Planning a weekend beach getaway is all about choosing the right location. You see, unlike longer holidays, location has the power to significantly impact how much of a break you get – choose somewhere that’s relatively quick to reach and you’ll enjoy plenty of time in the sun; select a destination further afield and your carefully planned break will morph into a weekend of planes, trains and automobiles.

So, today I’m going to give you a few ideas of places to go for a long weekend in the sun. Hopefully, they’ll inspire you to do something a bit different with your next bank holiday or short break from work.

Barcelona

Barcelona is my favourite destination in Europe and I think it’s absolutely perfect for a long weekend away – especially if you’re looking for something more than just a great stretch of sand. While Barcelona is home to several excellent beaches, it’s also a culturally rich city that has something to offer virtually everyone.

So, you can divide your time between sipping cocktails at the numerous beach bars and exploring some of the cultural sites, such as the various architectural achievements of Antoni Gaudi, including the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllo.

Plus, it’s less than a two-hour flight from most UK airports, making it extremely well suited to short breaks. The only downside is that as there’s so much to see, you may well find yourself wishing you had more time to explore!

Benalmadena

The Costa del Sol is a great destination for a sun-drenched holiday, and one of the best places on it for a weekend break is Benalmadena. As it’s just 8 km from Malaga Airport, it’s particularly convenient for anyone arranging a short break who doesn’t want to waste time on lengthy journeys between the airport and their accommodation (by the way, you can get some ideas of places to stay on this website).

The beauty of Benalmadena is that it offers a little bit of everything. As well as great beaches, it has a charming old town (Benalmadena Pueblo) and is close to a huge range of attractions, including the amazing Tivoli World theme park. Unsurprisingly, this is a firm favourite among families, but it has rides suitable for big kids too, so don’t disregard it if you’re travelling with other adults!

Another thing well worth doing is hopping on the local cable car. This will give you great views not only of Benalmadena, but also of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Alternatively, head over to Aqualand, which is the Costa del Sol’s largest water park.

Benidorm

Last on my list is Benidorm, which is a classic British holiday destination. Located on the Costa Blanca, this tourist resort is famous for being a bit of a home from home for UK travellers, thanks to its abundance of British-style food and pubs. This is the place to come if you want to do nothing more than relax on the beach during the day and dance the night away once the sun goes down.

Benidorm has a great tourist infrastructure, so there’s plenty you can do here if you don’t fancy spending your entire break on the sand. For instance, there are plenty of water sports you can try, or you can take a short trip out to Peacock Island, which has some great scenery, as well as lovely views over Benidorm.