A destination guide to European summer

Our first destination: Italy

We begin in Italy, where summer has long been elevated to an art form.

From polished shores to hidden coves, Italy moves to its own effortless rhythm, long lunches, clear water, elegant harbours, and days shaped by instinct rather than schedule.

Our first destination brings together Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena, and Cala Coticcio. Places chosen for their beauty, atmosphere, and the simple pleasure of arriving by sea.

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Sardinia: Italy’s summer jewel

Before the destinations themselves, Sardinia deserves a moment of its own.

An island long associated with elegant summers, where granite coastlines meet water in impossible shades of blue. Refined when desired, wonderfully untouched when not.

From the polished energy of Costa Smeralda to the protected beauty of La Maddalena and the luminous shores of Cala Coticcio, Sardinia remains one of the Mediterranean’s most rewarding addresses.

COSTA SMERALDA

Few summer addresses carry the same reputation. Along Sardinia’s northeast coast, Costa Smeralda has long drawn those who know exactly where to spend July and August. Porto Cervo remains its social centre, a harbour lined with immaculate yachts, discreet boutiques, long lunches, and evenings that begin late and end later.

There is energy here, certainly. But also polish. The kind that never needs introduction. Then, just beyond the marina, everything softens.

The shoreline opens into granite coves, quiet bays, and water shifting from deep sapphire to clear emerald. Cala di Volpe, Romazzino, Liscia Ruja, and smaller anchorages hidden between the rock offer a more private version of the same coastline.

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LA MADDALENA ARCHIPELAGO

From Costa Smeralda, a short cruise north changes the mood entirely.
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The polished rhythm of Porto Cervo gives way to open water, sculpted granite, and the quieter beauty of La Maddalena. Protected as a national park, this collection of islands remains one of Europe’s most remarkable marine environments.

Clear shallows slip into deeper blue. Beaches appear almost untouched. Anchorages hide between weathered rock formations shaped by time and wind.

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AMALFI COAST: Italy’s most iconic coastline

For Zeelander owners, the Amalfi Coast is not a destination to rush through. It is a coastline to move through properly.

Begin in Capri, arriving early while the harbour is still calm. Circle the Faraglioni, swim before the day begins, then step ashore for lunch at La Fontelina or a long afternoon in town. By evening, the island changes again, quieter, warmer, more elegant From there, cruise east along the coast. Positano appears exactly as expected, rising in soft colour from the water. Beautiful to approach, better to admire from offshore with a drink on deck as the shoreline glows late in the day. Continue to Nerano, one of the coast’s best lunch stops. Waterfront tables, excellent seafood, and the kind of atmosphere that turns one course into three. Nearby coves offer clear water for a swim before or after.

Further along, Amalfi and Conca dei Marini bring a calmer rhythm. Smaller bays, cliffside hotels, hidden beach clubs, and anchorages where the afternoon can be left entirely untouched. And above it all, the lemon terraces. The scent carries on warm air from the hillsides, finding its way to the sea. You taste it later in a proper limoncello, served cold and without ceremony after lunch.

Summer roads can be crowded. Reservations can be difficult. Timings can feel fixed.

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AEOLIAN ISLANDS: Italy’s volcanic paradise

North of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands offer a different kind of Italian summer. Less polished than Capri, less predictable than the Riviera, and all the more interesting for it. This volcanic archipelago is made up of seven islands, each with its own mood. Panarea is the most refined, elegant houses, discreet hotels, and evenings that begin onshore and end late on deck. Salina is greener and slower, known for long lunches, vineyards, and a softer rhythm. Stromboli is unforgettable at dusk, when the volcano glows against the night sky. Liparibrings history, lively harbours, and practical provisioning between stops.

What draws people here is contrast. Black sand beaches, whitewashed villages, thermal waters, dramatic cliffs, and anchorages that feel far removed from the usual summer circuit.

For Zeelander owners, distances between islands are ideal for relaxed cruising. Short passages, memorable arrivals, and the freedom to change plans with the weather or the mood.

Good to know: the mistral can influence conditions, so flexible itineraries are rewarded. July and August bring energy; June and September often bring the better version.

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Our second destination: France

FRENCH RIVIERA - CÔTE D’AZUR

The French Riviera has long been the Mediterranean’s grand summer stage, a place of polished harbours, iconic hotels, elegant beach clubs, and afternoons that move easily into late dinners. Yet for those arriving by sea, it offers far more than the names alone.

Begin in Saint-Tropez, where long lunches at Le Club 55, beach afternoons at Pampelonne, and evenings in town remain part of the ritual. Continue to Cap d’Antibes for a quieter kind of refinement, calm anchorages, grand villas, and one of the coast’s most elegant settings. Cannes brings energy, shopping, and a lively promenade, while Monaco is best experienced for a night or two of unmistakable glamour.

Beyond the famous ports, the Riviera softens. Cruise the Estérel Coast, where red cliffs fall into clear water and hidden coves replace the crowds. Pause at the Îles de Lérins off Cannes for a swim or a slower lunch away from the mainland.

For Zeelander owners, distances are short, service is excellent, and every mood is within easy reach, lively or private, polished or relaxed.

Good to know: July and August are busiest. June and September often bring the better version. Reserve beach clubs and berths early, especially in Saint-Tropez and Monaco.
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PORQUEROLLES & ÎLES D’HYÈRES: The quieter side of the South of France

Off the Riviera, the pace changes...Porquerolles and the Îles d’Hyères offer a more understated expression of the South of France, protected waters, pale beaches, pine forests, and the kind of beauty that does not compete for attention.

Porquerolles is the best known of the islands, loved for its clear bays, elegant simplicity, and beaches such as Plage Notre-Dame. Ashore, there are small restaurants, vineyard lunches, and roads best explored by bicycle rather than car.

Beyond it, Port-Cros remains largely protected and beautifully wild, with quiet anchorages and excellent swimming. Île du Levant feels more remote still, ideal for those who prefer distance from the usual summer circuit.

For Zeelander owners, the islands are ideal for slower cruising days. Short passages, calm water, and anchorages made for lunch, swimming, and staying longer than planned.

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Good to know: the mistral can affect conditions, so flexibility is useful. High season remains popular, but the islands never feel as performative as the Riviera.

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Our third destination: Greece

CYCLADES: Greece’s iconic island escape

The Cyclades (Mykonos, Paros, Antiparos, Milos) are the islands of whitewashed villages, blue domes, bright light, and water in every shade of blue. Scattered across the Aegean, they offer the kind of summer that moves easily from lively afternoons to quiet anchorages.

For Zeelander owners, the appeal is variety. Mykonos brings energy, beach clubs, and polished evenings. Paros feels more relaxed, with elegant villages and excellent dining. Antiparos remains discreet and beautifully low-key. Milos is known for dramatic coastlines, sea caves, and some of the most striking swimming spots in Greece.

Distances between islands invite island-hopping, with each arrival offering a different mood.

Good to know: the Meltemi wind can shape summer cruising in the Cyclades, especially in July and August. June and September often bring a calmer, more refined version.

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MYKONOS: The cosmopolitan heart of the Cyclades‍

Mykonos has long been one of the Mediterranean’s most recognisable summer names.

Known for its polished beach clubs, late dinners, designer boutiques, and unmistakable energy, the island brings a different rhythm to the Aegean. Days begin on the water, move ashore for lunch, and rarely end early.Yet Mykonos is not only about scene. Arrive by yacht and the island opens differently. Quiet swims before the beach clubs wake, hidden coves along the southern coast, and the freedom to leave the centre behind whenever it suits you.

Anchor near Ornos or Psarou for easy access ashore, cruise south for clearer water and beachside lunches, or cross to nearby Delos for one of Greece’s most remarkable historical sites.

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PAROS: The quieter favourite

Paros has become one of the Cyclades’ most wanted islands, largely because it asks for less attention.

Elegant without trying, lively without excess, it offers the balance many now seek in the Aegean. Whitewashed villages, refined restaurants, golden beaches, and a pace that feels considered rather than crowded.

For Zeelander owners, Paros works beautifully as both destination and pause between islands. Naoussa is its social centre, a charming harbour lined with restaurants, boutiques, and late dinners beside the water. Parikia brings a more traditional rhythm, while the coastline hides beaches and anchorages ideal for a slower afternoon.

Nearby Antiparos is only a short cruise away, making the pairing one of the Cyclades’ most enjoyable combinations.

Good to know: Paros is popular for good reason, yet still feels more relaxed than Mykonos in peak season.

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Beyond Mykonos and Paros, the Cyclades reveal a quieter kind of beauty. ANTIPAROS remains discreet and effortlessly refined, loved for its low-key atmosphere and clear-water anchorages. SIFNOS is the tasteful one, elegant villages, excellent dining, and a slower rhythm built around long lunches and late afternoons. FOLEGRANDROS feels more removed, with dramatic cliffs, whitewashed lanes, and one of the most beautiful villages in the Aegean. Then comes SANTORINI, still one of the world’s great arrivals by yacht, where volcanic cliffs rise sharply from the caldera and sunset feels almost ceremonial.

Together, these islands show the Cyclades beyond the obvious names: different moods, short passages, and the freedom to move with the day.

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IONIAN ISLANDS: Greece’s greener side

The Ionian Islands are softer, greener, and calmer than the Cyclades. Olive trees replace bare hillsides. Venetian towns sit by the water. The sea takes on bright, clear shades of blue.

Paxos & Antipaxos, Corfu, and Kefalonia show why the Ionian Islands remain one of Greece’s most rewarding yacht regions. On this western side of the country, the landscape is greener, the seas are calmer, and summer moves at a more effortless pace.

Here, days are shaped by clear-water anchorages, short scenic passages, elegant harbour towns, and long lunches beside the sea. Olive groves roll down to the shoreline, Venetian architecture adds character to historic ports, and each island offers its own distinct mood.

PAXOS & ANTIPAXOS are the favourites of many owners for their intimate scale and extraordinary water colour. Small harbours such as Lakka and Gaios are ideal for lunch or an overnight stay, while nearby Antipaxos is made for swimming and slow afternoons at anchor.

CORFU brings a more cosmopolitan energy. Grand hotels, polished beach clubs, historic streets, and excellent provisioning make it one of the easiest and most refined bases for cruising the region.

KEFALONIA offers space, dramatic scenery, and some of Greece’s most beautiful beaches. Larger bays, elegant villages, and a quieter atmosphere make it ideal for those who prefer nature with room to breath

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HYDRA & THE SARONIC ISLANDS: Timeless and slow summer days

Just beyond Athens, the Saronic Islands offer one of Greece’s most elegant cruising grounds. Close enough for a spontaneous escape, beautiful enough to stay longer than planned

Hydra is the icon. No cars, no noise, just stone mansions, narrow lanes, and a harbour that has changed very little with time. Arriving here still feels special.

Nearby Spetses brings a more polished summer rhythm, grand houses, waterfront dining, and evenings that stretch easily into night. Poros is charming and relaxed, ideal for a slower stop, while Aegina remains a classic quick escape from the city.

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Our last destination: Spain

A place of warm light, clear water, late lunches, and days that rarely need a plan. From Ibiza and Formentera to Mallorca and Menorca, the Balearics offer different moods with the same easy sense of summer.

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IBIZA 'La Isla Blanca'

'The White Island ' Ibiza is known worldwide, but only part of the story is told on land.

From the water, the island reveals a more refined side. Pine-covered coves, clear anchorages, limestone cliffs, and quiet mornings that feel far removed from its nightlife reputation.

Sí, there is energy!  Long lunches at Casa Jondal, afternoons at Blue Marlin, sunset rituals at Experimental Beach, and evenings that begin late and end later. Yet the real luxury is choice, stepping into the atmosphere when desired, and leaving it behind just as easily.

Cruise south toward Ses Salines and Cala Jondal, then west for the view of Es Vedrà rising from the sea. Move north and the island softens again, with quieter bays such as Cala Xarraca and hidden coves best reached by boat.

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MALLORCA

The largest of the Balearics offers far more than marinas and beach clubs. Mallorca moves between polished harbours, mountain roads, private estates and quiet anchorages with ease.

Where to know:

Port de Sóller – A refined harbour set within the Tramuntana mountains. Elegant, calmer, and ideal for lunch ashore.

Puerto Portals – For boutiques, people-watching and a polished marina atmosphere.

Cala Deià – Iconic rocky cove below Deià, best approached early.

Cabrera National Park – Protected islands south of Mallorca with clear water and serious privacy.

Worth knowing:

The Serra de Tramuntana coastline offers one of the Mediterranean’s most dramatic backdrops.

Palma combines historic architecture with serious dining and understated nightlife.

West coast anchorages feel worlds away from the busier southwest marinas.

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MENORCA‍

Quieter, more reserved, and deeply appealing to those who prefer space over scene. Menorca is often the insider’s Balearic island.

Where to know:

Mahón Harbour – One of the world’s largest natural harbours. Practical, elegant, and well positioned.

Ciutadella – Historic old town with beautiful stone streets and candlelit dinners.

Cala Macarella – Caribbean-toned water with limestone cliffs.

Binibeca – Whitewashed architecture and slower afternoons.

Worth knowing:

Menorca is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Waters are exceptionally clear and beaches remain less developed than neighbouring islands.

Ideal for owners seeking quiet family days and elegant evenings.

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For those with a
‍unique sense of style

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This European Summer Edition brought together some of the Mediterranean’s most sought-after destinations, from Italy, France, Greece and Spain

Each offers something different: iconic harbours, discreet beach clubs, quiet anchorages, celebrated restaurants, clear water and places worth returning to season after season.

We hope this guide is useful as plans are made for summer 2026.

A U.S. edition will follow soon.

Until then, we wish you a beautiful season ahead.

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