Since the arrival of buzzy Tuba Club, the cool kids have finally put Marseille on the map. While this gritty port town was always a haven for creatives (Le Corbusier and his La Cité Radieuse the most famous example), it didn’t have the polish of its shiny French peers. Now, this multicultural melting pot is amid a modern revival, with hip new hotels, restaurants and bars signalling a shift in status from shabby to chic—Chanel even hosting its Cruise 2024 Show here. From stylish port quarters like New Hotel Le Quai to Moroccan-inspired charmer Casa Youm Hotel in painter Paul Cézanne’s former abode, to the minimally chic Le Bords de Mer, the city’s design roots have been cast afresh in a city that’s constantly evolving. But it’s the aforementioned Tuba Club which has really drawn the crowds, creating a kind of mythical destination in its own right. If you can’t nab one of its five funky yet très petit cabins (or newly completed villas), don’t miss lunch here. On a rocky, sunlit outcrop overlooking the tiny fishing village of Les Goudes, fresh seafood is prepared with artful panache, the rosé flows (and flows), and the vibes are unmatched.

Ponza, Italy In-the-know Romans have long retreated to this tiny volcanic island off the coast of the Eternal City, and—thankfully for us—the secret’s out. With its soaring cliffs, gelato-hued port and brilliant blue grottos, Ponza’s natural beauty is plucked straight from a postcard. Unlike its flashy floating neighbours, life here is gloriously unpretentious; pasta from picture-perfect trattorias, boat adventures to hidden coves and freshly made sfogliatelle from the local bakery. A retro charm filters throughout the island but to truly experience its magic, stay at Hotel Chiaia di Luna; perched high above the sparkling half-moon bay of the same name, the views are otherworldly.

When arbiters of luxury, One&Only, recently opened on Kea, the off-the-grid Greek island suddenly appeared on everyone’s travel radar. Only a 45-minute ferry from Athens, Greeks have been holidaying on Kea (or Tzia) for years now, but thanks to One&Only’s opulent clifftop oasis, a new crowd is hopping on the hydrofoil. With golden sand beaches and earthen, neoclassical architecture, this Cycladic island is a world away from the crowds and archetypal blue and white of its neighbours. For something equally luxurious but a little more zen, book a week of wellness at Kea Retreat. A holistic haven where you wake up to a purple sunrise, practise yoga and finish the day dancing to Greek music with an ouzo in hand, bookings are now open for their 2026 retreats, which include exceptional meals prepared from its bountiful on-site farm, Lygaria.

Spanish island Menorca has been quietly hovering in Mallorca’s shadow, but this idyllic speck in the Balearic Sea is finally having its time in the sun, quite literally. Decidedly bohemian and blessed with rugged, natural beauty (including some of the bluest water you’ll ever see), Menorca is becoming a cultural haven, with cool galleries like Hauser and Wirth, beautifully curated boutiques and trendy eateries and bars drawing a worldly, ultra-fashionable crowd. With a sustainable sensibility, there’s everything from refined rural dining options to food halls full of tapas, along with a host of beautiful boutique hotels that meld old world allure with modern luxuries. Embrace the island’s free spirit at Menorca Experimental, a sprawling, ultra-hip resort that reimagines an agroturism in a 19th-century finca, capturing an artist’s holiday retreat resplendently.

Portugal continues to climb the ladder as one Europe’s most desirable destinations. But side-step from the bustle of Lisbon and Porto and try the untouched Arrábida Natural Park. Just a 30-minute drive from the capital, here the mountains meet the sea in the most spectacular fashion; with sparkling turquoise beaches, verdant forest and renowned wineries and sheep’s cheese-producers. Casa Palmela is your own slice of Portuguese paradise, nestled in the heart of the Park, this 17th century manor has transformed into an elegant five-star hotel.

Türkiye may sit outside the EU, but its ritzy Riviera is so close you can almost taste the manti from neighbouring Greek island, Kos. This glamorous, glittering strip on the Bodrum Peninsula is rivalling Ibiza, Mykonos and St. Tropez as the summer party capital, brimming with upscale beach clubs and luxurious resorts. All the bougie chains are setting up shop here (the Soho-owned Scorpios, Bobo by The Stay and The Maine recently opened alongside established haunts Amanruya, The Edition and Zuma). But you can’t beat a stay, swim and play at the dreamlike Maçakizi. Turkish for Queen of Spades, this bougainvillea-blessed, bohemian hideaway is Bodrum’s crowning jewel, with the jet-set crowd diving from its glossy deck since the 70s.

We’ll always have Paris, but this year the Austrian capital is the rarefied European city to visit, particularly if you’re a classical music enthusiast. Celebrating 200 years of composer Johann Strauss’s lauded waltzes and polkas, Vienna will host weekly premieres and performances in iconic venues like the Musikverein, Konzerthaus and State Opera. Just around the corner, recently opened The Amauris sets a noble tone for the city’s evolving hotel scene, while the new Anantara Palais Hansen, located in a 19th-century palace, is befitting of royalty. For something a little more grounded, buzzy boutique chain, The Hoxton, brought its signature brand of cool in 2024, which has a rooftop bar with sweeping views of the symphony city.

About 20 km south of Dubrovnik near the border of Montenegro, this picturesque seaside village forgoes the crowds and chaos of its neighbour in favour of local charm and culture. Its grand palm-lined cove and lively promenade feel as if you’re in the South of France, but its affable hospitality and affordable prices would have you believe otherwise. Following a complete renovation in 2022, the luxurious Hotel Supetar has re-energised the town’s hotel scene, housed in an original 1920s three-storey villa. With quaint flourishes, an abundance of art and history and perfect pebbly beaches, experience the slower-paced Croatian life here.

Once a glamorous retreat for royals and artists alike, this coastal town on the West Coast of France has found new fervour thanks to a host of chic hotel openings (and reopenings), along with an invigorated art scene and the Nouvelle Biarritz Film Festival. The stylishly reimagined Hôtel de la Plage channels its coastal locale with striking, sun-filled rooms, luxury surf lodge Les Hortensias du Lac overlooks Hossegor’s saltwater lake and trendy Le Garage is a lesson in discreet luxury, while the same group have transformed a bygone beauty into the impossibly cool Regina Experimental (with a seriously good spa). A city of contrast, Basque elegance meets surf culture here; where shaggy dudes in wetsuits mingle alongside dapper aristocrats and world-class swell breaks against the backdrop of grand Belle Époque buildings. It’s also home to Gabrielle Chanel’s very first couture house, the legendary designer wooed by the town’s energy and tranquility. If it’s good enough for Coco Chanel…

Up until recently, Gozo had largely been a day trip destination with visitors dropping in from the Blue Lagoon. But with a thriving dining culture, relaxed atmosphere and old-world allure, this tiny island in the Maltese archipelago is having its moment. With crystal-clear turquoise coves and a rich history, stay at the plush and lush Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz before exploring its medieval Citadel and diving head (or stomach) first into its vibrant food scene. With a focus on fresh, local produce and seafood, there’s everything from Gozitan-style fitira at Mekrens Bakery to Michelin-starred cuisine at Tmun Restaurant, where the daily catch inspires chef Paul Buttigieg’s impressive plates.

Good things come in small, far-flung packages, and this is true of Folegandros. With its craggy landscape and crystalline waters, this remote and rugged beauty at the bottom of the Cyclades may be tricky to get to, but once there, it’s worth it—particularly if you stay at Gundari. The brainchild of Greek-Australians, the newly opened hotel invites travelers to slow down in the best possible way; embracing the simplicity of Greek life with the luxuries of a five star resort. Clinging to a cliffside and across 80 rocky acres, this earthy oasis is secluded luxury at its finest, with wellness experiences rooted in Ancient Greek rituals, an elevated Greek menu by Michelin-starred chef, Lefteris Lazarou, and a cocktail list crafted by top bar, Line Athens. But, you may not want to leave its immaculate subterranean suites and villas, some with infinity pools that drop spectacularly into the deep blue Aegean below.

Hot off the (platform) heels of hosting Eurovision last year, Sweden’s vibrant southern gem is fast-becoming the Scandi alternative to usual suspects Copenhagen and Stockholm. Much more affordable yet still brimming with Scandi-cool, Malmö is having a moment; with a thriving contemporary art scene and dynamic dining culture. Offering both an urban city buzz and laid-back coastal charm, stroll through the trendy Västra Hamnen district, cycle along its lively waterfront, take an ice bath and sauna at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus, or dine at one of its many Michelin-starred restaurants like Lyran and Ruths.

Panarea may be the smallest of the seven inhabited Aeolian islands, but its allure is undeniable. Offering a tranquil Italian escape away from the mass tourism the rest of the country experiences, Panarea is still relatively private, which is why so many A-listers have visited its volcanic shoes over the years. The rhythm here is blissfully slow; car-free streets, pristine pebbly coves and simple Siclian food at its best. With whitewashed walls, bountiful bougainvillea and sensational views, Hotel Raya is the heart of Panarea’s stylish scene, servicing the jet-set since the 60s.

Just 40 minutes from showy Milos, Sifnos runs at its own beautifully slow pace. Quickly gaining popularity amongst the world’s most stylish tastemakers, this laidback island boasts some of the best food in Greece, with both modern takes on Sifnian cuisine at the likes of Omega3 and Cantina and traditional local plates like fried chickpea balls, slow-cooked lamb and manoura cheese. After dinner, Theodorou has been crafting the island’s famous nougat wafers and almond sweets since 1933, and for a different kind of after dinner treat, don’t miss a drink at Loggia, the cool natural wine bar carved into the rock in the hilltop village of Kastro. There’s also ultra-romantic accommodation options, with Verina Astra, a sprawling, verdant resort with jaw-slackening views of Poulati beach, and NOS, a serene hideaway made for untethered moments.

Ibiza has long lapped up the glory of the Balearic isles, but Formentera—a tiny patch of paradise just 30 minutes from its hedonistic shores—has finally come into its own. Ringed by incandescent blue bays and buzzy yet blissfully laid-back beach clubs, Formentera is where the coolest cats now converge for their summer holidays (many aboard superyachts, nonetheless). Savour life’s simple pleasures at Dunas de Formentera, a luxurious eco-resort nestled into the dunes of Migjorn Beach, or indulge at Gecko, which features both luxury accommodation in the form of its Beach House and daytime drinking and dining at the Beach Club, which channels 50s poolside glamour to the soundtrack of live DJ sets.