The Best City Beaches in the World

On foot

A city beach is reached without a car. Playa de Las Canteras runs for 3 km through the centre of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and can be entered at many points along its promenade. Playa de La Concha in San Sebastián is a walk from the city centre, and Konyaaltı Beach in Antalya is reached on foot along a promenade with a bike path. My Khe Beach in Da Nang lies beside the main coastal road, about 15 minutes' drive from the airport.

Showers and sunbeds

Showers and sunbeds are free or cheap at most of the five. Las Canteras has free showers, toilets and changing rooms, and sunbeds and parasols cost around 5 to 6 euros each. La Concha has lockers and showers for about €2.50, cash only. Konyaaltı has free showers and changing rooms, though they often smell, and café sunbeds start at 300 TL. A sunbed with umbrella at My Khe costs about 40,000 dong a day.

Quiet hours

La Concha is quieter between 8 and 11 am, and Las Canteras is calmer in the mornings and busy at weekends. My Khe is crowded between about 4 and 6 pm, and people also come for the sunrise over the sea.

Maraş Beach

Maraş Beach in Famagusta is the odd one of the five, because the buildings behind it are the abandoned hotels of Varosha. The walk in takes 15 to 35 minutes, or a shuttle runs for about 100 TL return. Loungers are removed after mid-September, and the beach closes early.