Summer in the city
Urbanites who can't get away for an exotic summer vacation simply bring the beach to them.
Urban oasis
Toes in the sand, a cocktail in hand and salt in your hair - for many, that's a very rare vacation feeling. But urbanites that can't get away for an exotic summer vacation can simply bring the beach to them. After summer got off to a belated start here in Europe, the beach club season in now in full swing. It's a trend that began 13 years ago.
'Paris plages'
In the summer of 2002, Paris Mayor Betrand Delanoe had several thousand tons of sand dumped onto one of the major streets in the middle of the city, turning 3.5 kilometers (2.1 miles) of the Seine riverbank into an urban oasis. The man-made beach was known as "Paris plages" and was such a success that it is recreated each summer.
Culture with your cocktails
Also in 2002, sand was spread out in the German capital, along the River Spree, and adorned with a bar and lounge chairs. Known as "Strandbar Mitte" (Beach bar in the Mitte district), it was located near the Museum Mile. "We want to create a nice, relaxing atmosphere on the water for our guests," said bar manager Christian Schulz. Similar beach bars soon followed across Berlin.
Poetic beauty
"Do you wish to roam farther and farther? See the good that lies so near. Just learn how to capture your luck, for your luck is always there," wrote German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. In Cologne on the Rhine River, luck means having a great view of the city's Gothic cathedral. What more could a heart desire?
Pure relief
There is plenty of water in and around Hamburg, but much of it is contaminated by the heavy shipping traffic in the harbor and the Elbe River. So it's much nicer to cool off in a clean swimming pool. This one even boasts an impressive panoramic view of the Elbe.
Aerial perspective
Urban beach bars don't necessarily have to be near an ocean, river or lake. The charm of this beach club is its soaring altitude and romantic view of Hanover's Old Town. It's a place to take a break from everyday stress - a mini vacation.
Beachless beach bar
Here in Stuttgart, not only is the view beautiful, but the location is also particularly unusual. This beach club has been set up on the roof of a parking garage. Visitors can observe stressed shoppers down below as they calmly enjoy a cold beverage. Even though the next drop of water is far away, it's a second-best alternative.
Don't forget your swimsuit
Beach bars are popular in other European cities as well. In Brussels, where the European Union is headquartered, organizers hope to draw visitors with water games, snacks, music and kids' activities. And they've been successful: The urban beach along the canal has become an essential part of summer in the Belgian capital.
Waterside repose
This beach bar, located directly on the Danube Canal, is one of eight in Vienna. When temperatures rise, residents of the Austrian capital flock to their very own "beach."