France · Europe
Nice doesn't do sand — the beaches are famously pebbly, and somehow that's part of the charm. The Promenade des Anglais curves along the Baie des Anges for seven kilometers, lined with blue chairs that have become the city's unofficial logo. Behind the promenade, the old town is a labyrinth of ochre buildings, flower markets, and socca stands selling those crispy chickpea crepes for three euros. Take the elevator up Castle Hill for a panoramic view that explains why painters from Matisse to Chagall set up shop here. Day trips to Villefranche-sur-Mer and Eze are twenty minutes by bus, and the train to Monaco takes thirty minutes. Nice is the rare Riviera destination where you don't need a yacht-sized budget — set menus at local bistros run 15-20 euros, and the free public beaches are just as blue as the private ones.
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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