The classic European tour is essentially a culturally enriching one - punctuated with visits to medieval cities with castles, forts, bell towers and churches, listening to historical accounts or stories, or walking along cobbled streets to take in the contemporary art, fashion, food or cafe scene. On the surface, it may be seem that beaches in Europe are a misnomer, given that the geographical nature of Europe where a number of European cities are landlocked. Still, for European cities with a coastline, you can be sure the beaches will either offer something panache, or something culturally rich, or both.
Travelers who trek around the world in search for beach experiences will quickly realize the fundamental differences between beaches in Europe vis-à-vis beaches in Southeast Asia.
For one, beaches in Europe (or pelages in French) are best visited seasonally, during the warmer months (from May to October). The seasonal attraction of the beaches also means that the popular beaches in Europe can get very crowded during summer. Expect no privacy as many Europeans will want to flock to the beaches on a warm day to soak in the sun. Most Mediterranean cities in Southern France, Greece and Spain have wonderful stretches of beaches, and attract many Europeans in search for warm weather during the summer months.
While summers can get hot, the waters are not necessarily warm. What this means is that not all beach-goers go to the beach for the waters - some never venture into the sea, or do so for a short time only. A lot more time is spent on the beach itself. Hence the large numbers of umbrellas, beach cabins or cabanas and deck chairs on the beach. The colder waters and windy beaches in Europe also mean that more above-water sports options, such as wind or kite surfing, are pursued.
The sand quality in most European beaches is a medium to coarse grain type, mixed with coral / loam - not the type of silky fine-grained sand that your feet sinks into. Well, not without some effort on your part. On top of that, all beaches in Europe have sand - jagged rocks or pebbles replace sand totally on some beaches, for example, in Nice, France.
Take note that many European beaches have clothing-optional beaches, and topless sunbathing is a common sight in summer.
While beaches are usually associated with sun-soaking activities in Southern European cities, cities in Northern Europe offers a different breed of beaches - beaches with great natural beauty. Think secluded coves and cliffs, wilderness, rugged terrain, sand dunes... The Scandinavian countries - Norway, Denmark and Sweden offer travelers different types of beach experiences. For example, the Got land beach in Sweden. The best part about visiting beaches in Northern Europe in summer is the long daylight hours.
Naturally, if you are still on the trail for some culture and history, the beaches of Normandy in Brittany, France would be a poignant and memorable trip. These beaches were the battleground between the Americans and the Germans during World War II. Read More.
