Praia de Odeceixe, Portugal
Surrounded by the unspoilt Sudoeste Alentejano and Costa Vicentina nature park, Odeceixe rolls out from the mouth of the River Seixe. It’s a world away from the crowded Algarve seashores additional south, and provides glorious browsing and bodyboarding, with the river shallows preferrred for young children. Blue-flagged, with lifeguards in summer season, the seashore is missed by a village made up of little greater than a handful of residences round a tangle of streets. Settle in beneath the vivid parasols at Bar da Praia for platters of black pork chorizo, Portuguese clams or recent oysters, and e book a easy condo at Casa Dorita (doubles from £69 B&B on booking.com), most with implausible sea views.
Saplunara, Mljet, Croatia
On the japanese tip of densely forested Mljet island, Saplunara is considered one of Croatia’s uncommon sandy bays, with three seashores: Velika, Mala and Blaca. About 10 miles (16km) from the port, there’s little in the way in which of growth past a scattering of vacation properties and easy residences, run by native house owners. The opposite massive draw is Ante’s Place, a waterfront restaurant specialising in traditional Croatian dishes, with many components sourced on the island, or from native fishers. Pine Tree residences (from €178 B&B, two-night minimal keep) has six studios and one-bed residences with kitchenette, non-public balconies and beautiful sea views plus an infinity pool and decked terrace.
Weststrand, Fischland-Darß-Zingst, Germany
Between Rostock and Stralsund, on Germany’s Baltic coast, this nine-mile stretch of seashore is backed by sand dunes and forest and kinds a part of Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft nationwide park. Artists have lengthy been drawn by the sunshine right here – Ahrenshoop, the village on the finish of the seashore, is an artists’ colony, so hold an eye fixed out for workshops for guests, and don’t miss the art museum. Take conventional fish rolls from Fischkaten to the seashore and benefit from the peace and quiet. Keep at Haus Nordlicht (doubles from €100, B&B), behind the dunes in Ahrenshoop. This family-run resort has been going for over 100 years, and the ocean views and heat welcome make it a particular spot.
Düne, Heligoland, Germany
Heligoland has modified palms many occasions all through historical past, giving it a novel mixture of European cultures. It’s an island of two elements – the principle island has excessive purple cliffs and rocky shores, whereas its sandy sibling, Düne, which separated from the principle island throughout a storm in 1721, has a pristine seashore. Journey on a standard oak Börte boat to Düne, the place in summer season you’ll share the seashore with colonies of seals. Heligoland youth hostel has dorm beds from €37, or you may camp on the beach from 1 Might to fifteen October (from €9). Get pleasure from hearty helpings of lobster soup or schnitzel at Weddigs Fischerstube. The ferry trip to Heligoland from Hamburg or Cuxhaven begins at €90 return.
Carataggio, Corsica
Convey a snorkel to take advantage of the crystal-clear waters at Carataggio (often known as Tahiti seashore), tucked away in a nature reserve. Accessible by boat or on foot – about quarter-hour alongside a well-marked path – the seashore is widespread with nudists. There are not any amenities, so the perfect guess for lunch is Palombaggia, the place Palm Beach is true on the sands and provides sharing platters of native cheeses and salamis, together with seafood and salads. Ranch Campo (doubles from €110 B&B) is a group of stone-built cottages, surrounded by olive timber, with an alfresco restaurant serving traditional Corsican dishes.
Kabak, Turkey
Kabak isn’t the kind of place you come across; the top level of a vertiginous 45-minute drive that skirts the mountains past Ölüdeniz, with a handful of yoga retreats, campsites and bohemian B&Bs set above and behind the virgin sweep of seashore. It’s value coming only for the color of the water – a deep, virtually neon shade of azure, sandwiched between two russet-hued headlands, traversed by the long-distance strolling path, the Lycian Method. The stylish Turan Hill Lounge (doubles from £123 half-board), set in lush gardens with day by day yoga lessons, is simply 5 minutes’ stroll from the seashore, so avoiding the half-hour scramble down (or shuttle bus run) from the inns increased up.
İnlice, Turkey
Whereas vacationers flock to the close by crusing hub of Göcek, locals comply with the twisty highway all the way down to İnlice seashore and the easy wood bungalows that sit behind the swathe of darkish sand and shingle. There’s loads of house to park and a easy seashore cafe, in addition to solar beds and parasols to rent, however for a correct lunch (or early dinner) it’s a 10-minute drive again to Göcek’s restaurant-lined waterfront; head to Mezegi within the marina for the perfect meze on the town. The renovated İnlice Ünzile bungalows (doubles from £116 B&B on booking.com) are fundamental however clear and the breakfast is great.
Najspokojniejsza Plaża, Poland
Some stretches of Poland’s Baltic coast can get busy, however that’s hardly ever a difficulty on Najspokojniejsza Plaża. To search out the seashore, comply with the coastal path from both Poddąbie or Dębina village after which take the steep path down the cliffs. Those that make the journey are rewarded with a large, clear, sandy seashore bordered by a beech forest. Keep in a cheery, yellow self-catering chalet at Domki Klif Dębina (sleep as much as six, from 270 złoty/£54 an evening), simply exterior the village, the place you may wander by way of the woods and hearth up the barbecue on the terrace. There are few eating places within the space, however the deli and grill at “u Lisa” swojskie jadło (home made meals at Lisa’s) is value a go to for grilled fish, pierogi (stuffed dumplings) and fish soup.
Eraclea Minoa, Sicily
Within the southern province of Agrigento, this four-mile stretch of sand sits beneath the sixth-century Greek village of the identical identify. Park beneath the pine timber behind the seashore, or stroll down after a go to to the archaeological website. After a dip or a spot of snorkelling, head to Lido Garibaldi for fish couscous, recent mussels or chargrilled octopus, served on a terrace straight above the water. Eraclea Minoa Village (doubles from €70 B&B), separated from the seashore by lush woodland, provides shady tenting, easy rooms and bungalows, with an on-site restaurant and youngsters’ play space.
Es Grau, Menorca
The water on this quiet bay within the Parc Pure de s’Albufera des Grau stays shin-deep for a long way, making it secure for young children, whereas there are kayaks and paddleboards to rent for teenagers. The sandy seashore curves for virtually half a mile, with a footpath main into the dunes and nature reserve behind, the place it’s potential to identify falcons, eagles and cormorants, with Balearic lizards skittering by way of the scrub. Stroll into the small whitewashed village for seafood on the terrace at Café Bar Es Moll and keep at Dos Palmeras (from £399 per week), an enthralling home with lush gardens, 5 minutes’ drive from the seashore.
Cala Estreta, Costa Brava, Spain
Craggy and quirky, a big central reef divides Estreta into two separate crescents, flanked by forested cliffs. A half-hour stroll by way of pine woods from the automotive park at Castells seashore, Estreta is a blissful place to swim however rocky underfoot, so carry water sneakers, together with a parasol and snorkelling gear. In excessive summer season, a pop-up bar sells drinks and snacks, however for a post- or pre-walk lunch, head again to La Fosca, the subsequent seashore alongside, the place Waves provides recent seafood, Catalan classics and crispy-based pizzas. A couple of minutes’ drive inland, Mas Valenti (doubles from €99 B&B) is an imposing finca surrounded by lush grounds, with 5 elegant bedrooms and two cottages, and free bicycles obtainable.
Liseleje, North Zealand, Denmark
North Zealand is named the Danish Riviera, with fairly seashore cities dotted all alongside the coast. An hour’s drive from Copenhagen, Liseleje is a relaxed seashore vacation spot with glowing blue-green water and miles of pristine sand. Have a swim, snooze within the dunes, then seize a burger from Haveje beach bar. A bit of additional alongside the coast at Lynæs Surfcenter you may e book a comfy wood surf shack (from 1,000 kroner/£72 , for 2 B&B) to get up with unrivalled sea views. A session within the on-site sauna adopted by a dip within the sea is a beautiful option to begin, or finish, the day. The centre additionally provides browsing programs, and you may hire paddleboards and kayaks.
Dueodde, Bornholm, Denmark
The wonderful white sand of Dueodde seashore kinds the southern tip of the island of Bornholm, with miles of quiet dunes, excellent for picnics and lazing within the sunshine, and wheelchair ramps providing entry to the sand. Bornholm is famed for its fairly fishing villages and thriving culinary scene. Strandhotel Balka Søbad has rooms with kitchenettes (doubles from €140 B&B). Strive conventional smoked fish on the terrace at Nexø Gamle Røgeri, the place fishcakes and native craft beers show an unbeatable mixture. To keep away from a flight from mainland Denmark, cross the Øresund Bridge to Sweden, then take a ferry from Ystad (Sweden) to Rønne on Bornholm (80 minutes).
Skanör Havsbad, Skåne, Sweden
Sink your toes into miles of white sand at Skanör Havsbad, on the Falsterbo peninsula in south-west Sweden. The water right here is shallow and calm, with lifeguards on obligation in the summertime, making it excellent for households. Sweet-coloured seashore huts are dotted alongside the dunes and there are views north to the Öresund Bridge. The far north finish of the seashore, Svanrevet, is a swimsuit-free zone. Refuel at Mike Arvblom Pizza, a welcoming spot with award-winning dishes. Keep at Kungshaga Gård (doubles from £90) simply exterior Höllviken in a easy self-catering condo and, if you want, meet the farm’s alpacas, donkeys and horses. Friends can borrow bikes and there are barbecue amenities on website.
Frevisören, Lapland, Sweden
A seashore vacation inside attain of the Arctic Circle? Sure, actually. In winter, the main attractions in Lapland are dog-sledding and recognizing the northern lights, however in summer season you may swim, go fishing, rent a canoe and hike the wooded archipelago at your leisure. The midnight solar lasts for about 100 days in Bothnia Bay, supplying you with many hours a day to discover. Camp on the seashore at Frevisören Camp & Resort (£29 an evening) or in a two-person cabin (from £79, four-person additionally obtainable). Discover Sámi culinary traditions by eating on wild salmon, elk or reindeer on the on-site restaurant.
Nordhasselvika, Farsund, Norway
The Lista peninsula in southern Norway, the place the wetlands meet sand dunes and the ocean, is a haven for birdlife. Lengthy, sandy seashores stretch from Lomsesanden to Lista lighthouse. Nordhasselvika is a stupendous curved bay that you simply’ll usually have all to your self. There are not any amenities, so top off on scrumptious baked items at Edgars Bakeri in Farsund in your means there. Keep close by at Lista lighthouse residences (from 1,500 kroner/£108), and get your personal key to the Nineteenth-century lighthouse. The 2 self-catering residences sleep as much as seven. Lista Fowl Observatory (which has the very best variety of chicken species in Norway) is predicated right here and lends binoculars to visitors.
Psili Ammos, Patmos, Greece
There are two methods to achieve Patmos’s most picturesque seashore: water taxi from the small port of Skala, or a 30-minute hike from Diakofti village. The dearth of highway entry means it by no means will get overrun, and the family-run taverna on the seashore provides succulent grilled hen and feta-heaped salads. It’s value checking the climate, because the wind could make it unsafe to swim, and take a parasol as shady spots usually get taken early by locals. Keep at Patmos Alykes (one-bed residences from £89 room-only) in Diakofti – six snug studios with kitchenettes, opening on to a non-public stretch of seashore.
Tholos, northern Crete
If Cretan seashores make you consider nose-to-tail loungers and light parasols, this unspoilt stretch will come as a shock. Tucked away on the quiet north-eastern coast close to Mochlos, Tholos seashore is a two-mile drive by way of olive groves from the village of Kavousi, with wonderful mountain views when you’re within the water. In excessive season, the Petros Kantina meals truck serves up recent souvlaki, or whiz again as much as Kavousi for a chilly Mythos and a traditional Cretan spanakopita or recent, garlicky shrimps at Ntakos. The Mochlos Blue (seven nights from £1,062 B&B), quarter-hour’ drive away, is a blissful six-room retreat, inside straightforward strolling distance of Mochlos’s taverna-lined harbour.
Kijkduin, The Hague, The Netherlands
Outdoors of the Netherlands, The Hague isn’t properly referred to as a seashore vacation spot – however, with seven miles of sandy shoreline, it needs to be. Kijkduin is among the quieter stretches, however the vast, clear seashore is only a half-hour cycle from town. Haagse Strandhuisjes’ spacious seashore homes (from €850 for a three-night break for a household of 4) are proper on the sand. Alternatively, camp simply over the dunes at Vakantiepark Kijkduin (from €32 an evening), the place a variety of safari tents and cabins can be obtainable. There are many relaxed bars and little eating places alongside the seafront – Beachclub Birds has a beautiful terrace.
De Hors, Texel, The Netherlands
The island of Texel is ringed by white sandy seashores and has greater than 40 nature reserves, which is especially spectacular given the island is just 25 miles lengthy. De Hors, within the south of the island, is an enormous sandy plain the place you may see new dunes forming. There are few facilities however loads of house. It’s a serene spot for birdwatching, climbing or leisurely picnics. Keep at Texel Yurts (from €200 an evening, sleeps two) within the dunes on the Loodsmansduin campsite or discover campgrounds and family-run B&Bs everywhere in the island. Choose up provides from considered one of Texel’s farm shops. Journey to the island from Amsterdam by taking the prepare to Den Helder (1¼ hours), then the ferry to Texel (20 minutes). As soon as on the island, it’s straightforward to discover by hiring a motorcycle or hopping on the native bus service.
Lodging costs appropriate at time of going to press. These are low-season charges – costs could also be increased in summer season
