Many Europeans are turning to the sea to escape the crowds that mass tourism brings to their continent. While cities like Barcelona, Nice or Lisbon suffer under mass tourism, smaller coastal towns are quietly reinventing what it means to live by the seaside – providing culture, affordability and calm. Following are seven places where life continues to the beat of the tide.
Setúbal, Portugal — Atlantic Calm a Short Train Ride from Lisbon
Only 40 kilometers south of Lisbon, Setúbal offers everything that the capital does not: lower prices, a gentler rhythm, and the deep blue of the Atlantic framed by the hills of Arrábida. The city is regarded as a working port, with an identity based on fishing, winemaking, and shipbuilding rather than tourism. If you stroll through the stalls of Mercado do Livramento, you can still experience a slice of the real Portugal. In this community, neighbors greet each other by name, cafés offer strong espresso at one euro, and the ocean is only minutes away. Local analysts confirm that Setúbal remains “real Portugal — alive all year, not just in July.” Apartments are about €2,400 per m², half the price of Lisbon. Living in a one-bedroom in the center will cost you around €750 (or €550 in quieter districts), and a couple can live comfortably on €2,200 a month. Setúbal’s port and wine industries keep its economy steady, making it one of the few Portuguese coastal cities unaffected by seasonal price swings.
Trieste, Italy — Adriatic Port with Central European Flair
Trieste feels like no other Italian city. Once the main port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this is a place where Vienna meets the Adriatic: elegant, cultured and distinctly European. The streets of this town are home to neoclassical buildings and quaint 19th-century cafés, where locals enjoy cappuccinos while reading newspapers as ships glide past the harbour. The city’s location is perfect — a gateway between Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, with the Alps on one side and the Adriatic on the other. Residents appreciate its balance: big enough for culture, small enough to know your neighbours. The average price of an apartment is €2,300 per m², while rent for an 80 m² flat is around €900. For one person, monthly expenses are about €1,400. Trieste’s economy, based on research centers, shipping, and trade, is steady and reliable. For many, it’s a city that combines intellectual energy with Mediterranean ease.
Gdynia, Poland — Baltic Modernity with Room to Breathe
On the northern coast of Poland, Gdynia stands apart from its neighbors Gdańsk and Sopot. This city proves that coastal living doesn’t always have to mean luxury resorts and high prices. It is modern, green, and efficient. In the 1920s, Poland built a new national port in Gdynia. Today, it buzzes with tech start-ups, universities, and design festivals. Life here feels local. Families walk along the pier at sunset, joggers fill seaside parks, and trams run with Swiss precision. Despite its maritime charm, Gdynia has avoided mass tourism. Locals describe it simply: “It’s the sea — but for residents.” Renting a one-bedroom flat costs €500–650 in the center and about €400 outside. A single person’s total expenses rarely exceed €1,000 a month. The city’s safety, strong infrastructure, and low cost of living make it one of the Baltic’s most underrated urban choices for long-term living.
La Rochelle, France — Maritime Heritage without Riviera Prices
While the southern coast of France is overwhelmed by tourism, La Rochelle on the Atlantic quietly thrives. This historic port city, with its heritage of French exploration, combines old-world charm with modern comfort. La Rochelle’s famous twin medieval towers overlooking its harbour remind residents daily that they live in a working maritime city. Locals cycle everywhere – to markets, the marina, or the ferry terminal for the Île de Ré. The economy revolves around trade, education, and ship repair, keeping the city vibrant all year. A decent apartment costs around €3,800 per m², far from the dizzying prices of the Riviera. Renting a central flat averages €950 per month, while a couple’s monthly living costs hover near €2,500. La Rochelle is not sleepy; it has rhythm. Even with plenty happening, you’ll never feel overwhelmed, and the sea breeze still smells like salt, not sunscreen.
Cádiz, Spain — Andalusian Sun with a Local Soul
Cádiz feels more timeless than ancient, despite being Europe’s oldest inhabited city. It is where flamenco, history and daily life meet on a peninsula bathed by Atlantic waves. Unlike Spain’s crowded Mediterranean coast, Cádiz has kept its Andalusian authenticity – narrow streets, whitewashed walls and long afternoons at tapas bars. The sea surrounds you on three sides, and locals still greet each other across balconies. Life is simple: work, family, beach, repeat. Property prices average €2,200 per m², while renting a two-bedroom flat costs about €900. Restaurants and groceries remain affordable, and the warm climate allows outdoor living nearly year-round. It’s a place where community still matters. The same families have lived in these neighborhoods for generations — a continuity rare in modern Europe.
Rijeka, Croatia — The Adriatic’s Industrial Heart with Soul
Rijeka doesn’t strive for postcard perfection — and that’s its charm. Croatia’s largest port, located between Istria and Dalmatia, is a working city with artistic energy and Mediterranean greenery. Rijeka’s personality shines through its art galleries housed in old warehouses, cafés overlooking cargo cranes, and university students filling the promenades. While tourists flock to Split and Dubrovnik, locals here walk to quiet beaches within minutes of the center. Real estate in Rijeka costs just under €2,000 per m², and rent averages €700. One can live well for €1,200 — with Adriatic views and without the crowds. Shipping, logistics and education drive the economy. That year-round pulse keeps prices stable, while Croatia’s EU membership and improving infrastructure make Rijeka increasingly attractive to expats and investors seeking affordable entry points on the Adriatic.
Kavala, Greece — Northern Beauty Beyond the Islands
Few foreigners know Kavala, but Greeks consider it one of the country’s most livable coastal cities. Built amphitheatrically around its harbor, it offers island views without island prices. The old town climbs steeply toward a medieval fortress, while below, fishing boats unload their catch each morning at the marina. Kavala’s atmosphere is distinctly local — relaxed but not sleepy. The cafés rival Thessaloniki’s, and ferries to Thasos and Samothraki depart daily. Apartments cost between €1,600 and €3,000 per m², with long-term rentals ranging from €400 to €600. A monthly budget of around €1,100 provides a comfortable life by the Aegean. With modern healthcare, two nearby airports, and mild winters, Kavala appeals to remote workers and retirees seeking the essence of Greece without its crowds or costs.
A New Kind of Seaside Europe
These cities are not just places to live but new opportunities. As Europe’s leading coastal markets become saturated, smaller cities like Trieste, La Rochelle and Rijeka are drawing growing attention from lifestyle buyers and investors looking for authenticity, culture, and value beyond the traditional Mediterranean hotspots.
Essential Takeaway
Across Europe, people are rediscovering what it means to live by the sea — not as tourists, but as residents. Setúbal in Portugal, Trieste in Italy, and La Rochelle in France prove that coastal living doesn’t have to mean overpricing or overtourism. They share common traits: affordable housing, stable economies, authentic communities, and the rhythm of real life. These are cities where the waves still belong to those who live nearby, not to those who arrive for the weekend. Europe’s next great coastal story isn’t being written in Barcelona or Dubrovnik — it’s unfolding in these smaller, human-scale cities, where the sea has once again become part of life, not just a view.
