Sun on your shoulders, sand between your toes – what’s not to love about a
beach party? So make sure this year you go to the finest. To help, here’s
our pick of the 10 best European beach parties promising food, wine, dancing
and, if you’re lucky, even a spot of debauchery.
GOTLAND, Sweden
You weren’t expecting that, were you? But if you think about it, Sweden could
just be the perfect beach-party destination: long daylight hours, long sandy
beaches and long-legged blonde-haired beauties are the perfect combination
for a Californian-style shindig in northern Europe. A hundred miles off the
coast of Stockholm, Gotland is the largest of Sweden’s thousands of islands,
with 50 miles of coastline and countless white-sand beaches.
The party: up-for-it Stockholmers descend on Kallbadhuset (aka Kallis)
beach in Visby in mid-June, where there’s live music every day during high
season – this year, there’ll be a resident DJ at the beach’s bar-restaurant
complex, Kallbadhuset (00 46-498 651124). Later, the action moves to the Old
Town, around bars, restaurants and clubs such as Burmeister (Strandgatan 9;
498 210373) and Gutekallaren (Storatorget 3; 498 210043).
Insider info: as the only beach club in Visby, Kallbadhuset is always
busy, but avoid July when Swedes traditionally go on holiday.
Details: airlines flying to Stockholm include SAS (0871 521 2772, www.flysas.com),
British Airways (0844 493 0787, www.ba.com)
and Sterling (0870 787 8038, www.sterling.dk).
Three-hour ferries run between Stockholm and Visby, from £30 return (www.destinationgotland.se).
On Gotland, check into Hotel 1 (00 46 498 210010, www.hotel1.nu;
doubles from £167), which has 20 individually decorated rooms and a great
location in Visby’s walled medieval city.
BENIRRAS BEACH, Ibiza
The White Island boasts two kinds of beach party. On the one hand there’s Las
Salinas, where Jade Jagger-types sip cocktails before heading back to their
yachts; on the other there’s Benirras, on the undeveloped north coast, where
dancing hippies, drumming sessions and bonfires make the regular
Sunday-afternoon gatherings the most bohemian on the island.
The party: it’s a Sunday thing, and as the sun starts to drop, the
drumming begins, with anyone welcome to join the jam. Bonfires are built and
temporary stalls are set up, selling bikinis, jewellery and homemade food.
Insider info: if you’re driving, arrive early or expect to park far
from the beach. Also plan on staying well after sunset or get ready to be
stuck in a traffic jam – just the thing to destroy that chilled-out vibe.
Details: airlines flying to Ibiza include BA (0844 493 0787, www.ba.com),
EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) and Jet2
(0871 226 1737, www.jet2.com). Stay at Can
Curreu (00 34 971 335280, www.cancurreu.com;
doubles from £173), a farmhouse turned 10-room hotel in northern Ibiza,
surrounded by orange groves.
BLOEMENDAAL AAN ZEE, Holland
Considering my skin, I may just give Tel Aviv a miss... I'm not sure an Indian would get the warmest reception there.
Rishi Patel, London, England
Tel Aviv packed with beautiful, sun-kissed young people? In their dreams, maybe. The music scene is as bland as vanilla and there's way too much hair gel and make-up going on there - and that's just the men. Tel Aviv might be hot but it most definitely isn't cool. Try Valencia or Lisbon instead
Jake, London,
Tel Aviv is not Europe .. Sorry ..
damian, hackney, uk
Its amusing to read all the posh places above when Tel Aviv is thriving with swank new bars packed to the rafters with beautiful, sun kissed young people sipping drinks in venues like Clara which overlook the beach in Jaffa. Its the hottest place to hang out this summer.
Gil, Tel Aviv, Israel
You forgot Zakantyp in Crimea, Ukraine. No visas for EU members and all the excesses of the post-Soviet party scene amid some of the most amazing scenery in the world. A huge, huge event that deserved to be better known
Peter, Liverpool, England