Explore Hidden Mediterranean Beaches Year-Round

With Holland America’s newly launched year-round Europe cruises, you can experience the majesty of far-off places, unhurried and when it’s convenient for your schedule. While on your cruise, you may want to take the road less traveled on a port day, which is why we’ve rounded up a list of local, off-the-beaten-path beaches you can visit while on shore during one of our Mediterranean itineraries.

Looking for a secluded, yet beautiful escape for your port day? These secluded sand stretches are equally relaxing and special, while still offering opportunities for adventure. Check out our list.

This classic black-sand beach is located in La Palma — the most northern and westerly of the Canary Islands — and backed by banana plantations and volcanic terrain. This beach is protected by beautiful palm trees offering plenty of shade to sunbathe and is conveniently located near restaurants so you can enjoy the local cuisine. To cap it all off, La Palma is less touristy than other islands, making this a dream escape.

Featured itinerary: 29-Day Christmas Market Holiday & Canary Island Enchantment

Headed on a cruise with stops in Italy? Make Cala Violina a part of your adventure. Just about a 1-hour-and-45-minute drive from the port in Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy, you’ll arrive at a coastal inlet in the Maremma region of southern Tuscany.

This secluded nature-reserve beach is perfect for the day along crystal-clear Tyrrhenian water. What makes this beach special is its “singing sand.” Tiny quartz grains of sand are said to play a melody with each step — likely caused by the vibration of the grains as they move.

Featured itinerary: 7-Day Western Mediterranean: Florence

Where nature and history come together, this beach is just about an hour drive from the Livorno (Florence/Pisa) port in Italy. Situated between the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas, this calm crescent bay resembles glistening crystal with a lush coastline that gives wine country vibes. After basking in the sun, you can discover the Baratti and Populonia Archaeological Park, where an Etruscan settlement once stood.

Featured itinerary: 11-Day Western Mediterranean: Spain, Italy & France

A short drive from the port in Kotor, Montenegro, this sandy Adriatic cove is where you go to relax. It’s calm, clear water is shallow and perfect for wading for a few hours and unwinding away from the crowds. Known for its golden sand, this beach is situated against olive groves and pine trees for that true Mediterranean backdrop.

Featured itinerary: 10-Day Adriatic Splendor: Croatia & Italy

Known for its protected turquoise waters, this beach is just a 45-minute drive from the port of Kusadasi, Turkey. Thanks to its status as a national park, this bay is a natural harbor with a rugged coastline and home to dark sand, pebbles, and lush Mediterranean vegetation. Experience the pristine beauty and secluded atmosphere of this unique beach.

Featured itinerary: 22-Day Greek Isles with Amalfi Coast, Istanbul & Dubrovnik

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