Skip The Mediterranean: This Underrated Destination Offers Golden Beaches & Luxury Hotels

For many travelers, a summer vacation to Europe means a Mediterranean getaway. Whether it's the stunning scenery of a gorgeous Greek island like Folegandros or Santorini, the elegant luxury of France's Côte d'Azur, or the beautiful beaches of southern Italy, the Mediterranean is one of the best places to spend a summer. But there's no denying that Europe's Mediterranean coastline gets busy, and the best beaches are often loud and overcrowded. Luckily, there are a few underrated destinations in Europe that might be a little less heralded but are just as beautiful and well worth exploring for a summer vacation filled with golden beaches and luxurious places to stay.

Portugal's Atlantic coast is one of these lesser-known but fabulous European summer destinations, and the beach town of Vila Nova de Gaia is a standout option. Located near the chic, hidden-gem city of Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia offers a stunning blend of exquisite architecture, lively culture, and wonderful cuisine, as well as some of the best beaches in northern Portugal.

Vila Nova de Gaia is located just south of Porto on the banks of the Douro River. It is connected to Porto by metro, making it a great base to explore both cities, as well as the surrounding region. The nearest airport is Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), situated just to the north of Porto, which is about 30 minutes away by car and around an hour away by public transport.

For many years, Vila Nova de Gaia was seen as Porto's less interesting little cousin, perhaps worth a day trip but not a serious destination in its own right. However, recently the city has started to become more popular, in part because of its fabulous beaches. While northern Portugal's Atlantic coast might be a bit wilder than the calm waters of the Mediterranean, there's no denying that the beaches here are beautiful and exciting, and Vila Nova de Gaia has some of the best examples.

Aguda Beach is widely considered to be one of the finest beaches in the Porto area. It is a vast, wide-open stretch of sand with the ambiance of a small fishing village, backed by rolling dunes. Another excellent option is Madalena Beach. This is one of the closest beaches to the center of town, so one of the most popular, and boasts a charming boardwalk as well as some beach volleyball courts. Miramar Beach has been voted one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, thanks to its lovely combination of golden sand and unusual rock formations, and the picturesque Senhor da Pedra chapel at its northern end completes the exquisite setting.

Another big part of Vila Nova de Gaia's recent popularity is the proliferation of excellent luxury hotels in the city. As an old industrial port, many of the accommodation options are now found in converted warehouses, like Tivoli Porto Kopke Gaia, built in the historic cellars of one of Porto's oldest port houses, or the Rebello, housed in an old kitchen pan factory. A slightly less post-industrial option is Origine Porto Gaia, which boasts stunning river views and a gorgeous pool.

Beyond the beaches, Vila Nova de Gaia offers a wealth of great experiences and exciting things to see. Porto might be famous as the city of port wine, but Vila Nova de Gaia is where many of the oldest and most famous cellars can be found. Taking a tour of the "caves" is a must, and Taylor's, Ferreira, and Kopke are popular options. Vila Nova de Gaia is also an excellent place to set off on a Douro wine tour, with a boat ride down the river to the fantastic wine-making regions upstream a lovely way to spend the day.

Vila Nova de Gaia is also an excellent place to explore Portugal's mouthwatering cuisine. Mercado Beira-Rio is a great place to start, housed in a lovely historic municipal building, with a wide selection of local produce, seafood, and snacks. Don't miss the chance to try the Francesinha, Porto's famous sandwich drenched in sauce. At the other end of the spectrum, Asturias-born chef Nacho Manzano's 1638 serves up an exquisite tasting menu of elegant twists on classic Portuguese flavors.

It is also worth heading down to the gorgeous fishing village of Afurada in the evening to catch the sunset. The colorful houses provide the perfect backdrop to the setting sun, and it's one of the best places in Porto to try Portuguese barbecue, where freshly caught sardines are cooked over smoky charcoal fires at spots like O Forninho da Afurada and Taberna São Pedro.