The Mediterranean is a popular destination in Europe with millions of people collectively visiting each year. But when most people dream of the Mediterranean, they dream of the ritzy glamour of the French Riviera, or the whitewashed charm of Greece’s island-resort poster child, Santorini.
To dream should be to dream big – which means dreaming far beyond the famous (and, let’s be honestly, often over-subscribed) tourist hotspots. This sun-drenched continental-European region is chock-full of secret escapes that elude even the heaviest of dreamers, where you can soak up that salty sea breeze and trademark sunshine without the crowds. Here are some of the best yet lesser-known gems:
1. Kotor, Montenegro – Where Mountains Meet the Sea
Montenegro is a Balkan country, and often overlooked as a Mediterranean contender accordingly – but life goes on the eastern side of the Adriatic, and with just as much sunshine as the west. Kotor is an unassuming port town, nestled in a bay of its own name. Not only is it a stone’s throw from Trivat airport, but it is also a cliff-ensconced wonderland of old fortifications, storybook architecture and Medieval streets well worth exploring. A culturally-rich town, in possession of bay views that must be seen to be believed.
2. Gozo, Malta – Small Island, Big Character
If you’re an island-hopper by nature, you might be looking for somewhere like Malta to slow your roll. But there’s somewhere even island-hoppier than Malta, and quieter to boot. Less than an hour from Malta, Gozo offers quiet beaches, historic temples, and a slower pace of life well-suited to someone trying to avoid the crowds. Either bask in that Mediterranean sun, or go in search of historical import through Gozo’s temple ruins.
3. Kas, Turkey – A Laid-Back Coastal Treasure
Turkey is an increasingly-popular resort destination for travelling Brits, as evidenced by the runaway popularity of Fethiye as a cruise destination for water-borne holidaymakers. Busy as Fethiye is, it could be a great and inexpensive launching-off point to explore the entirety of the Turkish Riviera.
Liberty Fabay in Fethiye puts you close to the Turquoise Coast, and less than 2 hours travel from Kas – one of Turkey’s most charming coastal towns, being a blend of ancient ruins, whitewashed homes, azure waters and beautiful coastlines to walk endlessly.
4. Almería, Spain – The Desert by the Sea
Spain is no secret when it comes to a good old-fashioned Mediterranean getaway. Chances are you’ve already sampled the heady bustle of Barcelona, or even faster inner-city culture of Madrid. Go south, though, and you’ll find Almería settled into the coast – a city in possession of dramatic landscapes that have starred in countless films and TV shows. Surprisingly, its beaches remain remarkably quiet, despite the high profile of the city. Here, you get the best of both worlds, and all without clamouring for attention over the rest.
