My Summer 2026: Places I Loved, Rediscovered & Want to Return To

SashaRay

16 hours ago

4 min read

Apparently, I have a distinct type when it comes to summer: turquoise water, exceptional food, sunlit coastal towns, and those afternoons where a late lunch effortlessly blurs into dinner.

If I had to describe my summer this year in a single word, it would undoubtedly be Mediterranean.

It was a season of returning to beloved places, rediscovering destinations I thought I knew inside out, and falling completely in love with a few all over again. There were boats and beaches, lingering lunches, spontaneous dinners, morning markets, beautiful hotels, endless hours in the sea, and that unmistakable feeling that only a European summer can conjure.

Saint-Tropez — Still My Number One

No surprises here: Saint-Tropez remains my definitive summer destination.

There is something about this French village that never loses its hold on me. I love the morning quiet of its narrow streets, the open-air markets, the discreet restaurants tucked behind unassuming façades, the stylish crowd, the beach clubs, the water — and, above all, that specific Tropezian atmosphere that is impossible to articulate until you have lived it yourself.

What I cherish most is the contrast. Saint-Tropez can be unapologetically glamorous, yet it never ceases to feel like a village. You can spend the afternoon barefoot by the sea and, mere hours later, find yourself dressed for dinner, walking through the very same cobblestone lanes.

I have been returning for years, and by now there is a rare comfort in having my established rituals—favorite tables, familiar beaches, and familiar faces. Travel doesn't always demand novelty; sometimes the greatest indulgence is simply returning to what you already adore.

For me, Saint-Tropez is no longer just a destination. It is a state of mind — and somehow, it always feels like the purest definition of summer.

Sardinia — My Italian Love Affair

It had been far too long since I last set foot on Sardinia, and this summer made me wonder why I ever stayed away for so long.

The island became a completely separate love story within my summer.

Its beauty is almost surreal: wild landscapes, dramatic granite formations, turquoise water, and some of the most striking beaches in Europe. There were moments when I simply had to pause and take it in, because the scenery felt almost too cinematic to be real.

And then, of course, the table.

Incredibly fresh seafood, handmade pasta, local produce, and those long Italian lunches that effortlessly stretch across the afternoon. Everything tastes infinitely sharper and better when you are sitting by the water in Sardinia.

Yet beyond the views and the food, what truly captivated me was its unapologetic Italian soul. There is a warmth, a spontaneity, and an effortless approach to enjoying life that makes Italy so addictive. Sardinia delivers all of that, but with its own slightly untamed island spirit.

Saint-Tropez may remain my eternal favorite, but Sardinia was easily one of my greatest loves this year — and a place I am already planning to revisit.

Ibiza — The Surprise of My Summer

Ibiza was perhaps my biggest rediscovery this season.

I had visited before, but this summer revealed a completely different side of the island. It was a vivid reminder of just how much depth Ibiza possesses beyond the nightlife that often dominates the conversation.

The island is vast and strikingly diverse. There are secluded coves, quiet countryside, exceptional restaurants, refined beach clubs, dramatic sunsets, and hidden corners — each carrying an entirely different energy depending on where you find yourself.

This time, I felt as though I had only skimmed the surface.

And that was precisely what made it linger. I left wanting more — more beaches to uncover, more restaurants to experience, more quiet villages to wander, and more time to understand the island beyond its most famous persona.

Ibiza is officially unfinished business. I already know I will be back for a deeper look.

Bodrum — A Turkish Summer Classic

And then, of course, there was Turkey.

Bodrum has become one of those destinations I genuinely crave returning to year after year. There is something compelling about its alchemy of a dramatic coastline, exceptional food, relaxed Mediterranean spirit, and glamorous summer energy that simply works.

Days in Bodrum find their own hypnotic rhythm: the sea, lunch, a little more time on the water, getting ready for the evening, and suddenly realizing midnight arrived hours ago.

It feels vibrant without ever compromising that relaxed holiday cadence — and for me, it has become a place that unconditionally belongs to summer.

D Maris Bay — The Perfect Escape

And finally, D Maris Bay — easily one of the most stunning sanctuaries I have experienced in Turkey in recent years.

The setting is pure drama: sweeping green hills, crystal-clear water, and secluded little bays that make you feel completely detached from the rest of the world.

After a summer filled with constant movement, dinner reservations, people, and plans, D

Maris was precisely the antidote I needed.

Swim. Eat. Sleep. Watch the sea. Repeat.

Sometimes the ultimate luxury is simply having nowhere else you need to be.

One More Summer to Remember

Looking back, there was no single trip that defined my summer on its own.

Rather, it was a mosaic of places, textures, and sensations.

Saint-Tropez was my eternal classic. Sardinia was my Italian romance. Ibiza was the unexpected revelation. Bodrum was my Aegean ritual. And D Maris was my sanctuary.

Different destinations with completely different energies — yet all anchored in the things I love most about summer: mesmerizing waters, exceptional food, warm evenings, boats, markets, long lunches, dressing for dinner, and spending every possible hour by the sea.

Perhaps that is the greatest charm of summer travel: no matter how many coastlines you explore, you inevitably close the season with an even longer list of places calling you back.