10 Seaside cities

DUBROVNIK, CROATIA

This walled urban sprawl on the Adriatic Coast boasts an almost unbeatable blend of artistic tradition – marble streets, baroque buildings and stone-carved churches.

NAPLES, ITALY

With its volcanic landscape, palm-fringed boulevards, and pristine sands, this southern Italian city is breathtaking.

NICE, FRANCE

This picture-postcard city boasts a beautiful beach, but stray away from the seaside for Roman ruins and art.

VENICE, ITALY

Think of the floating city and what comes to mind is water, not beaches. But skip over to Venice Lido, an 11km-long island just minutes from St Mark’s Square, and you’ll find two huge public beaches bordering the Adriatic.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Pristine beaches and some of the most charming coastal towns lie just outside this South African city.

RIO DE JANIERO, BRAZIL

At the Copa, Copacabana... experience Brazilian beach life along with the buzz of the carnival capital.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

The golden sands of Bondi beach are a stone’s throw from Sydney’s centre. For a quieter spot, take the ferry over to Manly and visit Shelly.

DUBAI, UAE

Get the best of both worlds, skyscrapers and sandy beaches all in one place.

MIAMI, USA

Lie in the sunshine and soak up the heat or shop until you drop in the land of the beautiful people.

TANGIER, MOROCCO

Barter for ceramics and leather in the medina, before heading out to a gorgeous nearby beach to soak up the North African sun.