Europe's Top 50+ Beaches
-
Playa de los Genoveses // Spain
Kevin Pacheco Found on the Costa de Almeria, around three kilometres from the town of Nijar, Playa de los Genoveses forms perhaps the most stunning vistas of Cabo de Gata Natural Park. With smooth yellow sand stretching the length of an entire bay, and surrounded on its inland side by virgin dunes, there are no facilities or amenities on Playa de los… read more »
-
Playa de las Negras // Spain
© Jerzy Górecki This shingle and dark sand beach is right at the centre of life in the town of the same name, on Andalusia's eastern coastline. It takes its name from the black sea cliff, Cerro Negro, to the eastern side of this small inlet of the Mediterranean Sea.
Situated within the confines of Parque Natural Cabo de Gata, Playa de las Negras… read more »
-
Playa de Cuesta Maneli // Spain
José Mari D. Barba Playa de Cuesta Maneli has fine, golden sand that runs for several kilometres. Situated within the confines of Doñana Natural Park, around 35 kilometres southeast of Huelva, the beach has very few facilities on offer, with a sole chiringuito (with toilets) open in the summer for refreshments.
The location of Playa de Cuesta Maneli within the protected area of Doñana means… read more »
-
Playa de Matalascañas // Spain
Jose A. Playa de Matalascañas is a long, sandy beach on the Costa de la Luz between Cadiz and Huelva. Stretching for several kilometres, the beach offers golden sands and gentle Atlantic waves. Known for its warm climate and wide shoreline, Matalascañas is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and long seaside walks.
A prominent landmark on the beach is the Torre la Higuera,… read more »
-
Playa Calahonda // Spain
© Rober Martinez The last beach on the Costa Tropical before it turns into the Costa Almeria, Playa Calahonda lies south of Granada around a small village of the same name that manages to maintain an authentic regional air and lacks the large hotel developments of elsewhere on the Andalusian coast.
Protected by a headland on its eastern side, and with cliffs to its… read more »
-
-
Playa de Maro // Spain
Guerretto Also known by its English name, Maro Beach, Playa de Maro is a Blue Flag beach lying within Acantilados del Mar Nature Reserve. Known for its seclusion, this 500 metre long stretch of deep greyish sand mixed with occasional pebbles is a virgin beach, meaning it has been all but untouched by development.
Playa de Maro is therefore a fantastic area… read more »
-
Playa del Cristo // Spain
Turista Inglesa Stretching around a small bay immediately to the west of Punta de la Doncella and the attractive marina of Puerto Pesquero de Estepona, Playa del Cristo is approximately 700 metres long. Combining stone-free dark sands with calm shallow waters, protected on one side by a sea wall, amenities include several play areas. As a result, it's a beach that has… read more »
-
Playa La Rada // Spain
Turista Inglesa Situated on the eastern side of Estepona, Playa de la Rada runs for over two kilometres. Although not the calmest of beaches on the Costa del Sol, with moderate waves, its deep grey sands and long beachside promenade makes Playa de la Rada an excellent all-round option favoured by locals and visitors alike.
Accessible for those with disabilities, and in close… read more »
-
Playa la Victoria // Spain
© joserpizarro/123RF Undoubtedly one of the most popular beaches in Cadiz, Playa la Victoria is a favourite with locals as well as visitors to the area. A beach sitting firmly within the city limits, its 2.8-kilometre length is matched by a promenade alongside it that hosts hotels, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
The beach itself comprises a good width of near-white sands facing… read more »
-
La Caleta // Spain
Tyk 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
© Manfred Zajac 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
elfeffe 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
Andrew Nash 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
Erik Starck 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 Santa Maria del Mar // Spain
© Юлия Сорокина 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 »
