Europe is one of the most popular destinations during the summer season. So many people visit that the warmer months here got their own name: euro summer. I’ll share with you the best Eurosummer destinations so you can plan an incredible summer vacation. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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Europe is so diverse and has so many different countries that any traveler will find a destination that they love during the summer. The Mediterranean Sea, the Balearic Islands, and the Adriatic Coast are great choices for people who are craving sandy beaches and water sports.
The big cities can be the perfect romantic destinations. And they can also be great choices for solo trips. If you like cultural events, they
Cooler destinations like the Swiss Alps can be so great for hiking and other activities in nature.
I will share some of the best European destinations based on where I traveled so far in Europe.
Athens and the Greek Islands
Athens is a great city. It is such a wonderful mix of history, street art, little streets, and modern neighborhoods. It’s a great choice for a solo adventure, especially if you want to learn more about the Greek ancient history. And eat all the souvlaki!
And the Greek Islands are a dream: beautiful beaches, sunny weather, water activities, and natural beauty. They should be at the top of any European getaway during the summer.
Things to do
Athens is a very popular destination, visited annually by over 6 million people. It has such a rich cultural heritage and it offers so many historic sites, as well as hidden gems, for you to explore.
Going to the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and Panathenaic Stadium is a must. Exploring multiple neighborhoods like Plaka, Monastiraki, Psiri, and Pangrati is a great way to become familiar with the different vibes of Athens. And seeing the view of Athens from Lycabettus Hill is spectacular.
If you like cafes with out-of-this-world decorations, then stop by Little Kook. If you want to see the modern side of Athens you should check out the Stavros Niarchos cultural center.
Seeing the change of guards in Syntagma Square is such a great activity. It’s a combination of military tradition and art. Plus, it’s free.
There are so many things to do in Athens! It’s a fantastic and very beautiful city.
As for the Greek Islands you can lounge in a beach chair all day, you can hike to a remote beach, you can party, you can eat all the fresh seafood. You can live your dreamiest island life.
Santorini and Mykonos are the two most popular islands. That means that they are more expensive, have more tourists, and you have to book things in advance.
If you want to experience the Greek Islands with fewer crowds then go to Paros, Naxos, Milos, Rhodes, or Crete. They are all so beautiful!
The Amalfi Coast, Italy
The Amalfi Coast is one of the best European summer destinations. The small towns with cobblestone streets that are perked up on cliffs are so pretty.
There are stunning beaches in every town. And of course, the food! Pizza, pasta, limoncello, gelato. So delicious!
Plus, the Italian people are all so friendly and nice. And that dolce far niente style of living in the summer is exactly what you want while on vacation. Italy is hands down one of the best summer destinations.
Things to do
The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline in the South of Italy and it includes multiple towns: Amalfi, Sorrento, Ravello, Ischia, Positano being some of them.
The best way to experience the Amalfi Coast is on the water. A sailing trip here is perfection. That’s because of a few reasons.
One, you can visit multiple towns much easier. You don’t have to worry about train schedules, booking train tickets in advance, and sitting in crowded cars until you get to your next stop. On a boat trip you have your place of the yacht, it’s not crowded, and it’s stress free.
Second, you can admire the magnificent views from the water, something you can’t easily do if you just visit the towns by land.
Third, you can sleep outside on the yacht and enjoy the most charming views. How many people have that sleeping arrangement? It’s such a dream to see the flickering lights on the cliffs, to feel the gentle breeze on your skin, and to hear the sounds of the sea.
Sailing Amalfi group trip
If you want to experience the Amalfi Coast by yacht, you can join my Amalfi group trip June 15-22.
It’s a sailing trip on a private 10-people yacht along the Amalfi Coast with stops in Sorrento, Salerno, Amalfi, Positano, Capri, Ravello and Ischia.
The trip costs 2,225 euros and there is a payment plan available.
Romania
I was born and raised in Romania, and I moved back here after living in NYC for almost 14 years. I lived in a different country and I also traveled to 20+ countries so far. So I can objectively tell you that Romania is one of the most underrated European countries. But it’s the perfect destination for summer travel.
It’s one of the most beautiful countries out there with an incredible varied landscape. The Carpathian Mountains, the Black Sea, the Danube Delta (a UNESCO World Heritage Site with rare fauna) are all hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Plus, there are incredible castles and preserved medieval towns all over the country.
The people are friendly and most of them speak English. The food is delicious. And contrary to the stereotypes you might heard about, it’s a safe country. It wasn’t always safe, but things changed a lot and nowadays it’s safer than most Western Europe countries. I debunked some common myths about Romania in this blog post and I highly encourage you to read it.
Things to do
You should spend maximum 2 days in Bucharest and then explore the country. The most incredible places in Romania are outside of the capital city.
You should visit Bran Castle (or Dracula’s Castle) and Peles Castle. They rival in beauty and history with other castles in more well-known destinations in Western Europe.
The nature in Romania is so raw and magical. You can visit villages and have cooking workshops with locals, you can visit gypsy communities to learn more about this minority and their lifestyle, you can visit a sheepfold to see how traditions are preserved in the countryside and taste some of the most delicious cheese.
Romania also has one of the largest brown bear populations in Europe. You can go on a bear watching tour to see these impressive animals a few feet away from a safe observatory designed for wildlife photography by wildlife photographers. I like to call this activity a bear safari.
You can drive on the most impressive mountain road in the world, Transfagarasan.
Spending a few days in the Danube Delta is a must. You will be able to spot rare species of birds, eat the freshest fish dishes, and see wild horses in the Letea Forest.
And there are so many other things to do: hiking in the Carpathian Mountains, visiting Salina Turda (one of the most impressive salt mines in the world), visiting fortified churches, visiting the monasteries of Moldova. And so much more!
Romania group trip
If you don’t want to travel solo to Romania or if you don’t want to plan your trip, then you can join my group trip August 30-September 6. This is a group trip for solo travelers in their mid-20’s – early 40’s.
I am incredibly excited to show you my country! I personally created the itinerary so you can explore the best parts of Romania. We will visit Bucharest, Brasov, Sighisoara, Salina Turda, go on a bear watching tour, hike in the Carpathian Mountains, visit a gypsy community, do a cooking workshop in a village, visit a sheepfold, and more.
The trip costs 1,590 euros. The first 5 people who book can get 100 euros off by using discount code SOLOINSTYLE. This is an epic trip and I hope you can join me.
Madrid, Spain
Madrid is one of my favorite cities in the world. I fell in love with it from day one. It was the first time I visited a place that I really connected with and I even started to think if I should move there.
I have so many reasons why I love Madrid! First, it’s such a beautiful city. The architecture is stunning. I am huge on urban aesthetics. If a city is not pretty I will probably not like it. I don’t know about you, but I need beauty in my life to thrive.
The friendly locals were so warm and welcoming and I loved how they live their lives to the max. I spoke to so many locals who told me that their focus is living their life: “no ganamos mucho, pero vivimos de p*ta madre en España”. I love that outlook on life.
Maybe another factor that contributed to falling in love with Madrid was that I was speaking Spanish. I learned Spanish when I was a kid living in Romania by watching Latin American soap operas, called telenovelas. I always dreamed of visiting Spain and the Spanish-speaking countries in LatAm. So being finally in Spain and talking to natives in Spanish made my inner child so happy.
Plus, everything else – the food, drinks, weather – was 10/10 in Madrid. I could go on and on about why I love Madrid so much, but I’ll stop here so you don’t fall asleep reading this.
Things to do
Madrid is a popular destination and for good reason. It’s so beautiful and there are so many things to explore. You should visit Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace.
Eat your bodyweight in churros con chocolate and tapas. Then walk off those calories in El Retiro Park. You can also do some shopping on Gran Vía. And you must catch a flamenco show when you’re in town.
If you like museums, Madrid has the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum where you can see Picasso’s Guernica, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.
This is just a teaser in terms of what you can do Madrid. Visiting Madrid was one of my best experiences ever! I highly recommend it as a summer destination.
Florence, Italy
Florence is the city of art. There’s so much beauty and history clustered in that town! Florence houses many masterpieces of Renaissance art such as Michelangelo’s David sculpture or Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.
Plus, the architecture is stunning, and the Duomo is a masterpiece in itself. Thus, Florence is a very popular destination for people across the world.
I saw so many posts about it on Instagram and it looked so dreamy, so I needed to visit. And it did not disappoint.
Things to do
For any art afficionado seeing David’s Statue at the Accademia Gallery and seeing the many Renaissance works of art at Uffizi Gallery at Pitti Palace is a must.
You’ll also have to check out the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and Piazza della Signoria.
You’ll find the best views of Florence at Piazzale Michelangelo. And a stroll by the river will also give you incredible views of Ponte Vecchio.
Try the famous Tuscan schiacciata sandwiches at All’antico Vinaio or Pino’s Sandwiches. And make sure to order a glass of wine from a wine window.
Venice, Italy
The feeling I got when I stepped out of the train station and I saw Venice for the first time was that this place is not real. It looks like it’s a city from a fairytale.
I had to pinch myself a few times to make sure I’m not dreaming. The entirety of Venice is so beautiful. Seriously, you won’t find a single ugly street here.
Things to do
Venice is smaller, but it is such a gorgeous destination. You can go to Piazza San Marco and have a coffee at Caffè Florian, the oldest coffeehouse in Italy. Get lost on its little streets and cross as many of its 400 bridges as possible.
Go buy a book and take an Instagram worthy picture at Libreria Acqua Alta. Go on a gondola ride. And eat as much gelato as you can. Venice is a dream!
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
I visited Amsterdam for the first time in February 2024 and it became one of my favorite cities in Europe. It’s such a great place! The Dutch people were so friendly, and they made me feel so welcome there. Everyone speaks English and they don’t expect you to speak any Dutch. This is so great for tourists!
The city is gorgeous! It has so many canals, and those traditional canal houses are so beautiful. I could have spent a month just strolling by the canals and I would have been happy. The city also has so many attractions, museums, and activities, you will never get bored in Amsterdam.
The public transportation is top notch. Amsterdam is a walkable city (like all cities in Europe), but it also has great metro, tram, and bus systems. They are very easy to use even for tourists.
The food is very good and there are a lot of local delicacies to try like fries, poffertjes, stroopwaffels, and bitterballen.
Things to do
There are so many things to do in Amsterdam! If you like traditional museums, you should visit the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. If you’re like me and prefer modern and immersive art, then you’ll have a blast at Moco Museum. And if you like history, you should definitely visit the Anne Frank House.
A canal cruise is a must when you’re in Amsterdam. You’ll be able to see all the cute canal houses, some more modern buildings, many bridges. The boat ride lasts about one hour. The boat has a closed top, but it has windows that open all the way so you can take pictures of everything you see.
A’DAM Lookout is perfect for everyone who loves panoramic views of a city. Plus, if you like adrenaline, you can book a ride on the highest swings in Europe here. You’ll feel like you’re flying above Amsterdam.
Of course, no visit to Amsterdam is complete without a visit to the Dam (their famous central square that houses the Royal Palace and the New Church), and to the Red Lights District.
If you’re a beer fan you can learn everything about how they make Heineken at the Heineken Experience.
Since the Netherlands is a pretty small country, you can also take a day trip from Amsterdam while you’re there. Rotterdam, the Hague, and Delft are all great options.
You’ll have a great time in Amsterdam. I do think it is one of the best cities for solo female travelers.
Paris, France
Paris is always a good idea. It was my first solo trip destination, so it will always be a special place for me. I had the best time here and as soon as I got home, I started booking more solo trips. It’s where this solo travel journey started for me.
Paris is a beautiful city. The architecture is so aesthetically pleasing, the Seine cutting through the city is so breathtaking, and the famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower are even more impressive in real life.
And don’t even get me started on the food! Everything I ate in Paris was so delicious. Croissants, crepes, pate, cheese, and all local dishes are to die for. French cuisine is one of my favorites.
Paris is probably one of the most popular cities in the world. There are so many things to explore in the French capital city. You will need a few days to barely scratch the surface. If you like cities and all they have to offer, then Paris is one of the best destinations out there.
Things to do
I was in Paris for 3 days and I didn’t have time to see all the attractions I wanted to see. I guess it’s an excuse to go back soon. There is something for everyone in Paris.
The Parisian landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Sacre Coeur Basilica are all a must. A cruise on the Seine is such a great way to see most of the landmarks and beautiful buildings along the river.
If you like museums you will be very happy in Paris with The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Palais de Tokyo and so many other options.
Montmartre is a neighborhood that needs to be explored as well. This is where you can find the Sacre Coeur Basilica, the Wall of Love, and Moulin Rouge. Plus, it has a unique charm, so just walking through its cobblestone streets is worth it.
There are so many other things to do in Paris! Walking on Champs Elysée, crossing Pont Alexandre III, seeing a panoramic view of Paris from the Galeries Lafayette rooftop, visiting The Garnier Opera. And the list could go on.
London, United Kingdom
London was my second solo trip after Paris. It’s a city I learned about in my English classes at school in Romania and I’ve always wanted to visit. It’s a large city and its hustle and bustle reminded me of my beloved New York City.
I think it’s a great destination for a first solo trip since everyone speaks English and you have so many things to explore.
Things to do
You will probably need multiple trips to London to see everything. Big Ben, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus are all London classics that you need to see on your first trip.
The change of the guards at Buckingham Palace is an awesome experience, but I highly recommend you join a tour so you can actually see the guards marching instead of just sitting in front of the Buckingham gates and missing all the action.
Walking on Tower Bridge and exploring the Tower of London are some other great activities. Plus, there are so many parks, museums, and churches to explore. London is a vibe for sure!
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin is a very charming city that has a cool, old vibe. Most buildings in the city center are centuries old, made of brick, and only a few stories tall. If people were dressed in those clothes from 1700’s and there were carriages drawn by horses on the streets, I would feel like I traveled back in time.
The city also feels smaller than other European capital cities, which adds to Dublin’s cute factor. The little cobblestone streets are adorable. I loved getting lost in them.
The Irish people are very nice, but not overly smiley. The type of people that will help you out, but don’t feel the need to show this cheery facade. I personally love that.
Things to do
Dublin is a smaller European capital city, but it still offers plenty of things to do.
Dublin’s pub culture is elite. Getting drinks and food in a pub is a must. Learning about how they make Guinness and Jameson whiskey are also great activities in the Irish capital.
Trinity College Library is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, and Christ Church Cathedral are all very old building that have a rich history.
The talking statues of Dublin are also worth checking out. As well as Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison where a lot of Irish revolutionaries were imprisoned and executed.
The most unique experience I’ve had in Dublin was a silver ring forging workshop. The ring I made is one of my favorite souvenirs from my trips.
Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.