Frequent traveller Emma shared some alternative European holiday destinations to visit in July instead of popular cities and packed Greek islandsTravel
Rahima Miah Social News Reporter and Natalie King
12:25, 02 May 2025
Emma recommends Greek islands such as Ikaria instead of Santorini(Image: George Pachantouris via Getty Images)
While many sun-seekers head to hotspots like Paris, Barcelona, and Santorini for their summer breaks, a savvy traveller has put forward some alternative destinations that promise fewer crowds. European favourites such as France, Spain and some of the islands in Greece usually draw hordes of tourists come July.
Travel fan and content creator Emma, who balances her wanderlust with a regular nine-to-five job, has spotlighted a few tranquil European retreats perfect for the month of July. Catering to those who prefer a quieter scene away from the hustle and bustle of tourist centres, Emma took to TikTok to share some hidden gems.
Her video was both a guide and an inspiration: “Here are three lesser known places to visit in Europe in July. These are places that are a little bit more off the beaten track.”
Cuenca, Spain
Cuenca is famous for its hanging houses(Image: Peter Adams via Getty Images)
Topping Emma’s recommendations is the charming mountain city of Cuenca, located in east-central Spain. Getting here is a breeze; it’s just two hours by road from Madrid, and also has its own airport.
Emma described Cuenca’s appeal: “Cuenca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s most famous for its hanging houses which are perched right above this gorge. It’s famous for its cobbled streets, its ancient buildings and like I said, it’s only two hours from Madrid so if you did want to dabble with city life then you could.”
Emma also highlighted the Parador de Cuenca Hotel as a “super unique and super special” accommodation option. This renovated monastery boasts “the most stunning view of the gorge”.
Évora, Portugal
Évora, Portugal is a unique city break(Image: Ventura Carmona via Getty Images)
Next on Emma’s list is Évora, a historical city in Portugal and the capital of the Alentejo region. To reach this destination, one would need to fly into Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and then drive for approximately an hour and a half.
Emma described: “As for what it looks like, it is also a UNEWSCO World Heritage city, like Cuenca, and it’s famous for its colourful buildings, its cobbled streets. It also has some very well preserved Roman ruins and it’s in the Alentejo region of Portugal which is famous for its vineyards so you can definitely enjoy many a good wine here.”
For those in search of a “really unique” place to stay, Emma recommended Convento do Espinheiro. This 15th-century convent has been converted into a five-star hotel.
Less popular Greek islands – Naxos and Ikaria
Finally, the seasoned traveller suggests venturing to one of the lesser-known Greek islands, such as Naxos and Ikaria. She said: “I think the idea of having a Mamma Mia-esque summer is just never far off my radar but so many of the Greek islands get so busy this time of year.”
Emma suggests visiting Naxos, which boasts “stunning beaches”, “charming villages”, and “amazing Greek food.”
She also recommends Ikaria, a lesser-known Greek island, noting: “This has been in the news a lot recently because it’s a blue zone.
“These are zones where people live very long lives, very healthy lives, they have less chronic diseases.”
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Emma concludes her video by saying: “And there we have it, those are the three places that I personally want to go in July.
“I just think they all seem so charming, you can enjoy great food there, great wines, relax, unwind, there’s slightly less crowds, also some really unique places to stay.
“A lot of places in Europe are gonna be so rammed this time of year so these are a little bit more unheard of, a little bit more quiet. They’re not gonna be main cities, they’re not gonna be beach resorts.”