City and beach

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Can anyone recommend a European destination that gives both city and beach? I am thinking along the lines of Sitges which is 20/30 minutes outside Barcelona. Somewhere that’s got good air b and b/self catering villas and apartments. Completely open to destination but not wanting the likes of the Canaries. Thanks.

Just adding, I’ve been looking at Palma but while DH hasn’t been, I have.

Porto has both.

Lisbon

Barcelona, Valencia.

Malaga- gorgeous city and lots of beaches along the coast. Much cheaper than Palma too, loved it

If you are looking for somewhere mid summer rather than spring / autumn, I'd recommend San Sebastián (Basque Country). Beautiful city, wonderful food, beach is gorgeous, but as it's northern Spain it's probably not really lying on beach weather outside of June-Sep. Nearest airport is Biarritz in France which has regular bus and train to San Sebastián

Thank you. This is helpful. Like the sound of Malaga and Valencia. I’ve done Porto before. Beautiful but I don’t want a return visit. Lisbon is a possibility.

Valencia is my favourite holiday destination. So much to do and it’s beautiful.

Alicante is lovely

Cascias in Portugal maybe? Some nice beaches. (a few football T-shirts and shaven heads here and there, but they kept themselves to a particular area where the bars cater for them…sports TV/Irish bars etc). On the whole a nice area.
Puerto de Pollenca is good. No one trying to give you a massage or sell you anything on the beach which I was very grateful for. Bit more upscale. Cyclists a bloody menace though!
Malaga is good. Although seems to be busier every time I visit. Beach okay, not a lot of facilities and a bit of a schlep from the old town and you do get a lot of people trying to sell you beer & massages (like on Valencia and Barca beaches) but I like it. Nice and chilled. And HOT!
I’m literally eyeing up Sitges myself for a trip in June. Looks okay. Not upscale/sophisticated by the looks of it, but certainly convenient. I’ve but been before, so interested in seeing what people say and what other places people suggest. X

Biarritz
San Sebastián
Nice
Menton

Bilbao, Venice if you stay out on the lido, Athens is on the coast so has some beaches. As a bit of a left of field suggestion Riga (stay at Jurmula) and Copenhagen also have beaches, but I am sure the sea is pretty cold. Likewise Stockholm, but no experience of how commutable the city is from the beaches near Stockholm.

Catania
palermo and outskirts (Mondello, or an 1 hour away Cefalu)

too hot in August though

Just come back from Lisbon and it’s stunning, first time in Portugal
DH and I are not beach people but some locals that we are friends with said they would recommend a few of the beaches near by and you have Sintra about half hour out which is just like a fairytale
We didn’t go as we had an event and I burn stupidly easily so didn’t want to risk it but 4 or 5 locals said we were fools not to go 😂

Nice is nice (ha) but the beach is pebbles. I love Barcelona because although it's a city there's so much active stuff to do. The beach (which is fake but very lovely if not busy), the Olympic park has a fab outdoor pool for swimming lengths and you can get the train out to the hills.

Dubrovnik for city & plenty of sea & beach options on the islands accessible by quick boats

We are about to go for a couple of weeks round Malaga. Week 1 we are going East of the city to Nerja, self catering. We find this side of the city much less built up than the other, although Nerja has loads of restaurants and some lovely places inland. Also good location for a day trip to Granada. Rincon de la Victoria is closer to Malaga, much more Spanish, but fewer restaurants etc, if you dont like the typical Spanish resorts. We are then going to the west of Malaga. A night in a small hotel in Mijas as we want a night out in the village without having a long slog back to the coast. Finishing off with a few days in a beachfront hotel in La Carihuela, which is part of Torremolinos. This side is very built up, but has a brilliant beach with beach bars, barbeques, and everything you might want in the way of entertainment. It also has very good connections, train and bus, to Malaga for a day or night in the city. I will say, we are not going with children. If we were, we would stay at the west side, as there is more for children that side.

Malaga is perfect. Absolutely love it.

Tarragona, Split, Vannes, Nice, Montpellier, Antalya, or how about the Hague for something completely different?!

Cavtat Croatia, Charming spot. Dubrovnic a bus ride or boat trip away.