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If you want to avoid crowds this summer, these three underrated Mediterranean islands are perfect.
Europe sees a huge influx of tourists during the summer months.
Some destinations, like the popular Spanish islands of Ibiza and Mallorca, have been so overwhelmed with tourists that locals are organizing protests.
Meanwhile, other popular destinations in Europe like Athens, Venice, and Paris are facing similar issues with overtourism and massive crowds in the summer.
Not only does extreme levels of overtourism upset the locals, but it also makes for an unpleasant experience for tourists, a lose-lose situation for everyone.
So skip Ibiza and Mallorca, and head to these less crowded Mediterranean islands instead:
Menorca
Part of the Balearic Islands, along with Ibiza and Mallorca, Menorca is the lesser-known, laidback alternative to these crowded destinations.
Menorca is a quick 1-hour flight from Barcelona or a 3.5-hour ferry ride (although with budget airlines like Ryanair and Vueling, it’s often significantly cheaper and faster to fly than to take the ferry.)
Although the Balearic Islands have been breaking tourism records lately, Menorca still sees far fewer tourists than Ibiza and Mallorca. It also has a more relaxed vibe without all of the crazy nightlife the other islands are known for — but it’s equally as beautiful when it comes to beaches.
In Menorca, you can enjoy pristine beaches with few crowds and explore the island’s charming small towns. It’s the perfect place to go if you’re seeking a chill getaway this summer.
And prices don’t break the bank. According to travel planning website BudgetYourTrip, hotels average $115 per night in Menorca.
Corsica
Moving away from Spain, another great Mediterranean destination to visit this summer is Corsica.
This large island is located between Italy and France in the Mediterranean, but it belongs to the French.
Even though it’s a part of France, Corsica feels closer to Italy in many ways — probably due to the fact that Corsica was part of the Italian-speaking Republic of Genoa for nearly 500 years until it was ceded to the French in 1769.
Today, Corsica is a fantastic island destination with great beaches, beautiful nature, and lots of history and culture.
Since the island is so large, it doesn’t feel overcrowded like many popular destinations do.
Corsica is roughly a 50-minute flight from Nice.
There are four airports on the island, and all of them receive budget airline flights from various destinations in Europe, including many cities in France.
According to BudgetYourTrip, the average hotel price in Corsica is $94 per night, so it’s also an affordable destination (especially compared to the super-expensive and crowded French Riviera!)
Ischia
Finally, Ischia is one of the best underrated destinations in Europe.
This small island is located off the coast of Naples, Italy and it gets none of the international attention that the nearby Amalfi Coast does.
Although Ischia is a popular summer getaway for Italians, particularly those from in and around Naples, it still doesn’t feel too crowded or overwhelmed with tourists.
And you won’t find overpriced souvenir shops or tourist trap restaurants anywhere, since the island mainly caters to a local crowd.
Ischia is famous for its thermal baths with waters that are said to have healing powers. The island also has incredible beaches, charming little towns, and cool places to explore like the Castello Aragonese.
There’s no airport in Ischia, which might be part of the reason it’s not well-known to international visitors yet. However, getting to Ischia is simple because it’s only a 50-minute ferry ride from Naples.
Based on data from BudgetYourTrip, hotels cost $98 per night on average in Ischia.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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