Europe's Best Beaches: Honest Rankings of 25 Stunning Coastlines

Europe's Best Beaches: A Continent of Coastlines

Europe has over 68,000 kilometres of coastline — more than any other continent relative to its size. From the Arctic beaches of Norway to the subtropical shores of the Canary Islands, from the turquoise coves of Greece to the wild Atlantic surf of Portugal, the variety is extraordinary.

This guide covers the 25 best beaches in Europe, organised by country, with practical information on how to get there, when to go, and what to expect.

Greece: The Mediterranean Standard

1. Elafonisi, Crete

Elafonisi is one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe — a shallow lagoon with pink-tinged sand (coloured by crushed shells and coral) and water so clear and warm it feels tropical. It is accessible by car (2.5 hours from Heraklion) or by ferry from Paleochora. Arrive early in summer — it gets very crowded by 10am.

Best time: May, June, September. Water temperature: 24–26°C in summer.

2. Balos Lagoon, Crete

Balos is a dramatic lagoon at the northwestern tip of Crete, accessible by ferry from Kissamos (45 minutes) or by a 4WD track followed by a 20-minute walk. The combination of turquoise water, white sand, and the rocky headland of Cape Tigani makes it one of the most photographed beaches in Greece.

Best time: June, September. Note: The ferry does not run in winter.

3. Navagio (Shipwreck Beach), Zakynthos

Navagio is the most dramatic beach in Greece — a rusted shipwreck on a white sand beach, enclosed by 200-metre limestone cliffs, accessible only by boat. The water is an impossible shade of blue. Day trips run from Zakynthos Town and Porto Vromi. The beach itself is small and gets extremely crowded in summer.

Best time: May, June, September. How to get there: Boat trip from Zakynthos Town (€15–20).

4. Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia

Myrtos is a long, narrow beach of white pebbles at the base of dramatic limestone cliffs — one of the most photographed beaches in the Ionian islands. The water is a deep, vivid blue. The beach faces west, making it excellent for sunsets. The road down is steep and narrow.

Best time: June–September. Note: No shade — bring an umbrella.

5. Kolymbithres, Paros

Kolymbithres (meaning "swimming pools") is a series of small coves separated by smooth granite boulders, shaped by millennia of wind erosion into extraordinary organic forms. The water is crystal clear and calm. Accessible by boat from Naoussa or by road.

Best time: May–October. Water temperature: 22–26°C in summer.

6. Sarakiniko, Milos

Sarakiniko is unlike any other beach in Europe — a lunar landscape of white volcanic rock, carved by the sea into smooth curves and deep pools. There is no sand, but the rock is smooth and warm, and the water is extraordinary. It is one of the most photographed locations in Greece.

Best time: June–September. How to get there: 8km from Milos Town by road or boat.

Italy: La Dolce Vita by the Sea

7. Cala Goloritzé, Sardinia

Cala Goloritzé is accessible only by boat or a 2-hour hike through the Supramonte mountains — and the effort is entirely worth it. The beach is a small crescent of white pebbles at the base of a 143-metre limestone pinnacle, with water so clear you can see the bottom at 10 metres depth. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Best time: June, September. How to get there: Boat from Santa Maria Navarrese or hike from Baunei.

8. La Pelosa, Sardinia

La Pelosa is Sardinia's most famous beach — a shallow lagoon of white sand and turquoise water near the town of Stintino. It is extraordinarily beautiful and extremely crowded in summer. A daily visitor limit (1,500 people) was introduced in 2019. Book your entry permit online in advance.

Best time: June, September. Entry: €3.50/person, permit required in summer.

9. Cala Rossa, Favignana (Sicily)

Favignana is a small island off the western tip of Sicily, accessible by hydrofoil from Trapani (30 minutes). Cala Rossa is a former tuff quarry that has been reclaimed by the sea — the water is an extraordinary shade of green-blue, surrounded by ancient stone walls. Rent a bicycle on the island and explore the coastline.

Best time: June–September. How to get there: Hydrofoil from Trapani, then bicycle.

10. Positano Beach, Amalfi Coast

Positano's main beach (Spiaggia Grande) is a pebble beach at the foot of the most photographed village in Italy. It is not the most comfortable beach in Europe — the pebbles are large and the sunbeds are expensive (€25–40/day) — but the setting is extraordinary. The smaller beach at Fornillo, a 10-minute walk west, is less crowded.

Best time: June, September. Note: Very crowded in July–August.

Croatia: The Adriatic Jewel

11. Stiniva Cove, Vis

Stiniva is a hidden cove on the island of Vis, accessible through a narrow gap in the cliffs that is barely wide enough for a small boat. The beach is a crescent of white pebbles with crystal-clear water. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia and, because Vis is less developed than other islands, less crowded than comparable beaches elsewhere.

Best time: June, September. How to get there: Boat from Vis Town or a steep 30-minute hike.

12. Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn), Brač

Zlatni Rat is Croatia's most famous beach — a distinctive horn-shaped shingle spit that extends 500 metres into the sea and changes shape with the currents. The water on both sides is clear and warm. It is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers.

Best time: June–September. How to get there: Ferry to Brač, then bus or taxi to Bol.

13. Pakleni Islands, Hvar

The Pakleni Islands are a chain of small islands just offshore from Hvar Town, accessible by water taxi (€5 each way). Each island has its own character — Palmižana has a beautiful restaurant and botanical garden; Stipanska is quieter; Jerolim is clothing-optional. The water throughout is exceptional.

Best time: June–September. How to get there: Water taxi from Hvar Town harbour.

Portugal: Atlantic Wildness

14. Praia da Marinha, Algarve

Praia da Marinha is consistently rated one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe — a small cove of golden sand surrounded by dramatic ochre limestone cliffs, sea caves, and rock arches. The water is clear but cold (18–20°C even in summer). Accessible by a steep path from the clifftop car park.

Best time: June–September. Note: Limited space — arrive early.

15. Praia do Camilo, Lagos

Another Algarve gem — a small beach at the base of golden cliffs, reached by a wooden staircase of 200 steps. The rock formations are extraordinary. The water is clear and the beach is sheltered from the wind.

Best time: June–September. How to get there: 2km walk from Lagos town centre.

16. Praia de Odeceixe, Alentejo Coast

Odeceixe is where the Alentejo coast meets the Algarve — a wide, wild beach at the mouth of a river, with dunes, a lagoon, and Atlantic surf. It is less crowded than the Algarve beaches and has a more natural, unspoiled character.

Best time: June–September. Note: Strong currents — check conditions before swimming.

Spain: Sun, Sand, and Sophistication

17. Cala Macarella, Menorca

Menorca's south coast is lined with beautiful coves (calas), and Macarella is the finest — a horseshoe of white sand and turquoise water surrounded by pine forest. Accessible by a 30-minute walk from the car park at Cala Galdana or by boat.

Best time: June, September. Note: No cars allowed near the beach.

18. Playa de las Catedrales, Galicia

Las Catedrales (Cathedrals Beach) is one of the most dramatic beaches in Spain — at low tide, the sea reveals a series of enormous rock arches and sea caves that look like the nave of a Gothic cathedral. The beach is only accessible for two hours either side of low tide. Check tide times before visiting.

Best time: July–September (for warm weather), but the rock formations are visible year-round. Entry: Free, but a permit is required in summer (book online).

19. Cala Turqueta, Menorca

Another Menorcan gem — a smaller, quieter cove than Macarella, with equally beautiful water. Accessible by a 20-minute walk through pine forest from the car park.

Best time: June, September.

France: The Riviera and Beyond

20. Plage de Palombaggia, Corsica

Corsica's beaches are among the finest in the Mediterranean — and Palombaggia, on the south coast near Porto-Vecchio, is the best. Pink granite rocks, white sand, and water that shifts from turquoise to deep blue. The pine trees provide natural shade.

Best time: June, September. How to get there: Car from Porto-Vecchio (15 minutes).

21. Calanques de Cassis, Provence

The Calanques are a series of narrow, fjord-like inlets between Marseille and Cassis — limestone cliffs dropping into turquoise water. The most beautiful are accessible only by boat or a 2–3 hour hike. Calanque de En-Vau is the most dramatic.

Best time: May, June, September. Note: Access is restricted in summer due to fire risk — check before visiting.

Beyond the Mediterranean

22. Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Iceland

Iceland's most famous beach is not for swimming — the water is freezing and the waves are dangerously unpredictable — but it is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe. Black volcanic sand, basalt columns, and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rising from the surf.

Best time: June–August (for midnight sun). Warning: Never turn your back on the waves.

23. Lofoten Islands Beaches, Norway

The beaches of the Lofoten Islands — Haukland, Uttakleiv, Ramberg — are extraordinary: white sand, turquoise water, and dramatic mountain backdrops. The water is cold (12–15°C in summer) but the scenery is unlike anything else in Europe.

Best time: June–August. Bonus: Midnight sun from late May to mid-July.

24. Playa de Bolonia, Andalusia

A wild, windswept beach on the Atlantic coast of Andalusia, near Tarifa. Behind the beach, a 30-metre sand dune rises above the ruins of the Roman city of Baelo Claudia. The water is cold (the Atlantic, not the Mediterranean) but the setting is extraordinary.

Best time: June–September. Note: Strong winds — popular with kitesurfers.

25. Praia do Guincho, Portugal (near Lisbon)

Guincho is a wild Atlantic beach 30km from Lisbon — wide, windswept, and dramatic, with the Serra de Sintra mountains as a backdrop. The waves are excellent for surfing. The seafood restaurant at the Hotel do Guincho is one of the best in Portugal.

Best time: June–September. How to get there: 45 minutes by car from Lisbon.

How to Choose Your European Beach Holiday

For warm, calm water: Greek islands, Sardinia, Croatia.

For dramatic scenery: Corsica, Calanques, Lofoten, Zakynthos.

For wild Atlantic surf: Portugal, Galicia, Landes (France).

For something unusual: Sarakiniko (Milos), Reynisfjara (Iceland), Las Catedrales (Galicia).

For luxury: Amalfi Coast, French Riviera, Mykonos.

For value: Croatia (outside Dubrovnik), Greek islands (outside Santorini/Mykonos), Algarve.

Europe's beaches are one of the continent's greatest assets. The only problem is choosing between them.