Where to go
Best places to visit in summer: five trips with room to breathe
Summer is when everyone travels at once. We chose places that cope well: Scottish lochs, a whisky island in the Atlantic and Greek and Italian islands where a quiet cove still exists.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
It is ten at night on Loch Lomond and the mountains across the water are still lit. A boat drifts towards the jetty, someone has lit a fire on the shore, and the midges have not found you yet. The Scottish Highlands in summer are a reminder that a summer trip need not mean crowds and heat.
In summer all of Europe is on holiday, and the famous southern resorts get hot and full. So we picked five places with space: two in Scotland, where summer is cool and light, and three Mediterranean islands where you can still find calm if you know where to look. For a pure beach holiday, see our beach guides.
Short answer: where should you go in summer?
For nature and a cooler summer, Loch Lomond and Islay in Scotland are excellent. For a Mediterranean island break, choose Santorini, Crete or Sicily, but pick your timing and area carefully. June and September usually bring more calm than July and August.
Best for lochs and hills: Loch Lomond
Best for whisky and empty beaches: Islay
Best for sunsets: Santorini
Best for families: Crete
Best for food and culture: Sicily
Cameron House
Cameron House on Loch Lomond.
Loch Lomond: the loch on Glasgow's doorstep
Loch Lomond is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area and sits in a national park less than an hour north of Glasgow. In summer, boats link the villages along its shores and paths climb into the hills around it, Ben Lomond among them.
Hire a kayak, take the boat to the island of Inchcailloch and continue north to Glencoe and the Highlands if you have time. Evenings are long and light in June and July.
The catch: midges, tiny Scottish biting flies, are a nuisance on still summer evenings. Bring repellent and look for a breeze. Read our Scotland guide.
Cameron House: a jetty and golf by the loch
Cameron House stands at the southern end of Loch Lomond, with its own lochside golf course, a spa and a jetty for boat trips. It is a short drive from Glasgow airport, which makes it an easy first stop on a Scottish trip. It is large and suits families and couples alike.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Cameron House
The Machrie
The Machrie on Islay.
Islay: the whisky island in the Atlantic
Islay lies in the Inner Hebrides and has around ten working distilleries, most known for peaty whisky. Ferries run more often in summer, and in late May the island holds Fèis Ìle, its festival, when distilleries open their doors with special bottlings and music.
Beyond the distilleries there are long empty beaches, seals on the skerries and plenty of birdlife along the coast. Hire a bike or a car to get around.
The catch: ferries from Kennacraig need booking well ahead in summer, especially with a car, and rooms sell out long before Fèis Ìle. See our pick of places in Scotland.
The Machrie: dunes and a sea view
The Machrie sits among the dunes in the south of Islay, with a links course and a long beach outside. Summer evenings are long enough for a round of golf after the distillery visits. A natural base for whisky travellers and golfers who want to stay by the sea.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Machrie
Canaves Oia Suites
Canaves Oia Suites on Santorini.
Santorini: the caldera at sunset
Santorini is built on the rim of a volcanic crater, and the view across the caldera is why it is one of the most visited islands in Greece. Summer brings sun every day, and the sunset at Oia is famous worldwide.
Walk the clifftop path from Fira to Oia early in the morning, swim at the black and red beaches on the south side and take a boat around the caldera.
The catch: cruise ships arrive in July and August, and Oia is packed at sunset. June and September are better, and the meltemi wind can blow hard in midsummer. Read our Santorini guide.
Canaves Oia Suites: the sunset from your own terrace
Canaves Oia Suites clings to the caldera rim in Oia, with white suites and pools stepped down towards the sea. You watch the sunset from your terrace rather than from the crowd at the castle ruins. Rates are high and the steps are many, so it suits couples best.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Canaves Oia Suites
Daios Cove
Daios Cove on Crete.
Crete: an island big enough for everyone
Crete is the largest Greek island, which means you can find calm even in July. In the east, Agios Nikolaos and Elounda have sheltered bays; in the west, Chania has a Venetian harbour and the beaches of Balos and Elafonisi.
Hike the Samaria Gorge, open from May to October, visit the palace ruins at Knossos early in the morning and eat in the mountain villages.
The catch: distances are long and you need a car. Choose one part of the island rather than trying to cover it all. Read our Crete guide.
Daios Cove: a bay of its own
Daios Cove is built around a private bay near Agios Nikolaos, with terraced villas climbing the hillside and many with their own pool. It is quiet and secluded, suiting families and couples who want to stay put. You will need a car or taxi to explore.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Daios Cove
Villa Igiea
Villa Igiea in Palermo.
Sicily: Palermo and the islands to the north
Sicily in summer is hot and lively. Palermo has street markets, street food and baroque churches, and ferries from Milazzo run to the Aeolian Islands, the volcanic chain north of Sicily where Stromboli is still active.
Swim at Mondello near Palermo, take the boat to Lipari and Salina, and drive east to Cefalù, with its cathedral and a beach right in town.
The catch: August is very hot and coincides with Italy's own holidays. Spend the middle of the day in the shade or in the water. Read our Sicily guide.
Villa Igiea: art nouveau by the sea
Rocco Forte Villa Igiea is on the waterfront at Acquasanta, north of central Palermo, in an art nouveau villa with gardens running down to the sea. In summer the pool and sea breeze are a welcome break from the city. Both the centre and the beach at Mondello are a short drive away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Villa Igiea
Good to know before you book
June and September are often best: you get summer weather with fewer people and lower prices than July and August.
Book ferries early: crossings to Islay and the Greek and Italian islands fill up in peak season.
Scotland needs layers: summer is mild, and the weather changes several times a day.
Heat in the south: in Greece and Sicily, use mornings and evenings for activity.
Summer travel: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to visit in summer?
Loch Lomond and Islay in Scotland for nature and a cooler summer, and Santorini, Crete or Sicily for a Mediterranean island break.
Where can you travel in summer without the crowds?
Scotland, eastern Crete and the islands north of Sicily are calmer than the best-known resorts. Travelling in June or September helps even more.
When is Fèis Ìle on Islay?
Fèis Ìle takes place in late May each year, with open distilleries, special bottlings and music across the island.
Is Santorini worth it in summer?
Yes, but it is crowded in July and August. Stay in Oia or Imerovigli for the view and go out early and late.
Where is cool in summer?
Scotland, Ireland and Norway have mild summers without intense heat, and are good choices when southern Europe is at its hottest.