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It’s the annual great debate among friends and family – where to go on holiday – and in our experience, destinations on the Baltic Sea aren’t usually thrown into the ring.
However, as wildfires and overtourism protests rage come peak season in Greece and Spain, many British holidaymakers are looking for quieter and more moderate climates in which to spend their summers.
Featuring customs and cuisines just as appealing as the holiday big hitters in southern Europe – where most Brits travel to seek the sun – the quieter sea northeast of the UK has unsung destinations that are well worth a visit.
There are historic cities steeped in folklore and vibrant cafe culture, often with cheaper prices, and thousands of islands that provide sun, swimming and seafood.
The windmill-studded and retro-feeling summer playgrounds for both locals and aristocrats don’t sweat with the same heat and crowds.
Here are the lesser-trodden lands with longer daylight hours in Estonia, Lithuania, Denmark and more, in which to swap the Mediterranean Sea for the Baltic Sea on your next summer holiday.
Read more on Europe travel:
Aland Islands
This autonomous archipelago between Finland and Sweden is home to lots of isolated villages, sandy beaches and miles of cycle paths. The Aland Islands, with their own parliament and flag, are dotted with colourful wood cabins, quiet cafes and green landscapes. Visit charming capital Mariehamn, on one of only 60 inhabited isles, to head out on bike tours, visit 13th-century Kastelholm Castle and island-hop to find flea markets and disc golf courses.
Where to stay
HavsVidden Resort, tucked within red granite cliffs in northern Aland, is a summer hotspot with a seasonal restaurant, jetty for docking, and airy self-catering villas boasting views across the Gulf of Bothnia.
Strandhotel Binz welcomes beach dwellers to melt into massages at the rooftop spa, tuck into fresh seafood on the Fischmarkt restaurant terrace, and spend the day on a beach just steps from breakfast.Allinge Badehotel is a stone’s throw from Næs Strand beach with calm gardens, spacious rooms and ocean views. Organic buffet breakfasts are included with stays, and spreads include local marmalade and baked figs from the fig tree in the yard.The Hilton Gdansk sits amid the red roofs of Gdansk’s Old Town with a rooftop bar, spa facilities, a pool, and modern rooms overlooking the Motlawa river. It tick all the boxes for a comfortable city break.Silversand Camping offers 16 cabins, three glamping tents and hundreds of electric camping pitches year-round, with beach saunas, barbecues and terraces for guests to watch the sun go down just yards from the sea.Victoria Hotel Klaipeda on the Dane river. Popular with the Prussian elite in the 18th century, high-end echoes ooze from the Baltasis Zirgas restaurant to the sparkling chandeliers.Pilguse Residency on Saaremaa’s west coast is 90 hectares dating back to 1558. Eco-conscious hotel rooms, rustic cottages and luxury mirror cabins are dotted between the land and lakes, making Pilguse a haven for guests seeking hiking and cycling.Missionshuset Bed & Breakfast is a quaint, quiet option in the heart of Sandhamn’s village with five double rooms and daily breakfasts, just five minutes from the port. Best hotels in Europe: Where to stay for a city, beach or retreat break
Source: independent.co.uk
