1. Costa Brava – Spain
Choosing where to visit along the coast in Spain is an exercise in choosing between two or more great options.
Costa Brava is in Catalonia and located in the Northeast of the country between Barcelona and the border of France.
Lovely weather, sandy beaches, good food, beautiful countryside, fiestas and siestas, it’s all here.
Some of the coastal towns have even been awarded with a certificate of the Family Tourism Destination, like L’Estartit and Blanes. If you choose to go to L’Estratit, you will be able to use the Kid’s Club option at the beach and have some time for yourself, relax and read a book.
Here are the links for kids’ activities in L’Estratit and Blanes.
Costa Brava also has some awesome water parks too! This is the perfect way to celebrate Summer with your family!
And no matter where you choose to stay along this gorgeous coast, check for any fiestas that will really highlight Catalonian culture. Fire-spitting, human towers and fireworks are just some of the features of different ones.
Here is a link for some kids’ activities in Costa Brava
2. Dalmatia – Croatia
Just about anywhere along the Dalmatian coast is a potential spot for a great holiday, it’s that beautiful. The larger cities of Zadar, Dubrovnik and Šibenik offer great access to nearby beaches and are, of course, gorgeous all by themselves. However, it can also make the towns quite crowded during high season.
Combined with the coast are the less visited islands. There’s trendy boho-chic Hvar and Korcula that cover all the bases of architecture, history and beach time. Many of the islands and towns are interlinked and you can take a family boat ride to explore.
If you turn your gaze inland, have a crack at Plitvice National Park for its breathtaking waterfalls and lakes. The Peljesac peninsula is another spot for exploring, and the food is renowned. Oysters and mussels at Ston and Mali Stone for seafood lovers. There’s also the Makarska Rivijera with pebble beach and turquoise waters.
The town of Šibenik hosts an international children festival in June and July that is a perfect blend of activities for kids of all ages.
Scenic views, plenty of beaches, good food – what else is there to wish for a Summer holiday?
3. Algarve – Portugal
Algarve is a stunning choice for a beach holiday, located south of Lisbon.
Algarve is very ecologically divers with sandy beaches, rocky mountains with incredible viewpoints and the greenery of fig and almond trees dotting the breezy coastline.
If you’re looking for an active family getaway, you ‘ll find plenty of options in the Algarve with miles on miles of hiking trails and footpaths and amazing scenery. Castalejo Viewpoint, Atalaia Viewpoint in Lagos and the Fortress of Santa Catarina in Portimão are just a few of the spots that can be enjoyed on foot.
If you are into cycling, there are options for you also! You can find various cycling tour programs oriented towards nature, culture or slow tourism.
Algarve also boasts some of the finest golfing you can find in Europe. Check out top courses like Monte Reiei Golf Club, Dom Pedro Old Golf Course and Victoria Clube de Golfe just to name a few.
And, like many other spots near the water in Europe, the food is amazing… but better here than maybe anywhere. The restaurants, stalls, markets and just about any little joint you can wander into feature amazing tastes and regional specialties. Here is a link for a food guide in Algarve.
Beaches of Algarve are considered to be some of the best in the world, and a great majority are open to all.
Here is a link for some kids’ activities you can find there.
Links for bookings:
– Accommodation: Booking.com, Airbnb
– Flights: Skyscanner, First Choice
Get to the beach this summer, what are you waiting for?
For more ideas on Family Beach Holidays in Europe, follow the link.