Playa de Bolonia, Tarifa

Playa de Bolonia is a tranquil beach that is part of a little traditional fishing community that also has the 2,000-year-old ruins of the Roman city of Baelo Claudia. The beach is beloved among many Spaniards and is gaining popularity among international tourists, but it remains a hidden gem of beaches; the area is actually within the confines of the Estrecho Natural Park.

The town hasn't seen much of the highrise construction that many of Spain's beach towns have, so it's still unspoiled and wonderfully old-fashioned. While Tarifa is the heart of Spain's kitesurfing industry, Bolonia has a tiny chilled-out surfing culture with a couple of surf schools and small bars catering to holidaymakers.

Playa de Bolonia, on the other hand, remains a quiet hangout for beachgoers. The sand is powdery white, and dunes surrounding the bay shelter the growing vegetation; choose your spot amid the dunes and relax in the solitude and quiet of this best-kept-secret beach.