City trip with a beach feeling: Five cities with wonderful beaches

Vacation in a warm country and then just experience culture? For many people, that sounds like endless sightseeing, aching legs, constant thirst and little rest. And immediately the longing for the sea, the beach and relaxing in the sun pops up. We searched southern Europe and found impressive combinations of cities and beaches. Five trendy cities, from east to west, that have everything to offer – from historic to modern buildings to art, museums, rooftop bars and culinary delights to fantastic beaches.

1. Split: Roman palace and romantic beaches

Beautiful beaches against a historical backdrop in Croatia: The coastal city of Split with around 210,000 inhabitants is located between Zadar and Dubrovnik and has several highlights. Due to its impressive history and architecture, it was given the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and there are various sandy and pebble beaches not far from the old town. Like the Bačvice city beach, which has been awarded the “Blue Flag” environmental quality seal, or the Ovcice in the neighboring bay.

But before you start relaxing, we recommend a visit to Diocletian’s Palace, around which Croatia’s second largest city was built. The gigantic structure dates back to the third century, when the Romans still resided here and left their mark on many squares and temples. Today, among the ancient gates, Corinthian columns and squares, there are modern shops and cafés that invite you to stroll. The 200-year-old Riva waterfront promenade at the harbor is also perfect for romantic walks under palm trees – street artists, dancers and singers also meet here in the evenings.

2. Trieste: dream castle and wild dream beaches

The competition in the north-east of Italy for palace cities and beaches is great: Venice, Verona, Vicenza and the Adriatic seaside resorts of Lignano, Grado and Jesolo. This fact makes the city with 200,000 inhabitants an insider tip for culture, coffee and bathing fans. Given the rough coastal landscape with its rocks and cliffs, most holidaymakers think that they can’t swim here anyway and continue on to Slovenia and Croatia.

But there are wonderful bathing spots around the port city of Trieste, but they can only be reached on foot. Like the Sirena bathing establishment, which is located near the Miramare Castle, which is perched on a cliff and offers breathtaking views. Or the “El Pedocin” beach on the Mole Lanterna, which is popular with locals and where men and women have been swimming separately for more than 120 years. By the way, the last of its kind in Europe. The many Art Nouveau coffee houses are also impressive, making it clear why more coffee is consumed in Trieste than in any other Italian city. Famous writers such as James Joyce have enjoyed espressos and fine pastries here. A walk along the Grand Canal follows in their footsteps. A little further on, the Castello di Miramare rises in confectioner style on a rocky outcrop. A white dream castle that the brother of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I had built for himself during the time of the Habsburg Monarchy.

3. Nice: Savoir vivre and sophisticated buildings on the Côte d’Azur

In humans one would probably speak of charisma. Nice has this charisma, a kind of magical attraction for people who know how to celebrate the beauties of life. With a bit of luxury, glamor and a lively French way of life. And lots of sun, after all, the port city in southeastern France is considered one of the sunniest cities in Europe. Fantastic surroundings – azure sea, mountains, palm trees, sophisticated buildings from the Belle Époche, chic waterfront promenade, marina and an enchanting old town. This is called Vieux Nice with its houses painted in warm earth tones, winding streets, squares like Place Rosetti with shops and cafés and the baroque cathedral.

If you like Gothic architecture, you have to visit the Basilique de Notre-Dame with its multicolored round windows. Modern art is presented in several of the 15 museums, such as the Museé National Marc Chagall, Museé Matisse or that of Modern Arts. There are magnificent views of the waterfront and the old harbor from the fortress rock. It is difficult to name the most beautiful beaches in the city of 340,000 inhabitants (all of them are between the airport and the old town), given the number of more than 30. The Lido Plage, for example, is a typical pebble beach and is located opposite the Palais de la Méditerranée and the Casino Ruhl on the Promenade des Anglais. But there are also sandy beaches such as Beau Rivage or Plage des Ponchettes, which are artificially created – and fit perfectly into the image of the Côte d’Azur.

4. Barcelona: Mix and Match on the Costa Brava

It has been Spain’s hottest city for years and the dream city of many short and weekend trippers. The reasons are quickly explained: Spectacular location between the mountains and the Mediterranean. Mediterranean climate with lots of sunshine and palm trees. Historic old town and great Art Nouveau architecture. Art, bars and a relaxed, easy attitude to life that immediately jumps over. The capital of Catalonia, home to more than four million people, has an incredible amount to offer. From world-famous sights such as Antoni Gaudi’s unfinished church La Sagrada Familia with its 100 meter high bell towers to the Picasso Museum to the promenade La Rambla and the Gothic quarter Barri Gotic.

More than 60 rooftop bars offer spectacular views of many architectural eras – including the beach promenade, which is just a ten-minute walk from the city center. The artificially created beach paradise made of the finest sand is four kilometers long, where many locals also meet to swim, play beach volleyball, jog, cycle, surf or stand-up paddle boarding. For tourists, it is enough to have a bikini or swimming trunks with you, as loungers and parasols are available to rent, and mobile vendors sell beach towels, sun hats and sun creams. After sunbathing, enjoy a copita de cava and a few tapas in one of the nice cafés. A glass of bubbly is a must because Cava, the Spanish answer to champagne, is largely produced in the Penedes wine-growing region. This region is less than an hour southwest of Barcelona.

5. Lisbon: Hills, tiles and Atlantic beaches

With beaches on the Atlantic, Lisbon is ideal for a combination trip. Portugal’s capital shines with its geographical peculiarity: it is built on seven hills on the banks of the Tejo, which requires a lot of fitness from visitors who travel on foot. Luckily, there is the bright yellow, historic tram number 28, with which you can comfortably travel through the many narrow alleys and streets, always up and down. Many house facades attract attention because they are decorated with tiles, some of which are hand-painted.

Street art that predates most cities in the world. The must-sees include the Castelo de Sao Jorge fortress with integrated castle ruins, the Moorish district of Mouraria and the Torre de Belém. The 16th-century tower lies in the middle of the Tagus River and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its view is also impressive from one of the hills or the many rooftop bars, as your eyes wander over the city’s tiled roofs, the azure Tejo estuary and the Atlantic coast. There are more than 20 beaches along it, all of which have been awarded the “Blue Flag” environmental seal of quality. The most popular city beach is the sandy Costa Caparica, which can be reached from the city center in half an hour, for example by public bus line 3710, the “Linha Longa”. Not far away are the beaches of Praia de Carcavelos, Praia de São Pedro do Estoril, Praia da Cresmina and Pequena do Guincho, which are popular with surfers.