Grab your bucket and shovel: we have chosen the 10 best beaches in Europe where you can plunge into crystal clear waters, relax on the sugar-white sand or simply soak up the sun. We’ve included family favorites perfect for little swimmers, secret coves and dream islands worth discovering, adventures for adults, and incredible coastal scenery perfect for year-round exploration. From a mermaid cove in Cornwall to a Batman-watched beach in Iceland, including a lagoon in Greece where the sand is pink, these uniquely beautiful beaches are the best in Europe.
The smallest beach on our list is also one of the most attractive. Imagine the perfect cove from a classic 1960s Italian film bathed in sunshine : this is this enchanting little spot, where sparkling, clear waters lead to a small stone archway that opens out onto the Mediterranean. Surely one of the most tempting places to swim on this planet.
2. Praia da Rocha, Algarve, Portugal
Do you want to party or relax on your next getaway to the beach? You’ll find both options at Praia da Rocha, a beautifully golden beach in Portugal’s Algarve that’s dotted with spectacular red limestone pinnacles. Here you can practice water sports during the day and enjoy lively restaurants, clubs and beach parties at night. However, the less crowded western end of the beach is still wild and quiet.
3. Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece
The famous ‘pink’ sand of the Elafonissi lagoon in southwestern Crete has been featured on many Instagram accounts due to its delicate pink hue, caused by the local coral. The setting is just as enchanting in real life, lapped by warm, shallow waters perfect for children, and surrounded by dunes to explore on foot. Take a look at the white sea daffodils that grow there.
4. Zlatni Rat, Brac, Croatia
Known by the locals as the ‘Golden Horn’, this beach is one of the most famous in Croatia thanks to its ability to change shape. The size and length of the sandbank changes with each tide. This pebble land makes a perfect hike from the nearby town of Bol. Once you hit the water, you can watch windsurfers and kite surfers riding waves of the Adriatic Sea or just take a peaceful nap in the shade of the pine trees.
5. Playa Stokksnes, Parque Nacional Vatnajokull, Iceland
This beautiful beach on Iceland’s Stokksnes peninsula is ideal for photographers and explorers whose goals go beyond sunbathing. The jet-black volcanic sand of Stokksnes beach has to be seen to be believed , especially Vestrahorn Mountain, known to locals as ‘Batman’ Mountain for its bat-shaped triple peaks, which sit high above. This is probably the closest you get to feeling like you’re walking on another planet.
6. La Concha Beach, San Sebastian, Spain
‘La Concha beach’, whose name comes from its curved shape, is the jewel in the crown of San Sebastián. After sampling local seafood on the streets of the Basque city, a fine dining destination, head to this picturesque sandy spot. Put down the tapas and walk alongside the locals who regularly stroll along that golden sand, taking in panoramic views of the city and Santa Clara Island.
7. Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, Gales
You have plenty of perfect beach options to choose from along the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales, but arguably the most beautiful is Barafundle. Follow a path past the water lilies of Bosherston Lakes and you’ll stumble upon the warm golden sands of this glorious crescent-shaped bay. The water here is calm and safe for bathing, making it ideal for families with children. And the lack of road access means there’s always plenty of room.
8. Voidokilia Beach, Messinia, Greece
Tucked away down a narrow, bumpy road in the Peloponnese region of mainland Greece, Voidokilia takes a while to reach, but it’s a treasure worth seeking out to swim and snorkel in its turquoise waters, walk among the dunes or jump into the sea from high rocks . Fun fact: Locals say that the dunes surrounding this vase-shaped beach perfectly form the Greek letter Omega (Ω).
9. Notre Dame Beach, Porquerolles, France
Visiting the quiet, car-free island of Porquerolles, one of three idyllic Iles d’Hyères on the southeast coast of France, is a real breath of fresh air (scented with the island’s native pine and eucalyptus). Renting a bike is the best way to get from beach to beach around the island, but Notre Dame Beach is hands down one of the best, a sandy bay that looks like it’s straight out of a holiday postcard, with boats floating in the The horizon.
10. Kynance Cove, Cornwall, Inglaterra
They say there are mermaids here. Tucked away on the Lizard Peninsula in the far south of Cornwall, this many times painted beach has sand, tall rocks to climb over, hidden caves to discover, and Mermaid Pool , a verdant paradise crystal clear for curious swimmers. There is also an organic cafe serving teas and scones next to the beach.
11. Isola Bella, Taormina, Sicily
The most beautiful coast of Sicily has beautiful views. Walking along the pebble beach of Isola Bella, lined with relaxing seafood restaurants, you can gaze out over the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea to Isola Bella, the small green islet that bears the beach’s name . Walk to the island at low tide to explore an enchanting garden with grottoes and half-hidden spots.
When you catch a glimpse of Cala Macarella for the first time, you are surprised by the brilliant blue color of its waters. This charming Menorcan cove is at its best in early autumn, when the water is still deliciously warm but the summer holiday crowds have long since departed. After a swim, follow the coastal path through the pines to the smaller but equally charming cove Macarelleta.
13. Playa de Haukland, Lofoten, Norway
Norway may conjure up images of deep fjords and vertiginous mountains, but it’s worth straying far from its iconic peaks and heading to the Lofoten Islands for Norway’s largest bay, the vast (and hugely attractive) Haukland. This place is known as an “arctic paradise” , where the cold but clear water is crystal green, the sand is white and the high mountains rise directly from the water.
14. Vatersay Bay, Vatersay, Scotland
The sand is so white and the ocean so clear on the small island of Vatersay – in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland – that anyone might think they are in the Caribbean, until the moment they dip their toes in the always cold waters. This vast bay surrounded by sand dunes is one of the dreamiest (and most secluded) beaches in Scotland.
This pretty pebble beach in the south of France was a favorite of Matisse , who used to sketch the views from the cliff path over the sea. Miraculously, it is still a secret place and is often quiet and half empty despite being only 100 meters long. The cliff path is perfect for a walk at high altitude before coming back down for a well-deserved splash in the sea.
