Waterfront homes with space for a boat never fail to impress. We’ve picked six overseas marina communities where you might be tempted to dip your toe in the water…
Empuriabrava, SPAIN
Europe’s largest residential marina, upmarket Empuriabrava in the northern Costa Brava boasts 25 kilometres of navigable waterways with access to the Mediterranean at the Bay of Roses. Waterfront terraced or detached homes there typically come with a private mooring, and there are a staggering 5,000 berths in total. Prime properties at Empuriabrava will be in the millions of euros, but you needn’t be a moneybags to buy there, as this two/three-bedroom terraced house with roof terrace and private mooring proves. Click on the image to find out more.
Sotogrande, SPAIN
One of the world’s most exclusive spots to own a home, the community of Sotogrande is on the Costa del Sol, just east of Gibraltar. Besides five championship golf courses, including famous Valderrama, a polo club and stables, two tennis clubs and a rugby club, there is a world-class marina. Complementing the quayside restaurants, bars and boutique shops are a selection of chic apartments, many with private berths. This is the view from one three-bed apartment there – for more info, click the image.
Port-Grimaud, FRANCE
France’s flagship marina community located a few miles west of Saint-Tropez in the Côte d’Azur, Port-Grimaud is known as the ‘Venice of Provence’. Created as an architectural experiment, it is based around four little islands with pastel, Provencal style properties, linked by bridges over the waterways. Again, private berths are the norm there and traffic is scarce. This one-bedroom apartment comes with a 12-metre mooring – for more info, click the image.
Le Grau-du-Roi, FRANCE
Further west from Port-Grimaud, near Montpellier, is the smaller marina community of Le Grau-du-Roi, near the medieval walled city of Aigues-Mortes. This two-bedroom apartment, with its own mooring, is just a few minutes’ walk from Aigues-Mortes. The property has beautiful views out over the marina and is within easy reach of some great beaches.
How about Turkey or Florida?
Two longer-haul options could be Cape Coral in Florida, or Gocek in Turkey. Boasting more than 400 miles of navigable waterways – more than any other city in the world – Cape Coral on Florida’s white sandy Gulf Coast is known as America’s ‘Waterfront Wonderland’.
Otherwise, Gocek on Turkey’s Aegean Coast is one of the country’s most upmarket resorts. Built around a marina and with canalside property, it’s unspoiled, natural backdrop adds to its wow factor.
More info
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