College students face a lot of choices throughout the semester and choosing where to go on Summer Break isn’t exactly the easiest one. There are friends to consider. Affordability. Which beach? Forget the crowded been-there-done-that American beaches and go somewhere exotic.
Europe may be well-known for its culture and historical cities, but there are also plenty of beaches that promise sun, sand and adventure. Travel site GoEuro.com can help any college student get to nearly all of them. Here are just a few of the European beaches that await the adventurous Spring Breaker.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona may be well-known for its history and culture, but it is also a prime destination for party people and beach goers. Barcelona has plenty of great beaches and Barceloneta Beach is considered one of the best beaches in the world.
Situated on the Mediterranean Sea, Barceloneta Beach is in an 18th-century neighborhood and it easily accessible by the Metro. With wide, sandy beaches (which are mentioned in Don Quixote), nightclubs and restaurants, Barceloneta offers entertainment day and night. The beach also boasts the most modern IMAX theater in the city and has a large aquarium.
Ischia, Italy
Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea just 19 miles southwest of Naples. The beach is popular with the locals and day-trippers from Naples, but remains a relatively hidden gem with several beaches that never see large crowds.
While soaking up the sun or splashing in the blue water, there are lots of things to see: the volcanic mountains that make up most of the island, the tropical Gardens of La Mortella and even a 2400 year-old castle!
Santorini’s Red Beach, Greece
Built high into the cliffs of a collapsed volcano, the principle town of Fira on the island of Santorini isn’t the typical beach-goers destination.
There are several beaches to relax on, but the real attraction is the Red Beach. Colored deep red and black by ancient volcanic activity, the Red Beach is a secluded strand that hugs the Aegean Sea beneath one-hundred foot cliffs. The beach can get a little crowded at times, but the view makes it all worth it.
Cannes, France
Ah, the French Riviera. The name conjures up images of fast cars, Bondian intrigue and luxurious yachts. But the city famous for its annual film festival is also known for its beaches.
There are over 4.5 miles of sandy beaches in Cannes, which is plenty of Mediterranean shore to hold 13 public beaches, two municipal beaches and even 33 private beaches. For the more adventurous, there are several topless and nude beaches as well.
Easy to get tan in those hard-to-reach places…
College students shouldn’t have to sweat about where to cool off during Summer Break; there are too many other things in life to sweat about. European beaches offer different experiences than American beaches and they may be even more affordable.
So when choosing where to spend that well-earned time off, college students may find that Europe has all the answers.
Henry Bell is having an amazing time on his gap year as he explores the world. Currently in Australia, Henry has discovered a passion for writing travel articles using his first hand experience to come up with topics.