Summer has arrived,and with it peak workday daydreaming season complete with visions of white sand, cool cocktails and refreshing blue water. Unfortunately for many of Europe’s top beach destinations, that serene image has been disrupted by beach chairs that blanket the sand with hordes of noisy tourists on summer holiday.
But don’t fret, the European summer oasis of your dreams still exists.A little further afield, the Balkan Peninsula is home to some of the continent’s most beautiful beaches: pristine, easy-to-reach, and mercifully far from the crowds.
1. Krapets Beach, Bulgaria
Photo: Emi Jane CC BY
The Bulgarian Black Sea is notoriously over-the-top and riddled with English pubs, casinos and large men in very small bathing suits. However, just 90 kilometers up the coast from the international airport of Varnas and the crowded tourist beaches of Golden Sands is the quiet seaside village of Krapets and its six kilometers of sandy beach. Easily accessible by bus or car, Krapets is a true refuge known for its rolling sand dunes and wild nature reserves. Visit on a day trip from one of the southern resorts, or stay for a few days lounging on the beach, eating the divine local fish soup, and exploring the nearby lakes from one of the village’s cozy villas.
2. Przno Beach, Montenegro
Przno—a little-known cove in the middle of the hectic strip of Adriatic coast between Budva and Kotor Bay—makes the perfect escape from the flashy Budva crowd and the legion of cruise ship tourists that flow through Kotor. Not to be confused with Budva’s beach of the same name, this sandy haven can be found in one of the last wild bays before reaching Kotor. One of Montenegro’s few sand beaches, Przno and the clear, placid waters of its bay are as postcard-perfect as any Caribbean beach. Pack a lunch to enjoy at one of the picnic tables nestled in the olive trees or enjoy the fresh fish at the beach’s lone open-air restaurant.
3. Drymades Beach, Albania
Photo: stefan m CC BY
A sleepy outpost not far from the summer bustle of Dhermi, Drymades is a prime example of why the Albanian coast is starting to gain international attention. Though its beaches are mostly covered with large white rocks, they meet the sparkling blue waters of the Ionian Sea to create a dazzling effect. The Dhermi area is especially breathtaking as it is surrounded by rolling forested mountains as well. Drymades, in particular, is a favorite among local beach bums in the know. A core group of laid-back creative types return here each summer to lounge in the hammocks of the local beach bar, play paddleball in the surf, and snooze under the thatched beach umbrellas.
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