As travellers turn away from overcrowded hotspots, new research points to Greece as Europe’s top destination for a relaxing summer holiday, where lesser-known islands and mainland escapes offer space, scenery and a much-needed change of pace.
Fast, box-ticking trips are falling out of favour. Instead, more tourists are slowing things down and choosing new ways to travel – from staying in destinations longer, journeying overland and avoiding the worst of the crowds.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Overtourism is a big driver, of course, with packed hotspots pushing people towards quieter alternatives. The result? A more practical, considered approach to travel with fewer stops, less rushing, and a focus on places that feel manageable rather than overwhelmed.
Enter Greece, which has been revealed as offering some of the quietest and most relaxing destinations for those of us in need of a real break.
Findings from Solmar Villas, a UK-based holiday specialist, have revealed that 70% of its top 10 destinations for a more peaceful summer holiday in 2026 are in the southern European nation.
Analysing more than 160 global destinations, the company looked at factors including crowd density, nature and scenery, and pace of life.
It discovered that quiet, little-known islands like Alonissos, Skopelos and Kefalonia are now among the most relaxing places to visit, overtaking more famous – and busy – locales like Santorini, Hawaii, and Ibiza.
What makes a destination relaxing?
In order to create an accurate ranking, the villa group scored each of the 160 destinations across eight categories, with each factor then rated on a scale from 1 to 5, giving each place a total relaxation score out of 40.
These categories included crowd density, focusing on the rule of thumb that the fewer the crowds, the more relaxing the retreat is likely to be, and climate comfort, where it judged how pleasant the environment is likely to be. Optimal summer temperatures of 22-28C were scored highest, while extreme heat or cold were penalised in the ranking.
The calibre of nature and scenery – think beach quality, landscape diversity, and access to natural environments, including coastline, mountains, and marine parks – was also a factor, as was the pace of life. That meant that destinations with a slower, more traditional way of life scored higher than party resorts or very commercial places.
Next up was affordability. Solmar Villas judged a holiday spot by its overall cost for a week-long trip, believing the less financial stress, the higher the relaxation score.
The safety of a destination was a consideration, too, as was ease of access for tourists. Rounding off the eight factors was the wellness on offer – the availability of spas, healthy local cuisine, and wellness-oriented activities like yoga and hiking. A high proportion of relaxing activities added to a location’s overall score.
If in doubt, head to Greece
In the end, destinations across Greece’s islands and its lesser-visited mainland stood out, with Alonissos in the Northern Sporades taking the top spot with a score of 30.5 out of 40.
Hot on its heels is the largest Ionian island, Kefalonia, which scored 30.4 and the peninsula of the Peloponnese in the south, with a rating of 30.3.
Skopelos and Lefkada round out the top five, while the Mani Peninsula, Naxos and Paxos are in sixth, equal seventh and equal 10th place, respectively.
While Spain’s El Hierro (30.0), Koh Yao Noi in Thailand (30.0), and the UK Overseas Territory of Anguilla (29.9) featured in the top 10, it’s clear that Greece very much has a reputation for laid-back travel and offers scenic, uncrowded destinations.
It’s good news for Europeans not wishing to travel long haul this summer.
Out of the top 20 destinations, more than 60% are in Europe, meaning that travellers don’t have to go far to find true tranquillity.
Interestingly, around 75% in the top 20 are islands, which suggests that seclusion from mainlands play a significant role in creating a relaxed atmosphere for holidaymakers.
“It’s no surprise to see Greece come out on top when it comes to relaxation,” Sharon Bradbury, travel expert at Solmar Villas, commented on the findings.
“What stands out most is how well lesser-known locations perform. For travellers who want to properly unwind, choosing a quieter destination can make all the difference.”
The most relaxing destinations
According to Solmar Villas, these are the top destinations for a chilled-out holiday:
- Alonissos, Greece - 30.5/40
- Kefalonia, Greece - 30.4/40
- Peloponnese, Greece - 30.3/40
- Skopelos, Greece - 30.2/40
- Lefkada, Greece - 30.2/40
- Mani Peninsula, Greece - 30.1/40
- El Hierro, Spain - 30.0/40
- Naxos, Greece - 30.0/40
- Koh Yao Noi, Thailand - 30.0/40
- Paxos, Greece - 29.9/40
- Anguilla, British Overseas Territory - 29.9/40
