9 Relaxing Vacations Throughout Europe
By its nature, travel whisks you away from the stressors of everyday life. However, some vacations are certainly more relaxing than others. While waking up bright and early to tour the Vatican before the crowds flood through the doors in Rome or hopping from sight to sight in Paris are enriching and unmissable experiences, those destinations aren’t the best fit for when all you want to do is unwind with the bliss that is a clear schedule for the day. These relaxing vacations throughout Europe provide you with everything you need to destress, from top-notch spas to impeccable dining amidst whatever landscape brings you the most serenity, be it snowy mountains or sparkling blue ocean.
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1) Tuscany, Italy
Step out onto the balcony of your old stone villa hotel with a glass of some of the finest wine in the world in hand, and drink in the endless expanse of green hills and cypress trees of Italy’s countryside. In Tuscany, pure relaxation goes hand-in-hand with unforgettable cuisine. By day you can lounge poolside or get that massage your back has been begging you for, and by night you can dig into homemade pasta or Florentine steak. Whether you stay in the Chianti or Val d’Orcia regions, there will be plenty of easily accessible vineyards and charming villages.
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2) Naxos, Greece
With sandier beaches than Santorini and an absence of the roaring nightlife found on Mykonos, Naxos is the serene jewel of Greece’s Cyclades island chain. Meander through white-washed villages, take a dip in crystal clear ocean or charter a yacht for the day and let the waves gently rock you. End each day with a stunning sunset overlooking a harbor and a divine seafood dinner.
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3) The Cotswolds, United Kingdom
With rolling hills and quaint stone towns that epitomize rural England, the Cotswolds are the countryside gem of the United Kingdom. The quiet and stillness of the region alone is enough ease the tension from your shoulders. Your accommodations here a less likely to be an extravagant resort, and more likely to be a cozy cottage with a roaring fireplace and vibrant outdoor garden. As a region full of thriving farm land, most of the cuisine unbelievably fresh, and a pint in a charismatic pub is the perfect capstone to any day in the Cotswolds.
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4) Costa Brava, Spain
If you’re yet to check Barcelona off of your travel bucket list, you may choose to spend a couple days familiarizing yourself with the larger-than-life monuments Antoni Gaudi imagined before setting off for the nearby Costa Brava. Once you’ve fled the bustle of the Catalonian capital, inhale the crisp sea breeze flowing in off the Mediterranean. There are no shortage of hidden gems to be uncovered along this stretch of coast that extends to Spain’s border with France, from sandy coves to tiny fishing villages.
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5) Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
You don’t have to wait for sunny summer weather for relaxing vacations. Switzerland thrives in the winter as its mesmerizing landscapes of castles, medieval towns and iconic mountaintops become dusted with snow. To help keep you warm, there are no shortage of cabin-cozy mountain resorts throughout the Bernese Oberland with an abundance of wellness offerings such as yoga, massages, saunas and hot tubs. There’s no need to rush around as you’re never far from glistening lakes or roaring waterfalls, perfect for a scenic stroll.
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6) Algarve, Portugal
From the Douro Valley to Madeira, Portugal as a whole is synonymous with relaxing vacations, but its Algarve region takes the prize in tranquility for its golden coastlines and array of resorts equipped to pamper you to your heart’s content. It’s also one of the top golf destinations Europe, if you like to unwind by teeing off to the soft beat of ocean waves. You may wish to sleep in as much as possible, but even if you’re not an early riser, it’s well worth it to wake up before dawn at least one morning and watch the sun creep up from the horizon and bathe the Algarve’s emblematic rock formations in soft orange hues.
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7) Provence, France
The calming scent of lavender wafting from the rows of purple surrounding you in Provence’s emblematic fields is a treasure for your senses. While Provence is most known for its lavender fields, there is plenty more to this region that make it one of the most relaxing vacations throughout France. The small stone towns will enchant you, the bouillabaisse will delight your palette and the local rosé will relieve you of any stress you could possibly have left. Provence is also the perfect place to brush up on your art history, with former studios of Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh found in Aix-en-Provence and Arles, respectively.
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8) Dalmatian Islands, Croatia
While Croatia’s mainland is perfect for trails bursting with waterfalls and adventures inspired by Game of Thrones through fortress cities, the Dalmatian Islands are the ideal place to prop your feet up and put all your cares in the world aside. Electric blue waters are always well within reach, ensuring you’ll have a fantastic backdrop no matter what sandy spot you choose to lay out a towel on. And if relaxing to you means letting loose in pulsing clubs, Hvar’s nightlife has got you covered.
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9) Lake District, Austria
The backdrop to some of The Sound of Music’s most memorable scenes really is as majestic as the film would lead you to believe. Austria’s Lake District is full of awe-inspiring mountains, lakes, castles and flower-speckled fields that are easy to explore at your leisure. You may choose to stay in the cultural hub of Salzburg and simply take day trips into the region, or you may choose to embed yourself deeper by staying somewhere like the lakeside fairytale town of Hallstatt.
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