Europe's Top 50+ Beaches

• La Caleta // Spain

  

  Facing roughly south into the bright waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Malaga's La Caleta beach is located in the upmarket area of the city that goes by the same name.

  Situated between Baños del Carmen and La Malagueta, its darker sands have a width averaging 25 metres, and a length stretching to a kilometre.

  Among the sands,… read more »

• Playa Burriana // Spain

  

  Playa Burriana is a large sandy beach in Nerja that stretches for around 800 metres in length, and averages 40 metres in width. It has been awarded the European Union's Blue Flag for cleanliness and facilities on multiple occasions, as well as being a repeat recipient of Spain's equivalent Q for quality award.

  Seeing thousands of local and foreign visitors each… read more »

• Malagueta Beach // Spain

  

  One of the closest beaches to Malaga, Malagueta Beach sits comfortably within the city limits, just five minutes by car, or a 20-minute walk from the centre of the city. Buses also regularly ply the route, although there's a good amount of parking nearby.

  Running parallel to the promenade named after Malaga native Pablo Picasso, Malagueta lies east of the… read more »

• Playa Los Lances // Spain

  

  A vast curving section of pale sand running for seven kilometres in length and with an average width of 120 metres, Playa Los Lances is one of the largest and most impressive beaches in the region. Starting within the city limits of Tarifa, where it is known as Los Lances Sur (or South), it continues west all the way… read more »

• Playa de Pedregalejo // Spain

  

  Located a few minutes' walk from Malaga's port, Playa de Pedregalejo is an urban beach that sits between Baños del Carmen and El Palo Beach. Though relatively narrow, with an average width of around 20 metres, it's dark - almost brown - sands stretch on for more than a kilometre, ensuring space for all its visitors. Awarded a… read more »

• Playa de Castilla // Spain

  

  Laying claim to the record as one of the longest continuous beaches to be found anywhere in Spain, Playa de Castilla runs for an impressive 20 kilometres of near-untouched seafront. Backed by attractive cliffs and the sand dunes of Doñana National Park, it is only accessible by vehicle from a couple of specific points. These are via the… read more »

• Playa de Santa Maria del Mar // Spain

  

  Andalusia's Playa de Santa Maria del Mar faces west, with a pair of crab claw-like breakwaters embracing this fine sand beach at either end, sheltering it from the winds and strong waves they produce.

  Nudging the ancient glories of the Old Town of Cadiz, recognised as one of the oldest settlements in western Europe, Playa de Santa Maria del Mar… read more »

• La Rijana // Spain

  

  Accessed via a stepped path running down through coastal cliffs, Playa La Rijana is made up of a small stretch of dark – almost grey – sand and pebbles roughly 250 by 50 metres in size. Otherwise entirely enclosed by the cliffs that surround it and hold the road, its attractive situation among rocky coastline offers a feeling of seclusion.… read more »

• Playa Cantarriján // Spain

  

  Situated just west of La Herradura, Playa Cantarriján is comprised of two areas of sand divided by a large formation of rock that looks almost as if it has tumbled from the surround of stunning tree-covered cliffs.

  One of Andalusia's more virgin beaches, Playa Cantarriján lies within the boundaries of the Paraje Natural de los Acantilados de Maro Cerro Gordo nature… read more »

• Playa de Artola // Spain

  

  Playa de Artola lies at the eastern end of Marbella, running west away from the elegant Cabopino Marina on an area of coast known as the Punta Ladrones (Thieves' Point). However, unlike most beaches in Marbella, Playa de Artola is not surrounded by large hotel complexes. Instead, it sits among rolling dunes that have been a protected Spanish national… read more »

• Platja de Migjorn // Spain

  

  Platja de Migjorn is the longest beach on Formentera, stretching along much of the island's south coast. Strictly speaking this isn't really one beach but a string of sandy coves, most of which are only separated by a few rocks. Each of these has its own character and charms, with some being more popular than others.
  

  Migjorn stretches for nearly 6… read more »

• Playa de Espalmador // Spain

  

  The little island of Espalmador sits off the northern end of Formentera, just across from Ses Illetes and Llevant beaches. To some extent it is like a mirror of these beaches with the same crystal-clear shallow turquoise water and expanse of fine white sand.

  Espalmador is one of the most pristine beaches in all the Balearic Islands. The whole… read more »

• Playa de Llevant // Spain

  

  Towards the north of Formentera the land narrows into the Trucador peninsula. On the eastern coast, before you reach Ses Illetes, is the wide sandy Playa de Llevant.

  This beautiful stretch of white sand and clear blue sea has something of a wild feel. Sections of the beach are divided up into little "mini bays" by rocky outcrops which… read more »

• Cala Macarelleta // Spain

  

  Cala Macarelleta is recognised as being so beautiful that it sits within a protected Area Natural d'Especial Interes. Owing much of its recent fame to none other than an advertisement for a beer, it is nonetheless a beach which any tourist board would be happy to flaunt, and with good reason.

  At Cala Macarelleta a picture-perfect view of white sands and… read more »

• Cala Binidali // Spain

  

  Situated on Menorca's rugged yet beautiful southeast coastline, Cala Binidalí is only a 20-minute drive from the island's airport. Sitting at the landward end of a curving inlet of the Mediterranean, its soft sands are surrounded by sheer cliffs of bedrock and native flora clinging on where it can. As a result, the crystal clear waters off Cala Binidali are… read more »

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