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By Bec Milligan.
Thinking of jetting off for a European summer? A very wise choice!
Europe is simply divine in the warmer months – the sunshine lasts well into the evening and no matter where you go, the streets are buzzing with this infectious, positive energy.
Essentially, summer is the season that makes Europe come alive. The challenge is choosing where to go, especially as there’s genuinely no shortage of brilliant options.
To help you make that tough decision, we’ve rounded up our favourite European cities to visit in summer below.
Look, there’s no single right answer, because “best” depends entirely on what you like when it comes to holidays. But these are our top picks:
Barcelona is a beautiful, vibrant city year-round but more so in summer. The beaches are close to the CBD, the evenings are warm well into midnight, and there’s so many incredible things to see and do.
Gaudí’s architecture alone is worth the trip; the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Batlló are breathtaking. Add in the Gothic Quarter, La Boqueria market and next-level tapas, and you’ll understand why people rave about Barcelona.
Just be mindful that July and August are Barcelona’s busiest months, and the city gets very crowded. Book major attractions in advance, especially the Sagrada Família, which requires timed entry tickets.
The beaches around Barceloneta can get packed by mid-morning in peak season too; head to Nova Icaria or Mar Bella if you want a bit more space.
Paris definitely needs no introduction; everyone’s heard of the City of Love. And there’s no better time to visit than in summer.
During the day, Parisians and visitors alike lounge in the well-manicured parks, soaking up the sun while enjoying wine, cheese and bread with absolutely nowhere to be.
At night, long dinners at candlelit bistros stretch well past midnight and when you walk back to your accommodation and see the city lights reflecting off the Seine, you’ll understand how Paris earnt its romantic reputation.
Aside from this joie de vivre (“joy of living”) it’s famous for, Paris is also home to several iconic landmarks that are well worth your time: The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, the Marais, the Moulin Rouge.
Just make sure you book the Louvre and Eiffel Tower well in advance; queues without a ticket in peak season are torturously long.
Paris Plages is worth planning your visit around too – every summer, the banks of the Seine are transformed into a temporary beach complete with sand, deckchairs and pop-up bars. It usually runs mid-July to mid-August.
Summer is a wonderful time to visit Rome. The piazzas are alive, the gelato is cold and nowhere else in Europe will make you feel so completely immersed in ancient history.
The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Vatican… These sights will seriously take your breath away.
A few tips to make the most of your Rome trip:
Book everything in advance; the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum and the Borghese Gallery all require timed entry, and turning up without a ticket in peak season is a mistake you won’t want to make.
Hit the major outdoor sites (like the Trevi Fountain) early in the morning before the heat builds and the crowds become intense. Save your afternoons for gelato, espresso and wandering at a slower, relaxing pace.
And when the sun goes down, head to Trastevere for dinner. It’s a tangle of cobbled streets just across the Tiber, packed with trattorias where you’ll dine like a local.
Dubrovnik is one of the most visually striking cities in Europe.
The old town is entirely enclosed by medieval walls and the sea beyond it is a deep Adriatic blue; the whole place looks like a fantasy land (or maybe we think that because the majority of ‘Game of Thrones’ was filmed there).
Walking the city walls (about 2km in total) is an absolute must; the views over the rooftops, the sea and the nearby islands are stunning.
Beyond the walls, spend your days swimming in the crystal clear water, exploring the marble-paved streets of the old town, taking a ferry to the lush island of Lokrum or hopping on a boat trip to the Elaphiti Islands. If you have an extra day, a trip across the border to Kotor in Montenegro is well worth it.
A few practical notes: Dubrovnik gets very busy in July and August, with cruise ships docking daily. Get to the city walls early in the morning before the day-trippers arrive and you’ll practically have them to yourself.
If you want to live out your ‘Mamma Mia’ fantasies, Mykonos is the place to do it. Gorgeous beaches, world-class nightlife and a picture-perfect whitewashed town (and yes, we know the movie was filmed in Skopelos but you won’t find a large crowd dancing to ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’ there).
During the day, you can relax at some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean. Paradise Beach and Super Paradise are the liveliest, with beach clubs, music and a party atmosphere that starts well before sunset. Psarou is the glamorous option if you want a more upscale vibe. And Agios Sostis in the north of the island is quieter and wilder if you just want to swim in peace.
At night, Mykonos Town takes over. The narrow cobbled lanes fill up, the bars spill onto the streets and the famous windmills glow in the moonlight. The nightlife here is genuinely some of the best in Europe; Little Venice, the waterfront neighbourhood of stacked bars and restaurants hanging over the sea, is the place to start the evening.
Just be aware that Mykonos gets extremely busy in July and August. Of course, that’s part of the fun but make sure your accommodation is booked well in advance; leaving it late will cost you.
Lisbon, with its trams, azulejo tiles, miradouros (viewpoints), and pastéis de nata (the most delicious custard tarts you’ll ever eat), is a city with a strong identity and genuine character.
In summer it comes alive; the rooftop bars fill up, the streets buzz with music and the whole city takes on a warm, festive energy that’s very easy to get swept up in.
The neighbourhoods of Alfama, Mouraria and Belém all reward slow exploration, and the city’s famous viewpoints are particularly magical at sunset. One practical note: Lisbon is built across seven hills, so comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. The reward for all that climbing though is a view at every turn.
Oh and the beaches at Cascais and Sintra are within 40 minutes by train from the city centre, so if you want to swap the cobblestones for sand one afternoon, it’s very easy to do so.
Amsterdam in summer is not to be missed. The canals are at their most beautiful and the city’s famous flower markets overflow with colour.
The best way to experience Amsterdam in summer is to do what the locals do: rent a bike, pack a picnic and head to Vondelpark, which transforms into a giant outdoor living room on sunny days.
Or you could hire a small boat and spend an afternoon drifting along the canals with a cold drink; one of those simple pleasures that somehow feels incredibly indulgent.
When you’re ready for culture, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are both world class and worth every minute. The Anne Frank House is a deeply moving experience. Book all three well in advance though as they sell out fast in summer.
As the evening rolls in, the canal-side terraces fill up, the restaurants spill onto the streets and Amsterdam’s famously relaxed attitude to life makes for a very good night out.
Prague is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities architecturally; truly a city to be seen at least once in your lifetime.
The old town is extraordinary; a concentration of Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings around a medieval square that genuinely looks like it belongs in a fairy tale. And Charles Bridge at sunrise, when the crowds haven’t arrived yet, is one of those rare European travel moments that lives up to the expectation.
Summer is a great time to visit as numerous outdoor festivals come to Prague and it’s warm enough for river swimming, which makes the city feel like more than just its pretty buildings.
Plus, there’s a strong neighbourhood restaurant and bar scene in Vinohrady and Žižkov.
While technically a part of the UK, Edinburgh is a great place to travel to in European summer if you don’t want sweltering heat.
The city is wonderfully dramatic; a medieval castle sits upon an ancient volcanic rock and the Old Town below is a maze of cobbled lanes and centuries-old buildings.
And in summer, the days stretch on forever; it barely gets dark until nearly 11pm in late June, giving you an almost unfair amount of time to take it all in.
Plus, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs through August and is the biggest arts festival in the world. The Royal Mile fills with performers, the venues run from morning to midnight, and the city takes on an electric atmosphere unlike any other time of year.
If you’re going in August specifically, book accommodation early; it sells out months in advance.
Copenhagen is consistently ranked among Europe’s best cities to live in, and summer is when you see why.
Long evenings, outdoor swimming at the city’s harbour baths, excellent food (Denmark has more Michelin stars per capita than almost anywhere in Europe), and a cycling infrastructure that makes getting around effortlessly pleasant.
The city is expensive by European standards, but the quality of experience tends to justify it. Nyhavn is the obvious starting point; the coloured buildings and canal boats are every bit as charming in real life as they look on Instagram.
From there, explore the Meatpacking District for food and the Danish Design Museum for a sense of what makes Copenhagen so consistently well-designed. And Tivoli Gardens, the central amusement park, runs its main summer season from April to September.
For something entirely different, visit Freetown Christiania: a famous self-governing commune that has operated outside normal Danish law since the 1970s, with its own rules, its own art and its own very distinctive atmosphere.
Porto doesn’t always get the attention it deserves; the historic Ribeira waterfront district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river offer port wine tastings with water views, and the city’s food scene (think bacalhau, francesinha, and local pastries) is to die for.
Summer’s a great time to visit as everything moves outdoors – restaurants spill onto the streets, rooftop bars buzz with life, and fun festivals pop up everywhere.
Plus, the beaches at Foz do Douro and further north along the coast at Matosinhos are reachable by metro or tram in under 30 minutes.
The city’s also less expensive and less crowded than Lisbon, which makes it a good alternative for anyone who’s already done the Portuguese capital.
Ljubljana might just be Europe’s best kept secret. It’s small, yes (you can walk the whole town in just a day) but it has a warmth and energy that’s totally infectious.
In summer, the pedestrianised centre fills with outdoor bars and restaurants and the Ljubljanica river beautifully reflects the cafe lights late into the evening.
The city is also a useful base for exploring Slovenia more broadly. Lake Bled is an hour away by car or bus and is one of the most photographed spots in Europe (for good reason).
Triglav National Park, the Postojna Caves and the Soča Valley are all within easy reach too.
Most Australians haven’t heard of Ohrid but it really is a hidden gem (we know that’s a cliche but it’s true in this instance!)
The small UNESCO-listed town, located in North Macedonia, sits on the edge of one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes, with an atmospheric old quarter that tumbles down steep cobbled streets, dotted with ancient churches and topped by a medieval castle.
In summer, the lake is the main event. The water is impossibly clear and warm enough to swim in, and you’ll find yourself jumping in multiple times a day: from wooden docks, lakeside restaurants and small pebble beaches.
The Ohrid Summer Festival runs from mid-July to mid-August, bringing live music, traditional dancing and food stalls to the waterfront.
Prices are among the lowest in Europe, the locals are extremely friendly and the food (particularly the famous Ohrid trout fresh from the lake) is delicious.
Of course, before you book anything, check SafeTravel for the latest travel advice on your destination and check again before you depart, as conditions can change at short notice.
And wherever you end up this European summer, make sure you’re covered with 1Cover before you go. Europe is generally very safe but things happen; flights get cancelled, bags go missing and medical bills in some countries can be surprisingly high. Get a quote here.
From wandering down the steps of the Colosseum to sipping on a beachside cocktail in Dubrovnik, Europe has something for every traveller.
It’s important to understand the rules around driving in Europe with an Australian licence so you can stay safe when hitting the road.
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