If you're going on a trip this summer, choose your destination carefully. After over two years of quarantine thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, summer 2022 has lots of people traveling all over the world. Most of the borders are open nowadays and many places are back to normal. This, of course, means the most popular destinations are bound to be jam-packed. That's not exactly what you want for your trip now, is it? So why not go to the more underrated summer destinations in Europe? There are Nafplio in Greece, Trieste in Italy, and Zadar in Croatia, to name a few. Get your
Schengen Visa ready and find out what makes these places so magical!
Nafplio, Greece
Greece already has its fair share of amazing summer destinations. There's the Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Corfu, Kefalonia, and more. If you
moved to Athens, you can go to any of these places as often as you want. As well as, of course, the lesser-known islands like Nafplio. Located in the country's Peloponnese region, this is a port city that's equal parts historic and equal parts paradise. It has Greece's signature paradisical coasts down pat, but also a few archeological sites that any history buff would go gaga over. One of the best ones? The Theatre of Epidaurus! Built in 340 B.C., it used to host a whopping 13,000 spectators in its heyday.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Ksamil, Albania
Since it used to be a war-torn country, many people forget that Albania is as much of a summer destination in Europe as Greece, Spain, Italy, and more. The country sits on the southeastern edge of the Balkan Peninsula, allowing for many stunning beaches to see when you get here. Particularly, in the coastal city of Ksamil in southern Albania. It's not that far-fetched to say that the turquoise waters here are some of the clearest in Europe. They positively put the shores of Italy and Greece to shame! And it's perhaps thanks to the fact that the place is largely unknown!
Source: Flickr.com/ Artur Malinowski
Malaga, Spain
When people think of summer destinations in Spain, they mostly think of Barcelona, Ibiza, Alicante, or the Canary Islands. This comes as no surprise considering that these places are pretty paradisical in their own right.
Ibiza is known as the party capital of Europe and the
beaches of Alicante are not to be overlooked. But do you know another place in Spain that also deserves some attention? The resort town of Málaga. There's a lot you can do here, from swimming at the beach to going shopping along its luxury districts. Rest assured, you won't ever feel bored in Málaga!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Trieste, Italy
Remember that going on a summer trip to Europe doesn't always have to include going to the beach. You can have just as much fun sightseeing as you would splashing around at the seaside. And if you visit a city like Trieste in Italy, you'll be too busy marveling at the amazing sights, you'll forget all about the sand and sea. The ancient Roman Amphitheater here is awe-inspiring. It's so well-preserved that you can easily imagine what the place was like all those centuries ago. You shouldn't miss the Castle of Saint Giusto too. Perched atop Capitoline Hill, it's a Medieval fortress worth posting about on social media.
Source: Flickr.com/ Tony Hammond
Zadar, Croatia
It's a shame that Zadar, the city that sits on the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia, isn't as well-known. It's one of the best summer destinations in Europe as it has both a bustling city life and beautiful coasts to match. Though you can practically rent, buy, or build a
luxury villa here, an apartment in the city center is enough. At least, this places you in the center of all the action. Moreover, among many things, Zadar is known for its coastal promenade where the waves hit the concrete steps. It's the best spot to hang out when you want to cool off without swimming.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Ohrid, North Macedonia
You rarely hear North Macedonia as a destination when you're choosing where to go for your summer in Europe, right? Since there are so many countries to choose from—ranging from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia—this former Yugoslavian nation rarely gets any attention. And perhaps that'll change when more and more people discover its hidden gems! Not the least of which is Ohrid, one of the biggest lakes in all of Europe. Trade in the usual salty seas to that. of the fresh waters of this calm, serene, and totally scenic place. It's the stuff of fairytales!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Amazone7
Stavanger, Norway
And finally, if you want to travel up north to Scandinavia this summer, the city of Stavanger in Norway is a great choice. You haven't heard of it, have you? That's no surprise since the place is practically made up of natural wonders. There are barely any people here to spread the word about this hidden gem of a destination. However, that's also what makes Stavanger so worthwhile. Since it's largely unknown and terribly underrated, this also means that many of its natural escapes remain untouched. If you want to see Mother Nature in her full glory, this place is one of your best bets.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
If you plan on traveling to Europe this summer, forget the usual destinations that you already know about! Instead, visit some of the most underrated destinations in this region. You'll find that they have lots to offer and with fewer crowds too!
