Beach weekend for £100 per person: 6 escapes from London

Lloret is the obvious choice if the brief is simply sun, sea and very little effort. The main beach is right in town, but we would also wander over towards Fenals or Cala Boadella for something a little quieter. One place worth leaving the sand for is Santa Clotilde Gardens, a cliff-top maze of fountains, statues and Mediterranean plants inspired by Italian Renaissance gardens. There is a nice bit of local life too: Lloret's Night of Tourism is happening during the trip, with free entry at the town theatre if you reserve ahead. The best approach here is not to over-plan it: find a cove, order something cold and let the Costa Brava do the work.

Blanes feels a little more low-key than Lloret, which is exactly why we like having both in the list. The standout is Marimurtra Botanical Garden, perched above the sea with more than 4,000 plant species from five continents and one of those viewpoints that looks almost suspiciously Mediterranean. Its little white Linné Temple above Sa Forcanera cove is the photo to look for. Back in town, there is still plenty going on: the Talent Blanenc festival brings local music and performance through September, including live music during this escape. Our tip is to give the garden more time than you think you need, then come back down for the beach rather than trying to cram in another attraction.

Šibenik is the one for anyone who wants a coastal escape without spending the whole trip lying on a beach. The old town is a maze of pale-stone lanes, steps and little squares, with St James's Cathedral at the centre of it all. Fun fact: the cathedral was built entirely from stone, without traditional binding material, and its exterior includes a frieze of 71 carved human heads. Šibenik is also the only Croatian city with two UNESCO World Heritage sites. When you want the view, head up to St Michael's Fortress above the rooftops. There is free live music in town during the stay too, with Big Band Šibenik and the finale of the city's traditional klapa singing evenings both on the programme.

San Sebastián makes a very convincing argument that a beach break does not have to mean a resort. La Concha curves right through the middle of the city, so you can go from the sand to the old town in minutes. The local way to eat is even better suited to a short trip: choose a bar, order one or two pintxos, have a small drink and move on to the next one rather than sitting down for one enormous meal. La Concha has a fun history too: Queen Isabel II helped make sea bathing fashionable here in the 1840s after her doctors recommended it. This escape also lands right in the middle of the San Sebastián International Film Festival, so expect the city to feel noticeably busier and more glamorous than usual.

Nice is the slightly more indulgent Riviera option, but it is also one of the easiest places here to enjoy without much planning. Walk through Vieux Nice, pick up some socca, then head for the Promenade des Anglais and its famous blue chairs overlooking the Baie des Anges. The promenade itself runs for almost seven kilometres, and its name really does come from the English winter visitors who helped fund its development in the 19th century. There will also be a bit more energy than usual along the waterfront because Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB is taking place over the same dates, bringing trail runners down from the mountains towards the Mediterranean. You do not need to run anywhere yourself; watching from a café is perfectly acceptable.

Viana is the one for people who like finding somewhere their friends probably have not just returned from. The historic centre is compact and easy to wander, Cabedelo gives you a proper Atlantic beach, and above everything sits the Santa Luzia sanctuary with a huge view over the coast and river. The fun way up is the Santa Luzia funicular: its 650-metre route makes it the longest funicular journey in Portugal. There is a pleasantly local feel to the events too, including a ceramics workshop and an afternoon session making tinctures, liqueurs and wines from seasonal plants. Neither is essential, but both fit the sort of place Viana is: creative, relaxed and a little different from the obvious Portuguese weekend choices.