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These are Europe’s ‘ugliest’ seaside towns, apparently

The Telegraph has compiled a list of the biggest coastal eyesores on the continent

Liv Kelly
Written by
Liv Kelly
Writer, Time Out Travel
Monaco
Photograph: Shutterstock
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Europe is certainly blessed with some beautiful seaside townsbut there are also a fair few stretches of coast that are not so pleasing to the eye, whether because of pollution, overcrowding or just being generally run-down.

Listen, not everywhere can look like Cinque Terre – and besides, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? But that hasn’t stopped the Telegraph from compiling a list of not-so-handsome coastal towns. 

One spot included is Kemer, a purpose-built resort in Türkiye. According to the Telegraph, ‘bland, gated hotel complexes, waterparks, anodyne restaurants and shopping outlets combine to produce a lifeless cross between the set of The Truman Show and a Pontins holiday camp.’

Sure, it hardly sounds like Sicily, but 300,000 people still head to Kemer for their holiday each year, so it’s gotta be doing something right. 

Albuferia is also included, which is described as being full of ‘endless bars, pulsating night-life and cheap accommodation in ugly, modern, apartment blocks,’ a far cry from the fishing village which originally occupied this spot. It’s hardly a flavour of authentic Portugal, but it’s all a matter of taste, guys. Check out the rest of the list below. 

These are the ‘ugliest’ seaside towns in Europe, according to the Telegraph

  • Monaco
  • Ostia, Italy
  • Ploče, Croatia
  • Kemer, Türkiye 
  • La Línea de la Concepción, Spain
  • Laganas, Zante, Greece
  • Albufeira, Portugal

If you a-beach-iated this beach content, check out our roundups of the best beaches in Europe and across the world

Did you see that these are the best beaches for 2025, according to Lonely Planet?

Plus: This is the best European city break for 2025, according to Time Out

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