Greece and Italy are two of Europe’s most-loved destinations, and rightfully so. But as tourism in both continues to grow, so do restaurant waitlists, overbooked hotels and lines for attractions. This is how to explore them both, minus the crowds.
Perhaps you’re thinking ahead to Greece next summer but can’t face the throngs of tourists with the same idea? Interested in Italy but want some peace and quiet to drink an espresso? Or are looking at a ski-season getaway but are put off by crowded pistes and eye-watering prices across much of Europe at this time of year?
Exploring Greece and Italy sans crowds is possible. This is how to do it.
In partnership with Scott Dunn.
Greece
Sifnos, Greece
Greece is having a moment. We’re sure you haven’t had to scroll far this summer to find loved ones living it up in Mykonos, taking in Santorini sunsets, or strolling the pretty streets of Serifos (or indeed, countless other small islands). Yet this surge in popularity comes with a downside: packed streets and long lines. But you can do it differently.
The very best way is with a personalised, bespoke journey through the famous islands. Perhaps on board a private cruise from Paros to Antiparos, and on to Despotiko island. Travelling with family? Book the private boat as part of a family-friendly tour of the country, starting in ancient Athens, hopping over to Keá Island (where you’ll stay at the brand new One&Only Keá island), weaving your way onwards to Paros and its neighbours, and ending at One&Only Aesthesis.
The Blue Lagoon in Paros, Greece
Or set sail through the country’s oh-so-clear waters, from Athens to the islands of Milos, Sifnos and Naxos – all of which offer a unique and traditional taste of Greek-island life, minus the crowds of their more famous Cycladic sisters, Mykonos and Santorini.
Travelling with children? Then you’ll already know that a good kids’ club is indispensable when it comes to carving out some ‘you time’ for spa treatments, leisurely lunches or perhaps something as seemingly simple as reading by the pool. The Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club at Daios Cove in Crete caters for children from four months to 12 years old and, with an air-conditioned indoor play area, plenty of outside activities such as beach trips, tennis lessons, diving, visits to a local Cretan farm, plus creative cooking and painting sessions, it’s hard to beat. You can even arrange for evening babysitters to your room – giving you the chance to enjoy dinner for two.
Scott Dunn’s Greece experts know the ins and outs of the country’s most exclusive islands; their high-end private speedboat transfers and port lounge access mean you can avoid jostling with hundreds of other passengers at ferry ports; and their support in planning a tailor-made experience makes the ideal way to experience the best of Greece. The hardest part of your trip planning might just be deciding what to pack.
While we’ll always love Italian forever-favourites (looking at you, Rome, Florence and Venice), we’re heeding Scott Dunn’s advice for summer 2025 and scoping out the south of the country. As Livia Angelini, a Europe Travel Specialist at Scott Dunn explains, “southern Italy is the perfect place to enjoy a more authentic and slower pace of life,” continuing to recommend “destinations like Puglia and Sicily, where you’ll feel like you have stepped back in time.”
Sicily comes high on our list for living the good life, and there’s perhaps nowhere better to stay than at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina. This former 14th-century convent offers the best of, well, everything, boasting views of Taormina Bay, the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna’s crater. It’s also just a short meander away from Taormina’s trendy boutique stores and sprawling piazzas, which are ideal for long evening spent over good food, wine and conversation.
If you’re set on visiting the big-hitters, take advantage of Scott Dunn’s insider access to see the best of the cities without the crowds (yes, even during summer). They can arrange private cooking classes, artisan craft workshops, and after-hour tours of galleries and attractions so you can browse without the crowds – even at places as popular as Doge’s Palace in Venice, and the Accademia Gallery in Florence (where you’ll be able to spot Michelangelo’s David).
Skiing in The Dolomites
You don’t have to wait for summer to see Italy, either; the Italian Dolomites – a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps and a UNESCO Heritage site – is an ideal spot for winter ski trips. Once again, crowds are fewer, but that’s not even the best of it: Italy’s Dolomites offer better value for money during peak ski season – and they promise guaranteed snow. Yes, really.
Within the Dolomites’ 18 peaks, reaching up to 3,000 metres, the Dolomiti Superski region has some of the most advanced snowmaking equipment in the world – a formula created using mountain-stream water to make, freeze and mimic real snow – meaning packed powder is guaranteed, all season.
Ski the slopes of Sellaronda, Lagazuoi 5 Torri Giau and the Marmolada Glacier (the highest peak and only glacier in the Dolomites, also known as the ‘Queen of the Dolomites’) on a seven-day ski safari. Add family-owned rifugios (some with wine cellars) for a unique après-ski experience, direct flights from London Gatwick to Bolzano, and chalet-style accommodation (we love Ciasa Salares on the outskirts of San Cassiano) and this is a winter getaway to write home about.
Needless to say, the snowy slopes here are ideal for a ski getaway, but above and beyond this you’ll find plenty to do too. Stay in mountain rifugios and opt for Scott Dunn’s Sommelier on the Slopes (our kind of activity) where, after skiing the Alta Badia peaks, a professional sommelier will guide you through a tasting of South Tyrolean wines.
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