Best Beaches in Eastern Europe

• Drymades Beach // Albania

  

  Drymades Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Albanian Riviera. It is a secluded slice of paradise featuring a natural rock formation that divides it in half. One side is full of white pebbles and the other is brushed with silky golden sand.

  Drymades Beach is located near the village of Dhermi on a small bay with incredible turquoise waters that are calm and still. It is the perfect place to get away for a quiet vacation to relax and enjoy some natural scenery. Even during the summer… read more »

• Kara Dere // Bulgaria

  

  In recent decades much of Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast has been transformed by mass tourism, which is what makes Kara Dere Beach so special in how wild and untamed it remains. 

  The beach's name derives from the Turkish word "kara" meaning "black" and "dere" meaning "gully", and its wild status continues to make it a black sheep amongst Bulgaria's more tourist-heavy, resort-laden coast. It is one of the few areas that still allows free camping and is largely unspoiled by hotels and even local amenities. If you're looking to truly get… read more »

• Duni Beach // Bulgaria

  

  Bulgaria's beaches come in all shapes and sizes to suit all visitors. Duni Beach has the distinction of being one of the most resort-friendly beaches in Bulgaria. With a number of well catered for resorts in close proximity, this is definitely a great beach to consider visiting.

  This is also one of the most recently developed beach areas in Bulgaria. While Dyuni Beach obviously predates the arrival of the resort in 1987, it's only since then that it really began to take off as a popular vacation destination.

  Stroll along soft white… read more »

• Atliman Beach // Bulgaria

  

  Atliman Beach is another perfect example of a sun-kissed Bulgarian beach that has become a popular holiday destination in the past few years. The resort has grown in popularity in recent years with a number of hotels springing up in the area.

  The beach here is quite unique in that it has a natural feel with sand dunes to the rear and bookmarked by wooded headlands, but is also located a stone's throw from the small town of Kiten. That isn't to say the beach isn't a popular spot and it… read more »

• Sveti Vlas // Bulgaria

  

  One of the Bulgaria's most upwardly mobile resorts, Sveti Vlas (St. Vlas) Beach is rapidly developing into an popular yachting port with a host of facilities. Located about 5 km north of the Sunny Beach, the area and sits at the foot of the Balkan Mountains. Sveti Vlas is actually a cluster of three smaller beaches which together total 1,500 km of fine golden sand.

  One of the biggest sights in the area is its port, Marina Dinevi, which is always busy with a capacity of around 300 yachts. 

  The… read more »

• Shkorpilovtsi Beach // Bulgaria

  

  Sometimes one of the best things about traveling is finding hidden gems you'd never think to look for but, once you arrive, can't imagine how you lived without. Such is the case with Shkorpilovtsi. While it may not have the notoriety of some of Bulgaria's bigger beaches, it's nevertheless a great slice of authentic Bulgarian beach town life.

  Located near Varna, Shkorpilovtsi Beach allows you to enjoy the area's famed coastal views without having to deal with the hustle and bustle of busier beaches. Here, you can kick back, relax,… read more »

• Nugal beach // Croatia

  

  If you're looking for a beautiful place to bask in the sun, bronze your skin, and bare all, it's hard to beat Nugal Beach. Croatia's best known nudist beach, Nugal Beach is a place where all things natural are celebrated.

  The beach here is a small stretch of soft white sand bookmarked by sheer rocky cliffs. Far and away Nugal Beach's most notable feature is the waterfall which cascades down the cliffside whenever there has been rain. It is little wonder this little naturist idyll has received much accolade in the… read more »

• Sveti Ivan // Croatia

  

  Sveti Ivan, or St John's Beach (and sometimes Lubenice Beach), lies on the island of Cres. It is one of the string of islands in the Istria Peninsula. Ferries can be caught from the mainland at Brestova, and make the trip more than a dozen times a day in the high season.

  Named as one of the top 40 beaches in the world by German magazine Bild, Sveti Ivan is a family-orientated virgin beach, meaning it can be found just as nature intended, if with no amenities of any sort. Located… read more »

• Kamenovo // Montenegro

  

  The south facing Kamenovo Beach (Kamenovo Plaža) sits in a shallow bay beside the warm turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea and the attractive vegetation of the Budva Riviera. It makes Budva its closest major town, roughly two kilometres away, with buses and taxis plying the route between the two with regular occurrence.

  Stretching for several hundred metres in length, Kamenovo Beach forms a D of fine light sand with patches of shingle and pebbles. A small area of the beach is given over to sun loungers for hire, while… read more »

• Vega Beach // Albania

  

  Set on a short stretch of rocky coastline roughly 150 metres long by 15 metres wide, Vega Beach is a manmade creation close to the city of Vlorë. Access from its fine off-white gravel surface to the sea is via steps bypassing the rocks, which may make it a little tricky for some younger children. That said, a short pier creates a cove-like feel with some protection from incoming waves.

  Lined from end to end with umbrellas and sunbeds, Vega Beach has a bar and restaurant, alongside a small selection of… read more »

• Copacabana Beach // Croatia

  

  While not yet as famous as its Brazilian counterpart, Croatia's Copacabana Beach has a huge amount to offer. Located in Seka Bay, on the north side of the Lapad Peninsula, Copacabana has views to Daksa and the Elafiti Islands. It lies very close to Dubrovnik's tourist zone of Babin Kuk, used as a base for exploring the UNESCO-listed Old Town.

  The largest of Dubrovnik's beaches at 200 metres in length, Copacabana is a popular choice with families because of the shallow entrance into the warm glistening waters, and the… read more »

• Slovenska // Montenegro

  

  Simply translating as ‘Slovenian Beach' since the architect who designed the area behind it hailed from that part of what was then a united Yugoslavia, Slovenska Plaža runs unbroken for a magical 1,600 metres.

  Comprising sand interspersed with naturally-occurring pebbles, it is a beach with great facilities, making it more than suitable for family outings to this beautiful stretch of coastline. Immediately behind Slovenska Beach visitors will find a large hotel complex with all the usual offerings, alongside Budva's main promenade, where beachgoers can find drinks, meals and entertainment long into… read more »

• Perazica Do // Montenegro

  

  With dramatic cliffs to one side, and a near-flat entrance into the stunning colours of the Adriatic Sea on the other, Perazica Do Beach is as alluring as any in Montenegro. A few hundred metres in length, it boasts only a handful of sun loungers, hired out on a first come first served basis.

  Its western position makes Perazica Do Beach ideal for watching the sunset, having spent a relaxing day on the sands, or having crossed the ribbon of shingle at the water's edge to bathe in temperatures that can… read more »

• Albena Beach // Bulgaria

  

  This beautiful expanse of fine golden sand stretches for 5 Km (3 miles) and is largely backed by the woodland of the Baltata National Reserve. Despite being on the Black Sea coast the water is anything but black here. Maybe the "crystal clear azure coast" would have been a more appropriate name as this beach is the proud owner of a Blue Flag award.

  The Blue Flag award is not just a sign of clean water but also guarantees the range and quality of amenities on offer. In short this… read more »

• Ahtopol // Bulgaria

  

  For the perfect mix of natural beauty and millennia-old history, look no further than Ahtopol Beach. Found within the greater confines of Strandzha Nature Park, this is the largest protected area in Bulgaria and home to a wonderful array of flora and fauna. Eighty percent of the reserve is covered in forests, making the beach areas stand out that much more as a glittering sandy getaway.

  From a historical perspective, the area has changed many times, from the Ancient Greeks to the Byzantines to the Ottomans, USSR, and Bulgarian governments. The… read more »

You might also like...

• 

  The Best Nude Beaches in Europe

• 

  Nordic Beaches // The Viking Coast