Secret corner of Sardinia
Santa Lucia, on Sardinia’s north-east coast and part of the Siniscola municipality, has lovely beach bars, restaurants and coffee shops, yet doesn’t seem to be overrun by visitors. The village was founded centuries ago as a fishing community. No cruise ships stop here and its beaches are backed by pine and juniper. Across the bay is a wonderful view of the island’s rugged interior. Super place.
Robert
Ligurian bays, Italy
The lovely beachside town of Sestri Levante, just 40 minutes on the train from Genoa, is set on two beautifully named bays: the Baia delle Favole (Bay of Fables) and the Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence). The curved, sun lounger-free beach is sheltered from wind and wild seas and is backed by some fine cafes and gelaterias, with no tacky bars in sight. Step off the beach for fruit and ice-cream at Gelato d’Altri Tempi. At lunchtime, we had the beach to ourselves. Like a scene from the Truman Show, at 1pm the locals pack up and go home for a meal and a siesta, returning at 3pm.
Nick
Azure pools in Corsica
Peaceful little Porto nestles at the craggy pink toes of the Calanques de Piana on the north-west shoulder of Corsica. Aside from the delightful pebble beach offering views of lingering sunsets with occasional dolphin sightings, there is the pretty village with restaurants that creeps up behind the beach (try L’Ora on the quayside for a sundowner and a tasty crepe or two with the all-important west-facing view), bounteous walks in the otherworldy scenery, azure natural river pools for swimming, meandering mountain roads and exhilarating boat tours. Porto is a somewhat thrilling two-hour drive from Calvi and capital city Ajaccio.
Anna Kennett
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Guardian Travel readers’ tips
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On the beach in Turkey’s Datça peninsula
After a tip from a Turkish tea seller at the Marmaris market I took a dolmuş (literally “stuffed”) bus out to the tourist-free beaches on the Datça peninsula. The little harbour town of Datça has sheltered white sandy bays on both sides – ideal for sunbathing and swimming. Local traders come around offering local figs and fruit, and there are pancake shacks on the sands where gözleme are served – Turkish flatbreads full of crumbly white cheese and spinach. If you are hungry, go to the Captain’s Place where you can choose the kind and size of fish from the kitchen. A nearby treat is just a short taxi ride away: the turquoise waters and white sands of Palamutbükü. The fish restaurants on the beach serving sea bass and red mullet are perfect for post-swim appetites.
Giulia
Croatia’s Pula – perfect for a solo sunseeker
My summer escape was to the small Croatian city of Pula. I was mesmerised by its beauty beyond its beaches and sun, and just how accessible it was for a solo traveller. The imprint of its ancient Roman and recent Austro-Hungarian days meant a weekend on the beach was replaced with strolling the amphitheatre in early morning, hiding from the midday heat in the tunnels of Zerostrasse (built to protect citizens in the first world war), enjoying sunset on Fort Kaštel, and experiencing the evening buzz at Piazza Foro.
Erin
Lounging in Loutro, Crete
The best thing about Loutro is that fact you can only reach it by boat – so it feels like a little adventure just getting there. On the beautifully wild south coast of Crete, the boat chugs along the dramatic coastline and pulls into a small bay with a scattering of low-rise white houses and restaurants/cafes framing a beach with crystal-clear water. No roads, no fumes and honking vehicle horns. Birdsong and goat bells are the soundtrack to lazy days ambling from cafe to beach. Dips in the Libyan sea to cool off. People watch. A couple of restaurants serving traditional Cretan dishes at sane prices. You can hop on a boat along the coast to trek the Aradena gorge if you are feeling energetic. This southern stretch of coast in Crete still feels really wild and timeless – the olive trees are ancient, the goat herders just as gnarly.
Benjamin
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Summer in Georgia, with architectural marvels
The Georgian Black Sea resort of Batumi was a revelation. Summer temperatures are ideal for sun-worshippers and for exploring the many sights along the six-mile-long promenade, starting with the Statue of Love, depicting Ali and Nino, who glide towards each other, but never connect. Nearby is the 130-metre-tall Alphabet Tower, designed to resemble DNA cells. Buildings that went up in the wake of the 2003 Rose revolution, encouraged by the west-leaning president Mikheil Saakashvili, are modelled on European sights, including the ornate Italian-style Batumi piazza, and a German astronomical clock. Best of all, you can feast on the regional Adjarian khachapuri, a canoe-shaped bread, full of cheese swimming in butter and an egg yolk.
Helen
The heat is on in Bulgaria’s deep south
The Rhodope mountains of southern Bulgaria offer magical-feeling, dramatic landscapes, warm hospitality and unique gastronomy, and is where small-scale tourism offers salvation for villages depleted by urban migration. We were among a handful of visitors in picturesque Shiroka Laka and Yagodina, a short drive from Plovdiv, which lays claim to be Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Excavated remnants of the Roman city of Philippopolis are surreally scattered throughout the city – the main shopping street overlays the hippodrome and tiers of seating are found in the basement of an H&M store.
Ian Latham
Winning tip: Idyllic market town, southern France
About 25 miles west of Avignon lies the picture-postcard town of Uzès, still relatively unknown but a perfect place to go for warmth and southern light. Strolling its cobbled streets and wonderfully preserved buildings, we found it easy to relax into its warm Mediterranean climate, while enjoying charming cafes, excellent restaurants, and exquisite boutiques. The town has an interesting cathedral and majestic palace, Le Château Ducal, but the pièce de résistance is undoubtedly the main square, the historic Place aux Herbes, which provides the perfect setting for a wonderful and vibrant market (Wednesday and Saturday).
Dianne
