My sister and I ( both in our mid 50's ) have holidayed in a marina view hotel in Lagos, Portugal and a boutique style hotel in Hania, Crete this last couple of years. Both destinations were perfect. Both within walking distance to nice beaches, lovely old town to wander around with shops and restaurants.
We are looking for similar destinations within Europe.
Any suggestions ?
Thank you.
Hey Jackie,
You can try Andalucia Spain. It has beautiful white wash towns, nice beaches such as in Nerja, the region is full of culture, wonderful architecture, and music. Another destination in Spain is Basque country. It is well known for its variety of food. San Sebastian and Bilbao are beautiful towns with nice beaches. Last but not least, Amalfi coast in Italy is another type of area where you would find beautiful beaches and lovely old towns. Choose a country that offer you all the amenities you seek and we can more or less guide you in your itinerary planning.
Take care
Take your pick: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe
Any particular time of year?
Wow ! Speedy replies ! Thank You people !
Probably going around July time.
Looking for a coastal Town as opposed to a City. Walkable, with beaches and atmosphere.
San Sebastian .... Been several times with husband in our Motorhome .... amazing place !
Along the coast between Valencia and Barcelona there are quite a few smaller coastal towns that are quite charming
Two towns come immediately to mind, one closer to Valencia and one closer to Barcelona:
Peñíscola: A historic and beautiful town about 1:45 hr north of Valencia. With its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, the old town of Peñíscola sits on a big rock that juts out into the sea. The town is dominated by a large Knights Templar castle that looks like something out of the Crusades. It was later home to 15th century Antipope Benedict XIII. Recently, Peñíscola was used as a filming location in the T.V. series Game of Thrones.
Tarragona: Just 1:15 hr south of Barcelona. Tarragona has some of the best Roman ruins in Spain, including a Roman amphitheater and Praetorium tower, which are designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. They also have a great Roman history museum called Museu Nacional Arqueològic (MNAT), showcasing various treasures from antiquity. The medieval center also makes for a nice place for walks and dining.
Weather-wise, Normandy and Brittany are pretty similar to the Basque Country in mid-summer. I tend to prefer interior towns rather than coastal towns; the latter can be a bit too touristy for my taste. Therefore, I'm not the best one to suggest specific spots. Caen is a transportation hub, but it was obliterated during the war, and I don't think it would suit your taste.
Another possibility would be Galicia, in NW Spain. It, too, tends to be coolish and overcast by comparison to points south. I liked A Coruna, which seems to trend sunnier and warmer than the rest of Galicia. The major destination in that area is Santiago de Compostela, of course, but it is pilgrim-packed and not on the coast. It is also one of the least-sunny places you can find. Pontevedra is quieter, sunnier, and on the coast.
Everyone, including me, really likes Gdansk. The historic district was beautifully rebuilt after the war. However, it has been discovered for sure. It has two outstanding museums and many smaller ones, but it feels more "city" than I think you want, even aside from all the tourists.
I bet there are some interesting options in northern Germany, but I don't know that area.
As you can see, I'm having trouble setting aside my preference for not-hot areas for a mid-summer trip.
Small towns close to the beach? Here are a few you may like.
Antibes is my favorite on the French Riviera; it feels like a small medieval town. I liked the Atlantic near Bordeaux, I wasn't impressed with Arcachon (too big and not enough history) but I did like Biscarrosse Plage. It's a smaller town on the beach about 30 km south of Arcachon. I was there in June and it hadn't really opened up for the summer yet. There may be similar towns on the peninsula north of Arcachon, which is more of a wine producing area. The town of Auray, in Brittany, is very nice but it's not right on the beach (even though it's considered a port). You might also like St. Malo; lots of restaurants and a nice beach but may get too many tourists in the summer.
In Spain, I was surprised how much I liked Tarifa. San Sebastian/Donostia is nice too, a bigger town, but may be the better choice in July. There are also lots of smaller towns along the Costa Brava, north of Barcelona, that might also be ideal.
