These 4 Stunning European Islands Have Fewer Crowds & Authentic Vibes

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Eurosummer’s right around the corner, and if you’re anything like us, chances are you’re probably halfway through planning your next hop across the pond.

We’re truly sorry to stop you in your tracks, but before you book Capri, Santorini, Mallorca, and all the usual checklist islands the average tourist flocks to, we have a warning to give you:

Those idyllic European vibes you crave from your favorite Insta blogger, sold so beautifully in those cinematic reels, only exist on social media.

Pull up to Oia, the world-famous Santorini town, this July, and you’ll be lucky if the wait time for those postcard-worthy blue dome pictures is shorter than 2 hours. That is, if you manage to elbow your way across an indiscernible mass of bodies on your way to the main street itself.

Now, if you don’t mind your European islands a little rugged, rough-around-the-edges, yet beautiful nonetheless, we have 5 alternatives for you that might just do the trick.

Think Smaller crowds, authentic culture, and unspoiled charm all around:

Folegandros, Greece

Seeing we kicked this off by slagging off Santorini, as per usual, it’s only fair we give Greece her flowers, and shout out one of the prettiest islands in the Aegean yet to be engulfed by the maddening crowds.

Just under an hour’s ferry ride away from Santorini itself, Folegandros feels like the jet-setting island of 40 years in the past, before the BVLGARI boutiques and flying dress photoshoots were a thing.

The main town, Chora, lies at the foot of a Byzantine-era church accessible by a strenuous, scenic, all-the-same uphill path, and it has Santorini’s traditional whitewashed cubic houses, and the odd dome-crowned, chalk-covered church or two… minus the cruising hordes.

Piatsa Restaurant in the heart of Chora is one of the best spots in the entire Cyclades for trying local fava and marinated anchovies. If I may add, the picture-perfect setting, with outdoor seating right on the town’s main square, under the shade of ancient olive trees, is nothing but pure European summer bliss.

Folegandros is also a fully-walkable island, if you’re not advert to hikes, that is. It’s about 8 miles long only, and at its widest point, it stretches for a narrow 2.3 miles, so all those beautiful deserted coves, and pebble-paved beaches lined with turquoise waters are typically a 30 to 40-minute walk from Chora.

My favorite, you ask? Well, try Agkali Beach, on the downhill path starting from Ano Meria. The seas are just surreal, and I’ve never tasted anything fresher than the seafood dished out at Taverna Agali.

Last but certainly not least, what I love most about Greece, perhaps, is how safe it can feel, even amid the influx of visitors. I mean, islands like Folegandros are pretty chill and lowkey in general, but regardless of the island you pick, Greece will generally feel relaxed, welcoming, and easy to travel through.

As you can see on the Traveler Safety Index, it scores an impressive 89/100:

Pantelleria, Italy

Few European islands are as remote as Pantelleria. Lying south of Sicily, but in fact closer to the North African coast than it is to mainland Europe proper, it’s Italy that the casual Rome-bound tourist remains blissfully oblivious to.

Not that we’re complaining over here.

We get to have Pantelleria’s magical hill-dotted, volcanic hinterland, scenic coast, interspersed with pristine calas and natural lava-formed pools, and unique rural character all to ourselves.

Truly, nothing beats the first dammuso sighting in the distance, surrounded by rolling vineyards and backdropped by an azure Mediterranean.

In case you’re wondering, the dammusi are Pantelleria’s traditional countryside homesteads, and an architectural style you’ll find only on this 32-square-mile landmass in the middle of the ocean.

Think single-story peasant houses built from local volcanic stone, with exceptionally thick walls and a white-dome roof.

Some of my favorite spots on the island are Specchio di Venere, a natural lake filled with warm, thermal waters. Legend has it that Goddess Venus, who it is named after, used it as a mirror as she beautied herself on the way to meet Bacchus.

Pantelleria is not really an island for sightseeing. It’s actually all about vibes, relaxation, and just basking in the scorching sun, but if there’s one thing you should absolutely make sure you add to your list is Arco dell’Elefante, the iconic elephant trunk-shaped rock dipping right into the teal-colored water.

Gozo, Malta

We’ve started off strong already, but if you’re coming to Europe for that unmistakable Mediterranean flair, with a combination of both beaches and ancient towns that look like your favorite storybook brought to life, Gozo is where you should be headed.

The smaller sister to an already offbeat Malta, which by the way, Americans can fly to nonstop this summer, is that pocket-sized slice of heaven that will take you about 25 minutes to drive north to south, and 30 minutes west to east.

Small as it might be, it packs a whole lot of mindblowing sights.

The capital, Victoria (or as the Maltese call it, Rabat) is your typical fortified European town dominated by a soaring Baroque cathedral.

Cross into the citadel via the imposing drawbridge, and you’ll be greeted with a compact cobbled maze of narrow lanes, ocher-colored buildings with brightly-painted shutters, and the occasional gelato shop that’s a lifesaver in that brutal Maltese heat.

People love going to Malta for the Blue Hole in Comino, the smallest of the three islands in the archipelago. If jam-packed ferry boats, tight round-trip schedules, and feeling like a sweaty extra in a sea of sardines is your idea of fun, by all means, be our guest.

If you do like your seas turquoise, but crowds kept to a minimum, though, you’ll want to hit up Dwejra Bay. Honestly, the rock-shielded, crystal-clear Blue Hole here is even prettier, and you can actually unwind on the rocks without a frazzled tour guide shouting your time is up.

Now, hold on a sec. Before you go on packing bags and booking flights out to Europe, make sure you double-check the Entry Requirements page for any documentation you might need as an American citizen that you’re not aware of.

Gotland, Sweden

This one’s for those who don’t really mind chilly winds and an unpredictable forecast in the midst of their high-summer break. Thousands of miles away from the sun-drenched Med, in the gray-tinged Baltic Sea, Gotland is a Swedish island known for its well-preserved Viking heritage, wild nature, and off-path appeal.

Unless you have a particular penchant for ice-cold swims and windburn-inducing breezes, this is not one of those islands you’ll be spending hours on end sunbathing and lounging about in, unless it’s the odd hot August day when temps creep up to 80°F and beyond.

Most days, however, it’s all about cozying up with a book in an Old Town coffeeshop, trying different pastries from local bakeries around Gotland—best cinnamon roll on the island? Try Själsö Bageri’s—and take a couple of day trips out into nature to admire the limestone sea stacks (rauks) and windswept coastal cliffs.

The true star of the show here, if you’re asking me, is the UNESCO World Heritage town of Visby:

Still surrounded by medieval city walls, with cobble-paved streets lined by picturesque little townhouses and their flower-draped balconies, and church spires that only add to the storybook charm.

Other than strolling along the walls, hanging out by Stora Torget, the main square, is a must-do for architecture lovers and people-watchers. There are about half a dozen different café terraces to pick from here, and the pastel façades are gorgeous.

Nearby, St. Mary’s Cathedral is a 12th-century church with a simple exterior and a contrastingly ornate nave. I’m talking elaborate arches, intricate woodwork, and stained-glass detail. Scandi Gothic in all its might.

Wanna know a little local secret? I’m not a huge fan of botanical gardens myself, but Gotland’s Botaniska Trädgården, on the edge of Visby Old Town, right by the sea, has to be one of the most unexpectedly peaceful spots I’ve ever seen.

Roses, ruins, sea breezes, and ocean air: you’ll find it all in here, and the best part? For once, it costs a grand total of 0 Swedish krona to enter.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.