Heidi Fuller-Love

Does anything conjure up an image of beach bliss quite like the Med? Surrounded by 22 countries and bordered by three continents, the Mediterranean Sea boasts miles and miles of coastline – not to mention hundreds of islands. And while there are certain seaside spots where you’ll need to fight for space on the sand (we’re looking at you, Barceloneta), there are plenty of other secluded stretches of coastline across the Med. Our selection of alternative beach spots, chosen by Mediterranean-based travel writers, takes you beyond Europe to North Africa and the Middle East. From wild, flamingo-frequented beaches in Spain to a culture-packed port city in France, this is where to find the Mediterranean’s best alternative (and affordable) beach breaks. There’s plenty of room to lay out your towel here. Grace Beard is Time Out’s deputy travel editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts. RECOMMENDED:🗺 Europe’s most underrated destinations🌆 The best European city breaks🚫 The travel destinations that want tourists to stay away

Majorca seems to have earned itself a reputation for being a bit of a ‘Brits abroad’ destination. But don’t believe the hype. Majorca, the largest of the beautiful Balearic Islands, is home to some of the best beaches you’ll ever see, and there’s more than three hundred of them to explore. If that doesn’t sway ya, we don’t know what will. And it’s not just the many, many beaches that bring people flocking there in their millions. You’ll find dinky train rides through quaint old towns, dazzling mountain hikes, ancient ruins and lots and lots of fresh fish, sobrasada (cured sausage) and coca de trempó (vegetable flatbread). From flea markets to hidden coves, here are the best things to do in Majorca.  RECOMMENDED:🏨 The best hotels in Majorca📍 The best places to visit in Spain🇪🇸 Our ultimate guide to Spain Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

The French Riviera is everything it claims to be and more. The international capital of luxury travel is packed with mind-blowing spots that are the gold standard of idyllic holidays, although you might be surprised to find how friendly the areas are (no shade to the locals). And luckily, you don't have to be super rich and wealthy to enjoy some fun in paradise. You can easily bask in the sun on a beautiful beach and not spend a single euro. Although the ice cream might be calling your name... Brave the narrow, and sometimes steep, streets of Eze and marvel at the panoramic views from the mountainside village. Or coordinate your outfits with the bright and vibrant buildings in the medieval old town of Menton, while you walk along the stunning coastline. Imagine the snaps you'll get for your socials. Even if just for a day, embrace the life of luxury and leave with enough to fantasise about when you're back at home. Post-holiday blues are real.  The best places to visit on the French Riviera all offer something different, from celeb-laden streets to quaint nostalgia. Heck, why not try to cover all of them in one magnificent road trip? Where did we put that bucket list…

As soon as the sun comes out, we’re all dreaming of France. Big tables laden with cured meat and cheese, cheap rosé by the gallon, and minute, rural villages to discover and explore. But when life gets really stressful, what we’re all craving the most is a sandy beach. And luckily, France has them by the bucketload.  Think wide open beaches, crystal clear waters and hidden coves. Think sunsets, kite-surfing and sightings of pink flamingos. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to head all the way to The Bahamas to get your hands on the best beaches around. From tranquil swimming spots to high-end resorts, here are the best beaches in France right now.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in France🍴 The best restaurants in France✈️ The best places to visit in France🏨 The best hotels in France☀️ The best hotels in the South of France Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

Want to make 2023 the year you travel somewhere new? Well, we’ve got some pretty spectacular suggestions for you. We asked our global network of travel writers and editors to tell us what they think is the world’s most overlooked travel destination. The resulting list spans everything from tiny islands and seaside towns to massive lakes and whole countries – and makes for some serious travel inspo.  What, exactly, makes a destination underrated? Are we talking about places that don’t regularly appear on top travel lists? Places that don’t get their fair share of tourism? Places that are legitimate hidden gems, off-the-tourist-trail, or offer great (or quiet) alternatives to popular spots in the same region? The destinations on this list fall into at least one of those categories. From Bali’s overlooked neighbour to an untouched area of natural beauty in Zimbabwe, these are the world’s most underrated places to travel to this year. RECOMMENDED:🏰 The most underrated travel destinations in Europe💘 The most romantic places in the world🌈 The most colourful places in the world

Considered by many to be the culinary capital of the world, France does not disappoint when it comes to delicious and decadent dining. From top-notch seafood along dramatic coasts to one-of-a-kind wine bars and brasseries, these are the best places to go for a meal out in the country right now whether you're looking for one of the best restaurants in Paris or just one of the best things to do in France. RECOMMENDED: 🛏 The best hotels in France

Voleu fer del 2023 l'any per viatjar a un lloc diferent? Aquí tenim alguns suggeriments bastant espectaculars. Hem demanat a la nostra xarxa de periodistes i editors de viatges que responguin quin és el destí turístic més ignorat del món. La llista conté des de petites illes i pobles de costa fins a enormes llacs i grans paisatges, i constitueix una gran inspiració per viatjar.Què és, exactament, allò que fa que un destí estigui infravalorat? Estem parlant de llocs que no apareixen sovint a les llistes de viatges? Llocs que no reben la seva part justa de turisme? Llocs que són joies ocultes fora de les rutes turístiques i que ofereixen excel·lents alternatives (o també tranquil·les) a llocs populars de la mateixa regió? Les destinacions d'aquesta llista pertanyen com a mínim a una d'aquestes categories. Des del veí ignorat de Bali fins a una àrea verge de bellesa natural a Zimbàbue, aquests són els llocs més infravalorats del món per viatjar aquest any. NO T'HO PERDIS: Les 10 millors destinacions per viatjar el 2023

Even from a distance, Santorini is a sight to behold. Surrounded by the azure Aegean sea and home to its famous flooded caldera, it’s a true gem of the Cyclades. This is the Greece that attracts tourists from all across the globe: the sugar cube-like houses glinting in the sunlight (almost good enough to eat) and the domes of Orthodox churches sending flashes of blue through the landscape. The island is almost too attractive. On the days when a cruise ship has docked, Santorini’s largest towns, like Fira and Oia, become packed with friendly visitors. But don’t let that put you off. If you know where to look, there are plenty of lesser-known, picture-perfect spots to stay away from the hustle and bustle. Start your holiday here. And now, relax... This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

One of the many charms of Greece’s sprawling Acropolis-topped capital city is its diversity. Like the fine layers of filo pastry used to make scrumptious local custard pie bougatsa, this 3,400-year-old city is home to a rich and complex network of unique neighbourhoods. Each has its own charm, from multicultural Kypseli to nightlife hub Gazi, which coils around the city’s old gasworks. Athens sweeps from the foothills of mighty Mount Parnitha to the swanky bar-lined Athenian Riviera, and there are loads of great places to stay within this swathe of city. To help you narrow it down, we’ve picked five neighbourhoods in Athens that offer a concentrated dose of the best that the birthplace of democracy has to offer – from quaint Plaka to rowdy Exarcheia. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Athens🍽 The best restaurants in Athens Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

Almost three years since the you-know-what put all our plans on hold, it’s set to be a pretty big year for getting out and doing things. 2023 has come through with an absolutely loaded cultural calendar – we’re talking the biggest summer for live music since 2019, a bunch of new museums, some pretty epic outdoor adventures, and much, much more. Plus, with all the new high-speed and overnight trains launching this year, you can get around and do the things you want to do much more sustainably than ever before.  So get your booking fingers at the ready. From music festivals and new museums to massive shops and the real-life Mushroom Kingdom, this is your definitive guide to the coolest new things to do in the world in 2023. RECOMMENDED:  🖼️ The best museums and galleries in the world🚂 The most incredible train journeys around the world🌊 The cities that could be underwater by 2030🌹 The most romantic places in the world 🍸 The coolest bars in the world right now🤿 The best beaches in the world

There’s nothing quite like standing at the top of the multicoloured cliffs that Santorini is famous for. This island is one of the most unique destinations in the world, and not just because it is in the huge crater of a volcano. The scenery here seems crafted by the Greek gods: whitewashed villages crown the island with views over its sea-flanked edges, rural vineyards span huge stretches inland, and the beaches are black, red and out of this world. There’s plenty for explorers, foodies and culture vultures to discover, from archaeological sites to swimming spots and friendly hotels, brilliant wine and Mediterranean food. RECOMMENDED🛏 The ultimate guide to where to stay in Santorini🇬🇷 The best places to visit in Greece

The Greek Ibiza? Mykonos carries a particular reputation, but much like its Balearic brethren, there is more to this place than meets the eye. Sure, you can party all night long as world-famous DJs do their thing on lofted stages, and you can gaze out at the mega-yachts and private jets that ferry celebrities to the island. You will, but do you know what else you can do? You can explore one of the best-preserved old towns in Greece, a gorgeous district named after Europe’s most romantic city and much more. The best things to do in Mykonos stretch far beyond the club. Let this charming Cycladic island wash over you, and you’re in for something truly special.