Beyond the Typical Euro Summer Hotspots

Still planning your summer escape? These five destinations deserve a place on your itinerary.

For many travellers, planning a Euro summer begins with the same shortlist. The Amalfi Coast, Mykonos, Ibiza and Saint-Tropez continue to dominate itineraries, and for good reason. But the continent is full of destinations that deserve just as much attention. The best trips aren’t always built around the destinations flooding your feed. More often, they’re found in the places sitting just outside the spotlight, where the restaurants are just as memorable, the hotels have far more character and every part of the experience leaves you wondering why more people aren’t talking about it. The kind of places that are so good, you’re tempted to gatekeep.

If you’re still considering a summer getaway or putting the finishing touches on your itinerary, these are five destinations worth adding to the list.

Albanian Riviera

Go now before everyone else does!

The Albanian Riviera is no longer Europe’s best-kept secret. Over the past year, it’s found its way onto more and more Euro summer itineraries, thanks to its crystal-clear waters, laid-back beach clubs and coastline that rivals parts of Greece and Croatia. While it still feels less developed than many of its Mediterranean neighbours, that is beginning to change.

There is a reason more people are adding the Albanian Riviera to their Euro summer itinerary. Alongside its stunning coastline, it remains one of the more affordable destinations on the Mediterranean, making boutique hotels, beach clubs and exceptional seafood far more accessible than in many of Europe’s best-known summer hotspots. Spend your days slowing down in Himarë, or make your way to Ksamil for a livelier beach scene after dark. It still has that sense of discovery, but with interest growing year on year, it may not stay that way for much longer.

PAUSE Hotel Pick: Saint Nicolas Hotel

Imagery CREDIT: Saint Nicolas Hotel

Taormina, Sicily

The Italian alternative to the Amalfi Coast!

Imagery CREDIT: Grand Hotel Timeo

The Amalfi Coast may still be one of Europe’s go-to summer destinations, but with soaring prices and packed streets during peak season, Taormina makes a strong case for heading a little further south. Located on Sicily’s east coast, the town is filled with historic streets, lively piazzas, sweeping sea views and some of the island’s best food. Life moves at a slower pace here, where mornings are best spent wandering through the town centre before making your way down to Isola Bella for an afternoon by the water.

Taormina has all the charm of an Italian summer without quite the same intensity as some of the country’s better-known hotspots. Between family-run trattorias, rooftop aperitivos and Mount Etna rising in the distance, it feels both relaxed and refined. If you’re looking to experience Italy outside the usual Euro summer circuit, this is a good place to start.

PAUSE Hotel Pick: Grand Hotel Timeo

San Sebastián

Food is only part of the appeal!

It’s no surprise that San Sebastián is one of Europe’s most celebrated food destinations. From the Old Town’s traditional pintxos bars to its thriving Michelin-starred restaurant scene, eating well is simply part of everyday life here. The city itself is just as appealing, with elegant architecture, a relaxed promenade and La Concha, one of Europe’s most beautiful urban beaches.

Food may be at the heart of the city, but the city’s appeal doesn’t stop there. Wander through independent galleries and boutiques, spend the afternoon on the beach, then join the locals as the city shifts into the evening over pintxos and a glass of txakoli. It hits the sweet spot between culture, coastline and exceptional food.

PAUSE Hotel Pick: Akelarre – Relais & Châteaux

Image CREDIT: Akelarre – Relais & Châteaux

Ljubljana & Lake Bled

For a change of pace!

Image CREDIT: Zlata Ladjica Boutique Hotel

If your idea of a summer holiday involves slowing down rather than becoming what the internet has now dubbed an “itinerary warrior”, Slovenia is well worth considering. Start in Ljubljana, where riverside cafés, independent boutiques and leafy streets make it one of Europe’s easiest cities to explore on foot. It’s compact enough to see over a couple of days, but with enough going on to tempt you into staying a little longer.

Less than an hour away, Lake Bled shifts the pace entirely. Spend the day swimming in the lake, hiring a traditional rowing boat or walking the trails that hug the shoreline. Together, Ljubljana and Lake Bled make an easy twin-centre escape that feels refreshingly different from the Mediterranean, while still delivering everything you’d want from a European summer.

PAUSE Hotel Pick: Zlata Ladjica Boutique Hotel

Rovinj, Istria

Croatia from a different perspective!

Dubrovnik and Hvar may get most of the attention, but Rovinj has a character all of its own. Colourful buildings line the harbour, fishing boats come and go throughout the day, and the old town is a maze of narrow streets that are best explored without Google Maps. It’s the kind of place where you’ll easily and happily rack up steps without realising it.

The wider Istrian region is known for its vineyards, olive oil and truffles, proving Rovinj offers far more than just Instagrammable views. Spend your days moving between the sea, local wineries and long lunches that naturally roll into the afternoon. It’s still Croatia, just from a different perspective.

PAUSE Hotel Pick:Grand Park Hotel Rovinj