Summer is my favorite season as there are many activities one can do. I like to travel to Europe, especially enjoying local wine and cuisine, or spending time in the mediterranean weather as it’s dry and warm but not overly heated. This summer I spent 1.5 months away from NYC, and I went to a couple places that in my opinion are perfect to visit in summer for various reasons.
Capri
Capri is a beautiful and romantic island to visit with your partner. It has extraordinary scenery, glamorous shopping, an amazing selection of restaurants. I would suggest one to spend 3 – 5 nights depending on what kind of holiday you like. If you’re thinking to rent a boat and spend a day on the boat, and do a day trip to Positano, then it’d make sense to spend longer than 3 nights. I’d think anything less than that would feel rushed. If you’re only going to stay on the island, and you’re accommodation doesn’t have a pool, you can go to a beach club. Overall Capri is a small island where you can basically see everything in 1-2 days, for someone who is looking to relax and spend more time, there are definitely a ton of things you can do. It’s a place you can go for your anniversary, and it’s also a family friendly destination.
Dubrovnik
It’s one of my favorite places in the world. Not only the city’s history is astonishing, the Old Town is beautifully maintained. There are many things one can do while staying here. This summer we spent six days here, and everyday we visited or do something new. If you want to swim in the ocean and relax at the beach, there are quite a few places that are not too far from the Old Town. You can visit an island called Lokrum that is 25 minutes away by boat from Dubrovnik’s Old Port. You can spend half a day there, swimming and enjoy delicious lunch at Locroma Restaurant. If you are active, you can go kayaking which we really enjoyed. Dubrovnik is great for a slow relaxing vacation.
The Tuscan Countryside
You can stay in Florence to explore the city where the birth of Renaissance happened. It’s a quiet charming city where you can visit various world famous museums, admire panoramic view from Piazzale Michelangelo, and check out the stores while crossing Ponte Vecchio. All these will take 1 – 2 days depending on your pace. Now comes my favorite part which is the Tuscan countryside. There are many beautiful towns in the Tuscan countryside that are not too far from Florence where you can reach by a scooter or car. These stunning hill towns are filled with greenery and traditional vineyards. One can find local restaurants that overlook their vineyards while savoring Tuscan cuisine and local wine.
Porto
Portugal is a lovely country to visit in general all-year-round as their weather is mild both in summer and winter. This summer I visited Porto for the first time, I was surprised by the beauty of the architectures and the charm of the people. You can stay by the Douro River and stroll along the river and head to Gaia, everything is within walking distance. Oporto is the city center that is 15 – 20 minutes away from the river area (it’s also uphill.) There are many authentic local cuisine or tapas style restaurants all over Porto. It’s easy to navigate around the city, which is amazing for someone traveling alone. At night the river area becomes very vibrant with music and street artists. If you have time you can also visit the Douro Valley where the vineyards are. It’s truly breathtaking there.
Provence
My family and I visited Provence last year. We went there during the lavender season. We drove to Roussilon, Gordes, L’Isle sur la Sorgue, and Aix-en-Provence. It’s better if you join a tour if you want to visit everything in one or two days, or you could rent a car. If you just want to see the lavender you can do it in one day, then you can stay in Paris and do a one-day tour. I must say the lavender farms that we visited were absolutely beautiful, but remember there might be a ton of tourists. Try to do some research and find secret spots. Gordes is also one of my favorites as it has scenic view from the hilltop, and the town is very well preserved medieval style.
*All photos are mine
