Beach sights in Europe
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
Beaches & Isla de Santa Clara
Fulfilling almost every idea of how a perfect city beach should be formed, Playa de la Concha and its westerly extension, Playa de Ondarreta, are easily among the best city beaches in Europe. Throughout the long summer months a fiesta atmosphere prevails, with thousands of tanned and toned bodies spread across the sands. The swimming is almost always safe. The Isla de Santa Clara, about 700m from the beach, is accessible by boats that run every half-hour from June to September from the fishing port. At low tide the island gains its own tiny beach.
Less popular, but just as showy, Playa de Gros (Playa de la Zurriola), east of Río Urumea, is the city's main surf beach. Thoug…
reviewed
-
Beaches
The main Western Beach is north of the centre; follow the main road out of town (Side Caddesi) and turn left at Şarmaşık Sokak opposite the otogar (bus station). Closer is the smaller Eastern Beach off Barbaros Caddesi. On the way here you'll pass the large State Agora. There's a much longer beach further east.
reviewed
-
Beaches
On hot days, locals crowd easy-to-reach Plage des Catalans and, further south, the Prado Beaches (end of av Prado). Or visit the peaceful, rocky shores of Îles du Frioul.
reviewed
-
Beaches
Biarritz' raison d'être is its fashionable beaches, particularly the two central Grande Plage and Plage Miramar, which are lined end to end with sunbathing bodies on hot summer days. Stripy 1920s-style beach tents can be hired for €9.50 per day. The other central Biarritz beach is the tiny cove of Plage du Port Vieux which, thanks to its lack of swell, is the best one for young children to splash about on. North of Pointe St-Martin, the adrenaline-pumping surfing beaches of Anglet (the final 't' is pronounced) continue northwards for more than 4km. Take eastbound bus 9 (line C on Sunday and public holidays) from the bottom of av Verdun (just near av Édouard VII).
To th…
reviewed
-
Beaches
The wide, sandy and virtually empty Killahoey Beach leads right into the heart of Dunfanaghy village. Marble Hill Beach, about 3km east of town in Port-na-Blagh, is more secluded but usually crammed in summer. Reaching Dunfanaghy's loveliest spot, Tramore Beach, requires hiking 20 minutes through the grassy dunes immediately south of the village.
reviewed
-
Beaches
Torquay boasts no fewer than 20 beaches and a surprising 22 miles of coast. Holidaymakers flock to the central Torre Abbey Sands (covered by water at very high tides); the locals opt for the sand-and- shingle beaches beside the 240ft red-clay cliffs at Babbacombe. These can be accessed by a glorious 1920s funicular railway; a memorable trip in a tiny wooden carriage that shuttles up and down rails set into the cliff.
reviewed
-
Beaches
On the isthmus leading out to Isla de las Palomas, tiny Playa Chica lives up to its name. Spectacular Playa de los Lances is a different matter, stretching northwest for 10km to the huge sand dune at Ensenada de Valdevaqueros.
reviewed
-
Beaches
Sandy city beaches stretch several kilometres in each direction from the port. Playa de la Malagueta, handy to the city centre, has some excellent bars and restaurants close by. Playa de Pedregalejo and Playa del Palo, about 4km east of the centre, are popular and reachable by bus 11 from Paseo del Parque.
reviewed
-
Beaches
Immediately north of the port is the sandy beach of Playa del Postiguet. Playa de San Juan, easily reached by the tram, is larger and usually less crowded.
reviewed
-
Beaches
The town beach, Platja del Miracle, is reasonably clean but can get terribly crowded. Platja Arrabassada, 1km northeast across the headland, is longer, and Platja Llarga, beginning 2km further out, stretches for about 3km. Buses 1 and 9 from the Balcó stop on Via Augusta go to both(€1.10).You can get the same buses from along Rambla Vella and Rambla Nova.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Beaches
The central, sandy beaches along bd de la Croisette are sectioned off for hotel patrons. Many accept day guests: rates range from €19 per day for a mattress and yellow-and-white parasol on Plage du Gray d’Albion – it has a waterskiing school – to €51 for the pearl-white lounges on the pier of the super-stylish Z Plage, the beach of Hôtel Martinez.
A microscopic strip of sand near the Palais des Festivals is free, but you’ll find better free sand on Plages du Midiand Plages de la Bocca, west from the Vieux Port along bd Jean Hibert and bd du Midi.
reviewed
-
Beaches
Antibes’ small sandy beach, Plage de la Gravette, gets packed; you’ll find the best beaches in Juan-les-Pins, including some free beaches on bd Littoral and bd Charles Guillaumont. Plage de la Salis, on the road between Vieil Antibes and Cap d’Antibes, has the most incredible view of the Alps.
reviewed
