Forget the Amalfi Coast and the $400-a-night villas, Mallorca with the distasteful Brit-led stag dos, and Mykonos’ surging cruising hordes—now with Emily i̶n̶ ̶P̶a̶r̶i̶s̶ in Greece approaching, to say that godforsaken island is crowded would be an understatement.
Mediterranean summers are all about kicking it back on a pebbly beach, admiring the views of a stone-built harbour town in the distance, and gorging on fresh seafood that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg just because it’s presented nicely, all plucked out, cut up, and drizzled with olive oil by a ceramic vase.
If you’re hoping for the purest, most unfiltered form of European summer, where waiters’ smiles come across as genuine, not as a hungry ploy for your generous American tips, long summer days seem to drag on as much as your back-pocket Colleen Hoover book, and life truly unfolds at a slow pace, we’ve got the line-up that might just do the trick.
Here are 3 of the dreamiest, truly off-the-beaten-path Mediterranean paradises both for cheap prices and less chaos:
PLUS: We’ve created an interactive quiz for you at the end of this article to find out which one is perfect for you!
Folegandros, Greece
Speak of the devil, if the Emily in Paris buzz is everything you don’t want to be crossing paths with this summer, you will do well to steer clear of Mykonos, and hop off at this smaller island that’s probably Greece’s best-kept secret.
Hidden in plain sight in the heart of the Cyclades, sort of halway between the world-famous Santorini and Milos, Folegandros has all the whitewashed-town and blue dome action you might want, minus the chaos of it all.
The main settlement, Chora, is probably one of the most picturesque in the entire Cyclades, with its cluster of white, cubic houses and shaded piazzas at the foot of a Byzantine monastery. One you can only get to climbing up the zigzag stone steps, by the way, and let me tell you, Oia Castle sunsets can’t hold a candle to the the view you get up here.
The coolest thing about Folegandros?
This is a rugged, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pocket-sized island, measuring only 20 miles long and a little over 2 miles at its widest point.
If you’re not averse to long walks, you can actually hike down to many of the beaches starting from Chora, including Agali Beach (roughly 50 minutes) and Agios Nikolaos Beach (1h15-ish).
Average Prices In Folegandros, Greece
- Takeaway meal (gyro/souvlaki): $5–$9
- 3-course meal in a local taverna: $33–$53 per person
- 3-star hotel (per night): $100–$175 depending on season
- Luxury hotel (per night): $185–$305+
- Public transport fare (one-way bus): $2.30–$3.50
- Taxi fare (per square mile): about $1.25–$2*
*There aren’t that many taxis available in Folegandros. Most of the local transportation is arranged via your accommodation provider or the local minivan system.
Gozo, Malta
Malta is within easy reach of Americans this summer thanks to Delta’s new nonstop flights to the tiny island-state, but if absolute relaxation and that slow-paced Southern European living is what you seek, maybe give resort hotspots St. Julian’s and Golden Bay a miss.
Take the 25-minute ferry crossing to Gozo instead. One of my personal all-time favorite Med islands, it feels like Malta before the stag-do Brits and beer buff Germans discovered it.
Malta is pretty tiny, stretching for about 17 miles wide and 27 long, but Gozo is even smaller, at only 9 x 4 miles, and it has everything its bigger, more-famous sister has, minus the usual holidaying masses.
It feels more rural, unspoiled, Maltese without the colonial-British inflection, and as far as fairytale towns go, I mean, ever heard of Victoria? Or how locals call it in their Maltese language, Rabat:
The capital of Gozo, this inland city surrounded by walls is a Baroque fever dream, with the ocher-colored buildings, cobble-paved lanes, and a hilltop citadel to top it off.
Victoria/Rabat’s a true charmer, but Gozo’s main appeal actually lies in its largely undeveloped coastline. Head down to the Inland Sea for Blue Lagoon-like crystal-clear waters, yet a far more exclusive setting, or Ramla Bay, a red-sanded strip hugged by azure seas.
Average Prices For Gozo, Malta
- Takeaway meal (pastizzi or ftira): $4–$9
- 3-course meal in a local restaurant: $27–$49 per person
- 3-star hotel (per night): $90–$130
- Luxury hotel (per night): $235–$320
- Public transport fare (one-way bus ticket): $2.30–$2.90
- Taxi fare (per square mile): around $1.60–$2.60*
*Averages are drawn from Malta’s nationwide taxi pricing, though Gozo might be marginally cheaper due to the shorter distances.
How Safe Is Europe Right Now?
Before the third and final Med gem, we do need to acknowledge your safety concerns in flying to Europe this summer. Yes, we’ve seen the viral pickpocket videos too.
The thing is, if Malta’s your destination, you have very little, if anything to worry about. No, we wouldn’t leave items unattended on any beach anywhere, but if you are forgetful and it does happen on occasion, chances are they’ll be left untouched.
Malta is a Level 1 destination, as verified by the U.S. Department of State, and if wordy expert advice’s not your thing, you can always trust the people instead. Vox Populi, Vox Dei.
The island-nation scores a near-perfect 89 out of 100 on the Traveler Safety Index, based on reports by travelers on the ground.
A Little Intermission
Thinking of island-hopping around sun-drenched Europe this summer?
Travel rules around the Old Continent are changing every year, and if you’re due to land across the pond in the next few months, you can expect mandatory fingerprinting, biometric scans, and a bunch of new bureaucratic hurdles that you didn’t have to navigate before.
This may include a new mandatory travel permit as soon as September.
Before you head to the airport, run a little destination check on the Entry Requirement Checker in advance, and save yourself the hassle of being straight-out denied boarding at the gate.
Now back to that Mediterranean paradise we promised.
Budva, Montenegro
Montenegro is one of only a handful of European countries Americans can visit this summer without getting fingerprinted or photographed upon entry, so it’s only natural it shot up in popularity in recent months.
Back to Montenegro, there are about a dozen different deeply historical, timeless coastal towns to pick from, though if we were to pick a favorite, Budva would topple the overly touristy Kotor and Tivat by a mile.
It’s not some hidden gem, per se, with Germans, Poles, and even Russians flocking here in summer for their long-awaited sunny break.
Regardless, it feels strikingly authentic, and it still carries that unmistakable Adriatic soul and flair, while most of its same-sea counterparts have pretty much traded in for profit.
The belfry-topped, walled Old Town is absolutely gorgeous, and it’s right by the sea too, and there’s some wildly different beaches within walking distance of the main piazza, like Mogren Beach and Richardova Glava. For a no-frills, virgin-pebble, truly relaxed experience, you might want to stick to the former.
Average Prices In Budva, Montenegro
- Takeaway meal (burek or pljeskavica): $3–$9
- 3-course meal in a local restaurant: $17–$33 per person)
- 3-star hotel (per night): around $77–$132 depending on season
- Luxury hotel (per night): $330–$770
- Public transport fare (one-way local bus): $1.30–$4.50
- Taxi fare (per square mile): around $1–$2.40
Now take this quiz to find your perfect match!
