We know at this point in the lead-up to summer, you’re probably being bombarded already with Mykonos girlies and scenic Amalfi Coast rides on your feed, but in case this will be your first Eurosummer, and you’re craving a taste of that idyllic, slow-paced life, let us hold your hand as we say this:
Those are not the way to go about it.
Instagram only offers you a squeaky-clean, heavily-curated snapshot of a wider, much more brutal scene.
What they don’t tell you about Mykonos is that the only way to properly enjoy it is barricading yourself in a $1,000-a-night villa, away from the madness of Little Venice, or that you can’t even take your rental car down to the Amalfi Coast on certain dates, based on whether you have an even or odd car plate number, and several beaches require advance booking.
Europe is meant to be savored slowly and spontaneously, not a meticulously-planned, logistics-heavy, budget-wrecking holiday.
Skyscanner’s well aware of this, and they’ve just put out their own selection of Europe’s best beaches without crowds, but we decided to narrow it down to the top 3 we’ve been to ourselves, and can vouch are Eurosummer-bliss personified.
Ready? Ight, let’s do this:
PLUS: We’ve built an interactive quiz for you at the end of this article to find your perfect match!
Curonian Spit, Lithuania
Lithuania’s probably not the first destination when you put Euro and summer together, but before you close the tab just hear us out real quick.
The Mediterranean is probably the last place you want to be this season if you hate feeling uncomfortably hot, like you’ll melt after taking only ten steps in the scorching sun, and fighting your way through crowds at every turn.
Up in the Curonian Spit, a narrow isthmus stretching from Lithuania to Russia’s Kaliningrad region, the weather is much more mild, refreshing, and crowding is usually kept at a minimum. That is, local families who can’t be bothered going to Greece in summer.
Now, before you panic, Lithuania is perfectly safe. It does share a border with Europe’s current number one enemy, and the Curonian Spit is one of the closest points you can get to Mother Russia without actually crossing the border.
The region of Russia it shares a border with, however, is the Kaliningrad exclave, hundreds of miles away from the mainland, where most of the geopolitical tension is taking place, and out 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, and according to the Traveler Safety Index, which is informed by on-the-ground reports by travelers, it scores a stellar 82/100 as far as security goes:
This is a UNESCO-protected sandbar stretching for 61 miles, and between the calm lagoon waters and the white-sand beaches facing the Baltic Sea, there’s plenty of secluded, virtually-unspoiled swimming spots to choose from.
Nida Beach is a standout, backed by pine forests and fringed by soft white sands and azure waters. Now, the sea here isn’t Spain-warm—these are the Baltics—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? Featured on a list of the least-crowded European sunny spots? Bear with us:
The Spain of the huge cruising crowds, $15 sangrias, and hours-long queues for beach access is limited to only a handful of destinations. Think Barcelona, Mallorca, Ibiza, Costa Del Sol, and other marginal Mediterranean hubs that are basically crumbling under the weight of overtourism at this point.
Fly to Fuerteventura instead, and you’ll get a completely different side of Spain.
For starters, this is a remote island thousands of miles away from the jam-packed mainland, part of what we call the Canary Islands. The Canaries are actually pretty popular with beachgoers, with the overtourism situation being just as bad in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, probably.
Fuerteventura, on the other hand, feels comparatively quiet, more laid-back, and it doesn’t typically attract the British stag do goers, or all-inclusive holidaymakers, like its neighbors do.
It has a year-round warm climate, and the nature here can be best described as being wild and rugged. It’s not exactly untouched by tourism, but given the ample choice of beaches, and a more-restrained approach to development, it never comes across quite as overrun, or ‘gimmicky-Spain’ as the rest.
Skyscanner hails Flag Beach as one of the best beaches in Europe, and we won’t be the ones to dispute that. If it’s golden sands, bright-blue waters, and kite surfing you’re into, that’s definitely the place to be.
Our own favorite coastal spots in Fuerteventura include Sotavento, known for its shallow lagoons and family-friendly atmosphere, El Cotillo, a charming fishing village painted golden at sunset hours, and Cofete, an offbeat coastal stretch backed by imposing mountains.
Check Entry Rules For Europe Ahead Of Flying
If you’re going to Europe this season, you’ll want to stay up to date with the fast-changing travel regulations.
The Old Continent now expects all Americans to agree to being fingerprinted and getting a facial scan upon arrival, and soon enough, you’ll be required to apply for a mandatory travel permit ahead of flying, potentially from as soon as September.
Before you head to the airport, make sure you run a little destination check on the Entry Requirements Checker page here.
Isola Bella, Sicily (Italy)
The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has no shortage of beautiful ancient towns perched atop volcanic hills, scenic beaches hugged by teal-colored seas, and scenic countryside roads to explore, yet a majority of its visitors will be headed to the White Lotus-featured Taormina and Noto.
If they’re not easily spooked by that unhinged Southern Italian chaos and attitude, maybe they’ll squeeze in a city break in Catania or Palermo. Regardless, they’ll just briefly breeze through most of Sicily.
That’s a shame, as the most idyllic, picturesque, cinematic beach destination on the island remains criminally overlooked. In fact, all of those Taormina-bound buses just whiz right by it without even glancing over their shoulders down to the Ionian coast.
Skyscanner-approved, Isola Bella is a tiny islet just off the Taormina coast. In order to get here, you need to walk down the hill, as opposed to up the winding roads that lead to the glamorous postcard town.
The island is usually accessible on low tide, and it features tiny pebble beaches, luxuriant foliage, and mysterious sea grottoes.
The steep pathways that lead to its tallest point are dotted with shrubs and ruined walls, and at the very top, you’ll find a historic villa that once belonged to a wealthy baron.
Lucky for the pleb, like us, it is now open to visitors for a small $5 fee.
Directly facing Isola Bella, on the mainland strip, Mazzarò is a pebble-paved beach boasting both lido clubs and free sections, and family-run waterfront trattorie where you can get your hands on some arancini and freshly-caught seafood, and of course, we know it’s busy, but do take the uphill bus going to Taormina at some point.
After sunset, crowds usually dwindle along the town’s buzzing main street, and the sunset views atop the Ancient Theater are nothing short of stunning.
Now take this quiz to find your perfect match!
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
