It’s easy to forget there are beaches in Europe beyond those fringing the Mediterranean Sea. But a change in weather patterns is driving a shift in attitudes.
The restorative powers of sea air and sunshine have been championed for centuries. But long before a holiday in the Greek Islands became a staple of our European holiday calendars, aristocrats and members of royalty were busy discovering other European coastlines.
Prices are more favourable, too, with Poland’s exclusive resorts costing a fraction of those in St Tropez, while dollars stretch further in Estonia and even in the famously pricey Sweden. Artist Lars Vilks irked authorities with his self-declared micronation Ladonia, featuring illegal towers built from rusty nails and driftwood, but they are well worth a visit nonetheless.
Various delightful beaches are within easy reach of Copenhagen, perhaps the loveliest being the much-loved Bellevue Strand, favoured for its art deco architecture and views across the shimmering water to Sweden. A 35-minute flight from Copenhagen, this favourite foraging ground for gourmet chefs also has a strong beach culture – and although steep drop-offs make it challenging to swim in some areas, grassy dune-backed Dueodde Beach in the south has plenty of shallow sandbars and secluded spots where you won’t see another soul. SeeThere are no races to lay down towels on sun loungers at Timmendorfer Strand, a sandy stretch that is just two hours by train from Hamburg.
For quaint belle epoque architecture, head for Germany’s largest island, Rugen, where the Baltic beach trend was born. For better beach action, great value resort Sopot is a 20-minute drive north. Although it is possible to find snow on the sand during winter, temperatures can soar into the high 20s in July and August, which attracts a yachting crowd.A haunt for high-fliers in the 1930s, the resort’s casinos have since been replaced by family apartments but Sopot is still a place to show off designer labels on a sunset stroll.
Open from May to September, the route’s highlights include a limestone mine on Pargas, the nature trails of Nagu and nostalgic boathouses on Inio. Start in Turku and end in Naantali, both two hours from Helsinki.
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