Easy beach holidays by train

The sand and sea aren’t as far as you think, thanks to these easy beach holidays by train, in partnership with Byway. Whether you want to surf, swim or just sunbathe, you could soon be laying down your towel and slapping on the SPF in a sunny spot, with no flight needed. Short-haul beach trips by train are a win for instant satisfaction and minimal annual leave usage. Not to mention, the views en route are dreamy. So, check out our top easy beach destinations and the flight-free trips that take you there… 

UK  

The Cornish coast   

You wanted quick… The UK has loads of great beaches that come alive over the summer, so why not try a little staycation? Cornwall can sometimes be mistaken for France when the sun’s out and there are so many coastal walks and watersports to keep you busy. Take the train down to start your trip with two nights in St Ives. This artsy town’s got a number of acclaimed galleries showing off works of artists inspired by the five beaches here. They’re loved by surfers, sunbathers and foodies.  

Then, it’s less than an hour to ride over to Penzance. Here, you’ve got one of Europe’s few remaining saltwater lidos if you’re more of a pool person. But beach wise, Eastern Green’s got sand to the north of the harbour and a mix of pebble and sand to the south by the promenade, so you can pick your preference. You’ll spend two nights here too, so you can catch a show at the open-air Minack Theatre or walk along the dramatic cliffs as well. To get home, the Night Riviera takes you all the way back to London Paddington in the privacy of your own sleeper cabin, so you don’t need to waste a second of sunlight on your last day.  

France 

Marseille 

Boarding the Eurostar in the morning, you can be on the beach in Marseille in time for sunset in summer. Changing trains in Paris, it’s three and a half hours to the south coast – plenty of time for a few chapters of your holiday read or to catch up on a podcast series while staring out at the French countryside.    

Marseille is France’s oldest city, founded back in 600 BC, and beyond the old port is the Plage des Catalans. This beach is popular with the locals and visitors, with volleyball courts, restaurants and bars nearby and you can see out to the Frioul islands. Rent paddleboards or, for something super unique, snorkel around the city’s underwater museum. 100 metres from the beach, different sculptures lie on the seabed, creating an artificial reef – and it’s completely free! People bring picnics to watch the sunset here too, so it’s worth a whole day on the sand before you head back home.  

Nice  

Four days in Nice sounds pretty nice, right? Swap from the Eurostar in Paris to a ride on the TGV to reach the French Riviera. The Côte d’Azur’s chic capital is a sunny and sophisticated place, with Baroque buildings and a top foodie scene to explore. You’ve got your pick of a few different beaches here as well, from Coco Beach to the private patch of Castel Plage.   

Plage Beau Rivage is one of the main glam strips and its pebbled shore serves nothing less. You can stretch out on a lounger, order a sundowner from the lounge bar and get dinner at the restaurant with a sea view. La Galet’s reputation for fresh food and social events makes it a bit of an it-girl option, or Ruhl Plage has a wooden platform with steps into the sea to save your pebble-worn feet and boats a saltwater pool, popular with families. After soaking up the south-coast sun and sipping on France’s finest Côtes de Provence Rosé, it’s the same simple train journey back home.  

Spain

Barcelona 

Spain is the UK’s fave holiday destination and no, you don’t need to fly there. This journey through Spain takes you to Barcelona’s coast, the capital city of Madrid and historic Nîmes. Ride from London to Paris and Paris to Barcelona, hugging the Mediterranean coastline – look right as you pass through Perpignan to spot the snow-capped Pyrenees. You get two nights in this boho city to lay out on its urban beach, Barceloneta, or hop down to the sandy resort of Sitges. Beach volleyball or table tennis are on offer here, or Nova Icaria and Platja d’Ocata are a little quieter.  

After some time on the sand, you can still city hop to see the modern art and famous galleries in Madrid for three nights and then visit ‘the most Roman city outside of Italy’, Nîmes. This trip really is the perfect compromise to mix up the pace between a bit of chill and culture – all in just six days.  

Santander  

Waste no time seeking out the sea and sand in Santander and board the overnight ferry from Plymouth. The train down from London is about three hours and then you can settle into your very own private cabin and sail away to the north coast of Spain while you sleep.  

Santander is the capital of Spain’s Cantabria region, known for its fresh seafood. You’ve got wild, windswept shores here, which make it popular with local and travelling surf communities. Playa Sardinero is the main beach – a surf pick in autumn and winter but otherwise the ideal sunny, sandy spot to stretch out on. If you’re not done with the boat life after your journey here, catch another ferry over to Playa de Somo. It’s only 30 minutes away on the Magdalena Peninsula and is another surf spot and a gorgeous sweep of golden sand, surrounded by green cliffs. Make sure you catch the city’s impressive cathedral before you go – but as you’ve got six days to explore it all, there’s absolutely no rush. Your ferry home is another overnight job to max out the sunshine hours.  

Want to make life a beach? See the rest of our flight-free destinations to find an itinerary that suits you, in partnership with Byway.  

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Author: Lily Owen
Last updated: 28/05/2024