Top 10 - Most beautiful beaches in Europe

Sunbathe in the golden sand beaches of the Algarve, dive into the crystal-clear water of Corfu, or swim to explore the depths of Formentera. From the United Kingdom to Italy, moving to Croatia, Portugal and Spain, join us on a short visit through the ten most beautiful beaches found on the European coastline. Brought to you by Tourism-Review.com.

Benagil (Algarve, Portugal)

Not all beaches are as noticeable to the world. Some are like hidden gems, surrounded by breathtaking scenarios. Such is the case of Algar de Benagil, a beach found in Algarve, the southernmost region of Portugal. An intriguing landscape located under the homonymous sea cave of Algar, a somewhat secluded spot with a natural oculus through which sunlight pours, illuminating this wonderful surface covered in golden sand.

Tuerredda (Sardinia, Italy)

The Tuerredda beach is located in the province of Cagliari, on the southern coastline of Sardinia. Deep blue waters, a strip of fine sand, and the Mediterranean scents carried by the sea breeze make this landscape a precious Italian jewel. The multiple colors of the water change constantly from a deep blue to emerald green. Its sandy depths are the perfect habitat of many sea creatures.

Kaputas (Turkey)

The Kaputas beach is considered as one of the best beaches in Europe and one of the most attractive destinations in the entire Mediterranean region. It boasts a wild nature and a non-polluted sea. This location offers a perfect view for visitors looking to enjoy the beauty of the landscape while resting in a fascinating granular sand bay.

La Concha (San Sebastian, Spain)

Seen from the highest point, the shape of this San Sebastián beach resembles a shell with a pearl. In fact, this beautiful beach located in the Basque Country receives its name after that shell-shaped form. It is a marvelous coastline covered in fine sand, and it offers ideal waters for surfing and sunbathing in the Cantabrian Sea.

Paleokastritsa (Corfu, Greece)

There's no need to travel all the way to the Caribbean Islands to enjoy the depths of the sea or diving into different shades of turquoise colored waters. You can do it at a much closer location by visiting the village of Palaiokastritsa, located on the Greek island of Corfu. Its beaches can be found on rocky shores and all of them offer incredible bays, open to practice swimming or scuba diving. Palaiokastritsa tops the selection of best beaches in Europe that you must visit this summer, according to travel search engines such as Skyscanner and TripAdvisor.

Zlatni Rat (Croatia)

A beach located in a wide isthmus of white sand that changes its form depending on the Mistral's wind and the strong tides. That's exactly what you'll experience if you go on a vacation to the Zlatnia Rat, on the Croatian coast. It's currently one of the most visited places during the summer holidays, a destination where visitors can still enjoy transparent waters and one of the most remarkable beaches in Europe.

Ses Illetas (Balearic Islands, Spain)

The clear waters and the fine golden sand are signatures of the Ses Illetes beach, located in Formentera. This sea paradise is a perfect retreat for relaxation, to enjoy incredible sunsets, or walking through its sand dunes. In addition, the depths of this beach are covered with 'posidonia oceanica', a seagrass species that forms an entire ecosystem, certainly a wonderful choice for scuba divers.

Inchydoney (Ireland)

Consider making a visit to Inchydoney in your next trip, a beach next to the town of Clonakilty, in the Irish county of Cork. Surrounded by dunes, this beach is a perfect destination for friends and families looking to explore coastal areas or surfing in incredible surroundings.

San Teodoro (Sardinia, Italy)

With less than 5,000 inhabitants, the town of San Teodoro, in Sardinia, is proud to offer its visitors some of the most beautiful beaches in Italy. The blue and transparent sea, an authentic natural pool, becomes the ideal place for recreational diving because of its shallow depths. Its fine white sand recalls the Caribbean tropical scenery.

Bantham (Devon, England)

If you are looking for a different beach full of surprises, visit the Bantham beach, in the county of Devon, located in the southern region of England. This maritime enclave offers incredible views to the Bigbury Bay since it's surrounded by impressive natural scenery.

Source: TourismReview | See the original article here.

The new boutique hotel in Évora is a Noble House

The former Casa dos Condes de Lousã, in the historical center of Évora, is being restored and transformed into a "luxury boutique hotel" and it will open in June.

Source: Fugas - PÚBLICO

The historical center of Évora

The building, which dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, was purchased by Unlock Boutique Hotels and has been restored since November 2016 to form The Noble House. Évora's new luxury boutique hotel is 200 meters from the city's Cathedral, right in the heart of the historic center, classified as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The project for the renovation of the former Casa dos Condes de Lousã is in charge of the architect Fernando Coelho, author of several reference projects, such as the Cella Bar on the island of Pico (Azores), distinguished by ArchDaily as Building of the Year 2016. 

In addition to "one of the largest suites of the district", which integrates part of the city's Roman wall into one of the walls, the new housing unit still preserves other features of the historic building, such as the 18th century tiles, the emblazoned portal, the vaulted ceilings. Some "frescões" (which cover the walls of several rooms), the garden or the well used formerly for homemade water consumption.

The landscape of Alentejo region 

Direct flights from and to Lisbon

It’s not a huge new that Lisbon has received more and more prizes and tourists in the last years. But now Lisbon also has more and more direct flights departing and arriving to the capital’s airport.

China will have direct flights to Portugal this summer, from Beijing. In North America, direct flights are available to Toronto, Canada and, in the United States, it is possible to fly to New York, Boston and Miami.

The weekly intensity of flights to São Paulo, Brazil, was also strengthened; in the samba country, you can also fly directly to Brasília, Porto Alegre, Salvador or Recife, among others. Still in South America, Lisbon is directly connect by plain to Venezuela. 

African destinations such as Senegal, Angola and Mozambique have not been forgotten. You can also find direct flights to some popular tourist destinations such as Morocco, Sao Tome and Principe, Tunisia and Cape Verde; Or, if you prefer something less cliché, enjoy and do not stop in your flight to Ghana, Guinea Bissau and Algeria.

In Europe, flights to classic destinations such as London, Madrid, and flights to Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany and Ireland remain available. If you want to go East, the options are extend to Turkey, Romania, Moldavia and Poland. You can still choose between Czech Republic, Croatia, Greece, Austria and Dubai, since every destination has its own direct flight to Lisbon. In addition to those already mentioned, we have the destinations of the Benelux (Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium) and a Scandinavian Peninsula, with direct flights to Denmark, Sweden, Norway or Finland.

After all the options, the most difficult right now is to choose where to go!

MUSEU BERARDO - ONE OF THE TOP 10 MUSEUMS IN EUROPE

If you enjoy modern and contemporary art, the Museu Colecção Berardo (Berardo Collection Museum) is a place we vividly suggest you to visit. Besides the permanent exhibit of the Berardo Collection, there are several temporary exhibits - both by several artists of diverse cultural backgrounds. At this wonderful museum, you will also find a vast program of activities for all ages. Just be aware that both visits and activities must be scheduled in advance at the Museum's website.

LARGO DO PAÇO - BEST EUROPEAN RESTAURANT

The restaurant of Largo do Paço, of Casa da Calçada & Chateaux Hotel, in the city of Amarante, was elected the Best European Restaurant by the biggest European site of suggestions about restaurants and bars: The European 50 Best Restaurants. The site gathers the opinions of thousands of consumers, accepting only a vote per computer.

The restaurant has 1 Michelin Star and its chef is Vítor Matos. It has an exquisite but cosy environment, as well as menus, balanced between tradition and modernity, that change according with the season. It's open everyday of the year, between 12:30 and 15:00 for lunch, and 19:30 and 22:30 for dinner.

Testimonial: Journey to Portugal and Paris

«All the trip planning was excellent, which made it pleasant. It was all very well prepared and divided, which made us enjoy traveling from city to city. The New Year's Eve that we spent at the Hard Rock Café was excellent. The participation of the guides was essential, with special mention to Carlos, who accompanied us in Oporto, by his historical knowledge and professionalism. Since we travelled as a family and all together, we didn't have any problem entering or exiting Europe. The required documentation was only the passports and the interview was quick and calm. The journey exceeded our expectations and we just have to thank you for your commitment and participation in all the planning and all the details.»

António Ottani, January 2013

More testimonials here