Barcelona, Spain
With layers of architectural wonders, cutting-edge
cuisine, and buzzing nightlife, Barcelona would be a world-class
city even without the eight white-sand beaches that rim its
Mediterranean coastline. Accessible by metro, the nearly mile-long
(1.6- kilometer-long) Barceloneta Beach—revitalized in the massive
waterfront makeover for the 1992 Olympics—is one of the most
popular. Hit the Beach Centre to rent a beach umbrella, chairs, or
a bicycle.
Cape Town, South Africa
The African capital of cool sprawls on a peninsula that
divides the icy Atlantic from the warmer Indian Ocean, putting some
20 beaches within striking distance. The Clifton beaches, known for
the posh homes that overlook them and stellar sunset-viewing, are
sheltered from the region’s strong trade winds by a mountainous
ridge. Further north, the breeze is unleashed at surfing sweet
spots Milnerton and Blouberg. Families favor the eastern False Bay
coast for warmer water and tot-friendly tidal pools.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Once an idyllic retreat for 19th-century Hawaiian
royalty, Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach is now chockablock with resorts,
some of them historic like the 1901 Moana Surfrider Hotel. The
long, rolling breaks are ideal for novice surfers, but most
beachgoers here are happy basking in the temperate, turquoise blue
Pacific and killer views of the Diamond Head crater.
Nice, France
Some 35 beaches—some private, some public—stretch uninterrupted
along Nice's coastline between the Rauba Capeu Quay and the
airport, along the famous Promenade des Anglais, which fronts La
Baie des Anges. Don't forget your flip-flops, however, as la plage
is covered with small, smooth pebbles called galets. The beau monde
sunbathe at private beaches, where a day's access costs about 16
euros and often includes a chaise lounge; food, towel, parasol, and
chilled rosé are extra.
Miami Beach, Florida
Separated from Miami by Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach is a barrier
island and city unto itself fringed with nine miles (14 kilometers)
of sandy Atlantic beaches, the red-hot center of which is South
Beach. Once a seedy outpost, the 25 art deco-filled blocks known as
SoBe has emerged as a stomping ground for the glitterati. Park your
towel among the glamorous denizens at the southern tip of the
beach.
