City Break Versus Beach Break: Combine the Two!

Sometimes choosing a holiday to please everyone can prove a mean feat; the kids scream for beach fun, your partner yearns for culture and romance, and your friends crave non-stop partying in a metropolitan concrete jungle. So, how can you keep everyone happy? By choosing a holiday that rolls all of that into one, plus a whole lot more!

Check out our top picks for combining city breaks with beach holidays.

Barcelona | Spain

A popular choice for combining a metropolitan city feel with Catalonian sunshine, Barcelona offers everything from golden sands and great food to city living and culture. Every summer, millions of sun-worshippers flock to Barcelona’s beaches to soak up some Mediterranean sun with Platja de la Nova Icaria proving the most popular, probably due to its accompanying beach bars. For a calmer experience, sink your toes into the sands at the Port Olimpic Marina or if you’re into bathing au naturel, try the nudist beach at Platja de la Mar Bella.

For a break from the sands soak up some culture; visit the La Sagrada church, an intricately detailed building that is still being built 100 years after it was started. Head to bustling Las Ramblas for thriving streets, packed full of street artists and tarot readers, as well as La Boqueria food market. If you want to break free from the tourist areas, hire a car and head to Carrer de la Riera Baixa and explore quirky vintage shops and great bars.

Barceloneta beach, Barcelona, Spain by Jose Manuel Mota

Dubrovnik | Croatia

Dubrovnik is rapidly becoming as popular as Barcelona and it’s not hard to see why; urban tradition and seaside charm seem to go down pretty well with holidaymakers.
Protected by medieval walls the city’s white sandy beaches, marbled streets and impressive churches offer culture in abundance. If you’ve got bags of energy slip into a kayak (see https://www.adriatickayaktours.com) and take a tour of the city walls, or enjoy unrivalled views whilst the Adriatic laps at your feet on the beach.

Dubrovnik, Croatia by hozinja

Nice | France

If you fancy a holiday that resembles a postcard then the French city of Nice won’t disappoint. There are plenty of pebble beaches drenched in Mediterranean sun, as well as 15 private beaches complete with changing rooms and loungers along with bars and restaurants. When you’ve perfected your tan get lost amongst Nice’s winding streets and stumble across Roman ruins in the old town. Art buffs will be impressed by the works of Monet, Warhol and more in the city’s art museums and music lovers will adore getting in the groove as the sun goes down on this French delight.

Nice, France by dalbera

Venice | Italy

When most people think of Venice they picture winding alleys and canals filled with gondolas, but guess what? Venice has beaches too! In fact, more than half of the Adriatic side of Venice is made up of fine, sandy beaches, and the best part? These beaches are such a well-kept secret that whilst couples enjoy romantic gondola rides you can be enjoy the beach in privacy!

Be quick! Experts predict that this floating city will have sunk below sea level in just 70 years.

Venice, Italy by Michela Simoncini

So, whether you are a beach bum or a city slicker, it doesn’t matter. These European beauties combine it all and now all you need to do is pick one!

Tags: Barcelona, croatia, Dubrovnik, France, Italy, Nice, Spain, venice

Category: Travel Tips