Summer is my favorite season for nail designs, hands down. Maybe it’s the sunshine or the colorful wardrobes, but I’m always more inclined to swap a simple manicure for something more playful and maximalist once the warm weather rolls around.
This season, instead of choosing a nail trend at random, I found myself gravitating toward manicures inspired by the places on my summer itinerary. Whether you’re spending the season in New England or jetting off on a Euro summer, there’s a chic design to match any of your travel plans. And even if you don’t have a trip coming up, a destination-inspired manicure is a fun way to bring all the summer vibes to your fingertips.
Ahead, the best vacation nail designs to try, according to your travel plans.
The Hamptons
Beach Towel Nails
This beach-towel-inspired pattern will look unbelievably cute while you’re sitting on a matching towel, drying off after a dip in the ocean in the Hamptons. Go for all-over pinstripes or French tips, in whatever color combo your heart desires—there’s no wrong way to achieve beach-towel-inspired nails.
Nantucket
Pearl Nails
Nothing says coastal chic quite like Nantucket and pearls. This pearlescent finish is ideal for summer (it matches all your beachy jewelry), and you can add actual pearls, some realistic texture, or iridescent base colors to customize the look.
South of France
Floral Nails
From Marseille to Nice and everywhere in between, this floral manicure would look fabulous for a trip to the French Riviera. Start with your favorite base color (butter yellow is a chic, goes-with-everything choice), then add delicate hibiscus nail art and mix in French tips or a chrome finish for an extra summery touch.
Greece
Seashore Nails
Match the dreamy waters of the Greek island you’re headed to this summer with an aquatic-inspired manicure. Use structured gel to create a subtle shell-like texture, then finish with a glossy chrome, water-esque droplets, or tiny seashell accents for an elevated beachy look. Consider it the chic evolution of mermaidcore.
Paris
Single-Dot Nails
Polka dot nails were on everyone’s fingertips last summer, and this single-dot mani is the ultimate cool-girl upgrade. It’s not too summery but still has a Parisian-chic edge to it. Choose your favorite color combinations or a milky base, then strategically place one or two dots across your nails—or on the tip of a French manicure—for a fun yet still minimalist look.
The Amalfi Coast
Euro Summer Nails
If you’re headed to the Amalfi Coast this summer (or just want to manifest a ~holiday), go for a Mediterranean-inspired manicure filled with coastal embellishments. From sardines to intricate Italian tile motifs, there’s no wrong way to do a Euro-summer mani. I’m ready to pack my suitcase just looking at these.
Spain
Sunset Nails
The Costa del Sol is home to some of Spain’s most beautiful beach destinations, so it only feels right to pair your trip with a sunny manicure. This golden-hour-inspired mani is the perfect match for evenings spent in Málaga, Marbella, or whatever coastal town is on your itinerary.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo, where she covers all things nails. She’s constantly getting manicures with top celebrity nail artists, interviewing them on the biggest trends, and spending hours scrolling through nail art inspiration to find the best manicure ideas.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
