The tick list for a successful beach holiday is simple: seaside and restaurants walkable, no car required, airport nearby. But it’s surprisingly hard to find places that do all this and also deliver on style. Here are 12 of those rare gems.
1 Pino di Loto, Syros, Greece
The sea views from this six-suite hideaway are impossibly romantic; this is what Greek-island dreams are made of. Pino di Loto is set just a short walk from the pretty fishing village of Kini, where there’s a lovely sandy beach and some sensational seaside restaurants. If you want to explore further afield, you can take boats out to gorgeous, secluded bays, ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
Perfect for: Romantic breaks.
Get there: Fly via Athens into Syros (domestic flights only), or fly to Mykonos / Athens and take a ferry. Taxis are cheap on the island, so no need for a car.
Suites from: £145
2 Skiathos Holidays, Skiathos, Greece
The great location, simple styling and under-the-radar vibe of the seafront villas and suites at Skiathos Holidays make them a hot choice for family summer holidays on the beach. Vromolimnos beach is footsteps away, there are two good tavernas 5 minutes’ walk away (Porto Paradiso and Taverna Stathis), and there’s easy access to the bus route to Skiathos Town and the beaches of the south coast.
Perfect for: Families (all ages), couples, groups.
Get there: Skiathos Airport (8km away) has direct flights from the UK and elsewhere throughout high season and is served by year-round flights from Athens.
Apartments from: £103
3 Casita Casita Lindos, Rhodes, Greece
Where better for a car-free holiday than car-free Lindos on the island of Rhodes? Stay at Casita Casita, a boho-chic retreating hiding away among olives groves and wild gardens, just outside the heart of town. Swing in hammocks, cool off in the pool, stroll five mins to the beach, dine in town (500m away). Bliss.
Perfect for: Couples.
Get there: Fly into Rhodes (50km), or catch the ferry from Athens. The hotel can arrange transfers from the airport/port, or you can jump in a taxi.
Rooms from: £160
4 Azur Hotel, Med Coast, Turkey
For a beach retreat on a budget, this is your answer. Azur Hotel is a collection of cabins and villas nestling in colourful gardens on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Cirali beach, where the water is blue and dazzling as sapphire, is a two-minute walk away. Take a snorkel or stroll down at nighttime to see the illuminations of the phosphorescence. You’ll also find Azur’s sister restaurant, Azur Aida, here, so you can come for dinner if you fancy a change of scenery. Back at the hotel, slip into a hammock strung up in the trees and feel your woes melt away.
Perfect for: Families. The huge lawned gardens are safe for playing, the pool has a shallow end for kids, and the beach will be a hit.
Get there: Fly to Antalya (80km / 1 hour), then take an airport transfer to the hotel.
Cabins from: £137
5 The Positano Hideaways, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Finding a lovely apartment on the Amalfi Coast is no mean feat, which is why The Positano Hideaways sell like hotcakes. These five apartments (sleeping 2-10) cling to the cliff edge, each enjoying a bougainvillea-framed view of picturesque Positano and the cobalt-blue Med. You get a shared pool and access to a secret beach. Positano’s artisan shops and restaurants are a 10-minute stroll away, and boat trips from the harbour leave for Capri, Amalfi and Sorrento daily.
Perfect for: Couples, families (not toddlers), groups.
Get there: Fly into Naples (55km), catch the train to Sorrento, then take a taxi or bus to Positano.
Apartments from: £610
6 Villa Rosmarino, Liguria, Italy
Villa Rosmarino oozes grandeur. It stands majestically above the enchanting fishing village of Camogli, on the Italian Riviera, among a fragrant garden of rosemary, lavender, magnolia, lemon, tangerine and grapefruit. The private collection of paintings, photographs, furniture, art and design books give it an exclusive feel inside. Down below, there’s a lovely pebbly beach and some fantastic restaurants. Explore other gems along this beautiful coast by rail – trains here are excellent.
Perfect for: Couples.
Get there: Genoa (30km) is the closest airport, or you can fly into Pisa (150km) or Milan (199km). Catch the train to the villa from any of these airports.
Rooms from: £188
7 Nascar Hotel, Sardinia
Come to Nascar Hotel, on Sardinia’s east coast, for lazy beach days, scenic boat trips, mountain excursions, and some cracking food. You’re a mere 50 paces from the village beach of Santa Maria di Navarrese, flanked by pine forest, golden sands and crystal-clear water. Boat trips touring the magnificent Golfo di Orosei leave daily from the village.
Perfect for: Both families and couples will be very happy here.
Get there: Cagliari and Olbia airports are the closest, but they only receive seasonal flights. Alghero (227km away) receives year-round flights. Ideally, you’ll want to hire a car to get to Nascar, but you could book a taxi.
Rooms from: £119
8 Esplendido Hotel, Mallorca
It’s all about the view at Esplendido Hotel in picturesque Puerto Soller, on Mallorca’s northeast coast. Its rooms, terraces, pool and restaurant gaze out over a stunning horseshoe bay, with just a pedestrianised road separating you from a lovely sandy beach. The scenic harbour is awash with delectable fish restaurants and offers daily boat trips along the coast. If you’re feeling active, head inland to hike the dramatic mountains behind Soller, if not, retreat to the hotel’s indulgent spa.
Perfect for: Families love it here, so there’ll be lots of little ones for youngsters to play with.
Get there: Puerto Soller is a mere 30 mins (35km) from Mallorca’s airport in Palma. From here, you could take a taxi or hotel-arranged transfer, or there’s a scenic 1-hour train journey from Palma to Soller, and you can catch a taxi to the hotel for the last leg.
Rooms from: £150
9 Kalamota Beach House, Kolocep, Croatia
For an easy island escape with all the appeal of the Adriatic and none of the crowds, head to Kalamota Beach House on the tiny, car-free island of Koločep, just 30 minutes by boat from Dubrovnik. Set right on the waterfront, this intimate retreat has just 11 airy sea-view suites, a buzzy terrace restaurant and a rooftop pool overlooking the bay. Days are spent swimming in gin-clear water, paddling by kayak to hidden coves, wandering pine-scented footpaths through olive groves and fig orchards, or hopping across to Dubrovnik for a day trip.
Perfect for: Couples, families or anyone seeking a peaceful island escape.
Get there: Fly into Dubrovnik, then take a ferry or speedboat to Koločep (around 30 minutes). The hotel can arrange transfers and will collect you from the harbour.
Suites from: £158
10 Convento, Algarve, Portugal
Talk about an easy beach holiday. Olhao is 15 mins from Faro Airport, is reachable by train, and is a taxi-boat ride from the stunning island beaches of the Algarve’s Ria Formosa. Better still, there’s a fabulous Moroccan-style hotel in the heart of the buzzy old town. Rooms at Convento are set around a pretty courtyard and are refreshingly affordable. Sip sundowners or dip in the pool on the rooftop, taste catch of the day at the local fish restaurants, and discover Caribbean-esque vibes on the island beaches.
Perfect for: Couples or friends.
Get there: Fly into Faro Airport (15km), take a taxi or bus to Faro’s Terminal Rodoviario, then catch the train to Olhao.
Rooms from: £132
11 Hotel Albatroz, Lisbon Coast, Portugal
Majestic Hotel Albatroz, in the lovely fishing town of Cascais, sits right on the beach. Regal facilities include a stunning clifftop pool and a panoramic bar and restaurant, all of which gaze out to sea. This coast is fabulous for watersports – windsurfing, paddleboarding, sailing, waterskiing – while the streets around the hotel are full of snazzy shops and restaurants. With the train station just a short stroll away, you could be in Lisbon in 40 minutes.
Perfect for: Couples, friends, families… all!
Get there: Fly into Lisbon (35km), then catch the train to Cais do Sodre station.
Rooms from: £175
12 Almyra, Paphos, Cyprus
Set among palm-filled gardens on Paphos’ seafront, just a short stroll from the harbour, Almyra pairs long sea views with laid-back luxury. You could want for nothing here. Spend your days drifting between the beachfront, five freshwater pools and the adults-only spa, while little ones disappear happily into the excellent kids’ club. Nearby is Cyprus’ biggest archaeological park and some of the island’s best beaches. Come evening, settle in for sunset cocktails at Almyra before feasting on everything from fresh Cypriot flavours to Japanese-Mediterranean fusion at one of the four restaurants.
Perfect for: Families – it’s a real crowd-pleaser.
Get there: Fly into Paphos (15 minutes by car). Private transfers can be arranged.
Rooms from: £146
Date published: 11 May 2022
Last updated: 09 Jul 2026