I scream, you scream, we all scream … for gelato. Or ice cream as it were. The best time to gorge on a sinful cone of the frozen stuff is just ’round the corner in Europe.

Which got us in brainstorm mode: where to score the best gelato/ice cream by the beach on the continent? After all, when we find ourselves in the likes of the Algarve, Costa del Sol, Costa Brava, Côte d’Azur, Riviera Ligure, Adriatic and Aegean, a daily fix of helado is a must. For some reason, all that sun, sand and surf strikes the sweet tooth with particular alacrity.

All we know is, once we get a whiff of sunblock, the yen for a flagrant dollop of pistachio gelato becomes too potent to deny. And who wants to waste time on a futile hunt that will only end badly – with, shudder, a commercial-brand ice cream bar or, worse, a drippy, insipid ice block.

With that, get the scoop on six of the best seaside gelato shops in Europe.

Photo credit

Santini
Avenida Valbom, 28-F, Cascais, Portugal

The Algarve is far from the only seaside hub par excellence in Portugal. A short drive from Lisbon and presto, the urbane coastal suburb of Cascais unfurls. The popular holiday spot is home to Santini, a gem of a gelateria.

Where to stay: Onyria Marinha Edition Hotel & Thalasso Cascais

Lisbon City Guide

Gelateria Melias
Passeig Marítim, 88, Malgrat de Mar, Spain

Over on the Costa Brava in Catalonia, Malgrat de Mar’s Melias is a parlour that lures gelato pilgrims far and wide.

Where to stay: Aquahotel Bella Playa Malgrat De Mar

Costa Brava Guide

Glacier Fenocchio
2 Place Rossetti, Nice, France

Not to be outdone, Glacier Fenocchio produces perhaps the top cornet on the Côte d’Azur. A lovely spot just minutes from Lido Plage.

Where to stay: Negresco Hotel Nice

Nice City Guide

Gelateria Ice Street Di Congiu Roberto Luca
Viale Colombo, 184, Quartu Sant’Elena, Sardinia, Italy

The birthplace of gelato is hard to eclipse, of course, and a bona fide national passion. On the paradisal island of Sardinia, close to capital Cagliari, Gelateria Ice Street Di Congiu Roberto Luca emerges as a strong contender for best in the country.

Where to stay: T Hotel Cagliari

Cagliari City Guide

Superfrutto
Piazza Diaz, 17, Savona, Liguria, Italy

Same for Superfrutto, a Savona staple close to Genoa that serves quality gelato to Riviera tourists.

Where to stay: Continental Hotel Genoa

Genoa City Guide

Kuća Sladoleda Karmen
Trg Gaje Bulata, 6, Split, Croatia

The Adriatic UNESCO World Heritage city of Split is mad about ice cream, with shops at every turn. Kuća Sladoleda Karmen, close to the national theatre and Diocletian’s Palace, is worth a side trip.

Where to stay: Le Meridien Lav Hotel Split

Split City Guide