Recognise this holiday dilemma: sun-soaking or sight-seeing? Well why choose at all when we’ve come up with a list of the world’s best beach cities! The marriage of skyscrapers and sand has produced action-packed beach hangouts bursting with chilled bars, preening surfers and chanting vendors. Careful: you could lose days to people watching. And those beachy vibes weave backwards into the bustling streets, creating some of the most laid-back cities around.
1. Los Angeles
You may recognise Venice Beach and Santa Monica from one of their numerous outings on the silver screen. When you’re not rollerblading along Ocean Front Walk you can explore the city’s other iconic sights; Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive and of course the Hollywood studios that made them famous.
2. Barcelona
Sure, there are plenty of incredible beaches lining the Costa Brava, just to the north of Barcelona. But none of them have sangria sellers patrolling the beach, a giant copper fish AND neighbourhoods dotted with Gaudi’s original architecture. Get yourself to one of the funky chiringuito beach bars along Barceloneta beach right now.
3. Venice
There’s not much space among Venice’s historic sights for a beach, but just a 10-minute boat ride across the lagoon takes you to Venice Lido. This seven-mile-long sand bar is one of Venice’s trendier, residential suburbs, and it’s a great place to grab a deck chair and relax after the crowds of St Mark’s Square.
4. Nice
Go glam with a visit to Nice beach; many a starlet has been spotted parading along the Promenade des Anglais – you are right next to glitzy Monaco and Cannes after all. Don’t miss Nice’s other attractions; the charming narrow streets of the Old Town and the Matisse Museum included.
5. Dubai
Dubai has many man-made attractions to visit from the 829-metre-high Burj Khalifa to the extravagant Mall of the Emirates. But what about its beaches? Once you’re done splashing the cash you can keep things simple with an afternoon relaxing on Jumeirah beach. Dubai certainly has the temperatures to suit it! 
6. Miami
Miami celebrates its beaches, with the beautiful people flocking to South Beach by the bucketload. Add steamy Latino nightlife and pastel-pretty art deco architecture and you have a city to make a song and dance over. Eh, Will Smith? And with a detour you could fit in Disney World in Orlando too. Just sayin’.
7. Cape Town
Cape Town’s beaches also benefit from the city’s breathtaking setting on the green slopes of Table Mountain. There are enough broad white sand beaches to pick from. Along the False Bay beaches have warmer waters, but you’ll get striking sea views from exclusive Clifton.
8. Valencia
Despite its extravagant architecture, the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, and several golden beaches, Valencia doesn’t get half the attention Barcelona does – yet! Get in before everyone else does. Oh, and if you’re not swayed yet, it’s the birthplace of paella – dig in!
9. Rio de Janeiro
The fame of Rio’s beaches eclipses the city. But did you know about the beaches’ social groupings? On Ipanema section eight is for families, whilst the hip crowd hang out at section nine. Don’t get so sucked into beach life that you miss Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain though.
10. Sydney
Sydney is a city totally entwined with beach culture. Sure, you’ll want to change out of your speedos when you tour the Opera House, but the rest of the time join the locals for some outdoor living on iconic beaches such as Bondi, Coogee and Manly. They’ve got all the golden sands and gnarly surfers you’d want. 
