
Backed by dunes, maquis shrubland, and olive groves, the reserve's beaches stretch for miles. Surrounded by sea, the peninsula alternates between scenic rock headlands and white-sand beaches.Īlthough these are not nearly as crowded as those farther north on the Adriatic coast, you can find even more solitude in the nature reserve of Torre Guaceto. Italy's hottest "just discovered" beach resort area is Puglia, the heel of the country's familiar boot shape. Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Lagos.Laid-back Sagres is an ideally located base for all of these.

Watch surfing competitions from the beaches or from the honey-toned clifftops.Įast of Sagres, choose any of the tiny villages that hide their beaches beneath the dramatic cliffs: look for the colorful caverns and arches of Porto de Mós or rent a paddleboard at fun-loving Luz. North, where the vertical cliffs are sculpted by the open Atlantic, some of Europe's finest-and least crowded-beaches are washed by world-class surf and protected by Costa Vicentina Natural Park.

You can learn surfing or paddleboarding here, or rent kayaks to explore the south coast. Below Sagres, the five-star Martinhal Sagres Beach Resort & Hotel blends into the landscape above Martinhal' s long crescent of golden sand. These and the magnificent Moorish castle at Silves lend a richer dimension to a beach holiday here. Visit their fortress and look inside the whitewashed churches of Lagos to see altars awash with New World gold. But don't believe everything you hear about its crowds head west to find some of the continent's most spectacular coastline, where wildly eroded, multicolored cliffs curve around perfect golden-sand beaches with plenty of elbow room.Īt Sagres, the far western point where the land ends abruptly in dizzying cliffs, Prince Henry the Navigator gathered Europe's top 15th-century navigators and geographers to direct Portugal's Age of Discovery. With 300 days of sunshine annually and more than 160 kilometers of golden beaches, it was inevitable that the Algarve would become one of Europe's most popular resort areas. Portugal's Western Algarve and Costa Vicentina Bring your own towels, umbrella, sun protection, and refreshments, because most of these beaches are undeveloped.Īccommodation: Where to Stay in Capo Testa 2. You can walk to beaches from the ferry landing, or local boats will take you to your own private island and pick you up later. Cala Granara, on Isola di Spargi, is among the most idyllic, with white sands surrounded by palms and tropical foliage. Beaches vary-some are tiny coves surrounded by wind-shaped rocks, some long strands. These low islands just off shore are ringed by pink and white sand beaches that slope gently into brilliantly clear water. Protected from the over development of the Costa Smeralda, the islands are a national park, its seemingly endless and almost deserted beaches surrounded by some of the world's best sailing waters.
DRAKENGARD 3 DLC DOWNLOAD FREE
The best beaches here are the private property of hotels, but even better ones are free for everyone, on the offshore Maddalena Islands, a quick ferry ride from Santa Teresa Gallura. La Maddalena Archipelago, Sardiniaįew places say glamour, glitz, and privilege quite as loudly as the northeast coast of Sardinia, where the Aga Khan and his friends created a swanky enclave of uber-luxe resort "villages" overlooking the white beaches and luminous green waters they dubbed the Costa Smeralda, Emerald Coast. Think of the best beach destinations, and a few names spring to mind: The Algarve in Portugal, the French Côte d'Azur, the Italian Riviera, the Greek Islands, the Costa del Sol, the Canary Islands, and the Costa Smeralda.īut even after you choose one of these regions, which resorts and which towns offer the best vacation experience? Are the best-known names the best places to visit? And what if your idea of a great summer holiday does not revolve around sun, sand, and sea? What if Alpine lakes and mountain vistas are your nirvana, or the cooler, long summer days of the far north?Įxplore the possibilities of these fabled playgrounds with our list of the hottest European Resort Destinations of Summer.

Surrounded on three sides by saltwater, dotted with lakes, and punctuated by soaring mountain ranges, Europe is spoiled for choice when it comes to summer playgrounds. We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( ) Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated Mar 30, 2022
