Summer is almost here and plenty of people are now starting to plan their sunny getaways. With so many places to choose from it can be difficult to decide where you’re going to go.

A lot of dream destinations are now drawing crowds which can make a relaxing holiday a bit of a nightmare. If you want a holiday unspoilt by crowds of other places, it's important to look into places less travelled. Travel experts at Solmar Villas have analysed over 160 global destinations to uncover the most relaxing places for a chilled-out summer holiday in 2026 - and Greece comes out on top.

Greece has more than 6,000 islands to choose from and while some are packed with people, others are much quieter.

Each location on the top 10 list was scored across eight factors. Crowd density, climate, nature and scenery, pace of life, affordability, safety and ease of access. Of the top 10 destinations, eight of them were in Greece.

The top destination is Alonissos - a tiny peaceful island located in the northern Sporades - an archipelago in the Aegean Sea. To get there, you can fly from the UK to the nearby island of Skianthos and then get a high speed ferry to Alonissos.

The island feels a world away from day to day life. Lush hills covered in pine trees unspool down to crystal clear water, perfect for a summer swim. The pace of life is slow, and traditional villages are scattered across the hilltops. The island is also home to the National Marine Park of Alonnisos and Northern Sporades, one of the largest protected marine areas in Europe.

This makes it a paradise for divers and snorkellers. A boat ride around the island allows you to see caves, reefs and vibrant marine life unfurling below the surface of the sea. It’s also home to the rare Mediterranean monk seal - fewer than 700 of them survive in three or four isolated subpopulations in the Mediterranean.