Europe is often hailed as the ultimate summer destination thanks to its stunning beaches, historic cities, and wide range of activities to suit every traveler’s taste. With its charming coastal towns, such as those along the Italian Riviera, the white-washed islands off Greece, or the beaches of the Costa Blanca in Spain, sun-seekers can bask in the Mediterranean sun while taking in wow-worthy scenery and eating delicious food.
So, here I am to tell you all about the prettiest towns we’ve had the pleasure of exploring in Europe. It features pastel-colored seaside villages (Cinque Terre), a quaint English village (Rye), and not forgetting one of my favorite Greek islands – the lesser-known Syros.
1. Cinque Terre, Italy
Cinque Terre is a breathtaking collection of five distinct fishing villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, clinging to the rugged Ligurian cliffs. Each village offers a unique perspective on coastal life, from the sandy shores of Monterosso to the dramatic, high-up views from Corniglia.
Getting between all these villages is super-easy, and it’s the perfect place to visit for hikers. Whether you use the train that connects all the villages or hike along the legendary Sentiero Azzurro coastal path (also called the Blue Trail), on the journey between each village, the views are spectacular.
The Blue Trail winds through ancient olive groves and terraced vineyards, offering hikers unparalleled views of the turquoise Ligurian Sea. The dry-stone walls supporting these terraces are a testament to centuries of local ingenuity.
After a day of exploring the narrow, pastel-hued lanes, you can enjoy fresh seafood in small harbours where fishing boats still bob in the water. And you could even hop on board a sunset cruise to see the best of the region from the water. It’s 3 hours long, and aperitifs and prosecco are served on board, and you can also do some snorkelling.
Where to stay in Cinque Terre:
We highly recommend Hotel Villa Adriana (one of the largest hotels in the Cinque Terre, and it has an outdoor pool). It is located in the new part of Monterosso.
2. Alicante, Spain
Another favorite European city of mine is Alicante in Spain. It holds a special place in my heart because my parents have had a summer home here for 20 years. Alicante is a quintessentially ‘Spanish’ city. The Castillo de Santa Barbara is beautiful, and the harbour area is very sophisticated with cool bars and restaurants. But the best part of the city is the quirky, flower-filled streets of the El Barrio neighbourhood.
There are also a few off-the-beaten-path gems that we love in Alicante – like the super-photogenic La Ereta Park and the gorgeous white-washed town of Altea.
Where to stay in Alicante:
Hotel Almirante has a large outdoor pool and epic beach views from most of their rooms. This Alicante hotel is located at San Juan beach, a 10-minute drive from Alicante.
3. Brighton, England
Quirky Brighton, my husband’s home city, has long been a go-to for Londoners wanting a dose of sea air, but it works just as well for couples visiting from abroad. The Royal Pavilion sits right in the centre, its Indo-Saracenic domes still surprise me every time I see it.
The Lanes – my favorite part of Brighton, form a tight network of alleyways lined with independent jewellery shops, record stores, and cafés. It’s easy to spend an afternoon weaving through them before heading down towards the sea. Brighton Palace Pier offers the usual amusements and arcades, but we prefer walking west towards (quieter) Hove, where rows of painted beach huts stretch along the promenade in orderly lines.
Food is one of Brighton’s strongest assets, with options ranging from small seafood restaurants along the seafront to long-established vegetarian cafés (Food with Friends is awesome!) tucked into the city centre.
In Brighton, galleries, live music venues, and coastal walks sit close together, making it easy to keep a weekend getaway engaging without the need to overfill your schedule.
Where to stay in Brighton:
We loved the super-famous and luxurious The Grand on the seafront if you fancy splurging. It’s undoubtedly THE most famous hotel in the city. And the rooms are stylish and some come with sea views. Plus, the breakfast is one of the best we’ve ever had in England!
4. Rye, England
Rye is a quaint market town just a 30-minute drive from Hastings. The poster child for Rye is Mermaid Street, with its storybook charm. Mermaid Street is a winding cobbled street with great views, with slightly wonky stone and timber houses. Sort of Harry Potter-ish if you’re into that sort of thing.
Be sure to pop into the coziest pub in prime position on the street – The Mermaid Inn for a pint or some afternoon tea. For a small town, there are loads of cool things to do in Rye!
In Rye, why not stop for a coffee at Cafe des Fleurs on Station Road, or if you fancy the most amazing hot chocolate, then you can’t miss Knoops.
If you have more, stretch your legs out to Camber Sands, a long stretch of golden sand a 20-minute walk from Rye. If you can catch a sunset here, even better; the sky sure did put on a show for us when we visited last in October.
For the best view of Rye, you need to climb up the Bell tower at St Mary’s Church to see this historic town in all its glory.
Where to stay in Rye:
The Mermaid on Mermaid Street is so cosy and quaint and it’s a very famous place to stay in the area!
5. Florence, Italy
Florence is compact enough to navigate on foot, yet dense with landmarks that genuinely hold your attention. We recommend starting your time here at Piazza del Duomo, where the cathedral complex dominates the skyline and anchors the historic centre. Climbing Brunelleschi’s Dome requires commitment – 463 narrow steps wind their way to the top – but the view across Florence’s terracotta rooftops makes the effort worthwhile.
And the Uffizi Gallery deserves time, not a rushed pass. Even though we don’t consider ourselves art lovers, we still recognised (and admired) the paintings of Botticelli and Caravaggio once we got inside. Across the Arno River, we loved strolling around the Oltrarno district – it feels more residential. And it’s full of locals (I always prefer these types of areas). Here, workshops still produce leather goods and handmade paper, and Santo Spirito’s square fills with locals in the evening.
We also really like the Boboli Gardens behind Pitti Palace; wandering among the statues and shaded paths here was a welcome relief from the hot sun (we visited in July, so it was very hot!)
Florence is also the perfect base for day trips into the surrounding countryside. And there are plenty of Tuscany tours to consider, from vineyard visits in Chianti to a full-day exploration of Siena’s historic centre. If you can, adding time outside the city is a good way to get a true feel of the area, making a short break feel more varied and expansive. Does that make sense?
Where to stay in Florence:
We got incredibly lucky when we spent 3 days in Florence recently as we were upgraded to a gigantic suite in our hotel – The NH Collection Porta Rossa. It was seriously ah-mazing.
6. Madeira, Portugal
Madeira is one of the top trending travel destinations for 2026 and for good reason! We spent just under two weeks here this past April – and let me tell you it’s now one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited.
Yep, this previously under-the-radar island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean (in between Portugal and Africa) is home to black-sand beaches, lush mountains, and moody laurel forests. But it won’t remain undiscovered for long – so if you’re planning to visit, get there pronto!
Funchal, the island’s main city, is an amazing city with a great vibe, and we loved strolling around the Old Town with its cobbled streets and historic buildings. One of our Madeira highlights was the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens here and you can also do a super-fun wicker basket ride from here.
We also loved places like Fanal Forest, Porto Moniz, and Santana in Madeira.
Where to stay in Madeira:
We stayed at Pestana Quinta do Arco in the hills close-ish to Santana. This unique property is set within a rose garden and the rooms are like standalone bungalows nestled among the gardens. There are not only roses growing along the pathways between the rooms – but banana trees and all different types of flowers. It was one of the most unique places we’ve ever stayed.
7. Killarney, Ireland
This lively, colorful town is one of the most-visited towns in all of Ireland and for good reason. It’s picture-perfect, has loads of great bars and restaurants, and heaps of great locally-run stores too. Being from neighboring Cork, we visit Killarney regularly, and honestly, I never get tired of it.
Many tourists come here to check out the wow-worthy Killarney National Park, and I recommend spending at least a day exploring it!
We’ve visited this stunning park countless times over the years. And I’ll be completely honest, even though it’s insanely popular with tourists, it’s still one of my favorite places to visit in all of Ireland.
Killarney National Park, although huge (it’s a whopping 25,000 acres), is very easy to walk around, and there’s so much to do here, from visiting Muckross House to hiking to Torc Waterfall, that I recommend spending one full day here! That way, you’ll have enough time to go on a hike (we recommend the 3 km Knockreer circular walk) and visit the Park’s top attractions like Muckross House, Torc Waterfall, Muckross Abbey, and Ross Castle.
Where to stay in Killarney:
The Lake Hotel – Around 5 km from the national park and just 2 km from town, this refined manor dates back to the year 1820. However, this 4-star hotel, which sits right on the lake, has been modernized inside and boasts regal rooms, some of which have balconies. Rates start from €250 per night.
8. Santorini, Greece
Santorini tops the list for most people’s trips to Greece. Sure, the crowds can be manic, it’s expensive, and it’s a little pretentious. BUT its sunsets are beyond outstanding, its local people are surprisingly friendly, and what other place in the world can you find hotels built into the side of a cliff?
What can I say about Santorini that hasn’t already been said? It’s top of a lot of people’s bucket list for good reason.
It’s an Instagrammers dream in Oia, the way the light falls onto the quirky ‘cave houses’ is magnificent any time of the day. Most of the hotels here have a pool, but there is also a black sand beach in Perissa if that tickles your fancy.
Our top tip for here is NOT to stay in Oia or Fira (the crowds here are crazy); instead, opt for Imerovigli or Pyrgos, which offer the same views with fewer crowds. Also, summer in Santorini can be VERY busy, so instead, try to visit in May or September – when the weather is still warm and the evenings still bright.
Where to stay in Santorini:
We stayed at the phenomenal Above Blue Suites on the cliffs of Imerovigli. Even though it was pricier than the rest of our accommodation on our Greek itinerary – it was to be expected for Santorini. We are so glad we splurged a little, as Above Blue Suites is perfect. The breakfast every morning is so fresh and yummy. Plus, you can easily walk along the cliffs to both Oia and Fira.
9. Syros, Greece
Syros Island is in the Cyclades region, famous for its sunsets and white-washed houses. Syros is one of the first stops on the ferry from Athens to Santorini. It’s one of the least-visited islands in this region and so it was a pleasant change for us after the crowds in Athens.
We stayed literally next to the beach in a region called Galissas. A sort of sleepy beachside resort, populated mostly with Greek holidaymakers. The village of Galissas has no more than five restaurants, all very good, mind you. And every night we climbed the steps of the little white church on the hill, sat on its wall, and watched the sun set into the ocean with a beer in hand. Heaven.
Where to stay on Syros Island:
We stayed at the bright and modern Hotel Remvi. Gorgeously decorated and airy rooms featuring a fantastically large balcony. A lovely pool to dive into after a hot day of exploring. Also worth noting is the excellent breakfast and the very reasonably priced beers at the bar.
10. Malta
Malta is a great summer destination – it’s safe, it’s easy to get around (the public bus system here is fantastic), and the weather is great. Although at times it can get quite hot (it’s supposedly one of the hottest parts of Europe), because it’s a small island, you’re never too far away from the water.
Some of our favorite things to do here included Popeye’s Village (the movie set from the movie Popeye), wandering around the streets of Valletta, and visiting Mdina (the silent city).
You can also easily do a day trip to the Blue Lagoon on the island of Comino. Known for its turquoise waters and breathtaking scenery, the Blue Lagoon is perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
Where to stay in Malta:
We booked a traditional Maltese apartment for in Valletta, and the space was a welcome change from our all-inclusive hotel DB San Antonio in Bugibba previously. The apartment was located on West Street, and it was beautifully done up while retaining its historic charm.
11. Mallorca, Spain
This gorgeous island is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe (it attracts over 12 million tourists every year). And it’s the biggest of the Balearic Islands, so as you can guess – there are loads of places to see and heaps of things to do!
Mallorca is home to some of Europe’s must-see places like Palma (the largest city on the island) and the super-famous Drach Caves. But, it also boasts several hidden gem spots like the bohemian Cala Ratjada and the family-friendly Sa Coma.
Where to stay in Mallorca:
We highly recommend Helios Mallorca in Can Pastillo near Palma. It scores an impressive 9/10 on booking.com and offers guests an indoor and outdoor pool. As well as other fun facilities like a mini golf course.
Thanks for Reading 🙂
Booking Your Trip Soon? These are my go-to booking sites!
Below you will find a list of the sites we always use when booking our trips. By booking via the below links you can support my writing at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much!
1. Flights
I use Skyscanner or Cheapoair to find the best flights. It allows you to compare and book flights on over 500 airlines from across the globe.
2. Hotels
I use Booking.com for all of our hotel stays. And if we’re traveling on a budget, I like to use Hostelworld to book a hostel.
3. Renting a Car
We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars. This is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
4. Tours
I use Viator or Get Your Guide to book any guided tours we plan on doing. I find Viator particularly good for the USA, Canada & New Zealand, and Get Your Guide is great for Europe.
5. Travel Sim Card
An eSIM is a great idea if you’re coming to a place for more than a week. As that way, you won’t need to change your number or remove the physical SIM from your phone. They are so handy and cheap, too. Obviously, make sure your phone is compatible with an eSIM first. We always Holafly eSIM for Europe for our eSIM’s in Europe.
6. Airport Pick-Ups
Instead of cabs, we book with welcome pickup to get from the airport to our hotel. Why did we do that? The drivers from Welcome Pickups are English speaking and you’ll pay a flat rate. So, you know exactly how much you’re paying before hopping in.
7. Compensation for Delayed or Canceled Flights
You can easily claim compensation for a canceled or delayed flight with the website – AirHelp. You just input your flight details and some personal information, and AirHelp will handle the rest.
Last Updated on July 26, 2026 by snaphappytravel