Cala Mitjana beach in Menorca
When it comes to short breaks, the extra hours of hassle that airports provide can add unwanted stress to your vital relaxation time. Which might be one reason why more and more of us are skipping the big boys in favour of flying from London City, the capital’s most expedient short-haul airport.
That you’re able to check in a mere 15 minutes before take-off makes every subsequent airport trip seem upsettingly lengthy. It’s much quicker than you think to get there, with links from across London and the surrounding areas, so it’s more than just city-dwellers who can feel the benefit.
But where should you be jet-setting off to? We’ve selected six of Europe’s best coastal destinations, all within two hours flying time of the docklands.
Faro, Portugal
The heart of the Algarve is often skipped in favour of surrounding beach resorts, but Faro offers an enticing cocktail of culture, coast and corking weather. The nearby Rio Formosa lagoon was what first drew people to settle in Faro, and today it’s a nature reserve that houses hundreds of migrating birds each year.
Travellers of the human variety head for the striking marina, the slender beach, Ilha de Barreta, and the remarkable buildings of the old town, some of which date back to medieval times.
Drive 45 minutes inland and you’ll reach the cobbled streets and white facades of the well-preserved village of Alter. Or head east along the coast to the fishing port of Tavira for its palm-lined river, Moorish artefacts and a sprinkling of terracotta-roofed restaurants.
Faro and wide: the terracotta rooftops of the Algarve’s capital
Granada, Spain
Granada’s allure is in that unique collision of Islamic and European cultures that defines the surrounding Andalucian region. Presiding on a plateau high above Granada is the famous Alhambra, the Moorish citadel whose stone walls rise from dense woodland giving it its nickname, ‘pearl set in emeralds’. Its majesty is undeniable (it is one of Spain’s most-visited attractions) but it’s not the only highlight.
Though Granada is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, it’s only an hour from the coast, with the charming Castell de Ferro a destination less afflicted by crowds. It’s a fishing port, so dining here tends to be a freshly caught affair – the succulent prawns are of particular repute – and if you’re travelling down early, be sure to sample the Espichás, a breakfast delicacy of sun-dried anchovies, salted and fried with garlic and eggs.
Return to Granada city in the evening and head to the labyrinthine streets of Albayzín to seek out the sounds of Granadina, a local form of flamenco guitar that is said to mirror the surrounds. In most establishments, tapas plates are on the house when you purchase a drink, so gorging is positively encouraged. Repair thereafter to one of the many palatial hotels; there are some that rival even the Alhambra for opulence.
‘Pearl set in emeralds’: Granada’s great Alhambra
Ibiza
Getting high in Ibiza is something most of have consigned to our past, but to seek out the relaxed heart of the White Isle that’s precisely what you must do. The battlement-protected Dalt Vila towers above Ibiza’s Old Town, its Unesco-protected walls housing a multitude of restaurants, galleries and cafés. For colonial cool, stay at the Mirador De Dalt Vila. Spanish lookouts once kept watch for foreign invasions from such heights; today multimillion pound yachts are the only intruders you’ll spot.
Beach-wise, Playa des Salinas is a far cry from the crowded crash sands frequented by pie-eyed clubbers. Mornings here are quiet, rising to a pleasant hubbub by late afternoon and it’s fringed by restaurants offering fresh seafood and chilled sangria.
The plentiful pine forests offer some shelter from the sun, and a stroll through their shade is a perfect way to while away a scorching afternoon. And while you might not fancy Pacha in the evening (or maybe you do…), catching an Ibizan sunset from a well-soundtracked bar never loses its appeal.
Big fish, little fish: no dance moves required in Ibiza’s Old Town harbour
Menorca
If its beaches you’re after, Menorca possesses more than its Balearic neighbours combined. Menorca’s coastline is one to be proud of, from the crystalline waters and white sands of Cala Macarelleta in the east to the cute bay of Fornells in the north to countless hidden coves. That it remains largely free of tourist monstrosities, quieter than nearby isles and connected by a new walkable coastal path adds to its appeal.
Don’t miss the two main cities, though. Mao (the home of mayonnaise) has pleasing cliff-top views, a bustling harbour and markets. Ciutadella has a more historic feel, with cobbled streets, Gothic architecture and fish-rich harbourside restaurants.
If you visit Ciutadella at the end of June you’ll catch the pleasingly bonkers Festes de Sant Joan, a summer street fiesta led by a man carrying a well-groomed sheep atop his shoulders and fuelled by pomada, a mix of gin and lemon that nods to Menorca’s British occupation of old.
Ciutadella’s boat-strewn inlet
Nice
Back in the late 19th century, a British gent, settled in Nice with his wife. She was rather fond of strolls along the promenade so he installed a cannon on their chateau and fired it each day at noon to remind her that lunch was ready.
This tradition has continued to the present day, although you won’t need much reminding to indulge. As you stroll round Nice, opportunities to snack on socca (the local chickpea crepes), chill in the countless cafés of Vieux Nice (the old town), binge at a chic bistro or wind down at a wine bar are not hard to come by. At La Bulle D’Isis, you can even give ‘chococooning’ a go, a spa treatment involving melted chocolate and ganache.
There’s plenty of Cote d’Azur pizzazz in Nice, not least at some of the beachfront hotels, which compensate for the pebble shores by laying carpets for guests and providing full surf-side water service. Then, of course, you get glammed up for the night and take the 30-minute trip to Monaco.
Yacht….
Venice
The architectural, artistic, historical and gastronomic treasures housed within Italy’s floating city outstrip those of some entire nations. But if youthful visits to Venice involved battling crowds to glimpse said wonders, returning as a grown-up offers the perfect opportunity to explore like a Venetian.
The best advice is to hit the backstreets, home to fewer tourists and manifold delights, not least Venice’s bàcari. These are tiny, well-stocked, food-serving bars, most of which avoid the premiums whacked on in more well-trodden areas. (Foodies will recognise their sharing plates’n’spritz approach, appropriated by Russell Norman’s all conquering Polpo/Polpetto.)
The islands of Venice offer further escapes. First off, there’s Burano, a picture postcard outcrop lined with brightly coloured houses, which even boasts its own leaning tower. Then to Torcello, which is rich in Byzantine mosaics, scenic walks, and was once home to Ernest Hemingway. There’s only one hotel on Torcello, and if the remoteness appeals they’ll be happy to arrange boat tours of the island. Serenissima, as they say.
The picture postcard houses on the island of Burano
So just how easy is London City Airport? Watch this to find out:
• British Airways fly to all these destinations daily from London City Airport. For more information visit ba.com/londoncity