We sometimes forget to admire the beauty around us when we’re so focussed on traveling and exploring the world. I’m from Europe and I used to forget that Europe has many beautiful destinations. Most of the time I’m looking at dream destinations outside of Europe, like the Maldives or Australia. Do you need more travel inspiration for new destinations to visit in Europe? I got you!

10 Dreamy Destinations in Europe to Visit Soon

From Spain to Sweden and from Madeira to Poland – Europe is often seen as just “one” destination, but this continent holds 51 countries. That’s 51 countries with all a different culture, various local recipes and amazing places to visit. There’s a large difference between countries close to each other. Let’s take my home country as an example, the Netherlands. You can get in the car and drive to France within 3-4 hours and France has a totally different culture than we have. Honestly, it is my favorite thing about living in Europe. I can drive anywhere and end up in a different country and climate in just a few hours.

Explore Norway and hike the fjords with breathtaking views

Norway is one of the nordic countries in Scandinavia in the north of Europe, above Denmark and next to Sweden. This country is mostly known for the breathtaking fjords that give you an amazing view and hotspots like Trolltunga. Did you know that the water between the fjords is usually the same depth as the height of the fjords? Little bit haunting when you think about it!

Not only can you go to Norway for the best hikes and to admire the nature, Norway is also packed with cute towns and cities to explore while you’re here. This is definitely a destination to go for if you love an active and nature packed holiday. The temperatures during the summer are pretty nice, but it’s obviously not southern Europe so don’t expect full sunny days and high temperatures. Especially not when you’re higher up on the fjords.

Stroll around the colorful villages in Cinque Terre in Italy

I’m convinced everyone has at least heard of Cinque Terre in the south of Italy. These colorful villages in the south of Italy are Instagram famous and a hotspot to visit in Italy. You’re not going to find much authenticity here, but I have included it in this list because it really is dreamy. Try to go outside of the high season if you can to avoid most of the crowds. Cinque Terre is the name for the five villages located in this area,

Riomaggiore is the most south village of Cinque Terre and it has a small harbour. The many stairs will lead you to an amazing view, and it’s even possible to climb even higher to get to the most amazing view where you can take awesome pictures. I can’t wait to visit this place with my camera! Monterosse al Mare is the most north village of Cinque Terre. The village wasn’t build as high on the mountain as the others, so it’s even possible to visit the beach of the village.

Corniglia was built higher up the mountain and you can either choose to climb the cliff if you’re in for an adventure and a work out of you can take the train. The sea view is supposed to be amazing. Vernazza is the most colourful village of Cinque Terre. This was once the richest village of all villages in Cinque Terre and it shows in the architecture. Manarola is the smallest and oldest village of Cinque Terre. The surroundings are full of vineyards so it’s the best place to drink a class of wine and enjoy the best views of the surroundings! The sunset looks amazing as well.

Cinque Terre allows about 1 million visitors per year to avoid mass tourism in these villages. The best way to get around is by train – there’s a train that stops in every single village. Buy your tickets beforehand or contact a local travel agency to make sure you’re able to visit Cinque Terre.

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Explore the hidden gem of Europe: Albania

Albania is a country in the Balkan in Eastern Europe, it is surrounded by North-Macedonia, Greece, Kosovo and Montenegro. It’s a very undiscovered country which makes it the perfect destination for your summer holiday.

The crystal blue water, white sandy beaches, white villages, small harbors… I could go on and on about the magnificent features of Albania. Many compare this country to the Maldives for its blue waters and Greece for the picturesque villages. Not only do you find this in Albania, this country also has high cliffs with amazing views and is also great for the adventurers among us.

Albania is new to tourism, which means it’s very undiscovered – making it the best place for your next slow travel trip and to experience those authentic travel moments. At the same time, this also means the infrastructure isn’t ready yet for the tourists. Be aware if you’re driving around – the views are amazing, but stay on the main road because the secundair roads are not always developed – meaning: they could just stop when you’re halfway on your way. However, this calls for adventures, right?

I highly recommend renting that car and driving around, find the even more hidden treasures, go cliff jumping, stay in luxury resorts, eat locally at that restaurant in the alley, go for a swim, enjoy the sandy beach and explore the villages before everyone else does. Now is the time!

Smell the lavender in the Provence in France

The Provence is a region in the southeast France. The region lies between the Mediterranean, the Rhone Valley and Italy.

This region in France is well known for the bright purple lavender fields that every year fully blossom around August. If you’re looking for a good place to stay, I recommend checking out a few cities in the area. One that’s on my personal bucket list is Aix-en-Provence – a smaller city in the centre of the Provence. Larger cities are Marseille and Toulon who are also both located at the beach. You would need to drive more inland to visit the fields.

The Provence is also known for the many wineries and it’s specialty in the rose wine. You’re going to spot a lot of wineries if you drive around here, I highly recommend visiting one and do a wine tasting. Not only is the wine incredible, you’re also in of the most beautiful places in Europe. You will most likely have an epic view over the lavender fields or on the surrounding mountains.

My favorite place to visit the lavender fields? That’s Valensole! Don’t skip this town if you are on the hunt for the best fields. You can also stay in this town, although accommodation options are limited. Most tourists actually skip this town, which means it’s still mostly authentic and it shows you the French lifestyle more than the crowded places.

Admire the geysers in Iceland

I’ve decided to choose a specific area per country, but I couldn’t choose an area in Iceland because everything is beautiful. Iceland has a few fjords as well and it’s best of you rent a car explore this island. Furthermore, the northern lights and the blue lagoon look amazing. The geysers are a very popular stop in Iceland: the mother of all geysers is The Great Geysir. It’s shoots water up to 70 meters in the air.

We all love to see the northern lights once in our lifetime but it is rare to see it. Don’t get your expectations too high because there is a big chance that you won’t see the northern lights. Nevertheless, Iceland is definitely one of the top destinations in Europe to visit. There’s so much more to see beside the northern lights.

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Visit Madeira and all its hidden treasures

Madeira is a Portugese island that’s a paradise on earth. I’ve been lucky to visit this island back in 2019 and I was in complete awe of the beauty.

From nicknames like the Hawaii of Europe to breathtaking reels on Instagram: Madeira is quickly becoming more popular. However, Madeira is its own beauty and I feel like we shouldn’t compare it to other great places on our planet. From cliffside views and hikes on high altitude mountains with camping options to picturesque villages like Funchal and Santana to the rainforest with amazing flowers and levadas. Madeira truly has it all and it is a dream come true to visit this island if you love culture and nature.

I loved exploring Madeira – I stayed near Funchal and was able to take the bus for two euros per person to the center of this city. We went to dinner here on most nights and loved enjoying our meal on the tiny squares with street artists or in one of the small alley streets with the painted doors. The flowers on this island are truly magnificent and I was in complete awe when we were in the “rainforest” where it felt like we were alone in the world. From misty roads to dark green trees: it was amazing.

I also highly recommend the natural swimming pools in Porto Moniz and to visit the dark sand beach in Seixal. This beach is my favorite on the island, because it’s one of the very few sandy beaches and it has an incredible backdrop full of mountains.

Experience the true Greek lifestyle in Greece

Welcome to the beauty that is called Greece. With a stunning mainland to explore and more than 6.000 islands, of which 227 are populated, this country can offer you a lifetime of unforgettable travel experiences. From the main city of Athens, to islands like Crete, Zakynthos, Paros, Naxos and Santorini.

Greece is a dreamy destination and my preferred way to traveling around would be by taking the ferry. Not all islands, most actually, have an airport so you need to take the ferry most times. This is the ideal way of island hopping obviously. However, the serene lifestyle of the Greeks do invite you to take it slow and stay on one island during your stay. It gives you the opportunity to fully explore the place, enjoy all the different cafes and restaurants and to discover all the local shops.

I would actually recommend to stay away from the very popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos, even though these two islands do look incredible. My advice is to find islands much less popular to experience the Greek lifestyle and culture much more. Islands like Paros and Naxos are great to explore, although they have increased in popularity over the last couple of years. Greece in general is a very popular destinations, the offseason is the best time to explore all the islands. I would say the months May, June and September and early October are great to avoid the crowds but to still enjoy the sunny weather.

Live your true island life on Mallorca

Crystal blue water, white sandy bays, stunning road trips and a historic capital: the island Mallorca, part of the Balearic Islands of Spain, is one of my top favorite destinations in Europe to visit – I have been here six times already. I have explored the west, east, north and south coast and also visited the mountain villages and more inland located cities. Mallorca truly is a paradise on earth.

From the east side with picturesque white villages like Cala d’Or and narrow sandy bays with crystal blue water – perfect for families, to the south coast with a wide sandy beach that stretches all the way to the capital city Palma de Mallorca. The east side of the island is full of mountains and stunning villages, like Sóller, Deià and Valldemossa, and the north side has mesmerizing views, the most beautiful beaches of Europe and the amazing city Alcúdia. The island may be small, but to truly experience all sides of the island, you have to come back multiple times.

I recommend renting a car when you visit Mallorca, because it’s really easy and safe to drive around the island but it obviously also gives you the freedom to explore all those villages. My advice is to focus on one side of the island at a time. Don’t rush and try to tick off the boxes at once.

There are countless picturesque villages on the east side (or any other side of the island to be honest) to spend days exploring! Take you time, drink a cup of coffee at that local cafe overlooking the harbor, visit a few local shops and try at least a few of the local recipes in a restaurant somewhere hidden in an alley. We all know that’s where the best ones are hiding!

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Hike through the mountains in Austria

I have visited Austria so many times when I was little with my parents and sisters. We’ve loved exploring this country and enjoyed the many amazing views, cosy villages and the good food. Fun fact: the oxygen levels in Austria are much higher compared to the Netherlands and it always helps my mom and I with the pain in our joints. Somehow, the air pressure and the oxygen levels both help our bodies so much.

Austria is a versatile country with fun cities to explore, cosy villages to stroll around, mountains to hike or to ski or snowboard in the winter time, lakes to go boating, amazing roads for the perfect roadtrip and it obviously has amazing views. In the south of Austria you’ll find the Italian side of the country or you can just the border to Austria on that side as well. That’s the fun of exploring Europe!

For me personally, Austria is a calm and serene destination. I often dream of waking up in a bed and breakfast on the foot of a high mountain. I’ll wake up and open the curtains to have a breathtaking view over a green field with cows and the mountain filled with trees. Afterwards, I’ll go down, order a cup of coffee and enjoy the views from the garden. Austria is a great destination to slow down and enjoy the nature.

Dive into the history and beauty of Croatia

The perfect way to enjoy and discover Croatia? To travel around. This country has so much to offer – it’s almost a shame not to do it, but I wouldn’t create an itinerary that covers the entire country. You’ll be rushing and we don’t like rushing on this blog! We love to take this slow, but that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy multiple places during your stay in Croatia.

Definitely one of the most popular places in Croatia to visit is the Plitvice Lakes National Park. This nature reservation is located more inland and it offers a range of incredible nature spectacles, like breathtaking waterfalls. Enjoy a walk around here over the many bridges, rivers and enjoy the waterfalls or go for a boat tour. I know it’s popular, it’s also very crowded, so I advice to visit this during the offseason to avoid the crowds and to still enjoy the beauty.

I’ve been to Croatia a few years ago and we stayed in the area around Pula in the north part of Croatia. Did you know that Croatia has a pretty good railway system? You can take the train and enjoy places like Pula, Dubrovnik, Split and many more places. Simply buy an interrail ticket or buy a local ticket to travel around this country by train. You can to travel more sustainably, enjoy all the views and visit multiple places during your stay here. It’s the best of both worlds – I love train travel because it makes the travel time part of your journey.

Read more: The 6 Perfect European Cities With A Beach

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Which destinations in Europe are you visiting this year?

I have still so many of these that I want to visit again and discover all over again, alongside with so many other worthy destination to visit in Europe. There’s honestly so much to explore, 51 countries as I wrote in the introduction of this blogpost. Even though I’m from Europe: I still have so many ones to visit for the first time. Very excited to do that in the future.

Love,

Melissa.