Help me find a holiday destination that fits these requirements

[soupfiend]

I am quite fussy when it comes to destinations, I normally go for week long city holidays but am also now wanting some time on beaches where possible.

But where would be a nice town/city (historical/ancient) but also has nice beaches, around 3 hours max from a London airport and where you can get to the beaches easily from town based accommodation. We always rent self catering/airbnb so I dont want hotels or a 'resort' as such.

The other thing Im struggling with is easily knowing what airports go to what destinations, so as an example I just wondered about San Sebastian as I like Northern Spain, the fly scanner thing that Im searching (just google really) comes up with flights that are 2 connections! And nearly a grand per flight? Am I doing something wrong?

I also looked at Bari as an example, but the reviews of the beach there seem to highlight its full of dog ends and rubbish.

If you look at flightconnections.com you can see all the flights from any airport. If there are multiple airports you have to check each one but it will give you details of which airlines fly the route and the timetable so if there's an airport which only has a flight 3 days a week you then know which dates to put in skyscanner or similar for prices.

Fly to Nice and go either east to Menton or west to Antibes to find sizeable, charming towns with sandy/slightly shaly beaches.

Alicante is quite similar to Malaga but with a better city beach. I personally prefer Malaga and would take the less good beach because I prefer the city. Ditto Palma, very similar feeling.

As others have said, beachy suburbs of Lisbon or Porto as long as you don’t mind taking the train to the city.

Split or Dubrovnik surrounds in Croatia or Kotor Bay in Montenegro.

One of the sizeable beachy towns in the south of Puglia, flying into Brindisi.

Blanes/Barcelona, or Badalona/Barca. Or have a look at all the beaches North (or South) of Barca. All connected by train along the coast. A lot of them undiscovered by Brits I'd say. Fantastic area, short flight.

Badalona
23 Passeig Marítim - Google Maps

Athens?

Knokke-Heist in Belgium - easy to get to, lovely beach and lots of little villages to visit.

I went for the May holiday. It is amazing. The water is crystal clear like the Caribbean! The restaurants are out of this world. We did a day trip to Palermo and adored it. Sicily is like Italy in technicolour. So cheap, that side of Sicily too!

Antibes - lovely old town, nice sandy beaches and easy to get to Juan Les Pins for better ones. St Tropez if you have the budget for it. We are just back from Puglia and stayed in Monopoli which was gorgeous - but the best sandy beaches with beach clubs are a bus or taxi ride of 10 - 20 mins. You can walk to some rocky coves. I am looking at Otranto or Gallipoli for next year as it seems there you have easier access to the beach but still the old town vibe vs new built resort.

I think its going to be difficult to find exactly what I want, we like staying in a town/city because we wander round all day, popping back to the apartment now and then, dropping things off, having a rest, changing clothes etc, so Im not sure its enough for me to stay somewhere more beachy and just go into town for a day trip, we like to be around the buzz and stay out quite late

Equally I want to be around the beach so I can pop things into my beach bag, not have to walk that far with stuff, come back and change/shower etc.

Not sure this place exists.

Here are 35 European cities with a beach. Most have been mentioned already on the thread, but there are a few new ones there. If you can't find it here it probably doesn't exist, unless you include Scandinavia, the Baltic Coast/Northern Poland, and Netherlands/Belgium. Oh and Western France/Bordeaux.

If you ever find your perfect spot that meets your requirements, do share please!

35 Best Cities on the Beach in Europe and Coastal Towns (spatubhotels.com)

Split
Cadiz
Barcelona
Google cruise ports, loads have this combination.

Too long a flight but Larnaca has some lovely beaches and is a lovely large town with pretty churches and a salt lake.

Malta.

Cavtat or Split in Croatia both stunning and lovely beaches.

@soupfiend fly into Bilbao, spend a few days there (Guggenheim especially) then get a bus to San Sebastian. It's unbelievably easy, takes about an hour, and it's one of the best places I've visited. As there is no direct airport it's blissfully quiet from English voices! You might need to check the accomodation though, because it's very popular.

Montpellier is a lovely city and beach short tram/bus ride away. Airport very near the city as well. Direct flights from Gatwick and only 2 hours away.

I love Can Picafort. Have been twice.

2h flight, land in Palma, 1-2h transfer.
Then once you're there the beach is beautiful, clear/aqua water.. a short bus ride from Alcúdia bay and more importantly.. the beautiful Alcudia Old Town 😍

Getxo in Northern Spain is lovely and about 20 mins on the train to the centre of Bilbao. Fabulous beach and although it's not as foodie as Sam Sebastien it's pretty good

That’s so useful!

Gdaňsk in Poland.

City, history (westerplate), some beaches directly in the city and really nice ones a ferry ride away at Hel peninsula.

Less killer weather than south Europe in the summer.

Can be reached by train from Warsaw.

Lisbon, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Split.

Biarritz is what you describe. But it’s a bit marmite I think.

Yes to Lisbon and Rethmynon. Or Chania, also in Crete.

Ibiza Town, maybe combine with a couple of days in Portinax?

Collioure or Sete, SW France?

Croatia - Split, Hvar Town. I don’t know other parts but probably lovely options further north.

La Rochelle

Bodrum - but 4 hour flight.

Another vote for flying to Bilbao, spending a couple of days there with a trip to Gexto, possibly also Guernica for historical interest and then get the coach to San Sebastian for the rest of the holiday.

As well as the city you could go to Hondaribba which is a coastal village right on the French border and i think there's a little ferry across the estuary into France.

We actually had all that booked during a COVID lull and then it ramped up again and the flights were cancelled and we've never got round to rearranging unfortunately.

Barcelona?

The beaches on the French coast around Biarritz up to Arcachon are fabulous, and very popular with surfers.