Baltiysk
The sprawling sands of the Baltic Spit are only a short ferry ride away from Baltiysk, a quaint little town that has a German Quarter, filled with century-old German architecture and an impressive star-shaped fortress. Beyond the town centre, the beaches are enticing for their beauty, as well as for their uniqueness. Shorelines and dunes are often flecked with yellow, coloured by the abundance of amber in the region. This is particularly vivid after a storm or strong winds, of which there are plenty. These winds blow the dunes about and create a mesmerising dancing effect, moving the sometimes 40-foot dunes in any direction. Also on the Baltic Spit are old German hangars, relics from the 1930s that mark the landscape – they’re pretty cool, too.

Beach near Baltiysk | © ppl / Shutterstock