Praia da Marinha, Algarve, Portugal
PHOTO:KARL EGGER/PIXABAY
Framed by golden limestone cliffs and dramatic rock formations, Praia da Marinha is one of the most picturesque places in the Algarve. The sheltered beach is about an hour's drive west of Faro Airport and just 10 minutes from the spectacular Benagil Cave. Visitors can hike along the clifftop Seven Hanging Valleys Trail to view the beach from above or head down a long set of stairs to relax on the sandy shore. If you plan to spend the day here, bring a beach umbrella — there are no beach clubs, though you will find a small cafe open during the summer.
Advertisement
Durdle Door Beach, Dorset, England
PHOTO:MATT GIBSON/GETTY IMAGES
The United Kingdom isn't a typical destination for international beachgoers, but the striking scenery at this Dorset coastline makes it a must-see. In the summertime, swimming in the shadow of Durdle Door — a massive rock arch that plunges into the sea — is an otherworldly experience. And when temperatures start to dip, a hike along the cliffs with Dorset's rolling green hills on one side and the sweeping ocean views across the rugged Jurassic Coast on the other is something you won't soon forget.