Torviscas Beach

Walk along the waterline and Torviscas Beach never quite ends: the sand runs on into Fañabé Beach, and the two read as one long stretch of fine grey sand with the promenade busy behind it.

The breakwaters do the real work. They hold the sea down so that on a still day the water is calm enough for an easy swim, which is why families settle here. When you want more than a swim, jet skis and parasailing go out from the same beach. The sand is firm enough to run or walk on at the water's edge.

The beach stays busy after dark. Bars and cafés line the promenade, live music starts up in the evening, and people stay on to watch the sun go down over the sea.

• Loungers are hard to find between about 12 and 3pm, the busiest hours. If you want one, come as early as you can.
• Street vendors work the sand and can be persistent; expect to say no more than once.
• The wind decides the swim. Most days the water is calm, but a strong wind can make swimming impossible.
• The public toilets by the beach are not always clean and sometimes run out of paper.
• The open sand has no natural shade at midday; rent an umbrella or bring your own.

The beach lies right beside the seafront promenade, which carries on along the sand to Fañabé Beach, so arriving on foot from anywhere along the front is simply a matter of stepping off it onto the beach.

By car, there are two asphalt car parks close by, about 100 m and 165 m away in a straight line; the farther one charges a fee. Wheelchair-accessible parking is available.

By bus, the nearest stop is Fañabe Plaza, about 580 m away in a straight line, and a Siam Mall shuttle stop sits at about the same distance. From either one, the rest is a walk through the resort streets to the seafront.

Best: early morning, and again in the evening.

Avoid: roughly 12 to 3pm, and windy days.

The middle of the day is when the beach is fullest and loungers run out, and the bare sand has no shade then; in the morning you still get a choice of spot, while the evening brings the sunset over the sea and live music along the promenade. A strong wind can churn the water enough to rule out swimming, so check the sea before you plan a beach day around it.