Türkiye, Egypt, Sochi – the battle for the sun lounger is familiar to everyone. But what if there is a sea where even the local corn sellers have never heard of you? In 2026, tourists are increasingly choosing secluded shores. We talk about five destinations where there are no crowds.
Albania: European coastline without the Greek price tag
The Albanian Riviera has a crystal clear Ionian Sea, the beaches of Dhermi and Himara and prices that are half the price of neighboring Greece. In 2026, you can still come here without a reservation a month in advance. The downside is the weak infrastructure, but lovers of wild recreation like it.
Montenegro: bays that know no queues
Not crowded Budva, but Petrovac or Valdanos beach near Ulcinj. Kilograms of sand, pine trees approaching the water, and the absence of hotels right on the shore. Demand on the northern coast increased by only 7% (data from Intourist, 2026). It is better to go in June or September.
Vietnam: Phu Quoc Island without Chinese crowds
Phu Quoc has not yet become the second Phuket. Long beaches on the west coast, a national park, fishing with the locals. New eco-resorts opened in 2026. The downside is that the flight from Russia is expensive, but there are no crowds.
Dagestan: The Caspian Sea is on the rise
Izberbash, Makhachkala – sand, shallow water, warm water from June. Unlike Sochi, there are no pebbles and high-rise buildings near the water. According to ATOR, the increase in tourists is 40%, but the absolute numbers are still small. The “quiet” period will last another year or two.
Portugal: Alentejo instead of the bustling Algarve
Hundreds of kilometers of empty beaches. Comporta Beach with lagoons, accessible only by ferry, or Vila Nova de Milfontes for surfers. In 2026, only knowledgeable Europeans will come here. The downside is wind and cool currents, but swimming is comfortable from July to September.
Expert opinion:
Travel blogger Andrey Kochnev (Palms and Passport channel) advises:
“If a place appears in the top 10 of bloggers, after a season there will be no crowd there. Now the golden mean that tourists have discovered is Albania and the Dagestan Caspian Sea. Fukuoka is good, but the long flight kills the advantages.”
He reminds: Albania – with Schengen or national visa, Montenegro – visa-free for up to 30 days, Portugal – Schengen, writes ATOR.
Read also:
Places that turned out to be more beautiful than photos from the Internet
