Summer is soooo close you can almost feel the warm ocean breeze on your skin and the sand in your toes. Make it a reality and head to one of these European beach towns this summer.
Comporta, Portugal
While others flock to the crowded (albeit stunning) beaches of the Algarve, those in the know revel in the beach-shack, barefoot, surf-town vibe of Comporta, just an hour's drive south of Lisbon. Although the area calls to mind the toes-in-the-sand beach scene of Jose Icnacio in Uruguay with it's understated surf scene, polo ponies, and celebrity sightings - only in Comporta you will be surrounded by pine forests and fields of rice paddies that stretch along the coast for miles. These rice paddies, the biggest in all of Portugal, are key to maintaining the simplicity of the area, where strict planning laws keep development low-key and away from the beaches. When people talk about Comporta, they are usually referring to the Herdade da Comporta, a swoop of coast between the Sado Estuary and the sea, comprising seven sleepy villages: Pego, Carvalhal, Brejos, Torre, Possanco, Carrasqueira and Comporta, too. Each of these unassuming villages offers something for everyone: explore the boho chic boutiques of Comporta village housed in unassuming white-washed buildings lining cobblestoned streets; linger over plates piled high with freshly-caught seafood on a breezy terrace at one of the local restaurants dotting the beaches; go wild dolphin spotting by boat on the Sado River; bike along the unspoiled beaches or chug along in a beat up golf cart – it is summer beach living at its best.
West Coast and Cote d-Azur France
With miles and miles of coastline to explore France is a perfect summer beach destination. Your biggest question will be which slice of coastline to plant your umbrella - the wild, dune covered beaches of the west coast or the picturesque beaches of the Cote d’ Azur along the southern coast that ooze aristocratic charm. On the West Coast of France explore the charming Ile de Re, the beach of choice for chic Parisians, where you will find cute shops, oyster shacks, and horseback riding on the large swaths of beaches lining the coast. Further south, explore the massive sand dunes of Cap Ferret or hang with the surfing crowd on the stunning beaches of Biarritz, where France meets Spain. If you prefer a little calmer stretch of beach - the water not the scene - head to the trendy Cote d-Azur. Take your pick from old-school Nice, chic Cannes, or steamy St. Tropez.
Crete, Greece
Greece is THE beach destination in Europe with countless beaches, year-round sunshine, and sparkling, azure waters. But with all of the islands and beaches to explore how do you choose? The island of Crete has some of the best and biggest beaches (and is big enough that even during the crowded summer season you can find a secluded spot). Hidden Balos beach near the city of Chania, the palm forest encircled Preveli beach near Rethymnon, and the pink-tinged beaches of Elafonisi can't be missed but for something special head to the palm forest of Vai in northeastern Crete, near the town of Sitia The palm forest is the largest in Europe and abuts the beach lending it a tropical air. Secluded coves offer a respite from the crowds - if there are any - and beach bars and water sports are available but don't diminish the character of the beach.
Puglia, Italy
The heel of Italy’s boot boasts sun-baked coastlines, ancient Baroque cities, dramatic caves, and honey-hued villages, not to mention some of the best cuisine in Italy. Typically a vacation area for Italian families, the region, while growing in popularity beyond Italy’s borders, remains blissfully unspoiled. Puglia is flanked by two crystal blue seas – the Adriatic and the Ionian – and its southern exposure offers miles of stunning beaches, but this is not your average beach vacation. In Puglia you can wander the narrow streets of whitewashed medieval cities carved into limestone cliffs, immerse yourself in the areas ancient history, explore 13th century citadels and ornate churches, or while away the hours discovering charming fishing villages along the region’s wild coastline.
Mahon and Ciutadella, Menorca
If you are looking for an unspoiled beach experience, the little island of Menorca is the perfect summer beach getaway. Significantly more low-key than its neighbors - Mallorca and Ibiza - it's this quiet charm that is making Menorca a go-to destination for Europeans in the know. Besides it's endless stretches of sandy crescents, rocky turquoise bays, and protected coves nestled between pine forests, you will find charming, white-washed villages, chic boutiques, Gothic cathedrals, and an up-and-coming food scene set to position this once sleepy island as a bright spot in Spanish cuisine. It may be just a little under an hour's flight from Barcelona but it's a world away.
Want to know more? Let us help you plan your beach getaway. Contact Houlahan Travel at info@houlahantravel.com or call 847.868.4502.