City break or beach? HOW ABOUT BOTH!

Enjoy the best of both worlds with these do-it-all destinations

-  HELENA CARTWRIGHT

Helsinki

With temperatures hovering around 17 degrees even in the height of summer, Helsinki might not be an obvious choice for city/beach break. But Finland’s capital is home to over 130km of shoreline and Hietaniemi Beach has been fondly dubbed ‘The Copacabana of Helsinki’. Once you’ve grown tired of feeling the sand between your toes, swap your flip-flops for a pair of shoes and visit Helsinki Cathedral. Modelled on Saint Isaac’s in Russia, it’s architecturally marvellous. For informal dining, Ullanlinna district restaurant Lungi is hard to beat. In terms of places to stay, Hotel Fabian (hotelfabian.com) is smart, yet affordable, and just a 10-minute stroll from the centre.

Málaga