During the season of vacations and seaside holidays, travelers often face the question of where to go to sunbathe and swim. I want the beach to be clean, comfortable, safe and equipped with everything necessary. How to find one? Look for a waving blue flag.
The Blue Flag is an international award given annually to beaches and piers that are absolutely safe to swim on. If you see such a flag over the beach, you can be sure that the water here is clean and regularly tested, garbage is collected, sand is cleaned, and pets are not allowed. Such a beach must have showers and lifeguards. And, most importantly, access here is absolutely free.
According to the latest ranking, Spain has the most blue flag beaches, followed by Greece, Turkey, Italy and Portugal. We’ve found the best and most unusual beaches in these countries to make your summer holiday a great one.
Spain
In 2017, 578 beaches in Spain received the award. On the one hand, this is 6 less than last year. On the other hand, this is a plus: the number of beaches has decreased because the requirements for water quality have been increased. Valencia has the most blue flag beaches (129 of them),
Next is Galicia (113),
Catalonia (95) and Andalusia (90).
El Cabanyal Beach,
Valencia
Best time to relax: June 3 – September 10
Flight + hotel in Valencia for 7 days for one: from 28,050 ₽
This is the main beach of Valencia, located right within the city. The journey to it from the city center will take about 20 minutes by bus or tram.
El Cabanial – a wide sandy beach with umbrellas and comfortable sun loungers. The water here is usually calm. There is an embankment along the entire beach, where locals and tourists like to walk. There are also numerous restaurants where you can try local dishes and fresh seafood.
Cala Canyelles Beach,
Lloret de Mar
Best time for a holiday: June 1 – October 1
Flight + hotel in Lloret de Mar for 7 days for one: from 36,648 ₽
This not very large, but very cozy beach is located farthest from the city center. There are golden sands, clear seas and excellent service. The length of the beach strip is 400 meters. The beach is surrounded by rocks on which pine trees grow. The best way to get there is by car.
Greece
This year, 486 beaches in Greece received blue flags – this is 56 more than in 2016. Crete has the most such beaches (112),
in Central Macedonia (68),
on the South Aegean Islands (68) and on the Ionian Islands (49).
Canal D’Amour Beach,
Corfu
Best time for vacation: June 5 – October 31
Flight + hotel for 7 days for one (to Kerkyra): from 41,021 ₽
Hotel in Sidari for 7 days: from 14,570 ₽
A small beach on one of the most popular Greek islands among Russians – Corfu. The most convenient way to get here is from the town of Sidari, but you can also conveniently get there from the capital of the island: buses leave from Kerkyra every hour, and the journey by car will take about an hour.
The romantic name fully corresponds to the atmosphere of this place: a small beach with fine white sand and azure water is surrounded by white cliffs, and it’s difficult not to fall in love with it. According to legend, anyone who swims through a narrow passage in one of the rocks will meet the love of his life.
Vai Beach,
Crete
Best time for vacation: June 5 – October 31
Flight to Heraklion: from 5,185 ₽
Hotel in Palekastro for 7 days: from 13 400 ₽
The palm beach of Vai is located in the eastern part of Crete. It is named after the date grove located here, one of the island’s attractions. The most convenient way to get to the beach is from the cities of Sitia or Palekastro.
The sea here is calm, the sand is fine and golden, and there are enough sun loungers under leaf umbrellas for everyone. The beach is surrounded by rocks, one of which has an observation deck that you can climb up to. There is a cafe and restaurant near the beach.
France
This year, France lost second place to Greece for the number of safest beaches: it has only 390 awards (in 2016 there were 400). The largest number of beaches marked with a blue flag – 58 – are in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. In second place is Occitania with 53 beaches.
Photo: Taraneh Jerven
Beach Grande Mer (Plage de la Grande Mer),
Cassis
Best time for vacation: June 1 – September 30
Flight to Marseille: from 7,799 ₽
Hotel in Cassis for 7 days: from 23 770 ₽
Ideal place for a family holiday. A small sand and pebble beach, just 300 meters long, is located at the foot of a cliff near the port in the town of Cassis. Moreover, the water here is perfectly clean and transparent. There are all the necessary activities for relaxation; there will be no shortage of cafes and restaurants.
La plage Saint-Clair,
Le-Lavandou
Best time for vacation: July 1 – August 31
Flight to Marseille: from 7,799 ₽
Hotel in Le Lavandou for 7 days: from 34 120 ₽
A beautiful sandy beach with its own microclimate – this is facilitated by the nearby pine forest. Clean white sand, clear sea, pleasant restaurants a couple of minutes walk – what more do you need? Safety and amenities are at the same level as on all blue flag beaches. The most convenient way to get there is from the town of Lavender by car.
Italy
The number of Italian beaches receiving a blue flag this year has increased to 342, compared to 293 last year. Liguria has the most safe beaches (27),
followed by Tuscany (19) and Marche (17).
Baia Blu Beach,
Lerici
Best time to relax: June 1 – September 15
Flight to Bologna: from 7,767 ₽
Hotel in Lerici for 7 days: from 30 670 ₽
Lerici is one of the beautiful towns on the Ligurian coast that not many Russian tourists know about. The small beach of Baia Blue is an ideal place to relax: it is hidden in a small cove between the rocks, so it is very cozy. There is the clearest sea, small pebbles and golden sand, comfortable sun loungers and umbrellas. There are many cafes and restaurants near the beach.
Fornillo Beach (Spiaggia Fornillo),
Positano
Best time to relax: July 1 – September 15
Flight to Naples: from 3,836 ₽
Hotel in Sorrento for 7 days: from 9 712 ₽
A tiny beach in one of the most beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast. Fornillo is three times smaller than the neighboring city beach and several times cleaner. All the cities on the coast are located on rocks, so don’t be surprised that you have to walk along a long staircase to the sea – almost 800 steps. But it’s worth it: the beach itself is amazingly beautiful. On the shore there are mostly small pebbles, sand only near the water. A special plus is a small cafe with a good menu.
Portugal
Portugal received 277 blue flags this year. The most awarded beach is near Albufeira (22),
in second place is Vila do Bispo with 11 awards, and Loule closes the top three (10). At the same time, blue flags fly over 55% of the country’s beaches.
Falésia Beach (Praia da Falésia),
Albufeira
Best time for vacation: July 1 – September 20
Flight to Faro: from 12,530 ₽
Hotel in Albufeira for 7 days: from 9 580 ₽
This is a long stretch of sand on the southern coast of Portugal, which is actually home to two blue flag beaches – Falésia/Açoteias and Falésia/Alfamar. According to one survey, Falesia is recognized as one of the twenty-five best beaches in Europe. And it’s not surprising, because here there is everything for a heavenly holiday: fine clean sand, beautiful coastal cliffs of all shades of ocher and all the amenities. The depth of the sea here is not very deep, so the water warms up well.
The best way to get there is from Albufeira by car.
Meia Praia Beach,
Lagos
Best time to relax: July 1 – September 30
Flight to Faro: from 12,530 ₽
Hotel in Lagos for 7 days: from 7 290 ₽
Meia Beach is located on a 5 km long stretch of sand near the city of Lagos. It is framed by sand dunes with paths laid in them. It is very calm and beautiful here, there are beach cafes and bars, and on the beach itself there is everything you need for a comfortable stay.
By car from Lagos you can get here in 15 minutes. Another option is to take the train or walk (crossing the pedestrian bridge over the river, the journey takes almost as long as driving by car – 18 minutes).
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