The everlasting magic of Mediterranean seaside villages

There's an abundance of coastal towns and port cities in Spain and France, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. A seemingly endless supply of resort villages hugs the entire Mediterranean coastline.

If emerald waters, rugged coastlines and breezy seafront cafes appeal to you, pause your plans for the Caribbean or Mexico and consider taking your next beach vacation in the Mediterranean. There's an abundance of coastal towns and port cities in Spain and France, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. A seemingly endless supply of resort villages hugs the entire Mediterranean coastline.

Low-Key Seaside Bliss Some of our favorite towns include Tarragona, home to ancient Roman ruins and lush gardens, and Sitges, a vibrant coastal town with rows of towering palms and a lively beachside promenade.

The seaside village of Blanes, just an hour from Barcelona on the Costa Brava, boasts long, sandy beaches divided by an iconic rocky promontory called Sa Palomera. Its cliffside Jardín Botánico Marimurtra impresses with subtropical gardens housing more than 4,000 plant species.

Most American tourists have probably never heard of Javea, close to Alicante in the Costa Blanca, but its relative obscurity is a good thing. Even its most popular oceanfront promenades are never too frantic, and there are plenty of rocky, unmanicured stretches and mountain hiking trails to explore.