Little coastal town with port in Europe

[Winterscoming77]

Hello!

I’m hoping you experienced lot will be able to help me because I think I’m looking for a unicorn…

Years ago I discovered Sitges and loved it. Loved the vibe, how close it was to Barcelona, the independent hotels, the narrow streets, tapas bars, beaches and promenade, you know that wander around in the warm evenings feel. That ‘where the Spanish go for the weekend’ sort of thing. Plus only 2 hours flight time.

I ended up going numerous times but all with an ex.

Fast forward a long time and I’m married to someone else and want to find a similar place but for us, actually is that childish and immature now I’m typing it. Should I just go back to Sitges and make that our new getaway place?

Or have you got a recommendation for a new getaway place that’s similar? There must be hundreds of these European coastal towns I don’t know about and I’d love to discover.

We go away on a big family holiday every year, Ibiza this year which I love too, and trips for us to the canaries without the (older) children in the winter but am missing this little breakaway place for weekends or midweek short trips.

Have you got a hidden gem you could tell me about?

Antibes. Monopoli, Otranto, Gallipoli in Puglia. Tropea in Calabria. Ortigia in Sicily. St Tropez. Vernazza / Manarola/ Loano in Liguria. Cadiz or El Puerto de Santa Maria in Andalucia....

San Sebastian. You need to fly to Bilbao and take a bus or taxi from there but it's worth it. Amazing food and a nice beach.

Sête, near Montpellier

See I’ve not heard of most of these! Thank you so much I am going to settle down to discover

I have heard of San Sebastián I will check it out thank you!

Bookmarking!

Or fly to Bordeaux and get the train from there.

Definitely agree, San Sebastian is glorious.

Cassis in France, if you want to be able to go there for long weekends. Not too far and an easy transfer. It's got good potential for day trips too as it's well connected by train and on the doorstep of the Calanques National park.

I’d also recommend Porto. On the river Douro, but also a 20 minute tram ride (on the original trams) to the beach.

Love Sitges too and picked it for the same reason as you!

Tarragona, Cambrils (same coast as Sitges). I also like Vilanova de la geltrú, next stop to Sitges. Much more residential as a place, great marina and beach.

Den Hague (city and beach with a 15 minute tram ride) and the bonus of less than an hours flight. We had the most amazing three day break. Vintage market, food/drinks outside in the squares, white beaches, museums, outdoor music, great shopping. We fly early morning into Schipol and last flight back, usually about 21.00, so it gives us full days either end.

Lagos. a train ride from Faro. Relaxed, surfing, hippy type vibe.

Piran in Slovenia is beautiful. You would probably need to hire a car from Ljubljana but then you would also be able to explore the other little towns around the area and the salt pans and the caves on the way back to Ljubljana (have forgotten what they are called but they were amazing).

Portimao or Tavira, Portugal

@wknobur - Postoijna caves? They were great!

Lots in Sicily, Favignana, Scopello, and Trapani are my favourites.

My two favourite places - Cadiz and San Sebastian

Colliure on the French med coast but very close to Spanish border

St Jean de Luz. You can hop across the border into Spain to visit San Sebastian

Somewhere completely different to the suggestions so far .... Ebeltoft in Denmark. A 10-minute taxi ride from Aarhus airport (Ryanair) and good for a quiet weekend in the spring or summer. For a longer trip rent a car and visit Aarhus, Grenaa, Silkeborg. For those with children, Djurs Sommerland amusement park is nearby (better than Legoland) as well as the aquarium in Grenaa and the museum sailing ship in Ebeltoft harbour.

Portocolom in Majorca is an unspoiled fishing village (5,000 people) with a harbour that looks like a Swiss lake, and several wonderful fish restaurants.

Mandelieu-La Napoule - on the coast near Cannes - gorgeous!

Honfleur in Normamdy. Seriously amazing

Oh wow. Had a mad, busy, intense day and…came back to these comments. Thank you so much. I really appreciate each and every one of you. I’m going to research them all thank you especially the unexpected ones like Norway!

Honfleur is beautiful and they do amazing ice cream there. Lovely little Art studios.

La Rochelle in France, and across the bridge to Ile de Re.

I was almost tempted to try a camembert ice-cream in Honfleur but I just couldn't bring myself.