Where might we choose to holiday if we like sunny old towns, cafe culture, markets and white beaches.

[LydiaLinus]

Looking for some inspiration please for two indecisive adults!

Sunshine a must.

Prefer a flight less than 3 hours.

Thanks so much!

When?

For sun? This would be during the school summer holidays, so late July and August.

We went to Corfu in May it ticked all of those boxes. (The sand was yellow but beautiful and soft)

Faro in Portugal is lovely and I think fulfils those criteria, although the beach is a little tricky to get to

Estepona, Southern Spain.

Delightful place, still quite authentic, lovely old town full to the brim with flowers, a market, a great port area with restaurants all round it, many cafes along the Paseo (seafront), beach restaurants (chiringuitos) and a manicured huge beach + promenade all along. An hour or so from Malaga airport and close to Gibraltar if that's your thing.

As you can see I am in love with the place. But we all recommend those places we love ourselves. Just a suggestion!

Where in Corfu, please?

Yes, to Estepona, I know that coast really well.

Faro, possibly but maybe too much of a city. I love Lagos though!

Calvi in Corsica

Croatia

Alvor in Portugal ticks all those boxes.
Pretty much the best white sandy beach I've ever seen, stretches for miles. Windy cobbled streets with lovely bars, cafes and restaurants and a harbour.

Sounds gorgeous

Where in Croatia do you suggest, it is a big country. The beaches I gave been to are pebble, do you know if others with sand please?

Croatia 💯

Malta!

Just repeating my question from before you also suggested Croatia…

Where in Croatia do you suggest, it is a big country. The beaches I gave been to are pebble, do you know if others with sand please?

Definitely Portugal. Fly to Faro and almost any town along the coast will fit your bill.

Alghero, Sardinia
💯

Cadiz

We just got back from Tavira, one of the small towns to the east of Faro. It's more local/less city, and much more low key. Lots of cute bars and restaurants. There's also Altura further east, which is where mostly locals go, but is very friendly and easy to navigate. Lots of houses to rent there (go via airbnb, booking.com or smartavillas, one of many local rental agencies). No connection to them, but we realised a lot of houses are only listed on local agencies, so sharing if that helps.

Pollensa/ Puerto Pollensa, Majorca

Cuitadella, Menorca. Lovely old town, bars and restaurants along the marina, and plenty of really pretty beaches a walk/bus ride away.

Not in August, its packed & tbh there isn't that many old towns, one maybe!

I'd suggest S of France, Languedoc/Occitanie.

Rovinj in Croatia is fab. All of your requirements except no sandy beach.

Sicily is a great option, beaches are while but still nice.

The best beaches I've ever been on, beautiful white sand, empty (apart from some seals) are in Shetland but take your fleece!

Ibiza town and old town x

Zadar in Croatia is gorgeous. You can get ferries to the islands near by that have better beaches than the ones around the city. We went to Borik beach though, probably not the standard you are looking for but still lovely.

The sea is the main star in Croatia imo and people will lie on the nearest space next to it and call it a beach.

Zadar old town is great. Lovely restaurants, bars and shops. Flight was 2 hrs 20.