The Summer Escapes Worth Knowing
For summer 2026, the more interesting trip is often one step sideways. An Italian coastline before the celebrity set arrives, a Baltic island instead of another Mediterranean beach, or a Greek mainland town that has somehow escaped the island-hopping circuit.
These are the destinations – and some of the corners within them – worth putting on your radar now.
EUROPE
The Albanian Riviera – Albania
Albania is no longer exactly a secret, but its coastline still has plenty of less-discovered corners. Skip the busy Ksamil and look towards Himara, Gjipe, and the villages around the Riviera. The landscape is all dramatic mountains, translucent Ionian water and small beaches tucked between rocky cliffs.
Gjipe Beach, reached by boat or on foot, feels removed from the polished resort circuit.
Albania's appeal is that it still feels slightly unfinished in the best possible way: beautiful old stone towns, family-run restaurants, and a coastline that hasn't yet been completely packaged for tourism.
Puglia, Italy
Puglia delivers the whitewashed architecture, brilliant blue water, and long lunches you are looking for, but with a distinctly southern Italian rhythm.
Base yourself around Ostuni, Ceglie Messapica or the Salento coast instead of simply ticking off Polignano a Mare and Alberobello. Spend the morning swimming, the afternoon wandering through limestone towns and the evening eating orecchiette, burrata, and grilled seafood under a canopy of vines.
Motovun and inland Istria, Croatia
For something slower, head north to Istria, particularly the hilltop medieval town of Motovun.
Perched above the Mirna River valley, it is surrounded by vineyards, forests, and some of Croatia's best truffle country. Here, summer is less about beach clubs and more about long lunches, local wine, and wandering ancient stone streets.
For a few days by the sea afterwards, look towards Silba or Unije, two quieter islands that offer a very different Croatian summer.
Pico – Azores, Portugal
Lisbon and Comporta are wonderful. But if you want Portugal with a little more adventure, fly west to Pico in the Azores.
The volcanic island is dramatic, with black lava landscapes, UNESCO-protected vineyards, swimming coves, and the enormous Mount Pico dominating the horizon. It is also one of Europe's more compelling places for whale watching.
This is Portugal for people who prefer hiking boots to beach clubs.
Saaremaa, Estonia
For a completely different kind of European summer, Saaremaa is the answer.
Estonia's largest island combines pine forests, sandy beaches, old manor houses, and a wonderfully understated spa culture. The pace is slow, the landscapes are expansive, and the summer light is spectacular.
It is the sort of destination that makes you question why every summer holiday has to involve the Mediterranean. Saaremaa has also been singled out among Europe's quieter summer beach destinations.
Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca is hardly hidden, but the north-east of the island still feels worlds away from the busiest resort strips.
Look towards Artà, Capdepera and the Parc Natural de Llevant for a more rural version of the island, with stone estates, olive groves, secluded coves, and hiking trails. The luxury here is about finding somewhere beautiful enough that you don't need to leave.
The Mani Peninsula, Greece
Instead of Santorini, Mykonos or even the busiest parts of Crete, point your map towards the Mani Peninsula in the Peloponnese.
Its landscape is rugged and cinematic: stone tower houses, olive groves, tiny fishing villages, and coves with clear water. The region feels untamed, while still offering excellent food and sophisticated places to stay.
If you want Greece without the island-hopping commotion, this is it. Mainland Greece is being recognised for precisely these quieter alternatives.
The Soča Valley, Slovenia
Slovenia's Lake Bled gets the postcards, but the Soča Valley deserves the attention.
The emerald-green Soča River winds through mountains, forests and small Alpine villages, creating a summer playground for hiking, kayaking, cycling, and swimming.
It is particularly appealing for travellers who want scenery and activity without sacrificing good food and beautiful accommodation.
The Masurian Lakes, Poland
Poland isn't usually the first country that comes to mind when planning a summer escape. That is precisely why Masuria is interesting.
Known as the “land of a thousand lakes”, the region is made for slow summer days on the water. Charter a boat, cycle through forests, stay in a converted manor, or simply spend the afternoon swimming from a wooden jetty.
It is a softer, greener alternative to Europe's busier seaside destinations.
The Curonian Spit, Lithuania
A long ribbon of sand separating the Baltic Sea from a lagoon, the Curonian Spit is one of Lithuania's most unusual summer landscapes.
Pine forests, enormous sand dunes, cycling paths, and small seaside villages – it feels closer to a Scandinavian coastal retreat than the Eastern European city break many travellers associate with Lithuania.
Tara National Park, Serbia
Serbia's Tara National Park is for those who would rather trade a beach towel for a mountain view.
Dense forests, deep river valleys, and viewpoints over the Drina River make this one of the country's most beautiful summer escapes. Add wooden mountain houses, local food and a slower pace, and you have a compelling alternative to Europe's better-known Alpine destinations.
Turku and the archipelago, Finland
Turku offers a more relaxed introduction to Finnish summer than the stylish Helsinki.
The city sits on the Aura River and acts as a gateway to one of the country's most beautiful islands, where thousands of these clusters create a maze of forests, rocky shores, and tiny summer cottages. Hire a bicycle, take a boat, and embrace the Finnish art of doing considerably less.
Turku has also emerged as one of Europe's under-the-radar summer destinations for 2026.
The Luštica Peninsula, Montenegro
Kotor is spectacular, but it can be busy. For a more secluded Montenegrin summer, look towards the Luštica Peninsula.
The coastline is dotted with tiny bays, olive groves and fishing villages, while the Adriatic remains impossibly blue. It is Montenegro at its most relaxed – with enough luxury hotels and restaurants to keep things comfortable without losing the feeling that you have discovered somewhere.
Ticino, Switzerland
Switzerland doesn't have to mean skiing, chalets, and snowy mountains.
In summer, Ticino in the country's Italian-speaking south becomes an entirely different proposition: palm-lined piazzas, stone villages, lakes, vineyards, and warm afternoons spent swimming in alpine water.
Stay around Ascona, Locarno, or the Verzasca Valley and combine the polish of Switzerland with the easygoing atmosphere of northern Italy.
THE MEDITERRANEAN & MIDDLE EAST
The Bozburun Peninsula, Turkey
Skip the busiest stretches of the Turkish Riviera and head towards Bozburun, a rugged peninsula south-west of Marmaris.
The coastline is scattered with quiet bays and small fishing villages, and the area is particularly beautiful from the water. Chartering a traditional gorge makes sense here: your hotel moves with you, allowing you to spend the day swimming in coves that are inaccessible by road.
Salalah, Oman – Middle East
Summer in the Middle East sounds paradoxical until you know about Salalah.
From June to September, the region experiences the khareef season, when monsoon weather transforms the normally arid landscape into something unexpectedly green. Waterfalls appear, mountains become misty, and the surrounding countryside takes on an almost tropical quality.
It is a completely different face of Oman – and one of the region's most fascinating seasonal secrets.
ISLAND LIFE
Maldives
The Maldives is famous for overwater villas, but the more interesting way to experience it is to look beyond the standard resort formula.
Consider a smaller local island or a resort with a strong sense of place, where reef conservation, marine life and local culture are part of the experience. The real luxury is being somewhere that feels connected to the ecosystem around it.
Zanzibar
Stone Town deserves a few days, but for the beach portion of the trip, consider Matemwe or the quieter stretches of Zanzibar's east coast.
The beaches are broad and pale, the water shifts between turquoise and deep blue, and the rhythm is considerably slower than the island's more developed areas. Add dhow sailing, spice farms, and Swahili cuisine for a trip that extends beyond the beach.
Rodrigues, Mauritius
Mauritius has long been a favourite Indian Ocean escape, but Rodrigues, its smaller sister island, offers something much more intimate.
There are lagoons, coral reefs, dramatic cliffs and tiny villages, with a distinctly slower pace of life. It is ideal for travellers who want the Indian Ocean without the polished resort atmosphere at every turn.
Silhouette Island, Seychelles
Mahé and Praslin are beautiful, but Silhouette Island feels like a different world.
Much of the island remains forested and protected, with granite peaks, jungle trails, and secluded beaches. It is the part of Seychelles for anyone who wants to disappear rather than simply check into a luxury resort.
ASIA
Koh Yao Noi, Thailand
Phuket and Koh Samui remain constant favourites, but Koh Yao Noi offers a quieter version of Thailand's island life.
The island sits between Phuket and Krabi, with views towards the dramatic limestone formations of Phang Nga Bay. Days here are about cycling through villages, swimming, eating exceptionally well, and watching the landscape change with the tide.
Lake Malawi, Africa
For an African summer with a difference, consider Lake Malawi.
The enormous freshwater lake is surrounded by mountains and tropical landscapes, with beaches that could easily be mistaken for a coastal destination. Kayaking, snorkelling, sailing, and swimming are all part of the appeal, while the surrounding communities give the trip a strong sense of place.
It is Africa at its most relaxed – and a welcome reminder that a great summer holiday doesn't require an ocean.
SOUTH AFRICA
The Wild Coast
South Africa's Wild Coast is the antidote to a predictable coastal holiday.
Instead of the usual Western Cape itinerary, head towards the Eastern Cape for beautiful green hills, empty beaches, dramatic cliffs, and traditional Xhosa villages. The coastline is wonderfully wild, and the best way to experience it is slowly – on foot, by car, and with plenty of time to stop.
For local travellers, it is also one of those rare destinations that can feel like a great escape without leaving the country.
THE ONE TO BOOK NOW
The beauty of these destinations is that none requires you to sacrifice style for discovery. There are boutique hotels in Puglia, design-infused stays in Mallorca, beautiful villas in Albania, and sophisticated accommodation across the Baltics and Balkans.
The trick is to look beyond the destination everyone is posting.