Europe's Underrated Summer Destinations: 10 Alternatives to Crowded Hotspots
Lonely Planet has identified 10 under-the-radar summer destinations across Europe that offer quieter alternatives to crowded hotspots. These range from Arctic wildlife cruises in Norway's Svalbard archipelago to mountain spa retreats in Austria and wine country loops in Spain's La Rioja. Each destination provides a distinct experience, from Alta Badia in the Italian Dolomites with its Michelin-starred cuisine and World War I hiking trails, to Portugal's Minho region known for vinho verde and historic towns like Braga and Guimarães. The Pelion Peninsula in Greece offers isolated beaches and mythological landscapes, while the Pyrenees in France provide stargazing at Pic du Midi observatory. Latvia's west coast features empty Baltic beaches shaped by Soviet-era restrictions, and Albania's Riviera still offers affordable coastal escapes. Stockholm combines urban culture with archipelago scenery, and Austria's spa towns like Bad Gastein and Bad Ischl focus on wellness. Travelers can avoid peak season crowds by visiting early or late in summer, or by choosing less frequented areas within these regions.
Key facts
- Lonely Planet's guide covers 10 destinations across Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece, France, Austria, Latvia, Norway, Albania, and Sweden.
- Alta Badia in the Dolomites offers Michelin-starred dining and via ferrata routes.
- Portugal's Minho region is known for vinho verde and historic towns like Braga and Guimarães.
- La Rioja has roughly 500 wineries, with designs by Frank Gehry and Santiago Calatrava.
- The Pelion Peninsula in Greece features the narrow-gauge Pelion Train running in July and August.
- Pic du Midi observatory in the Pyrenees is within a dark-sky reserve and peaks for Perseid meteor shower around August 12.
- Austrian spa towns include Bad Aussee, Bad Ischl, Bad Gastein, and Bad Hofgastein.
- Latvia's west coast has 300 km of shoreline, with Slītere National Park and Kolka headland.
- Svalbard archipelago in Norway is accessible by sea for 1-2 months in summer, with polar bear sightings.
- Albania's Riviera includes Saranda, Himarë, and Butrint archaeological site.
- Stockholm's archipelago has 14 main islands and tens of thousands of smaller islets.
- Travelers can avoid crowds by visiting early or late in season, or choosing quieter resorts.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Lonely Planet
- Marqués de Riscal
- Ysios
- Pic du Midi observatory
- Slītere National Park
- Butrint
Locations
- Alta Badia
- Italy
- Dolomites
- Cortina d'Ampezzo
- Bolzano
- Venice
- Verona
- Innsbruck
- Austria
- La Villa
- San Cassiano
- Corvara
- Portugal
- Minho
- Lisbon
- Algarve
- Ponte de Lima
- Braga
- Guimarães
- Viana do Castelo
- Porto
- La Rioja
- Spain
- Bilbao
- Zaragoza
- Madrid
- Ebro River Valley
- Haro
- Rioja Alta
- Rioja Alavesa
- Logroño
- Calle del Laurel
- Briones
- Laguardia
- Sierra de Cantabria
- Greece
- Pelion Peninsula
- Athens
- Thessaloniki
- Horto
- Milina
- Platanias
- Horefto
- Agios Ioannis
- Damouhari
- Fakistra beach
- Volos
- Ano Lehonia
- Milies
- France
- Pyrenees
- Pic du Midi
- Lourdes
- La Mongie
- Tarbes
- Toulouse
- Pau
- GR10
- Salzburg
- Bad Aussee
- Bad Ischl
- Bad Gastein
- Bad Hofgastein
- Salzkammergut
- Latvia
- Ventspils
- Liepāja
- Kolka
- Baltic Sea
- Gulf of Rīga
- Vaide
- Košrags
- Mazirbe
- Rīga
- Norway
- Svalbard
- Longyearbyen
- Spitsbergen
- Oslo
- Albania
- Saranda
- Himarë
- Potami
- Palasa
- Borsh
- Bunec
- Ksamil
- Llogara Pass
- Vlora Bay
- Karaburuni Peninsula
- Butrint
- Corfu
- Brindisi
- Sweden
- Stockholm
- Gamla Stan
- Nordmalm
- Gröna Lund
Sources
- Quartz —