Europe's Top 50+ Beaches
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Kara Dere // Bulgaria
Svilen Enev 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,… read more »
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Cefalu Beach // Italy
Cefalù beach is a long golden stretch of sand which follows the gentle curve of the bay and culminates in the medieval old town with its towering 12th-century cathedral. Whilst the beach here is no secret and it does get busy in the summer months, compared to resort towns such as Taormina it has not been over-developed and retains plenty… read more »
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Duni Beach // Bulgaria
© SpaceControl / CC BY 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… read more »
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Atliman Beach // Bulgaria
© Zourich / CC BY 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… read more »
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Porto Katsiki // Greece
© auteur Porto Katsiki is one of the most beautiful beaches on Lefkada Island. With its crystal clear blue sea,sheer white cliffs and sandy beaches, this little slice of paradise is quite incredible. Bookmarked by towering limestone cliffs the only access down to the beach is by way of 80 steep steps.
Porto Katsiki beach is located about 40 kilometers southwest of… read more »
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Playa de Gran Tarajal // Spain
Frank Vincentz Playa de Gran Tarajal sits along Fuerteventura's southeast coast. Edged by whitewashed villas that climb part of the way up the surrounding hills, it stretches for approximately 600 metres with sand that shifts between golden yellow and black dependent upon the prevailing weather conditions.
A favourite with locals rather than tourists, it can be up to 90 metres wide at low… read more »
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Tulliniemi // Finland
MattiPaavola Feeling far from the beaten path, Tulliniemi Beach is all about Finland's wild untamed natural beauty. The shore here is rockier and filled with larger pebbles than most other beaches. The Tulliniemi Nature Path takes you through north past rounded cliffs, beautiful forested areas, a nature preserve, and bird sanctuary before sloping back down to the beach itself.
The sand paired… read more »
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Sveti Vlas // Bulgaria
Pe4omux 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… read more »
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Shkorpilovtsi Beach // Bulgaria
MrDelchev 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
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Plage de Pors Péron // France
Moreau.henri Almost hidden below rugged cliffs covered in verdant grasses and wildflowers, the light-coloured sands of Plage de Pors Péron are situated on a small inlet in the cliffs around Cap Sizun, the most westerly point of mainland France.
Facing north onto the Baie de Douarnenez, the beach receives some protection from the full force of the Atlantic Ocean, which results… read more »
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Plage du Ris // France
Moreau.henri Plage du Ris is the biggest beach in Douarnenez and when the tide is out a huge expanse of sand is revealed. The beach is just to the north of the town but the surrounds are quite rural in feel.
To the rear of the beach is a large grassy area with picnic tables. There are also a number of traditional… read more »
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Nugal beach // Croatia
Tengilorg 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… read more »
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Sveti Ivan // Croatia
Miroslav Vajdic 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… read more »
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Punta Molentis // Italy
dronepicr The small Sardinian beach of Punta Molentis is one of the most recognisable and iconic on the island. Situated on the southeastern corner, near the popular resort town of Villasimius this is one of the very best beaches in Sardinia, and that's quite a claim.
Set on a narrow strip of land between a hill and promontory both of which have… read more »
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Spiaggia di Nora // Italy
Chris Nora Beach, in the far southeast of Sardinia, offers a wonderful mix of natural beauty and fascinating history. Set at the base of the long, narrow headland of Capo di Pula, Spiaggia di Nora has a beautifully rural backdrop with woodland behind and mountains in the distance.
Sitting on a slender isthmus, the beach itself is a good-sized stretch of pale… read more »
