peak Euro Summer Perfection.
If you’re interested in more information about visiting Camogli I have a whole blog post about it, you can find it here—-> Camogli, Your Next Favorite Spot in Italy
Piana, Corsica: France
When people think of Euro Summer I don’t think Corsica is one of the first places that comes to mind. But I am here to tell you that it should be. This island has everything that we love about Euro Summer!
Piana’s landscapes here are truly some of the most incredible you could ever imagine. There is nothing like the “Calanques of Piana” and driving through this area is a true adventure in itself. There is incredible hiking here, some of the most epic views, and the most lovely charming little French village you could ever imagine.
Days here for us were spent between finding unique beach spots, enjoying leisurely lunches with incredible views, and epic hikes. Evenings were spent getting cleaned up, enjoying an evening stroll and an apertif and then having a nice dinner in the village. This is an area where you can really have it all!
This is definitely an area for adventure. You should be a confident and patient driver. I would also say a confident hiker to enjoy exploring this area and really get the most out of it! However, if hiking isn’t your thing, you can explore many beautiful views by road and also by boat.
If you’re interested in more information about Piana I have a blog post with more details, you can find it here —-> 7 Reasons You Should Visit Piana, Corsica
Theth, Albania
Getting to Theth is an adventure in itself, but once you’re there, it’s one of the most beautiful and peaceful places you could imagine. We’ve spent time in quite a number of mountain areas, but Theth had a really special feel to it. The Albanian hospitality is unmatched, the mountains and water here are stunning.
There are only really a few things to do here, which makes it so relaxing and enjoyable. You can hike to see the Blue Eye of Theth. This is an incredibly beautiful hike and can take up the better part of a day if you hike from Theth town and back. You can also hike to another town called Valbona and continue on from there. There is a shorter hike from town as well to see the Theth waterfall (you can combine this with the Blue Eye).
Overall, Theth is your Euro Summer vibe if you’re into charming guest houses, home cooked Albanian food, no services, no stores, no crowds, and just a rustic peaceful place to spend a few days in nature.
If you’re interested in a deeper dive into Theth, check out my blog post here —-> Guide to Visit Theth, Albania
Himare, Albania
This is, in my opinion, the most stunning part of the Albanian Riviera. There are so many incredibly unique beaches here to explore. I highly recommend spending a few days here so you can explore the beaches both by boat, and on foot. It seems like every beach here has it’s own special way to get to it. Sometimes you’re walking a simple path, sometimes its a hike down into a canyon, sometimes its a rope down some rocks, but it’s ALWAYS an adventure. To be fair, the main town of Himare also has easily accessible beaches that you can just stroll right onto.
I highly recommend staying in or near the town of Himare. This way you can enjoy the many lovely restaurants and have options for drinks/relaxing in the evenings. There are tons of lovely bars and restaurants and spots to spend time during your down time. Himare also has an incredibly beautiful castle up above the town that you can visit and explore. The food and hospitality in Albania can not be beat, and Himare is no exception. Himare really gives off some quintessential Euro summer feelings.
If you’re interested in Himare and want to read more, check out my post —-> Visiting Himare Albania, What you Need to Know
If you’re looking for some tours in Himare you can find them here —-> Himare Tours
Riga, Latvia : Endless Euro Summer Vibes
I think this has got to be one of the most underrated cities in Europe and it is absolutely PERFECT for a Euro summer break! First of all, the weather in the summer is phenomenal. You can explore so comfortably. The city itself is beautiful and has the most incredible architecture. Best of all, you get SO MUCH DAYLIGHT. Riga is quite far North and during the summer it is daylight almost endlessly. This gives you so much time for exploring!
Riga boasts the most charming and picture perfect old town. It has a beautiful park with a river running through it that you can enjoy. The food is fantastic and there are so many incredible traditional spots to dine. We also loved the massive food market inside the old blimp hangers. There is what feels like an an entire hidden world here! There are so many unique underground bars & spots to eat. Riga is a colorful and fun city full of history and unique spots. It is a wonderful stop on a Baltics euro summer road trip!
We visited Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on a euro summer road trip and it was a dream! I have a blog post about the itinerary you can find here —> Baltics Summer Road Trip.
I also have a post about how to spend a perfect weekend in Riga, you can check that out here —-> Perfect Weekend in Riga, Latvia
If you’re looking for fun tours in Riga (we loved our food tour) you can find them here —–> Riga Tours
Monopoli, Italy
Monopoli is a surprisingly lovely base for visiting Puglia. We spent 4 nights here and absolutely loved it. The pastel colored streets and succulents everywhere make for such a beautiful vibe. There are many types of beaches within walking distance of the main town. The Old Town has SO much going on.
There are lovely shops, so many good restaurants, beautiful places to sit and people watch, incredible squares, and so much more. It is within close proximity to many other spots in Puglia. This makes it easy to venture out during the day and explore more in the mornings & evenings. Monopoli is surely gaining in popularity, but didn’t feel overcrowded even during peak Euro summer.
If you’re interested in more info about basing in Monopoli to explore Puglia, I have a post here —-> Monopoli: A Perfect Base for Exploring Puglia
Annecy, France
A French mountain town that deserves to be explored! Annecy is often billed as “the Venice of the alps”. I wish we’d spent more time here and I know we will go back someday. This is another perfect euro summer spot if you’re not interested in being too hot! If you can time your visit on a market day you will truly enjoy it as the market fills up the entire town and is so lively and lovely!
Annecy is right on a large and stunningly blue lake, so there are tons of lake activities you can do! You can rent paddle boats and go out onto the lake and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. I recommend having a picnic on your boat! You can also bike or wander around the lake and visit other small towns along the way. You can hike up into the mountains and get views down over the lake as well.
If you’re just wanting to relax and enjoy, wandering the beautiful canals and seeing all the beautiful artsy streets feels picture perfect. The food here is amazing too and we didn’t have a meal we didn’t enjoy!
If you’re interested in more information about visiting Annecy, check out my post here —> 24 Hours in Annecy, France
If you’re looking for tours in Annecy, you can find them here —-> Annecy Tours
Tavira, Portugal
The tiled town of Tavira is very close to the border of Portugal and Spain. I feel it is often overlooked when people are visiting the Algarve and the South of Portugal. While it may not boast the amazing cliffside beaches and rock formations of the Algarve, Tavira has a very local feel to it and this is why we loved it so much. This is the euro summer spot you didn’t know you needed.
You can take a little ferry ride out to a stunning beach that just seems to go on endlessly. You can enjoy wandering and admiring all the beautiful tiled homes and buildings. I highly recommend a small walk to Santa Luzia for the best octopus in the world. Tavira really comes alive in the evenings when the heat cools down and everyone comes out to enjoy the scene! Don’t skip this spot if you’re doing a southern Portugal road trip.
If you want to know more about how amazing Tavira is, check out my post here —> Tavira Portugal: A Hidden Gem
Syros, Greece
You definitely want to get here before it becomes a Euro Summer hot spot!
A lesser known Greek island that deserves a lot more popularity. One thing that is really special about this island is that it has a main city called Ermoupoli that is VERY busy and lively. It also has “Ano Syros” which is like an “old town” vibe up above the city with views over everything.
I am someone who is constantly torn between a beach vacation and a city break, this island can give you both. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and things to do. There are beach clubs and fun bars to spend time in. Ano Syros provides the opportunity to explore the magical Greek alleyways you dream of when you’re thinking of a Greek island vacation.
There are also lots of amazing beaches and cool hikes around the island. One of our favorite things we did on this island was a cheese and wine tour! We got to meet the cheese producers and taste their cheese, visit a winery and taste their wines, and then have dinner in an amazing garden. If this island isn’t on your radar, it should be. Wine, cheese, quads, and beaches = euro summer perfection.
If you want to read more about Syros as well as another underrated island Andros, check out my post here —-> Andros & Syros: Greek Islands You Need to Know About
If you want to check out some tours on Syros you can check here —-> Syros Tours
Korcula, Croatia
I believe this island is gaining slightly in popularity, but still seems to be overshadowed by the popularity of Hvar. Let me tell you, Korcula is a gem! I recommend staying in or very near to the old town as it is truly lovely.
This island has a lot explore and I do recommend wine tours, biking tours, and visiting amazing beaches. In the old town there are some delightful wine bars, a bar on top of a turret, shops, and so much more to explore. This town still felt very local when we visited and although it had some touristy things it didn’t feel overdone. We loved spending our days swimming in the sea and our nights in the town. This is a perfect stop on a euro summer road trip through Croatia.
If you want more info about Korcula, I have a mini guide here —> Korcula, Croatia: A mini guide
If you’re looking for tours in Korcula, check them out here —–> Korcula Tours
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