City breaks remain as popular as ever, primarily for their cultural and historical appeal, but those with a coastline also offer numerous opportunities for sunshine and relaxation after taking in the sights. City-beach breaks strike the perfect balance!
Nice, France
Image Credit: Kristoffer Trolle
Located on the French Riviera, nestled at the foot of the Alps, Nice is just a short flight from the UK. The famous Promenade des Anglais is the border between the warm Mediterranean sea and the iconic city. Nissa La Bella, as it’s known in Niçard, is composed of an old town with its popular Marché aux fleurs and a modern district, joined together by the main square, the Place Masséna.
Tel Aviv, Israel
Image Credit: Dennis Jarvis
Named the ‘Mediterranean Capital of Cool’ by the New York Times, this city combines sandy beaches with a busy nightlife, a vibrant cultural scene, and UNESCO recognised architecture. Visit the narrow streets, flea market, and port market of the ancient city of Jaffa, before enjoying the sands, waters, and watersports opportunities Tel Aviv’s beaches offer.
Durban, South Africa
Image Credit: Jonathan Michael Peel
South Africa’s third largest city has a very beach-centred culture, despite being the hub of the province’s business and industry, and being a major port city. Durban’s year-round warm weather makes it perfect for holidays, especially as the Miami-like beachfront on the Indian Ocean is lined with luxury accommodation. View the city and its coastline from above via the SkyCar, explore the Woza eNanda route which includes Mahatma Gandhi’s home and the site where Nelson Mandela cast his vote in 1994, browse one of the city’s many food, craft or farmers’ markets, and embrace the coffee culture.
Melbourne, Australia
Image Credit: ilaria
Remote beaches, rugged coastlines, and alpine forests are all within reach from Australia’s culinary capital of Melbourne. As well as the art, culture, and restaurants that can be enjoyed in the city, Melbourne plays host to an International Comedy Festival and world-class sporting fixtures such as the tennis Grand Slam. Escape from the city centre to sail, windsurf, and jet ski at Melbourne’s most famous beach, St Kilda, just 6km from the centre.
Vienna, Austria
Image Credit: Pedro
A landlocked country, with a beach? There is a trend for man-made beaches to popping up in major cities, such as the famous Paris Plages, but Vienna has many natural bathing locations on the banks of the River Danube, open during the summer months. There are endless ways to enjoy the grassy - rather than sandy - water’s edge. Theresienbad is a traditional Viennese beach in a beautiful part of the city, but there are plenty more beaches to discover alongside all of the fantastic musical, theatrical and cultural offerings of the Austrian capital.
Title Image Credit: Ari Bakker (Image Cropped)