En-Vau Beach, France Stunning En-Vau is easily one of the best beaches in Europe.
From the golden sands of southern Portugal to idyllic Greek isles, Europe has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
There’s something for every type of beach bum too, whether you’re seeking off-the-beaten-track snippets of sand or family-friendly shorelines brimming with sandcastle potential.
With summer just around the corner, we’ve rounded up some of the best beaches in Europe to get you in the mood for long days on the sand.
Praia da Falesia, The Algarve – Portugal
When it comes to beaches, it’s hard to beat the Algarve. Sitting smack bang in the centre of Portugal’s south, Praia da Falesia is one of the best in the region and in Europe too, taking top spot this year in Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Beaches. From boho backpackers to young families, miles and miles of golden sand sheltered by rust-red cliffs, and a safe, clear sea makes this a popular spot for all kinds of travellers.
Balaia Golf Village
- Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal
- 10 June 2025
- Self-catering
- Gatwick
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Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa – Italy
Spiaggia del Conigli (Rabbit Beach) is a dazzling white-sand beauty known for its super-clear, shallow water and gloriously remote setting. Floating adrift in the Mediterranean, closer to Tunisia than Italy, Lampedusa might just have the best beach in Europe – at least that’s what the travellers of Tripadvisor reckon, ranking it in second place for 2024. We’re inclined to agree.
Playa de Muro, Majorca – Spain
Broad, sandy and safe, Blue Flag Playa de Muro is a firm favourite with families for more than one reason. With tons of on-beach facilities, easy access, play areas and loads of nearby cafes and restaurants, it’s a brilliant spot for a holiday with little ones in tow. You’ll find this Spanish stunner close to Alcudia on Majorca’s northern coastline.
VIVA Eden Lago
- Alcudia, Majorca, Spain
- 20 September 2025
- Self-catering
- East Midlands
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Barafundle Bay, Wales – UK
Regularly voted Wales’ best beach, award-winning Barafundle Bay is well acquainted with the sandy spotlight. Located in remote Pembrokeshire, this long golden beach remains pleasantly quiet outside the busy summer months. Even then, it’s worth a visit just for the wild, clifftop scenery that surrounds it. Love a hike? Take on a section of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which passes by Barafundle.
En-Vau, Marseille – France
A tiny chunk of white sand surrounded by impressive cliffs, En-Vau is a showstopper of a beach any way you look at it. The water is gloriously clear and shallow, making it perfect for kids, but the beach can get busy so get there early to nab your spot. Keep an eye out for daredevils clinging to the cliffs above – the area is popular with rock climbers.
Koukounaries Beach, Skiathos – Greece
Greece isn’t short on beautiful beaches, so when we say Koukounaries in Skiathos is one of the country’s best, you know it’s going to be good. This long stretch of dazzling white sand is surrounded by dense green pine forest, which has helped it avoid overdevelopment. There are a handful of beach bars giving it a lively vibe in the summer and the insanely clear water makes for some epic snorkelling.
Hotel Panorama
- Koukounaries, Skiathos, Greece
- 10 June 2025
- Room only
- Luton
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Corralejo Grandes Playas, Fuerteventura – Spain
A 9km (5.5 miles) stretch of sand surrounded by wild dunes and volcanic hills, Corralejo Grandes Playas is one of the best beaches in the Canary Islands. In reality, it’s not just one beach, but a collection of beautiful beaches, closely strung out along Fuerteventura’s north-eastern coast. At Burro, families will find lifeguards and safer water, while windsurfers and kite boarders should head to El Medano.
Dunas Club
- Corralejo, Fuerteventura, Spain
- 24 July 2025
- Self-catering
- Gatwick
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Porthminster Beach, Cornwall – UK
Just a short walk from artsy beach town St Ives, Porthminster brings a touch of the tropics to Britain. Beautiful, soft white sand, clear blue water and even the odd palm tree, this Cornish classic has the lot. And with one of the mildest temperatures in the UK, you’re almost (this is still Britain, after all) guaranteed good weather during the summer.
Zlatni Rat, Brač – Croatia
Translated as ‘Golden Horn’, Zlatni Rat is probably Croatia’s most photographed beach. It’s not hard to see why. This stunning V-shaped pebble-and-sand beach extends out into the shining sapphire Adriatic Sea, sheltered by pine trees on either side. Its ever-shifting shoreline is shaped by wind and waves, which also make it a favourite spot for surfers and windsurfers.
Balos Lagoon, Crete – Greece
A thin sliver of shimmering white sand leads out to the tiny island of Balos. On one side of the spit, you’ll find a milky-turquoise lagoon, on the other, the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean. The beach lies on the island’s western coast, not far from the town of Kissamos, where you can arrange boat trips to the beach.
Candia Park village
- Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece
- 7 June 2025
- Bed & breakfast
- Luton
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Ses Illetes, Formentera – Spain
Be prepared for endless Caribbean comparisons: Ses Illetes really wouldn’t look out of place in the Bahamas. Luckily, it’s 100% Balearic, and quite a bit closer to home, too. No stranger to ‘Europe’s best beaches’ lists, Ses Illetes is a long spit of powder-white sand, lapped either side by some of the clearest water you’re ever likely to splash around in.
Sellin Beach, Rugen – Germany
We know. One of Europe’s best beaches is in Germany? But hear us out. If you’re looking for ‘under-the-radar’, the small spa town of Sellin, on the remote island of Rugen, is one to watch. A wide, golden beach backed by Germany’s distinctive ‘resort architecture’, Sellin is ideal for a relaxing beach holiday on the wild shores of the Baltic Sea.
Butterfly Valley Beach, Muğla – Turkey
Enclosed either side by towering walls of rock, the only way to reach Butterfly Valley beach is by boat or a challenging hike from the village of Faralya. When you get there, you’ll find a tiny strip of gold sand, a chilled beach bar and the 100-plus species of butterflies that give the valley its name. Boat tours run from nearby Olu Deniz or Fethiye.
Hotel Club-E
- Fethiye, Dalaman Area, Turkey
- 2 June 2025
- Bed & breakfast
- Gatwick
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Porto Katsiki, Lefkada – Greece
A long arch of delicate white sand, backed by a colossal cliff face, Porto Katsiki is all drama – and then some. You’ll find it on the Ionian Island of Lefkada, not far from Lefkada Town. It’s a popular spot for boat trips, so get there early if you want a few hours to enjoy the setting for yourself. Either bring your own picnic or tackle the 100 steps up the cliff side to reach a small beach bar selling snacks and drinks.
Santa Giulia, Corsica – France
Santa Giulia beach is the stuff of dreams – a sheltered lagoon of pure turquoise water, fringed by gorgeous white sand. With shallow water, plenty of overhanging trees providing shady picnic spots and an array of watersports on offer, it’s perfect for families. You’ll find it on Corsica's southern tip, not far from the chic hilltop town of Porto-Vecchio.
Cala Macarella, Menorca – Spain
A world away from the busy resorts and pumping nightclubs of Majorca and Ibiza, little Menorca is all about the quiet life – and Cala Macarella is the place to enjoy it. A tiny spot of sand cut into pine-topped cliffs, this beach is accessible by boat or a 30-minute walk through pine forest (access via car is prohibited during high season). What you’ll find is a white-sand bay of pure paradise, with glossy-clear waters to boot.
HG Jardin de Menorca
- Son Bou, Menorca, Spain
- 8 June 2026
- Self-catering
- Cardiff
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Reynisfjara Beach – Iceland
Reynisfjara Beach is distinctive for its ash-black sand squeezed between mighty basalt cliff stacks and the crashing Atlantic. A popular stop-off on Iceland’s south coast, this beach was practically made for Instagram. For the best photos, head here in the early morning for sunrise (and fewer people). With rogue waves and strong currents, this one is best admired from the sand or clifftop walking trails.
Maspalomas Beach, Gran Canaria – Spain
With big sweeping dunes of golden sand rolling down into the Atlantic, Gran Canaria's Maspalomas isn’t your average beach. Its dramatic desert backdrop, complete with camel rides, feels more Saharan than Spanish. Plus, at 6km long (3.7 miles) and wider than a football pitch in parts, this Blue Flag beach is as big as it is beautiful.
Bungalows Cordial Sandy Golf
- Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain
- 2 September 2025
- Self-catering
- Newcastle
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Blue Lagoon, Olu Deniz – Turkey
An icon of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, it would be rude not to include this Blue Flag beauty in Olu Deniz. A sweeping sand bar creates wonderfully calm water, perfect for little swimmers and watersports like snorkelling and paddle boating. On the beach, you can soak up some sunshine while watching the colourful sails of paragliders gently drift down from pine-clad Babadağ mountain above.
Dhërmi Beach – Albania
You don’t get a nickname like the ‘Pearl of the Med’ without at least one hidden treasure. Luckily, Albania has loads, with a wealth of unspoilt beaches and dreamy clear blue waters. If you choose just one, make it Dhërmi. A long stretch of milk-white pebbles dotted with straw umbrellas and backed by rocky cliffs, it's a postcard-worthy spot for swimming and sunbathing. The beach gets busy in summer thanks to its string of bars and restaurants, so this is definitely one if you like a party vibe.
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