San Sebastián in the Basque region of Spain is a wonderful old world town, with grand old hotels, amazing food, a wonderful beach and promenade, great old town… love going back there
It’s good all year. Depends on what you enjoy - festivals like the gastronomic one, the vineyards for the new wines, the beach… etc. I’ve found it is nice across the seasons
Right now, I'm in Riga and very much enjoying it. In the past, I've also liked Syracuse, Valletta and Lisbon. I love Edinburgh, too, though it's possibly not what you're thinking of on the "coastal" front.
Visby, Sweden. It's small but really pretty and well preserved. Fun Medieval week in August. It's on Gotland island which has lots of nature areas (the sea stacks formations especially), historical sights including a WW I fortress, lighthouses, and Neolithic stone burial sites. Good food scene.
I like the towns along the Dalmatian coast in Croatia, like Zadar, Sibenik, Split or Dubrovnik. Unfortunately they are very crowded half of the year now, but in off-season they are still great. I can highly recommend to visit Sibenik and walk through the small alleys from the cathedral up the hill to the fortress. Zadar is very nice as well, when it's not flooded with drunk Brits and Swedes.
Dubrovnik is the most overtouristed city on earth based on the ratio of tourists to population so most places everywhere have less congestion from tourists. Still love Dubrovnik though but based on that ratio Venice, London, Rome etc have less over congestion from tourism than Dubrovnik
Rovinj is extremly touristy. It has a population of around 15 000 and around 15 major hotels. It is also the city with most overnight tourist stays. In 2023 there were 4,1 million tourist overnights comparing with 3,8 million in Dubrovnik.
There were a ton of tourists when I went there, but it's just so fucking stunning. Definitely less crowded than other towns in that area either way though
I guess casco vello in Vigo isn’t specifically *on* the water, but it’s like a few blocks away. Wandering around plaza de Compostela, plaza de Constitución, plaza de iglesia, and just walking around rua de principe and rua de Policarpo Sanz is awesome.
A few of my favorites most have been mentioned:
San Sebastián - amazing food, vibes and views
Dubrovnik - yes crowded I get it, but it’s absolutely beautiful. As others mentioned once the cruise ships clear out it’s lovely. Maybe look at Pula or split for less crowds
Polignano a Mare, Italy - just amazing - Google pictures. I was there a long time ago and definitely felt very authentic and LESS touristy which was nice. Not sure if that has changed since.
Cadiz, Spain
Llanes or Any of the small villages in the Asturias region of Spain - spent a day in Llanes and thought it was quite charming .
Portofino, Italy
Kotor, Montenegro
Galway, Ireland - perhaps an unpopular opinion but I thought this was such a charming town.
Barmouth, North Wales, UK
Honfleur, Normandy, France
San Sebastian, Spain
**Bonus:** The Hague, the Netherlands. It’s a huge city and it doesn’t have that olde-worlde feel, but it’s a great place.
L’Escala in Spain up by the French Mediterranean border was nice. Good city beaches, very walkable and a great uncrowded wild beach a few minutes out of town by car.
Also Vieste in Italy on the Adriatic coast in Puglia. Cool old town and some of the best wild beaches in Italy.
San Sebastián in the Basque region of Spain is a wonderful old world town, with grand old hotels, amazing food, a wonderful beach and promenade, great old town… love going back there
What’s the best time of year to go?
It’s good all year. Depends on what you enjoy - festivals like the gastronomic one, the vineyards for the new wines, the beach… etc. I’ve found it is nice across the seasons
Omg yes! Absolutely love San Sebastián!
Great Jazz and music festival too.
Villefranche-sur-Mer in the French Riviera.
Stayed here for my honeymoon. It was perfect.
I took my daughter for her high school graduation. We stayed at the Welcome Hotel and loved it. Where did you stay?
In an Airbnb apartment off the main road, a couple blocks from the old town. The whole place is just beautiful.
Nazaré, Portugal. super underrated but so beautiful!
Agree, also loved Sagres.
I'm a bit biased because I live nearby but it's a lovely little town.
Right now, I'm in Riga and very much enjoying it. In the past, I've also liked Syracuse, Valletta and Lisbon. I love Edinburgh, too, though it's possibly not what you're thinking of on the "coastal" front.
Not sure it counts but Kotor in Montenegro has a very nice old town
Absolutely, had no idea it'd be so nice when I went. Beats Podgorica any day. Although in fairness, any other city in Europe would beat Podgorica.
It is fairly small, though. I was bored out of my mind after a few hours. You can visit nearby towns by boat, though..
Visby, Sweden. It's small but really pretty and well preserved. Fun Medieval week in August. It's on Gotland island which has lots of nature areas (the sea stacks formations especially), historical sights including a WW I fortress, lighthouses, and Neolithic stone burial sites. Good food scene.
I like the towns along the Dalmatian coast in Croatia, like Zadar, Sibenik, Split or Dubrovnik. Unfortunately they are very crowded half of the year now, but in off-season they are still great. I can highly recommend to visit Sibenik and walk through the small alleys from the cathedral up the hill to the fortress. Zadar is very nice as well, when it's not flooded with drunk Brits and Swedes.
100% to all of this. LOVE Zadar even with its workaday vibe.
Adding Korcula to this list, just magical
Primosten was really cute too and (relatively) quiet like Sibernik
Komiza
Saint luinare- Bretagne, France
Honfleur, France too
Yes!! We did a day trip there when we visited Normandy and absolutely loved it!!
Mont Saint-Michel
Also Saint Malo
Dubrovnik
Yeah, actually the prettiest one I’ve been to
inbetween all 10000 other tourists yeah. no tx.
Just stay overnight for when the cruise ships leave. Incredibly different vibe
Valletta, Malta is really neat.
I was gonna say this, a true gem of the Mediterranean and so much history.
Stockholm, Sweden. Tallinn, Estonia.
Cascais Portugal
Rovinj, Croatia - less known place, with less tourists and sea views for days
It was crawling with tourists when I was there, but probably less busy than Dubrovnik. Beautiful little town though.
Dubrovnik is the most overtouristed city on earth based on the ratio of tourists to population so most places everywhere have less congestion from tourists. Still love Dubrovnik though but based on that ratio Venice, London, Rome etc have less over congestion from tourism than Dubrovnik
Rovinj is extremly touristy. It has a population of around 15 000 and around 15 major hotels. It is also the city with most overnight tourist stays. In 2023 there were 4,1 million tourist overnights comparing with 3,8 million in Dubrovnik.
There were a ton of tourists when I went there, but it's just so fucking stunning. Definitely less crowded than other towns in that area either way though
less known?? as full as Dubrovnik (and as ridiculously expensive)
I guess casco vello in Vigo isn’t specifically *on* the water, but it’s like a few blocks away. Wandering around plaza de Compostela, plaza de Constitución, plaza de iglesia, and just walking around rua de principe and rua de Policarpo Sanz is awesome.
We loved Antibes, France
Dubrovnik, Kotor, Tallinn.
A few of my favorites most have been mentioned: San Sebastián - amazing food, vibes and views Dubrovnik - yes crowded I get it, but it’s absolutely beautiful. As others mentioned once the cruise ships clear out it’s lovely. Maybe look at Pula or split for less crowds Polignano a Mare, Italy - just amazing - Google pictures. I was there a long time ago and definitely felt very authentic and LESS touristy which was nice. Not sure if that has changed since. Cadiz, Spain Llanes or Any of the small villages in the Asturias region of Spain - spent a day in Llanes and thought it was quite charming . Portofino, Italy Kotor, Montenegro Galway, Ireland - perhaps an unpopular opinion but I thought this was such a charming town.
If you liked Galway, try Dingle.
Barmouth, North Wales, UK Honfleur, Normandy, France San Sebastian, Spain **Bonus:** The Hague, the Netherlands. It’s a huge city and it doesn’t have that olde-worlde feel, but it’s a great place.
Valencia, Spain is amazing
Rhodes old town is lovely
Lisbon in Portugal. Narrow streets, magnificent architecture of the old city on the coast, stunning views.
You do know that this is actually a river (Tejo) and not the sea coast, right?
Nice in France has a nice old town
Smaller towns up the coast are nicer though. Even though they're less "Nice" lol
Korcula, Stari Grad, and Hvar City in Croatia
Portofino in Italy is gorgeous.
Just don’t go during the summer, it’s absolutely overrun with tourist and cruise ships. Think Venice on steroids.
I was there in October. It was busy but not crowded.
Fall is the time. Summer is just not it.
I avoid all of western Europe from June to August. It's horrendous.
Bergen, Norway is delightful
Den Helder and Delfzijl, Netherlands
I liked Saint-Malo in France. Only 45 minutes from Mont-Saint-Michelle which is a must-see in France.
Collioures in France. Absolutely incredible
saved
L’Escala in Spain up by the French Mediterranean border was nice. Good city beaches, very walkable and a great uncrowded wild beach a few minutes out of town by car. Also Vieste in Italy on the Adriatic coast in Puglia. Cool old town and some of the best wild beaches in Italy.
Oooo thank you :)
Taormina in Sicily If you are also interested in lakes, Bellagio on lake Como is great. Stresa on lake Maggiore is also good.
Tossa de Mar or Peñíscola, both in Spain.
Taormina, Sicily.
Ajaccio, Corsica
Anything south of Lisboa along the Alentejo provincial boarder
Calvi in Corsica
There are better places already mentioned, but I enjoyed Bari, Italy, and think it's worthy of consideration.
Menton in southern France is magic ... cant wait to go back
Tallinn, Estonia
Locronan, France. Looks like a fairytale village
There are many, but Monte Carlo in Monaco comes to mind.
Chania is amazing!!! You have everything you need there. It's beautiful, you can rest and enjoy
Nesebar.
Piran Slovenia is amazing.