Spain · Europe
Mallorca got typecast as a package holiday island decades ago, and it's been quietly reinventing itself ever since. The east coast is lined with calas — small limestone coves where the water glows an almost electric shade of turquoise. Cala Varques, Cala Mondrago, and Cala Llombards are the headliners, each one framed by pine trees and sandstone cliffs. Palma, the capital, has a legitimate food scene now, with wine bars and third-wave coffee shops tucked into centuries-old buildings beneath the Gothic cathedral. The Serra de Tramuntana mountains along the northwest coast offer hiking with views that rival the Amalfi Coast at a fraction of the price. Rent a car and you'll find quiet villages, family-run fincas selling olive oil, and beaches you'll have nearly to yourself.
From Saint-Tropez's golden sand to Croatia's glass-clear Adriatic and Portugal's cliff-backed Atlantic shores — the definitive guide to Europe's best clothing-optional beaches, with practical info on getting there, what to bring, and when to visit.
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Madeira's volcanic coast delivers dramatic natural swimming pools, black-sand coves, and Europe's best coastal drives, while Porto Santo's 9-km golden beach offers the sandy relaxation Madeira's cliffs don't. Together they make one of the Atlantic's most complete beach destinations.
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The Albanian Riviera runs along the Ionian Sea with turquoise water, limestone canyon beaches, and Mediterranean prices from another era. Seafood dinners for €10, beachfront rooms from €30, and beach bars where cocktails cost €3-4.
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Volcanic rock pools, imported Moroccan sand, and year-round 18-23°C water — madeira beaches redefine the concept entirely. Add 2,500 km of levada hiking trails through UNESCO laurel forest and Portugal's most dramatic coastal scenery.
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Box jellyfish in Australia, man-of-war in the Atlantic, mauve stingers in the Mediterranean -- here's how to identify the jellyfish in your water, what actually treats a sting (hot water, not urine), and when to get to a hospital.
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A guide to Santorini's beaches covering the dramatic Red Beach, developed Kamari and Perissa black sand strips, the lunar landscape of Vlychada, Amoudi Bay's caldera swimming, and the volcanic hot springs, with practical tips on access, Ancient Thera, and why Assyrtiko wine matters.
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