<strong>Best beaches for Europeans in winter:</strong> For those chasing sun and relative warmth, these are the best beach getaways for Europeans when the cold of winter settles in. First up: Punta Del Papagayo in Lanzarote, the Canary Islands.
Best beaches for Europeans in winter: For those chasing sun and relative warmth, these are the best beach getaways for Europeans when the cold of winter settles in. First up: Punta Del Papagayo in Lanzarote, the Canary Islands.
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<strong>La Concha, San Sebastian, Spain:</strong> Nestled in the shell-shaped Concha Bay, home to Monte Urgull, it's even been given the royal seal of approval -- back in the 19th century, Queen Isabella II came here for bath therapy.
La Concha, San Sebastian, Spain: Nestled in the shell-shaped Concha Bay, home to Monte Urgull, it's even been given the royal seal of approval -- back in the 19th century, Queen Isabella II came here for bath therapy.
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<strong>Zlatni Rat, Brač, Croatia:</strong> This spit of land extending out into the Adriatic Sea is fringed by a Mediterranean pine grove that's home to the remains of an ancient Roman villa.
Zlatni Rat, Brač, Croatia: This spit of land extending out into the Adriatic Sea is fringed by a Mediterranean pine grove that's home to the remains of an ancient Roman villa.
Boris Kacan
<strong>Myrtos, Kefalonia, Greece:</strong> The spectacular beach made a guest appearance in 2001 film "Captain Corelli's Mandolin," and its turquoise waters and white sands are even more striking in the flesh.
Myrtos, Kefalonia, Greece: The spectacular beach made a guest appearance in 2001 film "Captain Corelli's Mandolin," and its turquoise waters and white sands are even more striking in the flesh.
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<strong>Balos Beach, Crete, Greece:</strong> Not only is Crete the largest island in Greece, it's also one of the hottest due to its proximity to Africa.
Balos Beach, Crete, Greece: Not only is Crete the largest island in Greece, it's also one of the hottest due to its proximity to Africa.
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<strong>Plage des Grands Sables, Belle-Ile-en-Mer, Brittany, France:</strong> Stretching for three kilometers, it's one of the rare convex beaches in Europe and a hot favorite with visitors to Brittany's largest island.
Plage des Grands Sables, Belle-Ile-en-Mer, Brittany, France: Stretching for three kilometers, it's one of the rare convex beaches in Europe and a hot favorite with visitors to Brittany's largest island.
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<strong>Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal:</strong> This stretch of sand is about as tranquil as it gets, with plenty of dive sites lurking underneath the waters.
Porto Santo, Madeira, Portugal: This stretch of sand is about as tranquil as it gets, with plenty of dive sites lurking underneath the waters.
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<strong>Chia, Sardinia, Italy:</strong> Its top selling point is that it's positioned in front of a lagoon that serves as a flamingo breeding ground, meaning you can spot flamingos in the distance (and dolphins occasionally) as you soak up the sun.
Chia, Sardinia, Italy: Its top selling point is that it's positioned in front of a lagoon that serves as a flamingo breeding ground, meaning you can spot flamingos in the distance (and dolphins occasionally) as you soak up the sun.
Fabiano Caddeo/REDA&CO/UIG/Getty Images
<strong>Scala dei Turchi, Sicily, Italy:</strong> Mother Nature has transformed the limestone coastline here into what can only be described as a natural staircase, as beautiful as it is dramatic, that leads into the blue Mediterranean waters below.
Scala dei Turchi, Sicily, Italy: Mother Nature has transformed the limestone coastline here into what can only be described as a natural staircase, as beautiful as it is dramatic, that leads into the blue Mediterranean waters below.
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<strong>Ölüdeniz Beach, Ölüdeniz, Turkey:</strong> On Turkey's Turquoise Coast, this lagoon beach is one of the most recognizable sights in the country.
Ölüdeniz Beach, Ölüdeniz, Turkey: On Turkey's Turquoise Coast, this lagoon beach is one of the most recognizable sights in the country.
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<strong>Butterfly Valley, Turkey: </strong>Due to its designation as a protected area, visitors to Butterfly Valley have to take a boat trip or walk down steep cliff to get there, but the undeveloped beach is more than worth the effort.
Butterfly Valley, Turkey: Due to its designation as a protected area, visitors to Butterfly Valley have to take a boat trip or walk down steep cliff to get there, but the undeveloped beach is more than worth the effort.
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<strong>Hammamet Beach, Tunisia: </strong>Okay, it's not in Europe, but when summer fades across the northern Mediterranean, we're happy to extend our frontiers. Beach town Hammamet is nicknamed "Tunisia's Saint-Tropez," thanks in part to its nightlife and incredible coastline.
Hammamet Beach, Tunisia: Okay, it's not in Europe, but when summer fades across the northern Mediterranean, we're happy to extend our frontiers. Beach town Hammamet is nicknamed "Tunisia's Saint-Tropez," thanks in part to its nightlife and incredible coastline.
Alamy