Can’t decide between a city break or beach holiday? Sometimes you can have both. We look at some of the best city beaches from around the World.
City break or beach holiday? Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you don’t have to choose. Here we’ve collaborated with some of our favourite family travel bloggers to bring you some of the very best city beaches from around the World. A big thanks to all who contributed.
Bačvice, Split, Croatia
From Karen, at GapBeetle (Instagram: GapBeetle), a website promoting, reviewing and rating Gap Year and adventure travel for all ages. Founded by Karen Brown, an avid traveller and ex-TV producer/director with extensive travel experience.
The UNESCO listed port of Split has a pretty impressive choice of beaches both to the east and west of the city. Our favourite to soak up the real spirit of Croatia is Bačvice (pron: Batchweeseh).
It’s large, sandy (a relative rarity in Croatia) and shallow for the first 50 metres. Bačvice is always busy with locals, many of whom play “picigin” in the wide bay. This game is celebrated in Split and involves keeping a small rubber ball airborne for as long as possible.
Bačvice is certainly not the prettiest beach in the area – for that hop on a ferry to the nearby islands of Brac or Hvar – but it has an unmissable vibe and buzz, plus clear water and free showers. The western side, is lined with bars, clubs and cafes and even a deckchair section. Between June and September, it’s busy 24/7 and home to some of the best clubs in Split.
How to get there
From the Old Town or Riva it’s a 1.3 km, 15 minute walk in the direction of the port.
Best for children
The shallow, clear water is ideal for playing, swimming or trying out picigin. There’s an inflatable aqua park off shore and if you snorkel you can see fish near the rocks further out.
Best place to eat/drink
There’s plenty of choice at the beach, but we found it all pretty bland. Our tip is to picnic by grabbing a falafel wrap from Daddy Cool in the old city (best falafels we’ve had outside Israel), or stocking up on fresh goods at the Green Market on the eastern side of the palace. You can also buy cheap rubber shoes there – a must for most Croatian beaches.
Plus, don’t forget, that Split itself is packed with history, sights and Game Of Thrones locations. Find out more about Split in this round-up of Croatia’s Top 5.
Alicante, Costa Blanca, Spain
Written by us, here at Children of Wanderlust
Alicante, as a city, is unfortunately perhaps best known for its airport, serving millions of tourists each year as the gateway to the Costa Blanca, home to popular resort destinations such as Benidorm. The city should not be overlooked however. It makes for a lively and interesting place to visit for a day or two, with historic buildings, hilltop castle and vibrant bar and restaurant scene. It’s a good place to soak up some authentic Spanish culture.
One thing that makes Alicante stand out as a city break destination is the quality of its city beach. The beach is kept beautifully clean and comprises a decent stretch of golden sand, with the clear, blue waters of the Mediterranean available for swimming.
Behind the beach, stretching its length, is an attractive, paved pedestrian promenade that is great for walking (or in the case of our children, scooting) along. Periodically there are small beach cafe/restaurants, that make a pleasant place to stop in the shade for a drink and watch as people walk by, whilst having uninterrupted views out to the sea. Perhaps the nicest of these is Gomiz bar, with its relaxed seating and cool beach vibes. I wouldn’t suggest eating at these bars though – head towards the city centre for better quality and variety of food options.
The beach is made for children. All along its length are an assortment of different children’s playgrounds built on the sand. There are a good range of climbing frames, swings and slides to suit children of all ages. The best part is, some can be seen from the bar, allowing both children and parents to remain entertained!
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
From us, here at Children of Wanderlust
Barcelona is the principle city of Catalonia, on Spain’s northeast Mediterranean coast. It is famous around the world, attracting millions of visitors each year, keen to sample the city’s cultural heritage and unique architecture; most famously the Sagrada Família cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudí. For details of all that Barcelona as a city has to offer, take a look at this Barcelona bucket list.
All these tourists are coming for good reason. Barcelona makes for a classic city break destination that is hard to beat, when you consider all of the varied attractions that are on offer. For a better idea of what to expect, take a look at these ideas for how to spend 2 days in Barcelona. One thing often overlooked though, is the string of sandy beaches that runs along the city’s Mediterranean coastline.
The sand is golden and for the most part kept in a clean condition, especially considering how popular the beaches are with city residents (particularly during the summer months as people try to escape the heat of the city). The Platja de la Nova Icària beach, located next to a harbour area, is perhaps my favourite. It feels safe for children and there is plenty of space for them to play. The water quality is also pretty decent for swimming, despite the city location.
The popularity of the beaches makes them unbeatable for people watching, with bustling beach volleyball courts and impromptu photo shoots commonplace. We even witnessed some of the football superstars from FC Barcelona doing a promotional event on the beach during one of our visits.
Surrounding the beaches are a good range of bars and restaurants, all there to service this demand, from chic, exclusive rooftop cocktail bars to simple beach-side cafes. There is something for everyone.
The beaches are easily reached either on foot or by bus or subway from anywhere in the city. They really are right on your doorstop.
One word of warning: Barcelona as a city is unfortunately blighted by petty crime and pick-pocketing, with the beaches known to be particular targets. Be sure to keep a close eye on belongings at all times. We witnessed someone close by have their bag stolen whilst they were in the sea – unnoticed by us or anyone else around us. It’s definitely something to be aware of.
For more about Barcelona, check out this Barcelona city guide.
Malaga, Costa del Sol, Spain
From Helga, at ShegoWandering, a travel blogger with a passion for the Mediterranean, in particular Spain and Italy – 2 countries close to her heart.
Malaga is an amazing seaside city in Andalusia, in the south of Spain. This Costa, the Costa del Sol, is very popular, especially with British visitors. Take a look at these 5 great day trips from Malaga. The city itself is the birthplace of the famous painter, Pablo Picasso. It has an amazing range of things to explore and it also has great beaches!
The beaches of Malaga
One of the best things about the beaches of Malaga is that the sunsets are really, really beautiful. It’s worth going out in the evening to watch the sunset from the beach of La Malagueta, for example.
La Malagueta is the most popular beach in Malaga, being the closest to the city centre (about 10min walk). There are some other very popular beaches, such as Playa de la Caleta, Playa Pedregalejo, Playa de Guadalmar, Playa Pedregalejo and definitely consider some trips out from the city to Marbella beaches, Benalmadena and Fuengirola. It really is possible to have an affordable beach holiday in Malaga.
When to visit?
August is the hottest month of the year, and at this time the temperature can easily go up to 40° C. I highly recommend trying to avoid this month if you’re not used to the heat, or you’re traveling with kids! May-July or early September are much better for this destination.
Where to eat and drink?
There are plenty of beach side clubs, 5* and touristy places, as well as typical Spanish restaurants. The El Cachalote restaurant, on La Malagueta beach was the place I had the best Paella of my life! They made it on the beach, on wooden fire and served it straight away. It has beautiful views of the beach and the sea, and the prices are very reasonable as well.
Some suggestions for other things to do in the city of Malaga:
- #1 Wandering in Malaga’s downtown
- #2 The Picasso house and Picasso Museum Malaga
- #3 Catedral de la Encarnacion de Malaga & Plaza del Obispo
- #4 Gibralfaro Castle, the Alcazaba & Roman Theatre
If you’re interested to find out more about Malaga, see these 10 Things to do in Malaga, Spain.
San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain
Written by us, here at Children of Wanderlust
San Sebastian is, in our opinion at least, the jewel in the crown of the Basque Country, located on Spain’s northern, Atlantic coast. The city is a vibrant and picturesque coastal city, popular with visitors from around the World.
The city is located in a perfect natural crescent shaped bay, boasting a long city coastline. The family friendly golden sandy Kontxa beach offers calm waters for swimming. The backdrop to the beach is lined with attractive white, cast iron-works, reminiscent of an English Victorian seaside town. Providing the sun is shining, it’s the perfect place to sit and join both tourists and locals alike to relax for a few hours. The girls enjoyed building sandcastles and paddling in the sea.
Alternatively, for those wanting to be more active, being on the Atlantic coast, Zurriola beach to the east of the city is known for its surf. Boards and wetsuits are available for rent, with surfschools on hand to provide lessons.
The old town is a grid of winding pedestrianised streets and alleys, lined with pinxto bars and interesting independent shops. There aren’t many better places for a wander. You can happily pass the time strolling from bar to bar, having a few drinks whilst selecting from the irresistible arrangements of tapas food (or pinxtos) laid out on the bars, all ready to eat. The kids also enjoyed this style of eating, being able to pick what they wanted and with no waiting time!
Other attractions in the city include a city aquarium and the historic Igeldoko funicular railway. This railway takes you steeply up the hillside to the Monte Igueldo viewpoint. The views from the top back across the bay are truly breathtaking. At the top there is also a funfair with some funky retro fairground rides to enjoy.
When the sun is shining, there are not many better places to combine an engaging and cultural city break destination, with an accessible and beautiful, sandy beach.
If you’re interested to find out more about San Sebastian, see these ideas for how to spend 48 Hours in San Sebastian.
Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK
From us, here at Children of Wanderlust
Being British, I thought it would be wrong of me to compile this list without including at least one place from back home. The UK has some great and varied beaches all around its long coastline. Usually the most beautiful examples are in some of the more remote and out of the way locations. For some ideas, see this great roundup of the best beaches in the UK for families.
This article is all about cities though, so for this I have chosen my favourite British city beach, Southend-on-Sea in Essex, South-East England.
The beach at Southend is never going to win any awards for the quality of either the sand or water. Check out some of these top UK beaches for that. That’s not to say it doesn’t still have something to offer as a great family day out. Packed with retro amusement arcades and gift shops, as well as the longest pleasure pier in the World, it provides the classic Victorian English seaside experience, with some nice modern additions thrown in like a state of the art aquarium. It may not be for everyone but there’s no denying it can still be a lot of nostalgic fun, especially for anyone from the UK.
Best for children is the excellent Adventure Island park. It has a good selection of small rides for kids, both outside and inside for when the weather is bad. What really sets it apart is the unexpected enthusiasm of the staff working the rides. There is not a sulky teenager in sight (as you’d normally expect to see in such places). Instead, the workers all have smiles on their faces and are keen to get the children joining in with actions and moves whilst they are riding. It is genuinely refreshing to witness.
The usual, pretty average seaside eating options are available at the seafront. A cut above is Rossi’s; a Southend institution for ice cream.
Due to its close proximity to London (it can get swamped on a sunny day in the holidays), the city has retained enough wealthy commuter residents to prevent it from falling into the same state of disrepair sadly often seen at other British seaside towns. Nowhere is this wealth more evident than in the smart suburb of Leigh-on-Sea, which is full of upmarket coffee shops and eateries. It makes for a good place to hunt out a decent meal away from the tourist seafront.
South Beach, Miami, USA
From Rowena, at Rowena’s Teach and Travel
Miami covers an area of 56 square miles and and is famous for its city beach – South Beach and often appears in many Hollywood movies. With an international airport it is a great city to not only visit on its own, but can also be combined with a visit to the Florida Keys, or to add on to a family Disney vacation in Orlando. We stayed in Miami for 2 days. We were overwhelmed with fun things to do and really would have loved to have spent longer there!
South Beach is exactly as imagined, a beautiful, dynamic, cosmopolitan city beach which never sleeps! It is not only fun for the kids but adults too with a wide variety of chic cafes and bars to explore along Ocean Drive and the seafront. We made sure we spent loads of time on the beach. Great for kids, its clean and with loads of beautiful lifeguard stations to spot!
Exploring the beautiful Art Deco buildings behind the beach is loads of fun and provides plenty of photo opportunities of the exuberant architecture. If you are looking for something to eat I definitely recommend 11th Street Diner. It’s a few minutes walk from Ocean Drive and the food was delicious. We did have to wait about 30 minutes to be seated, but it was worth the wait. We stayed at the Winter Haven Hotel on Ocean Drive – an Art Deco hotel with loads of vintage elegance, all the standard amenities and families welcome. It served us well and the boys loved it!
We are big fans of street art and I’m always excited if I find any on our travels. Located elsewhere in Miami are the Wynwood Walls and we absolutely loved it! Since its inception over 10 years ago, the Wynwood Walls has seen over 50 artists cover 80,000 square feet of walls. Definitely worth a visit with children to explore the colourful walls. This is one place any budding artist should definitely see!
If you’re interested to find out more about Miami, see these Things to do in Miami with Kids.
Monterey, California, USA
From Inna, at 4 Curious Adventurers, who has lived in Kazakhstan, Germany and the United States before relocating to England with her husband and two children. They have always enjoyed travelling and exploring near and far, and are now on a mission to see as many amazing historic places in the United Kingdom as possible, with occasional trips to mainland Europe. They love road trips, national parks, big cities, small villages and castles!
When you think of California the first things that come to mind are endless beaches and palm trees. With 840 miles of coastline there’s an abundance of both: from long sandy beaches stretching for miles to picturesque rocky cliffs, busy popular beaches to wild, almost untouched hidden spots. Whatever your beach craving, you will find it in California.
We lived all over California and loved discovering charming cities with beaches on our road trips from La Jolla and Laguna Beach in Southern California to breath-taking places like Mendocino and Bodega Bay in the North.
To choose just one is really hard, but when I think of the most memorable beach town my family have been to, Monterey has to be on top of the list. Monterey is located on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on the Central Coast in California. It is about 2 hours south from San Francisco and one of the favourite places for a small getaway for Bay Area locals.
Monterey is perfect for families as it has something for everyone: beaches with calm water – perfect for kids, trails for hiking, golf courses and a scenic coastal road. For us, our favourite place to visit in Monterey was always Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is one of the most impressive aquariums I personally have been to, and we have visited quite a few to be able to compare!
The aquarium has 35,000 animals belonging to over 550 species and will guarantee a day full of educational experiences and fascinating encounters. With exhibits like Mission to the Deep, Open Sea, Life on the Bay, Giant Pacific Octopus or the Jellies Experience, it will amaze not only children but grownup alike!
Next to the aquarium is Cannery Row, usually booming with tourists strolling amongst boutique hotels, small shops and various restaurants. It’s charming, although some find it to be too touristy and overpriced.
Not far from Cannery Raw is Old Fisherman’s Wharf, offering an abundance of little souvenir stores, fashion boutiques and more restaurants. This is the place to go if you’re interested in whale-watching tours or renting a kayak to explore the bay by water. Even just a walk around offers amazing views of the Bay and sea lions, sun bathing on the beach!
It’s a good place to try seafood if you’re a fan. We always enjoyed eating at Bubba Gump. It also offers a good selection of other food choices; good for us since some of my family members are not big on seafood.
Monterey is conveniently located for adventuring to other nearby places worth seeing, like Carmel-by-the-Sea, another beach town which has always attracted artists of all kinds with its galleries, white sand beach, breath-taking mountains as a backdrop and majestic Pacific Ocean.
Other great beach cities along California’s coast worth visiting are San Diego, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Bodega Bay, Mendocino, Fort Bragg. As you can see, there is much to choose from – so keep exploring!
If you’re interested to find out more about Monterey, see this on Monterey and its City Beaches.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
From Raquel, at Meals and Mile Markers, who loves to save money on food by cooking at home so she can spend money on her travels! She shares both her recipes and travel tips.
Myrtle Beach, located in South Carolina, is one of the most popular beaches on the Atlantic coast of the USA. Many people return every summer, and for good reason too! It’s a great option for families as it is affordable and has many activities for kids of all ages. Not only can you spend all day in the ocean or on the beach, but you can walk a block away from the sea to find the Myrtle Beach Strip, or Ocean Boulevard. This is a strip of road that is very pedestrian-friendly and offers many shops, restaurants, and activities. You can get a henna tattoo, play in an arcade, or go on some carnival rides! You can even explore the attractions of Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
If you would like to visit some nicer shops or attractions, you can drive a few miles to Broadway at the Beach or Barefoot Landing. Both of these places have pricier stores and more popular restaurants. They also have additional family-friendly attractions, such as miniature golf, more carnival rides, or even boating.
Myrtle Beach has no shortage of restaurants. When I visited, I ate at several of the most highly-esteemed restaurants and compiled a list of the best places to eat. I would recommend Art Sushi Burger Bar, River City Cafe, and Johnny D’s Waffles and Benedicts. For more on where to eat, see my post on the Top 3 restaurants in Myrtle Beach.
Since Myrtle Beach has many events and festivals throughout the year, you will always be able to find a bustling atmosphere! Most families will visit between June and August since that is the summer holiday. Therefore, May and September are the best months to visit. It will be warm enough to enjoy the beach, but you will not have to deal with so many crowds.
If you’re interested to find out more, see these ideas for a Budget Friendly Trip to Myrtle Beach.
Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
From us, here at Children of Wanderlust
Sydney is a beautiful city, stacked full of World-famous landmarks. The Sydney Harbour waterfront is arguably one of the most iconic places anywhere for a traveller to visit. Away from the city centre and harbour, heading a few miles east brings you to the gorgeous city beach at Bondi.
Bondi Beach occupies a natural crescent shaped bay, with golden sand and strong sunshine (be sure to bring sunscreen!). It makes for a great day out and a chance to escape the city, whilst being within easy reach (only a 15 min drive or 30 min bus trip).
The beach is kept very clean and is very safe for all the family to enjoy. At peak times it can get very busy, but never loses its charm. It really is yet another great asset for Sydney as a city to have. Behind the beach is a large grassed parkland area, perfect for small get-togethers with friends, with a lovely view of the beach.
At the southern end of the beach is the start of the picturesque Bondi to Bronte Coastal Path. It makes for a lovely walk, suitable for all including children, with great views along the coastline. Ultimately the walk leads to the smaller, but no less lovely, Bronte Beach.
For older children (or anyone looking for some action), when the surf is up, there are plenty of people heading out into the waves. Surf hire, as well as lessons are available.
There are several bars and restaurants located around the beaches. Hurricane’s Grill & Bar does decent steak house food right by Bondi Beach. Heading back into the city, Sydney (being such a cosmopolitan city), has good examples of cuisines from all over the World available. It’s a brilliant city to visit, with beautiful beaches to match.
Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
From Karishna & Rohan, at Life With 2 Cubs, a travel blog born to inspire parents to travel with their kids. With daughters aged 2.5 years old and 10 months old, we started our international travels when our older was a mere 3 months old. Please check out our travel blog at https://lifewith2cubs.com for travel tips, packing checklists and lifestyle stories.
Camps bay is 15 minutes from the heart of Cape Town. Known for its splendid white sand beach and Maidens Cove to view the incredible 12 apostles – a natural rock formation! The streets are kissed with seafood restaurants, shopping, bars, hotels and roadside markets. A theatre houses musicals, comedy and drama and the promenade area is filled with boutique shops. Camps bay is home to one of the most impressive tidal pools of the world! The best time to visit the beach would definitely be the warm months of December through February.
Travelling with kids means wanting tons of activities present wherever you decide to go! Luckily for us, Camps bay had a beautiful outdoor park right by the beach. A blessing for parents looking to soak up some sun while their tots burn off their extra energy.
We spent a day at Camps Bay exploring every corner of this beautiful area. The restaurants were packed with locals and tourists. The kids were so excited to be at the park that we decided to pick up food from ‘Pick n Pay’ – a grocery store that sells fresh warm meals and eat at the park. Soon enough, other families with children followed and the picnic benches were full in no time!
If you visit Cape Town and are looking for an area to experience a mix of things, Camps Bay is unquestionably your place to go. While we went in November and the water was still cold for a dip, the city was preparing for its warmer days – a time we would have loved to be there.
If you’re interested to find out more about Cape Town, see these ideas for What to do in Cape Town with Kids.
Essaouira, Morocco
Written by us, here at Children of Wanderlust
Essaouira is a city on Morocco’s western, Atlantic Coast. It is home to a spacious medina (market area), grand UNESCO listed coastal fortifications, atmospheric fishing port and modern beachfront bars and restaurants. The addition of numerous art galleries and artisan products, as well as great conditions for surfing and kite surfing also help to give the place a cool, bohemian feel. It’s a great place to spend a couple of days if, like we were, you are touring the country, or even as a short hop day trip from Marrakesh.
The old town of Essaouira is sited at one end of a long crescent shaped sandy bay. The beach makes a great spot to relax on a sunny day and watch the world go by. Up the far end of the bay from the old town, there is the option of taking a camel or horse ride along the beach, something our kids all enjoyed.
For those looking for adventure (great for older children), Essaouira is also an internationally renowned centre for surfing and, even more so, for kite surfing and windsurfing due to the consistent trade winds that blow in off the sea. There are numerous options for board and equipment hire or lessons, with an inland lagoon providing the perfect beginner training grounds for those not yet ready to take on the ocean waves.
Also at the far end of the beach from the town, near to the starting point for horse and camel rides, there is a small line of beachfront bars and restaurants. The best of these is ‘Ocean Vagabond’, and is a great spot to relax at sunset after a long day walking and exploring the city. They have a full drinks menu (including all types of alcohol), decent pizzas and other food, and a good range of seats and loungers that look out onto the beach. There is sometimes live music and our kids loved playing on their trampoline, giving us a rare chance to relax for a few minutes – golden!
Essaouira was one of our very favourite places in all of Morocco. It provides a good flavour of all the colour and excitement that the country has to offer, whilst remaining pleasingly free of the hassle that can follow you around some of the larger, more visited cities. The addition of a beautiful sandy beach is the icing on the cake.
If you’re interested to find out more about Essaouira, see the Top 5 Things to do with Children in Essaouira.
Can you think of any more?
We’re always keen to learn about new places and this list of city beaches is still growing. If you’d like to make a suggestion, get in touch with us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!
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This is such a thorough list. I get questions all the time how to travel as a family so I will definitely guide them to this post the next time it pops up!
Alicante – YES! I’ve been to Costa Blanca nearly every year of my life. It’s my second home – I love it there.
Ohh what I would give to be in either Barcelona or Malaga right now!
Oh wow! These all look so incredible. I have to admit, I would have to go for the one in Croatia. I was so surprised to hear that it is actually sandy!
Wow – I wish I was sitting on a beach right now. You can certainly given me some beachy inspiration!
I really enjoyed reading your post. I found tons of suggestions.
I will definitely keep them in mind for when I will have some kids.
Great list! I’d like to check out Split, Croatia, and Malaga, Spain.
Oh how I wish I was on a beach right now! These all look lovely, Croatia especially!
A great blog post! We have visited some of these and it has inspired us to visit some more! Thank you for sharing our feature on Miami too!