Pretty European villages with a beach

[toomanyoptions1]

Looking for a pretty village or small town next to a nice beach for me, my partner and our pre-schooler. We like nice beaches, good food, a few amenities (eg restaurants, bakeries) etc. Close by to other small-child friendly things to do. We’re not into massive resorts or English breakfasts! Also ideally not in France, Italy or Eastern Europe. Am Googling but feeling overwhelmed with choice and would really welcome personal recommendations!

Hvar, Croatia.

Carvoeiro in the Algarve but might be a bit too British or Cassis in France?

Agios Nikolaos in Crete is incredibly pretty, but if you’d prefer to be somewhere more low key, then nearby Schisma Eloundas is also beautiful and has a nice beach. There’s a waterpark in Agios Nikoloas, a little train ride and an olive oil farm with donkeys to pet. You can also take a boat trip to Spinalonga.

Ebeltoft, Denmark.

15 minutes from Aarhus Airport (Ryanair) - the town itself has a harbour, but 5 mins in a car will get you to any number of nice, empty beaches. Stay in a summer cottage or in an apartment overlooking the bay.

Djurs Sommerland amusement park is 20 mins away by car. Excellent aquarium (Kattegatcenter) at nearby Grenaa. With a car you could get to the original Legoland in about 90 minutes.

I'm a big fan of Tavira in Portugal. It's a town, but doesn't feel too touristy. You catch a water taxi to a gorgeous Sandy beach with a few beach bars dotted along it. It's also a very short distance from Faro airport which is handy.

Cadeques
Sitges
Callela P

All beautiful villages and beaches

Kardamyli - mainland Greece
Lindos - Rhodes

Probably lots of other Greek options, will have a think!

I second carvoeiro, but I’m biased as I live here 😊

Parga mainland Greece, Port De Soller Majorca.

Nerja in Spain if you stay centrally would tick all your boxes. Very hot in July/August though. Or Puerto Pollensa, Majorca of course! We have also stayed in Puerto Mogan, Gran Canaria
and that was lovely- much prettier than the other resorts there and a lovely sandy beach.

Conil de La Frontera on south western corner of Spain. Miles of beautiful beaches. Also second Tavira.

Possedi in Halkidiki is just lovely in fact there’s loads of places like that on that first prong. Fly into Thessaloniki and it’s a short car ride to any of the gorgeous little places

Lovely beaches and pretty little town.
Also Alvor and Estepona.

Katelios, Kefalonia.

It's a village popular with British tourists, but it's very quiet - no hen/stag parties or raucous karaoke.

Staying with the Portuguese theme, I really like Travera but prefer Porto Covo. There are several small beaches with access to small sheltered coves. A selection of restaurants and all in walking distance

Brac Island Croatia just not Bol

Alcoecbre Spain

Thank you for the suggestions everyone - lots to look through!

I'd not be taking a young child to Europe ATM with the temperatures so high. Greece has had huge fires and tourists are trapped and can't get home.

Majorca has lots- Cala San vincente, Sant Elm, camp de Mar, Puerto soller ,

Kassiopi in corfu was nice , Llafranc and calella de pallafrugel on costa brava very nice as is Denia on costa Blanca

"Europe" is a big place! The scorching temperatures and fires are in southern Europe - Spain, Italy, Greece etc. - but there is much more to Europe than just these countries.

Southern Scandinavia and the Baltic coast of Germany are places with beautiful beaches and small, old villages, but the style is completely different to the Mediterranean countries. They can still be warm - 25-30 deg in the summer - without being too hot.

The Algarve is having a normal summer, temps around 30 degrees and down to 18 or so at night