Are you looking for places to visit in Europe in summer? Enticing as it is to daydream about your summer holidays, you need to think ahead and set everything up in advance. First of all, obviously, you have to choose your holiday destination, something that isn’t that easy to do because this continent offers plenty of great choices. Luckily for you, the rest of this text contains some spectacular suggestions. See which are the hottest vacation spots in Europe right now and learn all about their main advantages. Do you prefer to party hard on a hot Mediterranean beach or wind down in a place made for rest and relaxation? Find your new favorite here!
Enjoy the hot and beautiful Barcelona
Barcelona is among hot holiday destinations every single year, and for a very good reason. Well, several reasons. Sagrada Familia is an absolutely stunning piece of architecture, the beaches around the city are fantastic (and Barceloneta makes it one of the best beach destinations in Europe), there are loads of incredible dishes you simply must try, and the people are extremely friendly and cheerful. One of the best and most beautiful cities in Europe, no doubt about that, which is why every year quite literally millions of tourists visit it. Prepare to be amazed!
Chill out in Porto
We’re staying on the Iberian Peninsula just a little more. Porto may not be as popular as Barcelona, but it is certainly one of the best places to go on a holiday you can imagine. Excellent wine, loads of history and culture, numerous quaint locations and many other delightful features make this a perfect blend of a modern city and a place from history textbooks. And don’t worry – there are plenty of beaches here on which you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean.
Experience Nice and the French Riviera
Moving on to France. Naturally, when discussing the best European holidays, we simply can’t skip this beautiful country, and Nice is among the most fascinating places you can visit there. It’s the French Riviera, after all! No matter how you slice it, this city is brimming with class, something that was recognized long ago by the likes of Picasso and Chagall. Museums, huge strips of sand next to the azure sea, incredible sights, statues and so much more… No wonder this is one of the most popular summer holiday destinations in Europe. If you want to fancy things up a little, this is the place you need to visit.
Visit Naples, the home of best pizza in Italy!
You didn’t think we’d forget about Italy, did you? When it comes to hot holiday destinations, this country has them in spades. We’ll start things off with the city of Naples, a place that epitomizes southern Italy. This is where you come to enjoy the best Italian pizza but also to marvel at the archaeological and historic legacy the city has. For some refreshment in the Mediterranean Sea, head out to the Amalfi Coast and choose the perfect spot in some of the picturesque towns that are so characteristic of Italy.
Travel to beautiful Catania, Sicily
But Catania is also among great summer holiday destinations. As a matter of fact, it is probably the best Sicily has to offer. Not only does it offer everything Italy is known for, but it also has a surprisingly good nightlife and a chilled out atmosphere you won’t easily find elsewhere. People here know how to enjoy everything life has to offer, so why not join them? Enjoy the sun, great food and plenty of remains ancient Roman architecture, all under the watchful eye of Mount Etna the biggest volcano in Europe. Do be careful, though – the city is so attractive you may want to stay here forever!
Become mesmerised by the city of Dubrovnik
When it comes to hot holiday destinations, very few can match what Dubrovnik has to offer. If you’re a fan of the show, you may recognize it as King’s Landing from Game of Thrones, but the city offers so much more. Fantastic food, impeccably preserved old town and fascinating city walls all add to an incredible feeling you get when you’re walking Dubrovnik’s narrow streets which have so many delightful secrets you simply must discover. The crown jewel of Croatia’s coast, this place is without any doubt one of the best summer holiday destinations you can think of.
Cool yourself down in Bled Lake
And now for something slightly different. To really get away from summer heats, you will want to head to Bled and its magnificent lake. The island in its middle is the only island in Slovenia, but although this Slovenian gem is one of the more unusual holiday destinations, it is a fantastic way to spend your vacation if you want to avoid huge crowds and simply relax. This is also a great place for an active vacation, so you WILL feel rejuvenated once your vacation is over, you can bet your house on it.
Party hard in Kotor
Speaking of unusual holiday destinations, how about Kotor in the tiny country of Montenegro? It has absolutely everything you could wish for from your vacation – it is surrounded by stunning nature, its old town is mesmerising and its walls very impressive, as are its beautiful beaches, plus there are loads of great party options at night. All at very reasonable prices! So, you get the full Mediterranean experience in a small but incredibly beautiful country and you get your money’s worth. Coming here is one of the best holiday ideas a traveler can have, trust us. You’ll be glad you visited!
Be amazed by the colors of Santorini
No trip around the Mediterranean is complete without a visit to Greece. And the best destination for a spectacular European vacation there is the island of Santorini. Now, this is quite a unique island with its beaches of red and black sand and picturesque villages whose bright-white houses and blue rooftops create a remarkable array of colors. Apart from all the things you can expect when in this part of the world (great food, excellent wine, clear blue sea etc.), there are many archaeological sites to explore, including Akotiri – a settlement which predates the Greeks and goes all the way back to the Bronze Age. The island is a perfect place to enjoy yourself in the truest sense of the word, so if you want to get away from big cities, this is where you need to come!
Discover the majesty of Istanbul
Finally, our overview of top places to visit in Europe in summer will end on the east side of the continent – in Istanbul. This magnificent megalopolis gives you a completely different side of Europe, and you can see all the best examples of Muslim culture in this city. The incredible Blue Mosque, the famous Hagia Sophia, the Bazaar where you can probably buy anything you can think of, a different but incredibly good variety of food… the list of reasons why you have to visit this, the fourth largest city in the world, just goes on and on. This is a holiday idea you will never regret because you will remember a visit to this city forever!