Summer, come back: 5 beach vacation ideas for October

1. Sicily (Italy)

Air temperature in October: up to +30°C.

Water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea: up to +22°C.

Water temperature in the Ionian Sea: up to +24°C.

Water temperature in the Tyrrhenian Sea: up to +23°C.

The bathing season lasts from May to October.

The beaches of the island are divided into three groups: municipal, where money is charged only for umbrellas and sun beds, private, with paid entrance, and "wild", without the slightest hint of civilization.

The Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily (from Palermo to Messina) includes San Vito Lo Capo (the best beach on the island, according to tourists), Mondello and Cefalù, ideal for vacationing with children, pebbly Campofelice di Roccella and the beach on Capo Cape, adored by windsurfers.

The Eastern coast washed by the Ionian Sea includes the beaches of Messina, which is about 200 kilometers long, the fashionable resort of Taormina and Catania. The city beach of Taormina is small and too crowded, and it is not very convenient to get there. But now everyone can get to the bay of Lido Mazzaro, where only Hollywood stars used to rest. In the vicinity of the resort popular beaches are Giardini Naxos and Letoyanni. To the west of Messina are the Aeolian Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Popular resorts in the south-east of the island are Fontane Bianche (the beach here is beautiful, with fine white sand, but very small) and Noto with the beach of Lido di Noto.

The Mediterranean coast of Sicily is one of the best places for beach vacation. The main resorts are Ragusa (the most popular beaches are concentrated in the Marina di Ragusa area), Agrigento (in its vicinity, on both sides of the cliff of Scala del Turci, there are some of the most picturesque beaches of the island), Marsala (not the best for swimming, but ideal for kiting and windsurfing), Egadi Islands.

There are many sights on the island, but here are the ones you can't miss:

• The active volcano Etna (the largest in Europe, 3300 meters above sea level);
• Valley of the Temples - a complex where cult buildings from the V-IV centuries BC have been preserved, the most famous of which is considered to be the Temple of Zeus the Olympian;
• Ancient monuments of Syracuse: Greek Theater, Roman Amphitheater, Euryalus Castle;
• The Royal Palace in Palermo.

What to try: deep-fried rice balls with different fillings (arancini), chickpea flour tortillas (panelle), spleen sandwich (panino con la milza), pasta with eggplant and ricotta cheese (pasta alla norma), pasta with sea urchin (pasta con I ricci), tubes with mascarpone or ricotta cream (canolli), cake with fruit or marzipan (cassata), crushed fruit ice (granita), candy with nougat and pistachios (torroncini). Popular alcoholic drinks: wines (the most famous is fortified dessert Marsala), liqueurs Mandarincello and Limoncello.

Entry regime for Ukrainians: visa-free (for biometric passport holders). You can stay in Italy for tourist purposes for a maximum of 90 days per half-year.

How to get there: by air (international airports are in Palermo and Catania, domestic flights also arrive in Trapani, Pantelleria and Lampedusa) or by sea (ferries depart from Rome, Naples, Genoa, Salerno and other cities of mainland Italy, bringing passengers to Palermo, Trapani, Pozzallo, Catania and Messina).

You can book a hotel in Sicily with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

2. Sardinia (Italy)

Air temperature in October: up to +26°C.

Water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea: up to +20°C.

Water temperature in the Tyrrhenian Sea: up to +23°C.

The bathing season lasts from the end of May to the end of November.

The island has more than 250 beaches with a total length of 1800 kilometers. Getting to some of them by land is not easy, but the life of tourists is made easier by water transportation: yachts, boats and boats.

The Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) is a luxurious and comfortable area of the island for discerning guests. It includes the resorts of Arzachena, Porto Cervo, Poltu Quatu and Capriccioli.

Alghero (Coral Riviera) in the province of Sassari is an ideal resort for a vacation with children. It has a coastline of 90 kilometers, the most popular beach is the sandy Lido di Alghero with a gentle entrance to the water. Locals prefer to relax on the less crowded Le Bombarde beach, surrounded by pine trees.

Oristano is also suitable for young vacationers and their parents. The resort is located in one of the most picturesque corners of Sardinia, a couple of kilometers away are the beaches of Mari Ermi and Is Arutas, covered with small pieces of white quartz, similar to grains of rice. These are "wild" beaches, there are no restaurants or hotels nearby. There is a good spot for surfers in the vicinity - the sandy beach of Putzu Idu.

Cagliari is the administrative center of Sardinia and is the choice of those who want to combine a beach holiday with a sightseeing program. The city's main beach, Poetto, is too crowded in season and the water can be murky, but there are alternatives such as the Blue Flag Costa Rei and the picturesque Villasimius.

Take time to see the sights of Cagliari: the Roman Amphitheater (1st- 2nd century AD), Santa Maria Cathedral, the Bastion of San Remi, whose terrace offers the best views of the city, and Parco di Molentargius, home to pink flamingos.

What to try: fish soup with tuna and mullet caviar (sa cassola), spit-roasted pig meat (porceddu), roast lamb, grilled seafood, ravioli with cheese fried in oil. For connoisseurs of alcoholic beverages we recommend tasting local wines, little known outside the island, as well as infusions and liqueurs: Amaro di cardo, Corbezzolo, Filu e'ferru, Mirto and Limone.

Entry regime for Ukrainians: visa-free (for biometric passport holders). You can stay in Italy for tourist purposes for a maximum of 90 days per half-year.

How to get there: by air (there are airports in Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero) or by sea (by ferry from the ports of Livorno, Piombino, Civitavecchia, Genoa, Naples, Palermo and Trapani).

3. Eilat (Israel)

Air temperature in October: up to +29°C.

Water temperature in the Red Sea: up to +26°C.

You can swim here all year round, the water temperature does not fall below +21°C.

The resort is ideal for vacation with children (warm sea and sandy beaches contribute to this), as well as for fans of snorkeling and diving - off the coast of Eilat is a marine reserve.

The coastline stretches for 12 kilometers, the most popular beach is Migdalor with free sunbeds and an excellent bar. The bottom is rocky, so the water is always clear and the coral reef is visible from the shore with the naked eye.

Many hotels have their own beaches, entrance to which is free for guests. They are located within the city and are best suited for kids. Minus - here you will not see corals and fish.

Ideal places for scuba diving are located south of Eilat. You will have to pay to enter one of the most popular beaches in this part of the resort, Dolphin Reef.

In Eilat there is an underwater observatory "Coral World", where you can learn all about the vegetation and inhabitants of the Red Sea. Another interesting attraction: the Timna Valley, where already in the X century BC. copper was mined (local mines are called "King Solomon's mines"). There are dozens of hiking, automobile and bicycle routes that connect the sites of valuable archaeological finds.

Families with children are recommended to visit the City of Kings theme complex and Dolphin Reef amusement park, where you can interact with dolphins and take a ride on a yacht or a transparent-bottomed boat on the bay.

What to try: shawarma and falafel in one of the street stands, Moroccan soup of rice, chickpeas and lentils, vegetable pudding "kugel", eggs with vegetables "shakshuka", Israeli wines, liquor "Sabra" and aniseed vodka "arak".

Entry regime for Ukrainians: visa-free. You can stay in Israel for tourist purposes for a maximum of 90 days per half a year.

How to get there: in the center of the city there is an international airport, where you can arrive from Kiev with a transfer in Tel Aviv. The second option is a direct flight "Kiev-Tel Aviv", and then travel by bus to Eilat (about five hours).

4. Cyprus

Air temperature in October: up to +28°C.

Water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea: up to +24°C.

The bathing season lasts from May to October, but in summer it is too hot here - even the usual locals prefer not to go out in the daytime.

There are about 90 beaches on the island, many of which have been awarded the "Blue Flag" for cleanliness and safety. Most beaches are suitable for kids, thanks to the sandy coastline and gentle entrance to the water.

Interesting fact: all beaches in Cyprus are municipal, you can rest on any beach you like (even if it is the territory of the hotel) for free. You will have to pay only for a sun bed and umbrella.

You can book a hotel in Cyprus with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Ayia Napa is a youthful, partying and rather expensive resort. But this is in the summer - in the fall you can safely come here with children. It is considered that local beaches (Nissi Beach, Sandy Bay, Makronisos, Landa) are the most beautiful in Cyprus, besides there is a lot of entertainment and attractions for all tastes. Families with babies are recommended to visit WaterWorld water park, decorated on the motives of myths of Ancient Greece, and dolphinarium, and all without exception - look at the monastery, visit the National Park "Cape Greco" and go on a boat trip along the coast.

Larnaca will suit those who want to have a good vacation and fit into a limited budget. The beaches here are mostly sandy-pebble, the best of which are recognized as Mackenzie and Dekelia. The main attractions of the resort are the Church of St. Lazarus, the Finikoudes promenade and the active monastery of Stavrovouni, where part of the cross on which Jesus was crucified is kept. Children's attractions include the Luna Park and the zoo. Divers won't be bored either - a Swedish ferry that wrecked in 1980 and a cruiser that sank in 1943 lie at the bottom of the resort.

Paphos. One of the most expensive resorts in Cyprus, designed mainly for adults. The beaches here are mostly stony and pebble, the entrance to the water is not everywhere convenient due to the rocky terrain. The top is as follows: Coral Bay, Corallia, Faros, Virsudia and the beach of Geroskipou located in the suburbs. Interesting sights: the bath of Aphrodite, royal tombs, archaeological park and Paphos Castle. Children will be interested in the water park, aquarium or bird park.

What to try: "choryatiki salata" (in our country this salad is called Greek salad), soup on goat or sheep milk "trahana", kebabs "souvla", assortment of appetizers "meze" (can be fish, meat or mixed), donuts "lukumades" with honey syrup. Among alcoholic drinks worthy of attention are anise brandy "Uzo", grape moonshine "Zivania" and wine "Kommandaria" flavored with honey, dried fruits and spices.

Mode of entry for Ukrainians: visa-free (for biometric passport holders). You can stay in Cyprus for tourist purposes for a maximum of 90 days per half-year.

How to get there: the airports of Larnaca (Wizzair has direct flights from Kiev) and Paphos (you can arrive here only with connections or by charter).

5. Rhodes (Greece)

Air temperature in October: up to +24°C.

Water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea: up to +23°C.

Water temperature in the Aegean Sea: up to +24°C.

The bathing season lasts from mid-May-early June to mid-October.

The beaches of Rhodes are predominantly pebbly, most of them are suitable for vacation with children.

Faliraki is the most "party" resort of Rhodes, which in season is occupied by noisy young people. Here is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island (and one of the most crowded, alas), and the bay of Kalitea you can try yourself in one of the water sports. Nearby Kolimibia beach is suitable for snorkeling.

If you want to combine a beach vacation with a rich sightseeing program, choose Lindos. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its main attraction is the second largest and most important Greek Acropolis.

From Lardos Bay to Plimmyri for 30 kilometers stretch wild beaches - a paradise for those who are tired of people and want to be alone. A little further away is the southernmost resort of Rhodes, Prasonisi, where the two seas meet.

The resorts of Ialyssos and Ixia are the closest to the capital of the island, Rhodes. This part of the coastline is home to fashionable resorts, the best beaches and annual surfing competitions. Stop for a day in the capital to see the Old Town, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the archaeological area on Monte Smith Mountain (ruins of several ancient temples and a stadium built in the II century BC), the Church of Our Lady of Chora, the Palace of the Grand Masters. We also recommend visiting the Valley of Butterflies in the vicinity of Rhodes, where winged beauties live in natural conditions.

What to try: "Greek" salad (unlike mainland Greece, here it is called so), "zadziki" sauce (yogurt with cucumbers, garlic, herbs and spices), appetizers "meze", cutlets "keftedes", kebabs "souvlaki", eggplant with potatoes and minced meat "moussaka", yogurt with honey, baklava. Popular alcoholic beverages: wines (e.g. "retsina" with pine flavor), brandy "metaxa", anise vodka.

Mode of entry for Ukrainians: visa-free (for biometric passport holders). You can stay in Greece for tourist purposes for a maximum of 90 days per half-year.

How to get here: flights from abroad are accepted by the international airport of Diagoras. From Kiev you can get here with at least one connection (for example, in Athens) by flights of Aegean, UIA and other companies, as well as charters.