TOP 7 EUROPEAN BEACHES FOR CHILDREN

Cirali, one of the most untouched beaches for children that have been recommended, is surrounded by mountains, forest and groves and farms of lemon grass. The tourist attractions offered by this sleepy little town include a variety of restaurants, old temples and tombs. At the protected bay in the shingle beach, you can watch loggerhead turtles laying eggs during June and July and their hatching during the period mid-July to mid-September. As the area is protected by Turkey's Culture and Tourism and Forestry ministries, the development here is minimal.

If your children swim well and are not old enough to seek serious nightlife, they would enjoy the seclusion offered by Karavostási. Located close to key resorts on the north-west coast of Greece, the 1,640 feet long beach has not seen much development. The sea sports a rich blue color and the long and broad (light grey to brown) sand isolates the beach from the traffic along the track behind it. The waters are clean, but there is a sharp drop-off. Therefore, the beach is unsuitable if you have toddlers with you. Attractions close to the beach include ancient ruins and nature reserves.

Makarska city is located on the Adriatic coastline and is surrounded by palm trees. You can go to the nearby islands on excursion boats. You can cycle or walk along a promenade lined with trees to the main beach and go on a peddle-boat ride or a banana ride. While the Buba beach bar with its straw umbrellas and wooden sun-beds offers low-key DJ music, Punta Rata, the shallow pebble beach in Brela, with its turquoise waters is one of the best beaches for children.

Llafranc, located on the north-eastern corner of Spain in Costa Brava, offers quiet and peace and has everything to keep your family entertained for a week. The sandy bay and the turquoise waters are lined with low-rise buildings, restaurants and hotels. You can head to Girona, if you are looking for a great family bonding experience. You can sleep inside a fully equipped classic VW. It accommodates four people. For more people, tents can be hired and set up at Kims Camping, just 10 minutes from Llafranc beach.

Île d’Oléron, the largest island in France after Corsica, offers great cycling experience with about 70 miles of biking track passing through pine forests, fields and marshland. If you are an oyster lover, this is a great place. The key attraction of the beach is its sandy beaches. The favorite one is the Plage des Saumonards dotted with stakes for mussel-rearing and Plage de Gatseau close to St-Trojan-les-Bains. The best place to stay is Indigo Olron Les Pins, which is a back-to-nature campsite within cycling distance from Plage de Gatseau.

If you are interested in tennis or golf and traveling with children (age does not matter), you should not miss out on Pine Cliffs. There is a tennis academy with five courts, including two clay courts, and a nine-hole golf. Classes are held from dawn to dusk. Pine Cliffs also has clubs for children: Pirate Club for kids from 6 months to 7 years of age and Junior Club for children in the age group of eight to 13 years. Activities taught include mini-golf, football, aim shooting and crossbow, darts, disc bowls and water ball. For sundowners, there is the champagne bar on top of the cliff. You just have to drive down from the landscaped clifftop to reach the stunning beach with golden sands.

Calabria is not as prominently featured as Puglia and Sicily in Italian brochures, but you will find resorts that have a great character in this place. For example, the ancient Tropea is a charming enclave. The old town, sitting on a rock shelving a sandy beach, is replete with shops and good trattorias. Tropea's evening passeggiata is the busiest in Italy because of Gelati Tonino, the ice cream emporium.

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