Top 5 city beaches

For those who can’t choose between a city break and a beach holiday, Cheapflights.com has created a top five city beaches list so you can have the best of both.

1. Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

No trip to Rio is complete without a stop at Copacabana. This two-and-a-half-mile stretch of sand is busy with sunbathing, kite flying, rollerblading and loads of beach sports. The iconic black-and-white wave of the Copacabana promenade, which trails the length of the beach, is a hot spot for tourists and residents alike.

From the beach there are great views of Sugarloaf Mountain, the Corcovado and the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean. And if the sun gets too hot, there are plenty of places to cool off with a caipirinha (Brazil’s national cocktail).

Other beaches to check out around Rio de Janeiro are Ipanema, Prainha Beach and Praia Vermelha.

2. Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

Just 10 minutes outside the city sits Camps Bay, the most popular of the beaches of Cape Town. Camps Bay has a little bit of something for everyone, including surfing spots, places to scuba dive, grassy picnic lawns, upscale seafood restaurants and open-air markets. Victoria Road is the main street along the beach, and it has loads of pubs, restaurants, hotels and shops.

If you’re looking for other places to catch some rays in Cape Town, check out Clifton Beach, Boulder Beach and Mnandi Beach.

3. Barceloneta Beach, Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona not only offers its visitors world-renowned Spanish culture, cuisine and architecture, but it’s also a great spot to sit and relax along the Mediterranean Sea. Barceloneta is a two-mile stretch of beach located right in the city in one of Barcelona’s oldest neighbourhoods. Chiringuitos (beach bars) line the length of the beach, along with hotels, casinos, shops and restaurants. And after dark, Barceloneta has an exciting nightlife scene.

After you’ve seen Barceloneta, other beaches to visit include Icária Beach and Stiges.

4. Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, the US

Located in the heart of Hawaii’s capital city, Waikiki is a year-round spot for the traveller seeking sun and sand. The quintessential turquoise waters of Waikiki Beach have been a popular spot for relaxation as far back as the early 1900s when Hawaiian royalty would visit in search of great surfing.

And if sunbathing isn’t for you, the options for beach activities are abundant, including surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving.

There are great places for a stroll, including the Waikiki Beach Walk and the Waikiki Historic Trail, as well as a number of other popular sites, including Pearl Harbour and Nuuanu Pali Lookout.

5. Costa de Caparica, Lisbon, Portugal

Just south of Lisbon lies the Costa de Caparica, where sand seems to stretch for endless miles. Despite being a popular spot for visitors looking to soak up some Vitamin D, Costa de Caparica is never overly crowded.

There’s a bus from Lisbon that stops five minutes from the beach, and there’s also a local bus that takes visitors from beach to beach along the coast. Once you’re there, be sure to check out the beach bars and live music.

If you’re visiting Lisbon and want to check out other beaches, visit Guincho and Carcavados.