The rise of “coolcations,” or vacations taken during the shoulder season or winter months, has brought a new appreciation for beaches as cold-weather destinations. Driven in part by scorching summer temperatures in Europe during 2024, travelers are seeking respite in cooler climes, and beaches, surprisingly, are providing just that. From bracing walks along icy shores to exhilarating cold-water dips, these winter beach escapes offer a unique and invigorating experience.
Iceland’s Stokksnes beach offers a stunning visual contrast. The jet-black sand, punctuated by brilliant white glacial ice chunks, creates a surreal landscape against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. This dramatic scene, further enhanced by unusual rock formations adorned with frozen moss, offers photographers and nature enthusiasts an unforgettable winter spectacle. For a more remote adventure, Norway’s Kvalvika beach on Moskenesøy island provides a haven for solitude. Accessible only on foot, this rugged beach with golden sand invites wild camping, with visitors encouraged to build fires from driftwood to ward off the winter chill. February, however, brings extreme temperatures, making the available fisherman’s cabins a more comfortable option.
Ireland’s Downings Beach, with its clear Blue Flag waters, provides an ideal setting for cold-water immersion therapy, though beginners might prefer to appreciate its beauty from dry land. The beach, nestled on the Rosguill Peninsula, offers stunning sunset views over the Derryveagh Mountains, a scene that captures the hearts of photographers. After a bracing walk along the shore, the nearby Singing Pub offers a cozy retreat with a roaring fire and a comforting pint of Guinness. Inland, Norway’s Lake Storsjön presents a different kind of winter beach experience. The Vinterplayan, or winter beach, welcomes families to enjoy the winter sun with free deckchairs and blankets provided. The lakeside Vinterbadet offers a sauna, wood-fired hot tub, and the exhilarating option of a cold plunge into the icy lake.
Germany’s Langeoog Island offers a vast 14-kilometer sandy stretch ideal for winter beach walks. Its wild and ancient landscape, sculpted by dykes, mudflats, towering dunes, and salt marshes, takes on an ethereal beauty in winter. Ice chunks washed ashore and snow-dusted dunes provide a captivating backdrop for photographers capturing the diverse birdlife, including eider ducks, greylag geese, and snow buntings. For surfing enthusiasts, Portugal’s Praia do Guincho, featured in the James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” provides excellent winter waves. Even without venturing into the water, the wind-sculpted sand dunes offer a serene and uncrowded escape.
Hiddensee Beach, on a small island off Germany’s Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania coastline, was a source of inspiration for artists like William Turner. In winter, the towering waves crashing against the beach create a surreal atmosphere. The island, located within the Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park, boasts ancient forests and salt marshes, providing a haven for diverse wildlife, including a spectacular autumn arrival of 60,000 cranes. La Palma in the Canary Islands offers the volcanic Nogales beach, a black sand expanse rarely crowded, accessible via a short, steep path. It’s a popular starting point for hikes across the volcanic landscape, but the sight of white waves crashing against the black sand is mesmerizing in itself. A raised viewpoint offers optimal photographic opportunities.
Compton Bay on the Isle of Wight, a short ferry ride from Southampton, is a series of beaches popular for fossil hunting, particularly in winter when strong winds uncover ancient treasures embedded within the eroding cliffs. Nearby Brook Beach even features a fossilized dinosaur footprint. Praia do Pego in Portugal offers a different sensory experience, with the scent of pine trees permeating the air along its golden sands. After a beach stroll, the nearby village of Comporta offers cozy cafes like Almo, where warming dishes like steak tartare provide comfort against the winter chill. Dolphins can often be spotted in the surf. Finally, for those seeking milder winter temperatures, Praia de Vilamoura in the Algarve offers average temperatures around 20°C. The beach’s unique geological formations cast beautiful shadows in the low winter sun, and a boardwalk stroll followed by a visit to Vilamoura Marina, Portugal’s largest, to admire the super yachts, completes the experience.
