9 of the best city destinations with beaches, from Barcelona to Rio and Sydney to Miami
Talking of music, Copacabana and adjoining Ipanema Beach both have iconic songs written about them. Barry Manilow released Copacabana in 1978 and back in 1964, Bossa Nova classic “The Girl from Ipanema” evoked images of youthful beauty.
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The song became an international hit and won a Grammy – no one seems to mind that ipanema means “stinking pond” in Brazil’s indigenous Tupi language.
2. Mumbai
Just 4km from the centre of Mumbai, Chowpatty Beach is a microcosm of India. Often crowded, always polluted, cricket matches are won and lost on its sands and people gather for picnics only to find themselves surrounded by herds of hungry cows.
The beach plays host to Hindu festivals and cultural performances; snake charmers draw curious onlookers; and film crews shoot scenes for Bollywood blockbusters. Hawkers sell spicy snacks from carts and beggars implore passers-by to part with a few rupees.As in much of India, poverty and wealth are never far apart. Marine Drive runs along the shoreline and is home to some of Mumbai’s most expensive properties – but you don’t need money to watch the sun set into the Arabian Sea in a collision of crimson and tangerine.
3. Brighton, UK
Situated on the south coast of England, less than an hour from the capital by train, the city of Brighton and Hove, also known as London-by-the-Sea, is one of Britain’s most popular destinations – and not just with tourists.
Long a magnet for artists, actors and musicians, Brighton channels a Bohemian vibe with a dash of quirkiness.
Look no further than the Royal Pavilion, which was completed in 1823 and celebrates its bicentenary this year. The opulent, if unconventional palace draws on Indian and Chinese architectural influences and appears to be on the wrong continent.
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When you’ve finished gawping, make your way to The Lanes, a compact area of the city filled with independent shops, cafes and galleries. Then it’s time for the beach.
As you limp and hobble towards the water’s edge you’ll discover Brighton’s worst-kept secret. The beach has no sand, only smooth, rounded pebbles.
4. Barcelona
Barcelona would still be one of the world’s great cities even if it didn’t boast nine gorgeous beaches. Best known is Barceloneta, which lures a young crowd who sunbathe a bit (and flirt a lot) on the honey-coloured sand.Las Ramblas, the pedestrianised boulevard that serves as ground zero for tourists, is only 4km away and Gaudi’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, is a must-see despite the scaffolding. Construction of the beautiful basilica is due to be completed in 2026, should you want to make a note in your diary.Another legendary structure that draws the crowds is Camp Nou Stadium, but the home of FC Barcelona will also have the builders in until 2026. While renovations are ongoing, the team will play their home matches at the city’s Montjuic Stadium.
5. Hoi An, Vietnam
Criss-crossed by canals, Hoi An is a photogenic city on Vietnam’s central coast. An architectural medley of wooden Chinese shophouses, French colonial buildings, ornate temples and the Japanese Covered Bridge helped the Old Town gain Unesco World Heritage status in 1999.Formerly one of the busiest trading ports in Southeast Asia, today Hoi An bustles with tourists who sightsee and have clothing tailored for a fraction of the price they would pay at home. At night, lanterns illuminate the Old Town, creating a fairy-tale feel (lantern-making workshops are a hit with visitors).
Rather than staying in the centre of the city, many travellers opt for a beachside base. An Bang’s white sands and sparkling blue waters have featured in CNN’s list of 100 Best Beaches in the World and are only 3km from the Old Town. Hire a bike and pedal between the two.
6. Sydney
Sydney is blessed with more than 100 surf beaches and coves, but one blond sweep 7km from the centre of Australia’s largest city is better known than all the rest.
At Bondi Beach, seasoned surfers glide along azure waves and awestruck beginners sign up for lessons. Vigilant lifeguards rescue thousands of bathers every year – they also treat jellyfish stings and keep an eye out for great white sharks.
Fear not, the chances of encountering one are slim but if you’re still worried, there are saltwater swimming pools at each end of the beach.
7. Miami
Miami’s South Beach is a glamorous see-and-be-seen neighbourhood where millionaires are two a penny. Money is no object and life is one long party. Celebs are as commonplace as art deco buildings, the ocean is an inviting turquoise and the sand is as white as washing powder.
In “SoBe”, boutiques are always trendy, restaurants chic and innovative, and nightlife is never less than glitzy and sophisticated.
Ten minutes across the MacArthur Causeway, downtown Miami is where the work gets done. Offices in the central business district, Biscayne Bay and marinas combine to create one of America’s most stunning city skylines, particularly after dark.
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Enjoy a stroll along Miami Riverwalk and Bayfront Park, take in a Miami Heat NBA basketball game or learn about Cuban food, music and dance in Little Havana.
8. Sanya, China
Located on the south coast of China’s Hainan Island, Sanya offers 40km of coastline but let’s narrow our focus to Sanya Bay, with its crystal-clear seas and ribbon of hotels that are only a couple of kilometres from the city.
Spend the day scuba diving or snorkelling over coral reefs, try your hand at surfing or join a tropical rainforest hiking tour that ends with a muscle-soothing dip in a hot spring. After the sun has slipped beneath the horizon, head towards the bright lights for dinner and a show.
Afterwards, haggle your heart out in the night markets then unwind in one of Sanya’s many bars.
9. Athens
Visitors to Athens dutifully dash around the Acropolis after their island-hopping holiday, almost as an afterthought. Few realise that 15 minutes south of the Greek capital is a picturesque region of seaside towns and sandy beaches, mountains, mineral lakes and archaeological ruins.The Athenian Riviera is a 50km stretch of Saronic Gulf shoreline that runs from Glyfada to windswept Cape Sounion. A corrugated coastline comprised of hidden coves and islets comes with the same mesmerising blue-green seas that tempt foreign tourists to better-known destinations such as Corfu and Mykonos.ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kuqKzwLOgp52jZL2wv9NmpJqfka%2B2r7GOramarpWhfKK%2B06KapZ1faH9zhZdwbWhxXZeytMCMnKCtsV2ZsrTAyKeYraGfo8BursSamqGdo2Kvor7CnqOoppFiv6q7jJqlnWWjrrGvsdhmpKKZnZ4%3D