No compromises! You insist on the beach, but they insist on shopping and local delicacies, or vice versa, or maybe even one option one day and the other the next!
Annnnnddddddddd……you’re welcome!: Here are ten great seaside cities with flair, shops and fine establishments, flanked by sand, sun and swimming opportunities galore…
Carefree in Cádiz
Barcelona – most people who hear ‘beach + shopping’ automatically have the Catalan capital spring to mind. It is a great city sure, but as everyone knows it already, doesn’t that makes it decidedly unexotic? What can you tell me about Cádiz? I hear you say.
Flights starting at £93Accommodation starting at £26
A slightly ramshackle Andalusian glory located on a southwestern peninsula in Spain; it looks a bit like a pint-sized Havana while remaining quintessentially Spanish. Take a Leche Manchanda with your breakfast, then stroll through fine boutiques and thirst-quenchings bars around Calle Ancha before heading to the intimate beach of Le Caleta. This is the central beach of Cádiz, small beautiful and watching the sun go down here will make the most cynical feel a romantic glow.
✈ £93 from London to Jerez de la Frontera | 8 – 12 May
✈£195 from Leeds to Jerez de la Frontera | 18 – 25 May
✈£197 from Birmingham to Jerez de la Frontera | 8 – 15 May
Hotel suggestion: Elba Costa Ballena Beach & Thalasso Resort starting at £67
Rostock & Warnemünde
Rostock & Warnemünde. Where? Ok, fair question.Rostock isn’t a sprawling metropolis but is, none the less, the biggest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Famous ( within Deutschland at least) for its shipbuilding industry, proud seaport and thriving student community; both shopping and sun are guaranteed here during the day and at night the student population helps out by demanding that a high quality of food places, bars and clubs is maintained throughout the city.
Flights starting at £285Accommodation starting at £33
So, what’s this Warnemünde place then? With direct access from the city via S-Bahn (train), in 30 minutes you can discover one of Germany’s best-kept secrets. They have beaches, beautiful beaches, and white-sand Warnemünde is one of the best examples. Insider tip: Rostock & Warnemünde are a few hours away from some bigger cities like Hamburg and Berlin. Perfect for a day trip.
✈£285 from London to Rostock | 13 – 18 June
✈£529 from Glasgow to Rostock | 12 – 20 May
Hotel suggestion: Villa La Mer – Warnemuende starting at £107
Ice cream and orange juice in Alexandria
‘Alex’, as the locals call it, has a different kind of buzz from Cairo – it’s more relaxed, chilled out, delicious … especially the famous ice cream! The city stretches 30 miles along the coast, and the most beautiful beaches are just a few minutes by from the historic centre.
Flights starting at £288Accommodation starting at £9
Start the day with freshly squeezed orange juice from a street-side vendor, take lunch in a restaurant with majestic views of the skyline, then head to Montazah Beach which, according to the opinion of many Alexandrians, is the most beautiful beach and, importantly, has many resorts in which western swimwear is allowed. Please note: On public beaches, women face heavy restrictions on what kind of swimwear is allowed.
✈£288 London to Alexandria | 28 May – 6 June
✈£333 Birmingham to Alexandria | 25 – 3 Jule
✈£338 from Manchester to Alexandria | 1 – 9 May
Hotel suggestion: Plaza Hotel – Alexandria starting at £45
If you’re after a hotel to go with your flight but aren’t sure which part of the city you should book in, try KAYAK Heat Maps – check out tip number 2. Click on ‘Show map view’ in the top right-hand corner of the results page and once you’re there start filtering by what you want to do. Shopping? Nightlife? Food? The map will show you the best areas according to your choices and all the hotels available in them. Never stay in the wrong place again!
Out from the shadow of the Acropolis: Sun and shopping in Athens
The view from the Acropolis was everything you’d hoped it would be, the subsequent bargain hunting in the shopping district of Monastiraki has you on the verge of that proverbial ‘drop’. It’s time for a wee cooldown – clamber aboard the No.5 Tram 5 and let it transport you away.
Flights starting at £95Accommodation starting at£22
About 30 minutes later you’ll disembark in Glyfada, a luxurious suburb of the Greek capital with illustrious clubs, chic cafés and charming beaches. After just a few splashes in the clear waters of the Saronic Gulf, you’ll have re-energised enough to discover the exclusive designer shops of the district – and end the day in one of the many tavernas.
Tip: the beach here aren’t overly crowded which is worth it in itself, but the shores are quite pebbly so make sure to bring a towel to sunbathe on, some flip-flops to protect your feet and you’ll be happy out.
✈£95 from London to Athens | 3 – 9 May
✈£126 from Manchester to Athens | 6 – 12 May
✈£156 from Glasgow to Athens | 4 – 10 May
Hotel suggestion: Athens Lotus Hotel starting at £67
Shark-free surfing in Sydney
Have you ever sunbathed on a national monument? On Bondi Beach, this is expressly permitted – undisputedly the most famous beach in Australia, Bondi was officially granted National Heritage status in 2008 because it was here that surfing in Australian really took off.
Flights starting at £538Accommodation starting at £25
It is said to be the third most frequented place in the city after the Opera House and Harbor Bridge – but thanks to the 1.5-kilometer stretch of sand, finding your spot is always easy. Australia equals dangerous beasts, you say? No need to worry about sharks – in the summer, a massive shark net is placed 500 meters from the beach meaning there’ll be no instances of – da da, da da, da da,dadadadadadadadadadada.
✈£538 from London to Sydney | 8- 29 May
✈£708 from Manchester to Sydney | 7 – 30 June
✈£651 from Birmingham to Sydney | 7 – 30 June
Hotel suggestion: Hotel Challis starting at £75
Have you ever used KAYAK Explore to search for flights at the time you most want to travel?? Simply click on the ‘Dates’ field and filter by ‘Anytime’, by season or by month; add your maximum budget and Explore will show you the best flights worldwide for you. Click any price you like on the interactive map and start booking. Warning: there is an acute danger of wanderlust!
Brighton Rock(s)
Culture and Channel are just two minutes apart – from the royal pavilion, the equally quirky and pompous summer palace of the late King George IV, to the wide sandy beach is just a short meander away.
After a dip and a spot of sun one can wander just a few steps further to the famous Palace Pier, a splendid amusement park that still encapsulates the nostalgia of years gone by while being modern in its daring. By the way, if one of the main reasons you’re in Brighton is the shopping, shopping, the picturesque West Pier Arches houses designer shops, galleries and small boutiques. If it’s bargains you’re after, a few steps back from the pier you will find a new outlet centre in the marina.
Hotel suggestions: Preston Park Hotel – Brighton
Where the city and beach are one – Tel Aviv
Many cities try and draw you in by telling you that they are just a short stroll away from the sea – and Tel Aviv laughs at them. Here it looks as if the people living or working in the buildings that line the 9-mile shore, could almost take a dip by diving into the sea directly from their windows.
Flights starting at £214 Accommodation starting at £18
No wonder that in Israel’s business centre many office workers spend their lunch break by the sea. Something you’ll probably want to do this if you find yourself eager to relax after an extensive expedition through the Bauhaus architecture of the ‘White City’, a shopping trip on the fashion hub of Dizengoff Street or a visit to the world famous Jaffa Flea Market. With skyscrapers behind and the water in front and the sun beating down all your senses will be a-tingle. Even your sense of smell, because the smell of falafel cooking is practically bewitching and eateries like Benin Johnny (in business for over 50 years) or Shlomo & Sons bringing this oh-so-wonderful of foods to international cult status, you’ll be wanting to indule your sense of taste as well.
✈£214 from London to Tel Aviv | 8 – 18 June
✈£259 from Bristol to Tel Aviv | 9 – 16 May
✈£264 from Manchester to Tel Aviv | 26 May – 11 June
Accommodation suggestion: Abraham Hostel Tel-aviv starting at £50
Try using KAYAK’s Flight+Hotel search. Enter your destination and then use the filters on the right-hand side of the page to see what kind of flight and hotel combos are right for you, and save money doing it.
Split down the middle: Sun and shopping in Croatia
Croatia is pretty much coastline, which means, when visiting Split, that the next beach is but a short walk from the city centre. Famous for its ancient Diocletian palace and surrounds which are now populated with designer shops, souvenir shops, ice cream parlours and places to both quench your thirst and still your grumbling stomach.
Flights starting at £67Accommodation starting at £14
Most tourists head to Bačvice beach, less than a mile away from the town centre, but it can get pretty crowded in the summer. We recommend you go to Kaštelet beach in the opposite direction – a postcard-perfect pebbled beach flowing from the treeline to the placid waters.
✈£67 from London to Split | 9 – 13 May
✈£64 from Manchester to Split | 13 – 16 May
✈£98 from Bristol to Split | 23 May – 3 June
Hotel suggestion: La Perla Luxury Apartments starting at £44
Cape Town capers: Beaches and boutiques under Table Mountain
Cape Town is a melting pot of cultures situated in scenery that is stunning from the sea to the sky. Deservedly awarded the UNESCO design capital in 2014, Capetown’s unique blend is reflected its street art, architecture and, very importantly, its food.
Flights starting at £525Hotels starting at £17
It also doesn’t hurt that the shops are top and the hotspots are hotter. This is one pretty city quite unlike anywhere else. And we haven’t even mentioned the beach yet. Needless to say, deciding whether you love Cape Town more for its beaches or for the city is a night impossible question to answer and one that we’re not willing to answer for you.
✈£525 from London to Cape Town | 6 – 19 June
✈£590 from Leeds to Cape Town | 27 May – 9 June
✈£743 from Liverpool to Cape Town | 20 June – 8 July
Lounging by the lagoon, Venice
Venice is at it’s most beautiful when you’re hanging out on the Lido – the island district that shelters the Venice lagoon from the Adriatic, has a legendary yet cosy beach.
Flights starting at £34Hotels starting at £23
The city is thronged with crowds that tend to be local than touristy adding an authentic buzz to your shopping and cafe experience. It can seem at times, though, that the phrase ‘hustle-and-bustle’ was created specifically for the old town, so heading to the beach to unwind needs no excuse. Kick back in the sand and enjoy the panoramic view of the Venetian skyline on the horizon – and if the canals tempt you too much? It’s only 20 minutes to St. Mark’s Square with a water taxi.
✈£34 from London to Venice | 8 – 11 May
✈£91 from Manchester to Venice | 8 – 13 June
✈£199 from Birmingham to Venice | 2 – 7 May
Hotel suggestion: Best Western Plus Hotel Bologna starting at £89
Note: These rates are based on search queries made on KAYAK.co.uk on March 17th, 2017. The prices are quoted in GBP. Flight prices are based on results for a return economy flight search. Hotel prices are for double occupancy and include taxes and fees. Prices are subject to change, may vary, or no longer be available.
