The 7 Best Places in Europe for a Digital Detox

While smartphones, computers and TVs have their advantages – and it’d be impossible to live without them in this day and age – we’re spending more time looking at screens than ever before, whether it’s for work or mindlessly scrolling social media late at night. Sometimes, what we all need is a good digital detox. Somewhere where we can put down the phones, computers and more, and get away from it all for a few days at a time. 

Whether you want somewhere far away from civilisation, or even just a trip a couple of hours out into the countryside, these are the 7 best places in Europe for a digital detox.

Escape the Screen: 7 Digital Detox Getaways in Europe

1. Mulranny – Ireland

Found along the rugged coast of County Mayo on Ireland’s Atlantic Coast is the small, unassuming village of Mulranny. 

This is truly one of the best places for a digital detox, not just in Ireland, but in Europe. Think of it as essentially a community of outdoor enthusiasts, and you’ll fit right in.

Whether you want to spend your days walking, swimming in the sea, rock climbing, cycling or wild camping, then a visit to Mulranny is just what you need for that ultimate digital detox.

The surrounding countryside is one of Ireland’s true wild paradises, and when you’re surrounded by such stunning nature, the last thing you’ll want to do is be aimlessly scrolling on your phone. Simply take it all in, breathe, and enjoy the beauty of County Mayo.

2. Soča Valley – Slovenia

Between the emerald-green waters of the Soča River and the snow-capped peaks of the Julian Alps lies the Soča Valley, one of Slovenia’s best hidden gems for those after a digital detox.

When you’re surrounded by such inspirational sights and natural beauty, it’s hard to want to do anything but simply admire the scenery surrounding you. Instead of taking your smartphone, why not go old-school and grab a film camera to preserve your memories?

In addition, this scenery is perfect for those who enjoy more creative pursuits, such as drawing, painting, journaling and more – so why not ditch the screens, and instead pick up a pen or a paintbrush, and make the most of one of Slovenia’s most stunning sights instead?

3. Monte Isola – Italy

Italy is a tourist’s paradise, so it might come as a surprise that it is also somewhere perfect for a digital detox, but you might be surprised when you see what Monte Isola has to offer.

Found in the northern Italian province of Brescia, Lombardy, Monte Isola is one of the most unique areas for a digital detox, because it is located on a mountain in the middle of a lake!

And if that doesn’t scream out digital detox, then we don’t know what does – escape the hustle and bustle of modern-day life, and instead of spending your days inside reconnecting to the Internet, reconnect to nature instead by trying out something new like swimming in Lake Iseo or hiring a boat for the day.

After all, you are surrounded by the lush green islands nearby, and small northern Italian villages dotted around you; a perfect Italian setting for your southern European dream.

There are a few other places in Italy where you can achieve ultimate serenity and peace away from screens and modern-day technology, but Monte Isola is definitely one of them.

4. The Outer Hebrides – Scotland

Scotland is known for being one of Europe’s last remote wildernesses, and there has even been talk recently of reintroducing lynx and wolves into the Scottish Highlands, which goes to show how wild this area really is.

However, for the ultimate digital detox, you will need to leave the mainland and take a short boat ride off Scotland’s northwest coast to reach the Outer Hebrides – one of the best places for a digital detox in the world.

The Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides has a population of just 2,000 people, so if you’re looking for somewhere remote, then visit here. It’s also home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Luskentyre Beach, which looks like it’s been pulled straight out of the Caribbean.

Rugged landscapes and unspoiled terrain are what you’ll find in the Hebrides, as well as the fact that most islanders speak Gaelic rather than English – a true remote paradise, perfect for a digital detox.

5. Valais – Switzerland

Found in the southwestern part of the country, Valais in Switzerland is perfect for a digital detox.

Valais is also home to part of the Matterhorn Mountain – one of Europe’s most famous and highest mountains – so where better to spend your days on a digital detox than by hiking up the Matterhorn?

Furthermore, the scenery is equally as inspiring in summer as it is in winter – think lush green Alpine forest and glorious sunshine in the summer months, and snowy Christmas card-like scenes in the winter months.

If you’re planning a digital detox in the winter, why not bring a few of your favourite books and cosy up by the fire in a traditional Alpine lodge instead of watching TV, and replace the scrolling with Scrabble instead – reconnect not just to nature, but to yourself away from the screens.

6. Samsø – Denmark

Replace mindless scrolling with a mindful retreat in Samsø, a Danish island 15km off the Jutland peninsula.

Denmark is known for being a superb country to experience both Scandinavian and Nordic culture, so where better to release your inner Viking than on a remote Danish island?

The island has just over 3,700 inhabitants, making finding a remote spot to undertake your digital detox very easy – there’s no such thing as population density here.

Furthermore, Samsø is also an environmentally friendly paradise, with 100% of its energy coming from renewable sources, namely wind and solar. And this is a superb excuse to ditch the tech and embrace nature instead; after all, you’re part of one of the greenest communities on Earth when you’re here. 

If you’re keen to do what you can to help the environment while also undertaking a digital detox, then a visit to Samsø is a must.

7. Ulko-Tammio – Finland

It will be little surprise to see Finland on this list, or indeed any other Nordic country, because they are so well known for their remote landscapes and environmentally friendly initiatives.

However, Ulko-Tammio takes this to the next level: it is the world’s first digital detox island.

It belongs to the National Park of the Eastern Gulf of Finland and is completely uninhabited by humans, instead being home to endangered species of birds and rare species of plants.

You can get a permit from the National Park to stay here if you wish to stay for longer than two nights, but be aware that you’re not allowed to take your phone with you, as the island also has a rule in place that no phones are allowed.

This is the ultimate destination for a digital detox in Finland, so if you’re deadly serious about going phone and screen-free for a digital detox, then you can’t find anywhere better to go than Ulko-Tammio where you can reconnect with nature without the temptation of checking social media, watching TV or anything else technology-related.