With travel opening back up, many people look to travel to Europe for their summer holidays.  Europe offers wonderful cities and destinations filled with historic and ancient towns and incredible beaches to enjoy.  Kati and I will be going back to Italy to enjoy a summer holiday but there are so many special places to choose from.

So you are planning to have a relaxing European holiday this season and not sure where to head to? 

With so many beautiful countries in Europe, selecting the best destination can be a challenge. You would not like to miss any place that is worth a visit in the summer. Selecting a handful of such destinations is challenging, but we have chosen a few of them. Let us take a look at the 8 best summer destination for your Europe trip in 2022:

Hallstatt, Austria

Located in an astonishing setting on the shores of the Black Lake, Hallstatt is known to be one of the most picturesque locations in Austria. The lavish mountains in the background add to its beauty, attracting many tourists every year. 

Though this place is relatively small, you can find many sightseeing options like the historic marketplace with the beautiful Trinity Column. People who love to hike or do outdoor activities can visit the Dachstein-Krippenstein Mountain towards the 5-Fingers Skywalk and beautiful Gosau, famous for its magnificent Lake.

Beautiful Hallstatt, Austria

Budapest, Hungary

People who want to have a relaxing, low-budget trip and love historical places should aim to visit Budapest. You can easily reach here by train or flight. The Gothic cobblestone streets will immediately take you back in time.

Food-lovers have innumerable options to choose from- as the fusion restaurants marrying western and eastern cuisine are crazy. In the evening, you can visit the Buda castle and enjoy the view of the notable chain bridge and their magnificent parliament getting its lights up.

You can also take the Budapest Eye, a Ferris wheel-like attraction, to get a view from the top. Yet another thing to do here is to visit the famous St. Stephen’s Basilica, the largest church in Budapest, known for its charming architecture. 

Malta

Malta will mesmerize you in summer with its natural pools and dreamy bays. It is home to enchanting villages, historical landmarks, archeological sites, cities that were built by knights, and an alluring culture influenced by the Brits, Italians, and Arabs.

You can relax and soak in some sun at locations, like St. Peter’s Pool, Riviera Bay, or Għadira Bay. If you want to visit a more fascinating destination, you can take a tour of the cities like Mdina and Valletta, or visit the enchanting Blue Grotto. Popeye Village is yet another attraction park that people love to visit here. 

You can also visit the two famous uninhabitable islands of Malta – Comino and Gozo. To reach here, you can either take a guided day tour, book a day cruise or go there independently by taking a ferry. 

Paris, France

Paris can have a humid and hot climate, at times, especially in August. It is still considered one of the best places to visit in the Summers. The rates of everything, from flights to hotels and tourist attractions, will be expensive during this season, but it is worth the visit. 

You can enjoy dining outside, lying down on the beaches, witnessing the Tour de France, or enjoying movies outdoors. You can also visit some of the best museums here or explore the widely known Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.

Paris is an incredible destination filled with museums and quaint cafes.

Crete, Greece

If you are someone who loves archeological sites, historic tales, and fresh food, then this place is perfect for your next summer break. The ideal time to visit Crete is June (to avoid crowds). The weather in July and August is impeccable, which means that you will find tourist-laden streets everywhere and will probably have to stand in queues to visit the famous tourist attractions. 

If you are looking to soak in some sun, you must visit the soft and sandy beaches of Crete. Elafonissi Beach is one of the best beaches here and known for its pink sand. It is only two hours away from Chania, one of the popular cities. 

Some other famous tourist spots of Crete are Rethymnon and Agio Nikolaos. 

Porto, Portugal

No matter, if you are a food lover, wine lover, beach bum, or history buff, this city has something for everyone. The birthplace of Port Wine had everything from the stunning Douro River to beautiful architecture and cultural scene to uncrowded surf spots. 

The international airport located here makes it possible for people from across the world to reach here easily. Alternatively, it has easy accessibility from bus and train. 

You can visit a few famous landmarks like Porto’s Cathedral, São Bento Train Station, Clérigos Tower, and Lello Bookstore. You can also visit the picturesque Ribeira district or climb the upper deck of the iconic Dom Luis Bridge. 

Reykjavik, Iceland

While Iceland is famous for the northern lights, many travelers choose it as the summer destination to soak in the endless sunlight. By this, we mean that from mid-April to mid-August, there is no darkness in Reykjavik, thanks to its geographical location. 

You can walk through some of the most gorgeous overlooks and hiking trails. The enchanting beauty of this city can never fail to impress anyone. You can also visit the stunning concrete church, called Hallgrimskirkja, and book a tour for whale watching. 

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik can not fail to impress you with its orange-tiled roofs and ancient stone walls. It is indeed one of the most beautiful cities on the Dalmatian Coast. The old-world beauty of this city makes this a famous destination for summer travel. 

If you are a “Game of Thrones” fan, you should not miss the view of the “black waters” and book a guided tour for yourself. After a hectic day, you can soak yourself in the sparkling blue Adriatic Sea and enjoy fine dining at any restaurant (it is almost impossible to pick a bad restaurant). 

To avoid the crowds, you can visit this place in early May or late September. This city will be full of tourists in the peak summers. You can also take a quick ferry ride to visit the beautiful Lokrum islands, where you can visit the ancient Monastery and float in the Dead Sea.

Our Final Word

Europe offers so much when traveling.  Whether by taking a road-trip or flying directly to a location, European holidays are always special.  We love renting a car and just looking for those out-of-the-way places that do not appear in any guide books.  Where ever you go, have a great time and enjoy the culture, architecture and history that comes from a European holiday.

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