Small European towns by the sea

[willowboom]

Hello. I'm looking for our next holiday destination and I'm stumped. We like laid back, relaxed towns by the sea (with a beach). Somewhere nice to wander in the evening, perhaps a harbour, old buildings or some interesting streets. Nice restaurants, independent shops, maybe a local market. Somewhere with character and a gentle buzz although we more not interested in clubs or the like. A couple of nearby places to explore are a bonus.

If it helps we've previously been to, and enjoyed, a Collioure, Cefalu, Caiscais, St Malo, Dubrovnik (although much bigger than the normal towns we go to). In the UK we like Whitby, Tenby, St Ives, Whitstable.

We're a couple with a six year old.

Any ideas?

Malaga
Palma
Lisbon

Tarragona near Barcelona. Absolutely beautiful but not the crowds like Barcelona.

Great thread. Shamelessly placemarking

Plougonvelin or Le Conquet in Brittany.

I was very taken with Rapallo in Italy - boats to other nice bays too. Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer, south of The Camargue has a lovely beach and a nice laid back feel. St Jean de Luz in SW France is nice too!

Tarragona: on the coast, an hour south of Barcelona. It has several nice beaches, shallow water very safe for kids and swimming, Roman stuff (amphitheatre, circus, vaults, aqueduct, villas etc), little tourist train, old quarter, good restaurants, squares, big park, family friendly.

Then you're round the corner from Port Aventura, if you fancy rollercoasters etc, or Aquopolos water park is also not far.

Reus airport is closest. Also Reus is great for shopping, if you fancied a bit of that, and is full of lovely modernist buildings.

Panormos, Crete

I’ve not been, we are booked to go in September, but Kardamena in Kos fits your brief on paper, I think!

What a great post, exactly what I'm looking for too!

Great thread!

I've just spent ages reading this thread and looking at the places mentioned with a view to booking something for this summer.

Any more suggestions....?

Antibes.

I'm off to Antibes/Juan Les Pins in 2 weeks. Very excited.

Carvoeiro Portugal lovely little town in the Algarve, Moraira Spain has fantastic restaurants, lovely beach, a market and small night time amusement park for kids, Pernera Cyprus has great beaches, nice restaurants and a pretty boardwalk that you can walk along in 20 mins to the busier town of Protaras.

Alghero Sardinia

I remembered this thread earlier this afternoon when I was looking for inspiration for our next holiday. We’ve settled on Nerja (thank you to those who suggested it). I’ve found all the suggestions so useful so wanted to second some of them in case they’re useful to anybody else. Since my original post we’ve been to Lake Garda which was perfect with our then 7 year old. We swam, ferry hopped between the gorgeous towns, visited Gardaland and ate a lot of delicious food. Alghero, The Hague and Menton have been other highlights.

Sounds blissful!

@ItsOnlyWordsInnit hello, I know this an old thread but would you have a recommendation for accommodation in Menton for 3 adults and 2 teens. Hoping to head there this summer, we won’t have a car. Thanks

This is a blast from the past. I‘ll probably write a DM to you, for the moment I just looked up a rather awful hotel we stayed in and fortunately it’s now closed (Hotel Richelieu). So that danger is averted. The only other hotel we stayed in was the Westminster, which is full of faded charm. Don‘t stay in a room facing the town on a low floor (opposite a supermarket that has loud deliveries at 6am). Apart from that we stayed in private accommodation. I can give some general tips in a DM though.

Tropea in Calabria, Ortigia in Sicily

There's a cracking aquarium at Scheveningen too.

Also seen a rec for Arcachon, which is lovely - in that neck of the woods there's also St Jean de la Luz and Anglet.

Dieppe is really lovely and the ferry literally docks ten mins walk from the city centre - very convenient. It has a good beach too (although pebbly).

Alghero in Sardinia - I haven't been for 10+ yes so it may be busier/more commercialised now, but it's a great base for a holiday. Lots of other nice little towns on Sardinia too although the north-west cost is expensive.

Sorry just seen this is an ancient thread! Still lots of brilliant valid recs though 😀

Do you have any restaurant recommendations for Alghero OP? The last time we went I was pregnant with our 12yo. We're taking him there in May.

Another vote for each of San Sebastian, Spain and Chania, Crete

Ha. I love that this thread has revived. It’s reminded me to check out Collioure again.

For the pp who revived it with a question about Menton - coincidence! I have been looking for rentals in Menton for summer just today (left it a bit late) and unfortunately found the prices to be

On