Italy · Europe
Sardinia has beaches that would make the Caribbean jealous, and somehow most Americans have never been. The Costa Smeralda in the northeast is the famous stretch — billionaire yachts, emerald water, granite boulders — but the real treasures are elsewhere. Cala Goloritze on the east coast has a natural stone arch and water so clear the boats look like they're floating in air. La Pelosa in the northwest has shallow, almost tropical turquoise water backed by a 16th-century watchtower. Between beaches, the island is wild: Bronze Age nuraghi towers dot the countryside, shepherds still make pecorino by hand in mountain villages, and a plate of culurgiones (stuffed pasta) with a glass of Cannonau wine at a countryside agriturismo will cost you under 25 euros. Sardinia moves at its own pace, and that's the whole point.
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.
Read more about this
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.
Read more about this
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.
Read more about this
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.
Read more about this
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.
Read more about this
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.
Read more about this