‘The softest white sand and crystal-clear water’: readers’ favorite seashores in Europe | Seaside holidays

Profitable tip: a seashore backed by a waterfall in Pelion, Greece

Whereas staying on the northern Pelion peninsula in Greece we made our method by foot alongside the coast path to Paralia Fakistra seashore, which is barely accessible through a stroll in from native villages alongside the coast. The white pebble seashore is backed by a freezing chilly waterfall, which cools you down after the dusty, difficult coast path route. The crystal-blue water is residence to plenty of sea life and snorkelling was joyous. One of many sights that retains customer numbers down is that there are not any cafes or bars and even shade, so I like to recommend taking a light-weight parasol and a few cool drinks, however hold your load mild because the stroll can get sizzling, particularly alongside the coast path from close by Damouchari, one other nice seashore spot on the Pelion.
Layla Astley

A Corsican seashore that by no means will get busy

Our favorite seashore in Europe is Plage de Péru in Corsica. It may be reached by a pleasing downhill stroll from the Greek village of Cargèse. Nonetheless, we have been fortunate sufficient to have direct entry from the Hotel Thalassa, a easy and sleepy resort with balconies and a leafy backyard dealing with the turquoise waters. There could also be higher seashores in Corsica however we love this one because it’s excellent for swimming and by no means appears to get busy. You possibly can spend a day strolling from the seashore to the native Genoese tower, then return and seize a seat at one of many seashore pailottes the place you may eat or drink watching the sundown.
Eleanor

Pure bliss with cocktail vibes in Naxos, Greece

The Cyclades island of Naxos has gorgeous seashores in every single place however there’s nothing like Kastraki. It has the softest white sand, which extends below the gorgeous, crystal-clear water that typically is the lightest blue, and typically turquoise. Excellent for swimming because it’s by no means too nonetheless to be boring, not often too wavy to be harmful. The most effective factor about Kastraki is that relying on the place you wish to be, you may have wild and abandoned or you may have busy. Go in the direction of the south – however this is applicable to many of the seashore actually – for a number of miles of superb peacefulness, the place you’ll hear nothing however the sea. Should you like good low-key providers, go to the north bit, proper subsequent to the little headland. You’ll discover some sunbeds and an important taverna proper on the sand. The entire place is pure bliss; the one method you may prime it’s when you keep to observe the sundown, then catch some cocktail vibes within the seashore bar 100 metres again subsequent to the marsh, then dinner within the seashore’s little village.
Cris

Fantastic sunsets within the Vendée, France

We had a beautiful week in Les Sables d’Olonne within the Vendée final yr. The city has loads of websites to see – the shell museum was nicely price a visit – and there are a lot of seafood eating places to select from and all the pieces you’d count on from a well-loved, primarily French-visited seaside resort. The principle seashore (La Grande Plage) is extraordinarily widespread with everybody, and has beignet- and glace-sellers and seashore volleyball. Nonetheless, we discovered ourselves gravitating to the much less busy Plage de la Paracou, smaller and extra rugged with no vacationer trappings and essentially the most fantastic sunsets the place we have been at occasions one in every of solely a handful of individuals on the sands so far as may very well be seen. There was additionally a improbable small open-air bar simply over the dune, which had nice reside acoustic music and drinks just a few nights every week.
Dolly

All concerning the journey in Croatia

From the basic hilltop city of Motovun within the lovely Istrian countryside it’s a relaxed 40-mile (60km) drive to Brestova and the winding, sloping highway to the slipway. Sea-spray on the transient ferry-ride throughout to Porozina on Cres island offers strategy to a heat-hazy road-cruise down the island, crossing on to Lošinj over the rotating bridge on the impossibly fairly village of Osor (inhabitants 26). Heading south one other 12 miles or so we reached pine-shaded Mali Lošinj for basking on rocks and plunging from them into deep, clear water.
Mark de Brunner

Strands that ship in Sweden

Both facet of Ystad (of Wallander fame) on the southern tip of Sweden, you’ll discover a number of unspoiled stretches of sentimental white sand. To the east is Sandhammaren, a seemingly countless ribbon of gold fringed by forest. To the west, there are shorter stretches of sand punctuated by the odd restaurant or cafe for fika and separated from civilisation by grassy dunes. At some point final August, my boyfriend and I cycled (alongside devoted cycle paths) from Ystad to the fantastic Skateholm Strand, stopping off at a number of extra lovely seashores alongside the best way. Because the Swedish college holidays had completed, we virtually had the place to ourselves.
Helen

The hike is price it in Gran Canaria

Among the best seashores for adventurous souls needs to be Playa de Güigüí on the west coast of Gran Canaria. It has wild, distant magnificence and is barely reached by an extended, invigorating hike via steep, rocky terrain. You’ll want to set off early with lunch and loads of water packed as there may be nothing shut by in any respect. After the trek with gorgeous views, you can be rewarded with clear, light waves for a much-needed swim and stretches of secluded sand all to your self.
Alzira

Terrific city seashore in Calabria, Italy

The seashores of the city of Tropea are framed by the Sanctuary Santa Maria dell Isola and cliffs and homes excessive above. The turquoise water is the clearest I’ve seen in Calabria. Tropea is so pleasant, lovely, scrumptious, reasonably priced – what a delight. The B&Bs we’ve stayed in there all are stuffed with heat Italian hospitality. Consuming out in all fairness priced and eating places provide excellent menus, as at all times.
David innes-wilkin

Better of Bodrum, Turkey

I’ve been fortunate sufficient to spend a number of summers at Kadikalesi seashore, tucked away on the Bodrum peninsula. Simple to achieve by dolmuş (minibus), it’s a peaceable hideaway. Mornings drift by with light swims and low sips by the water’s edge, and I prefer to spend afternoons lounging below olive timber to the lull of sentimental waves. Native cafes serve recent lahmacun and pide (a type of Turkish pizza), kofte (meatballs) and frothy ayran (yoghurt drink). Better of all are the evenings, when the sky blushes pink and orange over the Aegean, and the entire world appears to decelerate – I can’t think about a summer season with out it.
Yasmin Ann

Take the sand practice, Costa Brava, Spain

The practice from Barcelona deposits its passengers proper on the shore of Sant Pol de Mar’s harbour. The sound of gently bobbing rigging and the whiff of seafood drifts someplace from the village, the place the promise of a splendid lunch awaits. The Playa el Morer is reached on foot alongside a curving bay after which frazzled city-dwellers dig their heels in that sizzling, inviting amber sand and bliss out with siestas and the occasional dip. Sant Pol, it appears, exists to fix damaged hearts, heal the soul and is a spot the place all is nicely on the planet.
Liz