A European summer in pictures

Slow, sun-drenched days spent beneath colourful beach parasols. Cooling dips in the sea, even cooler ice-creams in an array of flavours you can’t get at home. Market stalls laden with local produce, artisan treasures, and made-to-keep antiques. And the food, oh the food. A summer holiday in Europe is all this and more, so much more. Until international travel resumes, we’ll be squeezing every last drop of citrus-scented, sand-sprinkled inspiration from these images which capture the simple pleasures of summer on the Continent…

Italy

Italy Summer 1 1

Italy Summer 2

Follow the trail of Aperol Spritz, Limoncello, and gelato by browsing over 70 boutique hotels in Italy here. Aperitivo anyone?

Greece

Greece Summer 1

Greece Summer 2

Sleepy fishing villages, white-washed walls, and the impossibly blue waters of the Aegean await…choose from 40 boutique hotels in Greece here.

France

France Summer 1

France Summer 2

For the best places to wake up to your morning croissant, look no further than our collection of over 50 boutique hotels in France here. Can you almost taste the rosé?

Spain

Spain Summer 1

Spain Summer 2

From Balearic island bliss and countryside fincas, to chic city breaks brimming with culture, our Spanish selection of boutique hotels will make you want to book as fast as you can say sangria. Browsing begins here

Portugal

Portugal Summer 1

Portugal Summer 2

Culture as colourful as its iconic azulejos, ruggedly beautiful beaches with a surf scene to rival California, Portugal packs a punch when it comes to summer holidays. Start planning your Mediterranean meets Atlantic getaway here.

Croatia

Croatia Summer 1

Croatia Summer 2

Dubrovnik’s Baroque heart beats with architectural gems, while a Dalmatian buzz surrounds Split where a hopping harbour meets ancient palace walls. Croatia is calling, inspiration starts here.

Previous

4 picture-perfect picnic ideas from around the world

Next

See the world on two wheels: boutique hotels with bicycles

Latest stories

A beloved Jackson Hole lodge reopens for ski season: plus, US mountain hotel top picks

With ski season reaching its peak, discover a revived haven of lofty luxury within the majestic mountain ranges of Teton County, western Wyoming, as a rustic mountain retreat begins a new chapter. The scent of freshly baked cookies still lingers. So does the feeling of being warmly welcomed into someone’s

A pocket guide to Roma Norte: Mexico City’s most creative district

Full of characterful, colourful neighbourhoods where culture and cuisine thrive, Mexico City is a magnet for creatives to reside and visit. Condesa remains the go-to for Art Deco architecture and buzzy brunch spots. The bohemian enclave of Coyoacán has long been a refuge for artists. Burgeoning Juárez brings in a

Northern delights: a ‘coolcation’ itinerary across Norway & Iceland

As the train begins its slow, corkscrewing descent into Norway’s Flåm Valley, snow is softening mountain peaks into meringue-like folds. Outside the window, waterfalls freeze mid-cascade, as forests stand still under crystal light. The Flåm Railway — a staggering feat of engineering — feels like a portal into another season,

Snowy Lapland lodges to Balinese spa retreats: top boutique hotels for February

February invites a different kind of travel thinking. The urgency of new beginnings has softened, replaced by a desire to move well toward places feel tuned to their setting. This month’s selection spans extremes and in-betweens: Arctic forests and Balinese cliffs, historic towns in southern Europe, and quietly evolving cities.