Fourteen of Europe’s prettiest seaside towns – from Scotland’s ‘magic’ seafood capital to a ‘handsome little harbour’ in Italy

PARGA, GREECE: Lonely Planet describes Parga on the north-western Greek mainland as a ‘picture-perfect beach town’ that’s an ‘undeniable beauty’. The travel guide explains that the pretty seaside town has a ‘clear turquoise bay pierced with islets’ and a ‘slew of seafront tavernas and bars’

NEW QUAY, CARDIGAN BAY, WALES: This picturesque seaside town started life as a fishing port. Cardigan-Bay.com explains: ‘Today the small local fishing and pleasure craft still come and go in the sheltered bay. New Quay’s beaches extend in a golden arc around the bay and are ideal for relaxing and strolling by the sea. And bottlenose dolphins are regularly seen swimming and diving as they follow shoals of mackerel into the bay’

SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ, FRENCH BASQUE COUNTRY: The colourful seaside town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz is located close to France’s border with Spain. Brittany Ferries describes it as ‘a pretty town with a distinct Basque identity’, adding that Saint-Jean-de-Luz also has some ‘great beaches’

ULCINJ, MONTENEGRO: Ulcinj is ‘one of the oldest towns on the Adriatic coast’, explains Visit Montenegro. The tourist board notes that Ulcinj has ‘very long and beautiful beaches’ with sand that’s ‘a lot like flour’ and enjoys a ‘mild, coastal climate’

COBH, ON A CORK CITY HARBOUR ISLAND: Cobh is primarily known as the Titanic’s last port of call in 1912. Despite that sad history, the town is a ‘stunning’ place to holiday, Visit Cobh explains. The tourist board says that Cobh is ‘steeped in history’ and ‘picture-perfect from every angle’ 

CUDILLERO, NORTHERN SPAIN: According to Lonely Planet, Cudillero is the most ‘picturesque’ spot on the country’s northern Asturian coast and ‘knows it’. The travel guide adds: ‘The houses, painted in a rainbow of pastels, cascade down to a tiny port on a narrow inlet’ 

COLLIOURE, SOUTHERN FRANCE: Collioure is an ‘idyllic gem’, says Visit Collioure. The pretty seaside town has served as inspiration for many artists, Picasso and Matisse among them

MARSTRAND, WESTERN SWEDEN: West Sweden Tourism describes the island town of Marstrand, founded in the 13th century, as a ‘haven for sailing and swimming, with quaint neighbourhoods and car-free streets’

GYTHEIO, PELOPONNESE, GREECE: Gytheio’s name translates as ‘Land of the Gods’ – and it’s certainly heavenly. Visit Peloponnese describes it as ‘a charming, vibrant town with lots of beautiful neoclassical buildings’ and an ‘island vibe’ despite its mainland location

MANAROLA, ITALY: Manarola is a postcard-perfect town on the Italian Riviera. It ‘oozes charm from its handsome little harbour, to the pastel-coloured buildings cleft into its cliffs’, says Rough Guides 

TROGIR, ADRIATIC COAST, CROATIA: Trogir is a World Heritage site and, according to Lonely Planet – ‘gorgeous’. It’s set within medieval walls on a tiny island that’s linked by bridges to both the mainland and to the far larger Ciovo island

ROSCOFF, NORTHWEST FRANCE: Brittany Tourism says that ‘visitors never fail to be charmed’ by Roscoff, adding: ‘This small town of character has attractive, richly decorated houses that once belonged to ship-owners, a church in the flamboyant Gothic style and much more’

OBAN, WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND: Oban is known as Scotland’s ‘seafood capital’ and, notes Lonely Planet, it serves as the main gateway to many of the Hebridean islands. There’s ‘real magic to the location’, Lonely Planet adds. The circular stone structure overlooking the town in this photo is McCaig’s Tower, a Victorian folly that was built in 1890

AZENHAS DO MAR, PORTUGAL: Located just north of Lisbon, Azenhas do Mar is one of Portugal’s best-loved seaside towns. Sintra Portugal Tourism Guide says the pretty seaside spot is a ‘literal cliffhanger, with white houses tumbling down to the Atlantic, creating picturesque scenery that inspired painters and graced postcards in the mid 20th century’