Regional beach guides
Coasts, islands and regions compared by season, access, water, crowds and trip style.
Regional beach guides for choosing between coasts, islands and beach regions by season, water temperature, access, crowds and travel style.
All guidesRegional beach guides - coasts, islands and beach regions
Best beaches on the Cote d'Azur: from Nice to Saint-Tropez
Riviera beach overview from Nice and Cannes to Saint-Tropez, with pebble versus sand reality, Posidonia, mistral impact and concession logistics for first-time visitors.
Best beaches in Corsica: from Palombaggia to Saleccia and the wild west coast
Corsica beach overview from the Bonifacio coves to the Desert des Agriates and the Calanques de Piana, with sand reality, libeccio wind impact and 4x4 access logistics.
Best beaches in Brittany: from the Cote de Granit Rose to La Baule
Brittany beach overview from the Cote de Granit Rose and Ile de Brehat to the Quiberon peninsula and La Baule, with tide reality, water temperature and parking logistics.
Best beaches in Normandy: Etretat cliffs, Mont-Saint-Michel bay and the Cote Fleurie
Normandy beach overview from Etretat and the Cote d'Albatre to Deauville, the D-Day beaches and the Mont-Saint-Michel bay, with tide reality and family logistics.
Best beaches on the Costa Brava: from Cala Sa Boadella to Cap de Creus
Costa Brava beach overview from Lloret and Tossa to Calella de Palafrugell, Aigua Xelida and Cap de Creus, with cove logistics, tramontane impact and parking reality.
Best beaches in the Canary Islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote
Atlantic island beaches across the four largest Canary Islands, with volcanic black sand, golden dunes, year-round climate and trade wind logistics.
Best beaches in Sardinia: La Pelosa, Cala Mariolu and the Costa Smeralda
Sardinia coast highlights from Costa Smeralda to La Pelosa, with permit logistics, drive reality, Mistral wind impact and family versus boat-only coves.
Best beaches in Sicily: San Vito Lo Capo, Cefalu, Taormina and Isola Bella
Sicily coast highlights from San Vito Lo Capo to Taormina, with crescent-bay logistics, Etna-side options, ferry access and crowd patterns by month.
Best beaches on the Amalfi Coast: Positano, Atrani, Furore, Maiori and Praiano
Amalfi Coast beach reality from Positano to Maiori, with pebble logistics, ferry-versus-bus access, sun-bed concessions and family alternatives.
Best beaches in the Greek Islands: Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Naxos and Paros
Greek Islands beach overview across Cyclades and Crete, with red sand, white pebbles, Meltemi wind reality and ferry hopping logistics.
Best beaches in Malta: Mellieha, Golden Bay and the Blue Lagoon on Comino
Malta archipelago beach guide across Malta, Gozo and Comino, with sandy bay reality, Blue Lagoon logistics, ferry access and crowd patterns by month.
Sardinia beaches guide: where to base yourself for sand, coves, families, and wild coast
A practical Sardinia beach guide comparing Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena, Orosei, Villasimius, Chia, Oristano and Alghero, with access, seasons and boat notes.
Secondary beach towns 2026: when a less famous coast is the smarter holiday
How to choose secondary beach towns in 2026 when famous beaches are crowded or expensive, with practical checks for access, safety, water quality, food, lodging and backup beaches.
No-car beach trips 2026: trains, ferries and walkable bases that actually work
How to plan a no-car beach trip in 2026 using trains, ferries, buses and walkable bases, with practical checks for luggage, last-mile access, backup beaches, storms and crowds.
Where Miami actually swims: Crandon, Bill Baggs, Matheson and the locals' picks
Skip the South Beach crowds. Here are the beaches Miami locals actually use — Crandon, Bill Baggs, Matheson Hammock's atoll pool, Virginia Key and Haulover — with calm water and shade.
Naples and Marco Island: calm Gulf beaches for the slow Florida day
Naples and Marco Island front the calm, warm southwest Gulf — upscale, unhurried and the gateway to the Everglades. Here are the beaches, the pier, Tigertail's lagoon and the season.
The Overseas Highway: every beach and stop worth making on the Miami–Key West drive
The 113-mile Overseas Highway from Miami to Key West crosses 42 bridges. Here is every beach, snorkel spot and roadside stop worth pulling over for, in order down the Keys.
Neon hour: where Miami's sunsets actually go pink-purple, and when
Miami's pink-purple 'neon' sunsets are real, seasonal and location-dependent. Here is why they happen, where to shoot them (bay side vs beach side), and how to time the blue hour that follows.
The old Miami Beach bars and hotels that survived: drink where the aesthetic was born
The pastel Miami of the 1980s is still standing in a handful of surviving hotels and bars. Here are the genuinely old-school Miami Beach spots — and how to tell the real survivors from the reproductions.
Art Basel season: when Miami's beaches meet the art world (a December guide)
Every December, Art Basel turns Miami Beach into a global art capital for a week. Here is what the season is, how it changes the beaches and prices, and how to enjoy it whether or not you buy art.
Wynwood murals to ocean water: the culture-then-swim Miami day plan
The perfect Miami day pairs Wynwood's street art with an afternoon swim. Here is a practical culture-then-beach itinerary — murals in the cool morning, Latin lunch, and the sand when the heat peaks.
Little Havana plus a beach: pairing Miami's soul with its sand
Little Havana and a Miami beach make a perfect paired day — culture and cafecito inland, sand and sea nearby. Here is how to combine them, what to see on Calle Ocho, and which beach to add.
The warmest US beaches from November to March, and where Florida ranks
Want a warm US beach in winter? The options are few: South Florida, the Keys, Hawaii and a sliver of the Gulf and southern California. Here is where the water is actually swimmable November–March.
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Beach conditions
Sea temperature, wind, waves, swell, tides and daily swim decisions.
Water quality & pollution
Rain runoff, bacteria, algae blooms, pollution signs, Blue Flag signals and safer water checks.
UV, heat & weather
UV index, heat, shade, storms, clouds, wind shifts and smarter beach timing.
Beach safety
Rip currents, warning flags, jellyfish, shore break, cold water, children and safer swimming.
Family beaches
Family beach planning, toddlers, teens, dogs, shade, parking, toilets and low-friction days.
Access, parking & facilities
Parking, toilets, showers, public transport, accessibility, beach rules and easier arrivals.
Surf guides
Surf forecasts, beginner waves, swell period, shore break, boards, wetsuits and wind choices.
Snorkeling & clear water
Shore snorkeling, visibility, clear water, reef-safe planning, families and calm entries.
Lake swimming
Safe swimming lakes, city lakes, freshwater quality, algae checks and inland beach days.
Beaches near cities
City beach guides for day trips, public transport, parking, beach clusters and realistic timing.
World Cup 2026
Supporter beach, lake, heat, UV, transit and things-to-do guides for the 2026 host cities.
GTA 6 beaches
Official GTA 6 beach, Vice City, Leonida Keys, boats, water sports clues and coastal screenshot breakdowns.
Beach trip planning
Packing, timing, budgets, beach tents, coolers, dogs, photos, activities and backup plans.
Destination comparisons
Side-by-side beach destination comparisons for families, surf, warmth, price and access.
Coastal vanlife & overnight
Coastal campervan touring, overnight parking, aires and the beaches and swim spots within reach.