Ten genuine beaches on five continents you have to deliberately reach. Where each one is, what makes it special, when to go and what's wrong with it, because none is flawless.
Where the sea is warm, the visa is simple and the price is fair in winter. Five destinations broken down by weather, visa and budget.
Lisbon, Porto, Sintra and the Algarve in one trip. A ready-made route, when to go for the ocean, and where to head for pastel de nata and fado.
Albania is really two countries in one: the turquoise coast of the Riviera around Saranda and Ksamil, and the stone Ottoman towns of Berat and Gjirokaster up in the mountains. And for now it is still cheaper than its Adriatic neighbours.
The Potemkin Stairs and the Opera fit into two hours, while the sea, the courtyards and the Moldovanka deserve a day of their own. Here is how to build the route.
Not where the charter flights land. Rocky Costa Brava coves, black Canary sand, «Caribbean» Balearic turquoise and wild Atlantic dunes: we break down which beach suits whom and when to go.
Bali's dry season runs from May to September: clean seas, steady swells and the least rain. Here's when to go for the surf, and when to go for the price and the quiet.
The best time for the Emirates is November through March, not the summer heat pushing 45°C. We break down the weather month by month, sea temperature and peak-season prices.
Thailand has two coastlines on opposite monsoons, so the "best month" depends on which shore you pick. Here is when to head for the Andaman, when to choose the Gulf, plus season tables and prices.
There is no single best month in the Maldives: the dry season delivers perfect weather, while the wet season brings lower prices and the richest underwater life. Here is which period to pick for which goal, complete with season and tax tables.
Turkey has no single best month: the beaches open by water temperature, while Istanbul lives all year round. We break down which season fits which goal, with a month-by-month table and the honest downsides of peak season.
Ukrainians need a Sri Lanka visa in the form of an electronic ETA: 30 days, double entry, applied for online. Here is the 2026 cost, the end of visa on arrival, and how to extend your stay.
Ukrainian citizens do not need a Maldives visa in advance: the airport issues a free 30-day stamp on arrival. Here is what to show at the border and why IMUGA matters.
As of 2026, Ukrainians do not need a visa for Thailand: visa-free entry allows up to 60 days. Here is a breakdown of the timeframes, documents, TDAC, extensions and the planned cut to 30 days.
Ukrainian citizens do not need a visa for Albania. A 90-day-in-180 visa-free regime applies, along with a separate government decision allowing stays without a residence permit until 30 March 2027.
Ukrainians do not need a visa for Montenegro: visa-free stays of up to 90 days within any 180. We break down the documents, the 24-hour registration and EU transit.
The sea in September is warmer than in June, yet it costs like the off-season. Where to head in autumn for different priorities.
