Beach breaks are a wonderful thing. But lying on a sunlounger all day isn't everyone's cup of tea. And, say scientists, the best way to make your holiday feel like it's lasting longer is to leave the trunks/bikini at the villa and get out and explore. To that end, we've come up with a few travel suggestions. The following beaches are all beautiful. But best of all, each has a Unesco World Heritage Site within striking distance.
1. The beach break: Budva, Montenegro
"Montenegro's meandering coastline, backed by dramatic limestone mountains, gives on to the serene blue waters of the Adriatic," says Jane Foster. "And while Croatia, to the north west, has grown in popularity, few Britons drive two hours down the coast from Dubrovnik to the ancient town of Budva. Founded by the Greeks in the fourth century BC, and then fortified during the Middle Ages, the town forms the heart of the Budva Riviera, which runs 22 miles from Trsteno to Buljarica, and is dotted with a series of sheltered coves and eight miles of sand and pebble beaches."