Ah, summer in Europe. Slow mornings spent reading books and trying all the local pastries you can get your hands on; afternoons strolling along the river or exploring quiet neighbourhoods; evenings sipping rosé in sun-dappled squares. The only thing that can disrupt the pure bliss of summer in Europe is the threat of heaving streets, packed bars or overbooked restaurants – a reality that is, unfortunately, all too common in the continent’s most popular destinations.
While we would never suggest avoiding such hotspots altogether, there is a lot to be said for choosing a lesser-known holiday spot during the peak summer months. There's a rapidly growing trend for travelling to alternative destinations, too – #dupe or #dupes amassed 342,000 posts on TikTok as part of the surging interest. Thoughtful travellers are reacting to the world around them – watching the rising temperatures and over-subscribed tourism of popular destinations during the summer, saving those destinations for off-peak travel and, instead, selecting off-beat destinations to visit. Below, our editors have put forward their favourite alternative European destinations to try this summer.
Braga, Portugal
Portugal’s oldest city is also one of its most underrated. Despite being in the shadow of neighbouring Porto, Braga is a deserving destination in its own right. Pootle along narrow, cobbled lanes to unearth restaurants serving platters of traditional Portuguese dishes – Tabique, for example, specialises in slow-cooked meat and rich and thick sauces with potatoes for mopping, while just outside of the city, Dona Júlia is renowned for its sleek interiors and farm-to-table cooking. To soak up some of Braga’s history, visit Sé – Portugal’s oldest cathedral dating back to 1070 – or take a day trip to Bom Jesus do Monte, a picturesque staircase with decadent chapels and pretty fountains.
Where to stay: Braga doesn’t have an abundance of smart hotels, but book Vila Gale for a city-centre stay in a building dating back to 1508.
Bordeaux, France
This city may not be lesser-known, but when compared with the number of travellers that flock to Paris during the summer, we deem it worthy of a mention in this list. There's world-class wine, proximity to the sea and more than 350 historical buildings and monuments to visit. It’s largely pedestrianised, so travellers can easily explore by foot. Stop to admire the likes of the Grand Théâtre, the Gothic Tour Pey-Berland or the Basilica of Saint Severinus. Or head into the hinterlands to ogle at some of the country’s top châteaux and wineries dotted along the Gironde.
Where to stay: The Mondrian Bordeaux Les Carmes, just outside of the city, is the perfect place to get a taste of the city and the countryside. See our guide for more of the best hotels in Bordeaux.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam’s cool little sister is finally getting the attention it deserves. Rotterdam, an old industrial port town, has slowly moulded itself into a hub of culture and design. Its climate-conscious outlook is also enticing travellers looking for a new summer city break. Rotterdam committed to cutting its CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2029 and has steadily unveiled new green spaces, eco-friendly design, and pedestrianised streets over the last few years.
Where to stay: Hotel New York has a selection of sleek bedrooms overlooking the river Maas in the city’s Kop van Zuid neighbourhood.
Bergen, Norway
Hiding behind the shiny prestige of Oslo, Bergen is a nature-lover’s paradise. The city itself is known for its colourful wooden houses – a rainbow of rusty red, royal blue, sunny yellow and earthy green, each stacked prettily along the waterfront. But look beyond the houses for even more breathtaking beauty – even in the summer you might spot snow-capped mountains, which cast long shadows of glittering fjords and hiking trails, providing the perfect playground for a summer adventure escape.
Where to stay: Book into Bergen Børs Hotel for a stylish stay in a 19th-century building.
Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina
The Dalmatian coast is as beautiful as it is overloaded, so head further inland to Bosnia and Herzegovina instead (and return to Croatia’s shoreline in the shoulder season, when temperatures are cooler and crowds are fewer). Mostar is an alluring city break, with its fairytale-like streets, craggy hillsides and ancient stone bridges, complete with surrounding vineyards, waterfalls and mountain hikes nearby.
Where to stay: Stay at Muslibegović House, originally home to a wealthy family in the 18th century and now a glittering museum of Ottoman decadence
This story was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK