Beyond the Resort Strip: 10 Beach Towns With Real Character

Beach leisure comes in variations. There are beach towns that only come alive when tourists arrive, standing empty and quiet outside of the season. This article is about destinations that are vibrant year-round, offering authenticity, charming quirks or unique local crafts.

You’ll be immersed in the centuries-old ceramic-making traditions of Vietri sul Mare, feel the “Old Florida” vibes in Anna Maria Island, participate in sword dancing in Korčula, and soak up the tropical atmosphere in Ubatuba.

Each town on the list has something special, making it a perfect choice for exploring the local lifestyle. Because, at the end of the day, travel is about that—opening to the culture and getting the most out of it on your trip. 

Best for handicrafts and the ceramic-making traditions

The Amalfi Coast is far from a lesser-known destination. This gorgeous coastal strip is among the world’s most enchanting regions. While Amalfi and Positano usually take all the tourists, the pretty Vietri sul Mare remains a pleasant underdog. It also feels the most local of the Amalfitan towns. Connected to Naples and Salerno by railway, Vietri sul Mare takes your breath away with a web of narrow streets, picture-perfect mountain vistas, and polychrome ceramics that adorn centuries-old buildings.

The town is among Italy’s most renowned ceramic centers, with local traditions spanning back to the 15th century. The main Corso Umberto I street is dotted with small galleries and shops, where you can buy objects made by the town’s craftsmen. A visit to a functioning Ceramica Artistica Solimene is a great way to see the intriguing creation process and try making vessels and plates yourself. But Vietri is also a beautiful beach town, with some of the Amalfi Coast’s most charming stretches, such as the Crestarella beach club and sandy Spiaggia Libera Vietri. 

Best for unique dances and an atmospheric Old Town

Located in Dalmatia, Korčula is one of Croatia’s most interesting beach towns. The capital of the eponymous island greets you with a spectacular walled historic part, where streets follow a “fish bone” medieval city plan. Lesser known than Dubrovnik and Hvar, it’s also a great place to experience local traditions. Moreška, a sword dance that dates back to the Renaissance, is one of the most stunning. Performed weekly from June to September at Ljetno kino venue next to the Old Town, it’s a mesmerizing spectacle. Men in black-and-white traditional clothing are “fighting” for the woman, swords ablaze, to the accompaniment of medieval music.

But that’s not all—Korcula is also famous in Croatia for its distinct klapa a cappella signing style. Apart from the traditions, the town and the verdant island that surrounds it are fantastic for a beach holiday. Such stretches as Luka Korculanska, Banje, Bilin Zal, and Vela Przina offer crystal-clear Adriatic waters. 

Best for lemons, turquoise beaches and gardens

There’s something about Menton that makes you fall in love with its pastel-colored houses at first sight. Maybe it’s the towering peaks of the Maritime Alps seen from every corner. Or perhaps it’s the town’s rich lemon-making history. Menton is among the country’s largest lemon producers, with over 150 tons delivered annually. Come during the Fête du Citron, a two-week celebration of citrus heritage, to experience the unique carnival-meets-quirky-sculptures atmosphere of the town.

When the weather gets warmer, Menton charms you with its beaches. The turquoise color is prevalent at the town’s most famous stretches, such as Plage des Sablettes, Plage de Fossan, and Plage du Borrigo. Finally, you can’t help but marvel at the lush greenery of Menton’s beautiful gardens, which are the French Riviera’s finest. Jardin botanique Val Rahmeh-Menton and Serre de la Madone are two addresses to explore for inspiration and fresh air. 

Best for scuba diving and a picturesque harbor

You can’t go wrong with choosing Kaş as your base for exploration of the marvelous Turquoise Coast in Turkey. Set 118 miles away from Antalya, this town is home to ancient ruins, pristine beaches, intriguing underwater wrecks, and vibrant urban life. Lesser-known than tourist hotspots like Kemer, Side or Alanya, Kaş is also where you go to experience a more authentic Turkish coast. You’ll stroll through the atmospheric streets of the Old Town, enjoy the buzz of the picturesque harbor, and transport a thousand years back next to the Lycia Rock Tombs and Antiphellos Ancient City.

Kaş is also the unofficial capital of scuba diving in Turkey. Just off the coast, you can see the WW2-era Douglas DC-3 plane on the sea bottom. There are also numerous diving schools and hundreds of beautiful underwater sites to see around the city. I would recommend basing yourself in Kaş for access to the best Turkish beaches. Magnificent Kaputaş is a pebbly stretch between tall cliffs, while Akçagerme and Büyükçakıl are pretty coves near the city center. 

Best for the balanced Cretan experience

Crete is the largest island in Greece, offering endless ways to savor the Mediterranean beauty. While most travelers end up in either Hersonissos or Chania (both have busy international airports), it’s Rethymno that should be high on your list for a more local Cretan vibe. It’s like the mix of the two, combining the easygoing Chania’s Venetian allure with Hersonissos city beat, while sprinkling it with a more laid-back atmosphere.

The beach is where Rethymno excels: a local sandy strip spans over 7 miles. Then, there’s a historic quarter to stroll through in awe. A dramatic Fortezza rises above the red rooftops of the Old Town. You will wander through the lively Venetian-era street maze. The taverna-dotted harbor is a fantastic place to watch the sunset and sample the mouthwatering Greek food. You will also discover artifacts from the Minoan civilization at the Archaeological Museum of Rethymnon and local artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete.

Best for colorful colonial architecture and Atlantic beaches

If Punta Cana is all resorts with little culture, Puerto Plata is the complete opposite. Located on the Dominican Republic’s north coast, this town is a far cry from the all-inclusive resort settlements of the east. There’s a slightly worn-off, yet incredibly charming historic part, filled with colorful 19th-century houses. Restaurants and bars here are actually spots locals frequent, where you can taste the real Dominican cuisine.

That’s not to say that Puerto Plata is completely off the beaten track. You will find big resort hotels and golden sand beaches at the Costa Dorada and Playa Dorada neighborhoods, east of the center. Stunning ocean views and miles of jungle hiking tracks await you at Isabel de Torres National Park, reached by the panoramic cable car. When the sun sets, Malecón de Puerto Plata, the town’s beautiful Atlantic boardwalk, is where everyone gathers.   

Best for the enchanting coast and a budget-friendly Caribbean holiday

Colombia is home to a spectacular Caribbean coast. When Cartagena de las Indias receives most international tourists, the more low-key Santa Marta is where the Colombian vacationers go. Compact and affordable, this town is fantastic for immersing yourself in the country’s Caribbean culture. All local streets lead to the stunning Bahía, the town’s picturesque bay.

Curiously, Santa Marta is Colombia’s oldest European settlement, founded in 1525. Its old quarter is filled with pretty casas with wooden balconies. The must-visits are Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, a 17th-century hacienda where Simón Bolívar died in 1830, and the gargantuan Catedral, officially Colombia’s oldest. Santa Marta’s beaches of Pozos Colorados and Playa la Bahia are nice for a sandy Caribbean repose, but go to Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona for some of the most beautiful sandy bays on the planet. 

Best for wild beaches and Andalusian culture

You don’t hear much about Almería when the South of Spain is mentioned. To be fair, the Andalusia region is home to mega-popular destinations like Granada, Malaga, Seville, and Cordoba, so it’s easy to miss other places. If you’re after the local and unfiltered Spain, Almería is a perfect choice. The mighty Alcazaba, a medieval Moorish fortress, crowns the hill above the maze-like historic quarter. The narrow streets of the Old Town are made for wandering. The cozy plazas are abuzz with life and host numerous tapas bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. Then, for the beach, you go to the coastal El Zapillo neighborhood, with miles of promenade and sand. It’s never sad at Spain’s sunniest city (that’s an official title, by the way).

A short drive from the center to the southeast takes you to Parque Natural del Cabo de Gata-Níjar. Here, it’s all about admiring the wild and barren Mediterranean beaches, such as Playa de Cabo de Gata and Playa de Mónsul. Another highlight of Almería is the Tabernas Desert, where many Spaghetti Westerns of the ’70s were filmed. 

Best for a laid-back tropical escape and island-hopping

The beach town of choice for paulistas (São Paulo locals), Ubatuba offers a window into the local holiday lifestyle. A visit here usually includes drinking lots of cachaça (a sugarcane juice cocktail) while lounging on the powdery local stretches, taking trilhas (hiking trails) to pristine cachoeras (hidden waterfalls in the jungle), and exploring the paradisiac ilhas (islands). You pick up Portuguese quickly in Ubatuba, as it’s mostly Brazilians who will surround you; the town isn’t as international as Rio.

One of the wonderful things about this town is how easy it is to move from one beach to another. Itagua Beach is the long, central stretch, while Praia do Perequê-Açú is a more peaceful bay. Take time to explore the magnificent hidden coves in the vicinity, such as Praia do Cedro, Praia Vermelha do Norte, and Praia do Alto. The town is also a base for boat trips to Ilha Anchieta, Ilha das Couves, and Ilha do Prumirim, each offering amazing snorkeling. 

Best for the “Old Florida” vibes and sublime beaches

Sleepy, slow and uncrowded, but ultimately very, very charming. That would be a correct description of Anna Maria Island, one of the last strongholds of the “Old Florida” feel. There are no high-rise resorts and uber-commercialized boardwalks, just the pelicans on the clean beaches and the fossilized shark teeth in the sugary sand. It’s the perfect Gulf destination for active families, where you will hunt for treasures, watch dolphins on a boat tour, explore the underwater world on a snorkeling expedition, and end the day with gorgeous pink sunsets.

Oh, and there will be delicious grilled seafood at the moms-and-paps local restaurants. Bean Point Beach is the life’s center at Anna Maria, where you can spot starfish and swim with manatees. The Bayfront Park is a nice coastal area with a playground for smaller children. For family-run coffee shops and cozy bars, take a walk down the Gulf Drive. Anna Maria Island Historical Society offers a look into the area’s past, including a visit to the 1927-built ruins of the local jail.