10 of the best short beach breaks in Europe

1. Costa Dorada

Flight time from London: 2 hours and 10 minutes

Barcelona is a short break holiday classic in the Costa Dorada that combines beach and city with blazing sunshine in the summer.

There are nine beaches to choose from, all golden-hued and cotton soft, where you can sunbathe, sip sangria or surf – whatever gets you in the holiday mood the quickest. Maximise your beach time by staying in the neighbourhood of Barceloneta. It’s just half an hour from the airport.

Further afield, just 25 minutes’ drive from Barcelona Airport, is action-packed Sitges. As well as warm golden sand, the lively old town has an enticing mix of tapas bars and artisan shops that are sure to lure you from your sun-lounger. With one of the best party scenes in Spain, you can keep the holiday spirit high all night long here.

2. Algarve

Flight time from London: 2 hours and 55 minutes

The Algarve knocks the ball out of the park for cheap beach breaks. Its coastline is a portfolio of radiant sandy beaches cocooned by sea cliffs and great-value hotels. Even better? A holiday here can be as busy or blissful as you please.

Faro is the gateway to the region and a top choice for a short break abroad – it’s under three hours from the UK and less than 6km from the airport. Its shoreline is a seemingly endless chain of beaches that eventually run into the Ria Formosa Nature Park, a dual paradise for both sun seekers and wildlife watchers.

In the west, Albufeira rolls seaside, watersports and nightlife all into a sweet holiday bundle just 35 minutes from the airport. Don’t miss beach icon, Praia dos Pescadores.

3. Corfu

Flight time from London: 3 hours and 15 minutes

Okay, so Corfu is technically over 3 hours from London. But those extra 15 mins get you on to Greek island shores and that’s something you won’t regret, especially when you see the beaches.

The resort of Agios Gordios is under a half-hour drive from the airport, so you can make full use of a short holiday break. The 2.5km-long (1.5 miles) beach is a family favourite: the sea is shallow, the craggy headlands are great for snorkelling, and there’s even a shipwreck to explore.

Just 20 minutes from Corfu Town, Dassia is a triple threat: its beach is fabulous (think long and pine-fringed with watersports galore), its nightlife is the kind you’ll want to pack your dancing shoes for, and it’s incredibly budget friendly. Sold.

4. Majorca

Flight time from London: 2 hours and 25 minutes

Majorca may be the all-inclusive queen of the Balearics but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked for a quick beach trip.

In fact, at just 9km from the airport, capital Palma is the perfect place for a short break in the sun. Sand and city blend into one here – the main beach, Can Pere Antoni, lies just minutes from the cathedral, and the old town is just a stone’s throw beyond that.

Stay in Santa Ponsa, just half an hour south, and you’ve got a choice of two beautiful beaches. Playa de Santa Ponsa has over a kilometre of soft sand, as well as tourist facilities like umbrellas, lifeguards, restaurants and shops. Smaller Caló d'en Pellicer is a pretty, sheltered cove that’s wonderful for swimming with a view.

5. Malta

Flight time from London: 3 hours

Whether you’re craving sun, sand or sea, Malta delivers the lot.

Make the most of a short beach break by basing yourself in Mellieħa. The resort is just 35 minutes from the airport and is a hub of restaurants, family-friendly activities and budget accommodation options. It even has a beautiful beach, where the list of seaside shenanigans include banana boat rides, ice cream shops and rows of sunbeds.

Got a full five days to play with? You won’t regret taking them time to get over to Gozo (a ferry ride away). The beaches are wilder and the resorts more leisurely, so we’re talking true R&R territory. Swim in the warm shallows of Xlendi Bay, bask on Ramla Beach’s amber sands or snorkel the caves around Hondoq Bay.

6. Costa del Sol

Flight time from London: 2 hours and 55 minutes

Temperatures sizzle in the high 20s all summer in this Spanish costa, and the beaches are just as red-hot.

A two-hour-and-fifty-minute flight will take you to Málaga, the region’s capital and a top spot for a short escape by the sea. With 14km (8.6 miles) of coastline, sandy stretches aren’t in short supply. Playa de la Malagueta in the city centre and quieter double crescent of Playa Peñón del Cuervo are two favourites.

For a fly-and-flop beach break where your only plan is to alternate between sun-tanning and cocktail drinking, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Torremolinos all hit the brief. Further along the coast, about an hour from Málaga, little Nerja is worth the journey for a quieter holiday.

7. Sardinia

Flight time from London: 2 hours and 40 minutes

Maybe it’s because the beaches are frequently compared to the Caribbean, or perhaps because it’s currently trending as an island hotspot for summer, but Sardinia is firmly on our radar for a short break in Europe.

Fly direct into Cagliari from Stansted and you’ll have one of the island’s best beaches on your doorstep, Spiaggia del Poetto. Stretching for some 8km (5 miles), you’ll find everything under the sun on this enormous stretch of milk-white sand. It’s got umbrellas and loungers, cafés and clubs, kitesurfing and boat trips, and even flamingos in the wetlands just behind the beach!

It’s easy to pack some culture into your itinerary, too. Head into the city to explore the medieval old town and sip apertivos in one of the cosmo bars.

8. Nice

Flight time from London: 2 hours

Nice is hard to resist for a short break in the sun. Its Riviera charm is just a two-hour flight away and within ten minutes of exiting the airport, you’ll be beachside – exactly where you’ll want to spend the best part of your time.

Nice’s whopping 7km-long (4.3 miles) beachfront, the Bay of Angels, is an icon of the Côte d'Azur and one of the city’s greatest lures. It’s made up of multiple sand-and-pebble beaches that run into one another and backed by the Promenade des Anglais where the city’s chicest hotels and restaurants take residence.

If you can bear to leave your lounger, the old town’s museums, boutiques and food markets will make it worth your while.

9. Split

Flight time from London: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Beach-hoppers will be in their element in Split. The city’s main beach, Bačvice, is the local hangout and has all the essential facilities including showers and lifeguards. Go west, and you’ll find prettier pebble shores at Kaštelet or Kasjuni.

To mix tanning with sightseeing, head to Diocletian’s Palace. This ancient Roman complex is now the beating heart of the city where shops and restaurants spill out from beneath the original arches and pillars.

You can fly directly into Split from several of the UK’s major airports in under three hours, and the city is less than 40 minutes away by car. Trogir, in the other direction, has even more beaches within a ten-minute drive, or you can make the hop to Croatia’s island darlings, Hvar and Brač.

10. San Sebastián

Flight time from London: 1 hour and 55 minutes

If you’re looking for a quick break where the food is as enticing as the beaches, San Sebastián should be top of your list.

Located on the Basque Coast in northern Spain, the city is instantly recognisable by the sweeping golden crescent of Playa de la Concha that dominates the seafront. It’s frequently rated as one of the best urban beaches in Europe and is a hit with families thanks to the sheltered and calm water.

Beyond its shores lies a fine-dining paradise. San Sebastián has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants per square kilometre in the world, so you can expect to eat well. Pintxos, the Basque-take on tapas, is the snack of choice.

*Please note: All distance and journey times are taken from Google Maps and are approximate.