Don’t we all dream of spending our summers exploring the cities of Rome, Lisbon, Dubrovnik or road tripping on the Almafi Coast and taking daily swims in the Mediterranean Sea. Maybe you are dreaming about eating Gyros on a greek island and watching the sunset or cycling through a vineyard in the south of France.
Europe can be the perfect getaway during the summer months and I’ve done some research for you! In this blog post, there are endless ideas of where to spend your European Summer, you might just want to explore one singular country or hop from country to country if you have more time!
Italy
Italy has to be my favourite destination in Europe, there is nowhere I have been in this country and not fallen in love with it. From the amazing cuisine to gorgeous towns and stunning beaches Italy is the perfect place to spend your summer.
Take a boat tour on Lake Como
Explore the colourful island of Burano in Venice
Sightsee around Rome and make your wish at the Trevi Fountain
Eat pizza in Naples
Cliff jumping at S-Archittu, Sardinia
Take a cliche photo in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Rent a car with friends and road trip the Almafi Coast
Get all glam for a day out in Portofino, don’t forget to grab some gelato!
Portugal is known for its beautiful beaches and is home to 1,794 km of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. Whether you choose to go for a relaxing beach holiday or to discover the charms of the Portuguese cities, you’ll be in for a great time!
Visit the Benagil Caves in Algarve
Take a day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sinatra
Go wine/port tasting in the Douro Valley
Have a beach day at Praia do Camilo
Check out the “city of bridges” Porto
Take in the unspoilt beauty of the Ilha Deserta, Faro
Try a Pasteis da Nata (portugese custard tart) in Lisbon
Visit the Sé, Portugal’s oldest cathedral in Braga
Chill out and relax in the old fishing village of Alvor
Spain
Spain is a very popular destination for Brits like me, whilst there is plenty of resorts and hotels for holidays Spain has a lot more to offer!
Bask in the architectural beauty of the Alhambra in Granada
Hike along the Caminito del Rey
Explore the work of Gaudi in Barcelona
Take a day trip from Madrid to explore Toledo
Party the night away in Ibizia
Visit the Alcázar of Segovia (supposedly the castle Walt Disney took inspiration from for Cinderella)
Try paella in its home city of Valencia
Go canyoning around the Guadalmina River
Visit one of Spain’s oldest towns, Ronda
Check out Plaza de España in Seville
The Balkans
According to Google, the Balkans are defined as a geographic area in Southeastern Europe made up of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia and finally Slovenia. These gorgeous countries can provide a more budget-friendly trip with considerably fewer tourists around, so a win-win in my opinion.
Swim in the lovely waters of Lake Bled, Slovenia
See the “Stari Most” a famous bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hike around Durtimor National Park in Montenegro
Explore the beautiful beaches along the Albanian Riviera
Check out the Kravica Waterfall, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visit Perućac Lake in Tara National Park, Serbia
Live the glam life on the Croatian island of Hvar
Relax on the shores of Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
Discover the vibrant city of Belgrade, Serbia
See the popular waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Greece
Greece is a beautiful summer destination in the Mediterranean and with historic sites everywhere and gorgeous coastal views, it’s no surprise it’s such a popular holiday spot in Europe.
Explore the cobbled streets and enjoy the nightlife in Mykonos
Take a boat trip to marvel at the beauty of Melissani Cave
See the historic sites of Athens
Put your explorer hat on and find the shipwreck in Zakynthos
Check out the romantic spot of canal d’Amour in Corfu
France
A glamorous country that has places to explore all year round, but when the summer rolls in the South of France is the place to be.
Visit the town known as the “pearl of the French Riveria” Menton
Explore the cobbled street and open-air markets in St Tropez
Take in the stunning views of Gorges du Verdon
Go celeb spotting in Cannes
Walk around the colourful old town of Villefranche-sur-Mer
By no means is this an exhaustive list of things you can do in Europe, there are many more countries that haven’t even been mentioned, let alone the countries that have there is still plenty more to explore. I hope you managed to take some inspiration for your dreamy European summer holiday and let me know your favourite summer destinations!
