Every year, the same thing happens. The clocks go forward, the evenings stretch out, and half the country starts daydreaming about being somewhere warmer. For most of us, that means pulling up flights to Spain or scrolling through villa listings in the south of France. There’s nothing wrong with that, but Europe has a lot more to offer than the usual suspects.
The truth is, some of the best spots on the continent are the ones that haven’t been plastered across every travel blog and TikTok feed. And the good news for anyone flying out of the UK is that most of them are only a couple of hours away.
Take Albania, for starters. The Albanian Riviera has been quietly building a reputation among those who’ve actually been there. Crystal-clear water, rugged coastal mountains, and tavernas where a full meal with wine still costs less than a round of drinks in central London. It’s the kind of place that makes you wonder how it stayed under the radar for so long.
Then there’s Slovenia. Smaller than Wales, but packed with alpine lakes, medieval towns, and some of the best cycling routes in Europe. Ljubljana, the capital, feels like a miniature Prague without the stag dos. It’s relaxed, walkable, and genuinely beautiful, the sort of city where you sit down for a coffee and end up staying for three hours.
For families or anyone after proper beach time, the Peloponnese in southern Greece is worth a serious look. It has all the charm of the Greek islands but without the overcrowding. You can rent a car, explore ancient ruins in the morning, and be floating in the Aegean by lunchtime. It’s the kind of flexibility that package deals to Corfu or Crete don’t always give you.
Planning your summer holidays doesn’t have to mean choosing between the same handful of destinations year after year. A bit of curiosity goes a long way, and Europe rewards people who are willing to look slightly off the beaten path.
Even Portugal beyond the Algarve deserves a mention. The Alentejo coast, stretching south of Lisbon, has dramatic cliffs, empty beaches, and a pace of life that makes you forget you ever owned an alarm clock. It’s becoming more popular, sure, but it still feels miles away from the tourist trail.
The flight times are short, the options are endless, and the pound, while not what it used to be. still stretches further in plenty of European corners. Sometimes the best trip you’ll ever take is the one you almost didn’t book.
