Get a hit of city life and a toes-in-the-sand slice of the beach all in one with a visit to these European cities.
City break or beach holiday? There’s no need to choose – here are the best city breaks in Europe that offer both: buzzy urban life right next to stretches of sand where you can plonk your towel and nap to a soundtrack of crashing waves, from the Michelin stars of San Sebastián to the Twenties trams in Porto that lead straight to the ocean.
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Barcelona, Spain
BEST FOR: SUNBATHERS WHO DON’T LIKE STANDING STILL
If you barter well enough with hawkers on Barceloneta beach, you’ll find some of the cheapest beers in the city (avoid the Mojitos; they’re weak and consist mainly of ice). First though, line your stomach at MakaMaka, the best – and busiest – burger bar in town, or wander further into Barceloneta’s grid to find family-run tapas bars and bakeries you’ll smell before you see, such as fourth-generation-run Baluard. Pause to enjoy skateboarding displays and impromptu musical performances on the promenade.
INSIDER TIP: Pack a picnic and head to Nova Icaria, just north of Barceloneta, to find more space on the sand.
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Copenhagen, Denmark
BEST FOR: SCANDI DESIGN LOVERS
Denmark doesn’t spring to mind when looking for a beach holiday. But Scandi summers are irresistible – in June, Copenhagen gets around 17 hours of daylight, and temperatures can reach a surprisingly mild 20°C on average. Locals keen to make the most of it after a harsh winter head to one of the handful of beaches in and around the city. A short drive from the centre, Amager Beach Park is a man-made lagoon with 2.5 miles of white sand to stretch out on, dunes to climb, and sea where you’ll find brave regulars and visitors splashing about.
INSIDER TIP: For cold-water lovers, more swimming opportunities can be found at Islands Brygge, which has a wooden pontoon for leaping off into the harbour.
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Bodrum, Turkey
BEST FOR: YACHT-SPOTTING
A low-slung, white-washed town sitting smartly in front of rolling, pine-dotted countryside, Bodrum is popular with the superyacht set and its delicious anonymity has long drawn celebrities from around the world. Terraces of ocean-front cafés are filled with a cosmopolitan crowd, and narrow roads lead away from the shimmering Aegean to a clutch of boutique hotels and classic beach clubs. We like Maçakizi, hidden behind bougainvillaea, which serves brilliant supper dishes such as pan-seared sea bass.
INSIDER TIP: For an unrivalled wellness break, head a little out of town to the new Six Senses Kaplankaya, the hottest spot in Turkey right now.
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Naples, Italy
BEST FOR: A SWIM WITH A VIEW
Naples is known for its windy old-town streets and tumultuous Spanish quarter, where kids fly about on scooters, and boisterous bar crowds spill out onto the road. Mornings should be spent here, as the city stretches its legs – but as the midday sun sets in, head south to the water. The widescreen Gulf of Naples, with steaming Mount Vesuvius as its backdrop, has black-sand beaches and silvery water to jump into from the rocks.
INSIDER TIP: Time your afternoon swim so you’re drying off at sunset – the sky over the jaw-dropping hills leading away from the beach turns all shades of pink.
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Trieste, Italy
BEST FOR: POST-SWIM CAFÉ CULTURE
Compared to Italy’s big-hitting cities, there is nothing to write home about in Trieste – no ancient landmarks or instantly recognisable art. Nevertheless, visitors keep turning up; to fall in love with the place is just to get lost in its alleys. The soft pink light and wild wind have drawn writers and misfits for decades. The Adriatic crashes below the town, and locals make the most of the proximity to the water with regular trips to the thin strips of beach.
INSIDER TIP: More coffee is drunk in Trieste than in any other corner of Italy. Grab a table outside Caffè degli Specchi for one of the best espressos in the city.
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Nice, France
BEST FOR: MEDITERRANEAN MOOCHING
If you’re after French Riviera glitz, look somewhere other than Nice. This seaside city is anything but a scene. It doesn’t even feel much like France (which makes sense when you learn that, until 150 years ago, it was part of Italy): a classic Mediterranean mongrel that pairs old-school Italian culture and faded grandeur with gritty urbanity. This city of pastels and sunshine has a retro-style promenade dotted with candy-coloured parasols. Splash out on a sun lounger if you plan to spend an afternoon on the pebble beach.
INSIDER TIP: For cutting-edge culture, head to Le 109, a revamped slaughterhouse that’s now home to quirky art exhibitions set to a soundtrack of techno DJs.
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Split, Croatia
BEST FOR: HISTORY BUFFS
Split’s polished marble streets and terracotta rooftops have sat for hundreds of years on a peninsula stretched over the sparkly Adriatic Sea. Founded by the Romans, the Old Town is inside the walls of fourth-century fortress Diocletian’s Palace. Along the shady, meandering, car-free streets, forward-thinking restaurants jostle for attention. If you’re the spontaneous type, you can dive straight into the water from the city’s promenade. Croatia’s beaches are often rocky coves – head to Bene beach for soft sand.
INSIDER TIP: For an additional hit of nature, head out to Krka Falls where you can swim in crystal clear waters surrounded by the greenest trees.
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San Sebastián, Spain
BEST FOR: FOODIES
You could happily spend days wandering through San Sebastián’s Old Town, breaking only for pitstops at the many pinxtos bars. Spot the best ones by the crowds outside – no one sits down, so join the locals and huddle around oak barrels for thimbles of beer or wine and tapas. Ganbara does a brilliant toast piled with mushrooms and an oozing poached egg, and La Vina is a must-visit for the cheesecake. There are also an incredible 17 Michelin stars in this town; if you’re able to splash some cash stay at the restaurant-with-rooms Akellare, or go for a single blow-out supper at Arzak.
INSIDER TIP: Locals go to Zurriola beach rather than the bigger La Concha – it’s much quieter and a great spot for watching the surfers.
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Porto, Portugal
BEST FOR: ARTY TYPES
The sleepy little sister of Lisbon, Porto feels on the brink of its big moment. Narrow townhouses seem stacked on top of one another, creative foodie joints run the spectrum from affordable bites to fine-dining powerhouses. The wide Atlantic beaches are some of the best in Europe: a tram will get you to the oceanfront from the centre of downtown in less than 20 minutes.
INSIDER TIP: For a snapshot of local life, head to Foz do Douro, a seafront neighbourhood of Porto. Eat small plates at Casa Vasco, then walk the few blocks to the edge of the sea for a bracing paddle.
