Authentic Summer Travel: 4 Destinations To Explore Like a Local

You’re probably already a responsible holidaymaker keen on authentic travel if your next trip is guided by these questions: where and when shall I go? Where: wherever the wind takes you, to destinations where you can experience rich personal encounters, and to hotels immersed in local cultures. When: all year round, from summer dawn to winter dusk, as long as the crowds have gone, allowing unhurried and deeper forays beyond the superficial. Discover four destinations just made for authentic travel.

Colourful bunting fluttering in the summer breeze, a reminder of music festivals still to come. The glittering spectacle of sunrise over the Danube as the city sleeps. Visits to lesser-known attractions. Even in summer, it’s easy to enjoy an authentic travel stay in Budapest far from the madding crowds.

In summer, a Budapest travel guide is all about being outdoors. It’s festival season, friends get together for barbecues and families soak up the sun in swimming pools throughout the city. However, it’s not difficult to find peaceful spots to read a favourite book or watch local life go by – just choose the right hotel, the right time and the right places.

• The Hungarian Grand Prix over the last weekend in July
• Sziget rock festival in mid-August
• St Stephen’s Day on 20 August (Hungary’s national holiday) 

Mercure Budapest City Center Hotel offers a blend of modern comfort and local culture, reflected both in the murals of local landmarks in its spacious guest rooms and the extensive selection of local wines in Winestone City Center – the hotel’s relaxed bar where you can pick up great tips about authentic travel in the city.
 

Its location is ideal for escaping the tourist crowds, even at the height of summer. Take an early-morning stroll along the deserted banks of the Danube – just 5 minutes’ walk away – or admire Széchenyi Chain Bridge and Buda Castle beautifully illuminated at night.

To experience the real Budapest while avoiding summer crowds, swerve the iconic monuments and follow the locals to their favourite spots.

• Római Part: Enjoy a local Budapest summer on this Danube-side promenade, 30 minutes by bus north of the city centre. Bag a deckchair, order a plate of paprika-spiced fried fish and chill with a fröccs (white wine spritzer) in hand.
• Gül Baba’s Tomb: Visit the ornate mausoleum of a 16th-century Ottoman dervish in the leafy and affluent residential district of Rózsadomb and soak up panoramas over the whole city from the belvedere.
• Memento Park: Catch bus number 150 to this sprawling open-air museum displaying vast Brutalist monuments from the Communist era, including statues of Lenin, Marx and Red Army soldiers.
• Délegyháza lakes: Take a picnic and enjoy a solitary swim on a day trip to the scenic artificial lakes at Délegyháza. There are regular coach and train services, and the journey takes around 50 minutes.

Dodge the tourist hordes on authentic travel adventures to discover the soul of Gipuzkoa, the northern Basque region where you’ll be rewarded with a warm welcome by the locals, maritime landscapes of almost cinematic beauty and the gentle whisper of Atlantic waves.

Every year, nearly a million international travellers descend on this elegant coastal city – the vast majority at the height of summer. Proud of its Basque identity, it's a stunning destination where you can discover hidden museums, dine on some of the best food in the world, swim and surf. Discover things to do in San Sebastián in late summer, when the hustle and bustle of high season is fading.

• San Sebastián International Jazz Festival in the 3rd week of July
• Semana Grande in early August; authentic festivities but packed out with tourists

San Sebastián is justly famous for its rich cuisine and panoramic skyline. At Mercure San Sebastián Monte Igueldo, you get the best of both. All the rooms have sea or mountain views, and you can dine on Basque specialities overlooking beautiful La Concha Bay in El Torreón restaurant. At twilight, head up to the rooftop to admire the flanks of Monte Igueldo at close quarters. 

Authentic experiences in San Sebastián require organisation and listening to local advice.

• The city at dawn: Hear stallholders chatter as San Martin Merkatua (Saint Martin Market) opens, catch the first light over La Concha Bay, follow deserted paths up Mount Urgull. All good reasons to set your alarm early!
• Fine dining and cider: San Sebastián boasts 18 Michelin-starred restaurants, traditional pintxo bars and local gems like Zapiain cider house. Regional specialities include tarta de queso (Basque cheesecake) from La Viña, Cantabrian anchovies at Bar Txepetxa and the fabled tortillas at Bar Zabaleta.
• Chillida-Leku: Take the regional train from the city centre to this fabulous museum dedicated to the monumental work of Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida in the serene gardens of his former farmhouse home.
• Pasajes de San Juan: At 10 km from the city, this centuries-old, pastel-coloured fishing village is separated by the Bay of Pasaia estuary, which can be crossed by boat.

Sunlight catches on the ornate roofs of Belle Époque mansions in the elegant Ville d’Hiver district. A solitary seagull soars in the winds that shape the Dune du Pilat. Market traders set up stalls in the silence of morning. This summer, enjoy a timeless moment on authentic travel far from the crowds in laidback Arcachon.

According to Gironde Tourisme’s 2025 report, Arcachon Bay accounts for nearly 50% of the region’s overnight stays in July and August – but fortunately, you can summer there without being swept away by waves of visitors. The one essential requirement is a love of cycling. Once away from the famous beaches, the crowds disappear, leaving the ocean to speak for itself, and the Atlantic-side cycle paths of this corner of paradise are yours to enjoy.

• Around 14 July, when it’s both crowded and expensive
• 14 and 15 August, when brass bands take to the streets for the Fêtes de la Mer

Some hotels in Arcachon, France, offer discounted room rates, even in July or August, so you can enjoy an authentic trip and stay in an affordable guest room. greet hotel La Teste Bassin d’Arcachon has a leafy setting halfway between surfing beaches and the ever-shifting Dune du Pilat; it’s also a stone’s throw from the cute little port of L’Aiguillon – itself well off the tourist trail – revealing a hidden side of the lagoon that’s quiet even in summer.

Do yourself a favour by steering clear of the usual tourist hotspots – or visit them at off-peak times of day. 

• Dune du Pilat: Climb this shapeshifting sand dune at dusk for views of the Banc d’Arguin as the sun sets.
• The Leyre Delta: Leave the Atlantic coastline for a few hours to paddle the myriad of waterways beneath a cooling canopy of trees and far from the roar of motorboats.
• Arès and Lège-Cap-Ferret National Nature Reserve: Hire a bike and hop on a shuttle bus to Andernos-les-Bains, where cycling paths lace the marshy reed beds.

Squeezed between sun-kissed Lake Geneva and snow-capped peaks, Montreux is a timeless haven where Swiss landscapes blend with Mediterranean charm, all in a Riviera microclimate that sees palm trees grow around the lake.

Every evening, Lake Geneva puts on a mesmerising show. The sun dips behind the Jura mountains. The sapphire shores of Lake Geneva turn rose-gold as snow-capped Dents du Midi peaks glitter in the foreground. To find peace and enjoy a profound summer experience, find things to do in Montreux well away from the main stage on authentic travel trips.

• Montreux Jazz Festival in early July
• Swiss National Day on 1 August

Fairmont Le Montreux Palace is a Belle Époque landmark in its own right, with an incomparable setting by the side of Lake Geneva that invites quiet contemplation. This luxurious hotel offers exceptional stays: enjoy unforgettable brunches by the lake and wander the formal gardens, which seem to float between lake and mountains in the soft summer light. 

Visiting Montreux always guarantees tranquillity, punctuated by magical moments in magnificent alpine scenery:

• Grangettes Nature Reserve: About 30 minutes by bike from Montreux, this protected wetland is one of the few untamed areas on Lake Geneva.
• Peak Walk by Tissot: Take the fabled Glacier 3000 cable car to the suspension bridge straddling two mountains; you’ll have breathtaking views of the Jungfrau, Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.
• Mountain cheeses: Visit alpine farms in the Col de Jaman to sample Gruyère – made from unpasteurised cow’s milk – or Etivaz, known for its nutty, sweet taste.
• Lake Geneva towns: What’s it to be – Vevey, Lausanne or Gruyères? The rail network offers memorable day trips to them all from Montreux.

While authentic travel is best experienced at your leisure on longer holidays, it can easily be included in your itinerary for business trips or wellness breaks. And of course, your quiet stays aren't limited to these four destinations – there’s a whole world out there just waiting to be discovered in depth.