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For many, the Mediterranean is the ultimate holiday destination. On the surface, it has everything you need for dining and beach activities. Yet, scratch a little deeper, and you will see remnants of the birth of civilisation and some highly localised traditions.
Because the Mediterranean has so much going for it, it can be difficult to know what to look for. And, with many grouping it into one area, it’s easy to forget how diverse it can really be. So, how do you go about choosing where to go?
What’s in it for you?
Before you even look at a map, it’s worth taking a moment to think about yourself. What fuels your travel passion? What are you desiring, specifically, when daydreaming about this holiday, and what are your interests. Is it strolling down the cobbled streets of historic towns and learning about their history, or is a getting your hiking boots on for a long trail trek with Orbis Ways, who can help sort out the logistics for you?
If you’re in it for the food, you may want to consider whether you’re looking for fresh seafood, wine, or any old recipes in particular.
Mapping your journey
The Mediterranean isn’t just one climate and one culture, clearly. If you imagine the historic island nation of Malta, it’s a crossroads of civilisations where European and North African influences come together. Its ancient megalithic temples (which predate the pyramids) can be best experienced through its long trails. In fact, much of Spain also has North African influences, too, while the likes of Slovenia very much have their own communist past and their Alpine and Adriatic traditions. It’s worth pinning down whether you want an island or not, because if you do, Greece has 6,000 of them, many of which with great Greco-Roman remains.
Timing of your visit
Peak summer can be hot throughout the Mediterranean, which is why you may want somewhere that’s breezy, like Naxos. Though, going in shoulder seasons isn’t guaranteed to be hot in much of the Balkans and northern Italy, so it’s worth checking the forecast, or heading to southern Spain if you want to more guarantee over your sunshine.
If your vacation timing is fixed, it’s worth looking at the local events calendar of different places. You might find major international festivals like Primavera (Barcelona), or seek out smaller-scale cultural celebrations.
Coastal hikes to cultural feasts
It’s often recommended that, to see the local culture, it’s best to travel on foot. This way, you can take your time to really soak it in and take detours. While Croatia’s national parks like Plitvice Lakes are incredible, you don’t need to go rural for hiking – you can combine the two with a coastal hike that goes around Dubrovnik’s fortress, in detail, yet heads out towards the islands in the Med.
One of the things that is consistent across Southern Europe is the fresh produce and warm, friendly culture. Here, there is no need for comparison, and you can instead focus on what your interests are, whether you want to be on an island, the time of year, and what activities excite you.
