Europe's Top 50+ Beaches

• Agios Georgios Pagon // Greece

  

  The beach of Agios Georgios Pagon is one of the largest on the island of Corfu. Set in a wide bay backed by verdant hillsides this sweep of golden sand never gets too crowded, even in the summer. The small resort and village behind is fairly low key and generally caters for families.

  Whilst the sand here is not the finest… read more »

• Rovinia Beach // Greece

  

  Rovinia Beach lies on the west coast of Corfu at Paleokastritsa Bay, close to the village of Liapades. Both secluded and enclosed, it has coarse sand to its rear and smooth shingle towards the lapping waves, neither of which are particularly painful to walk on in bare feet. What's more, the almost white pebbles create a staggering contrast to… read more »

• Issos Beach // Greece

  

  Issos Beach is a quiet ribbon of golden sand some 1.5 kilometres long that is backed by gently-sloping dunes. These separate it from the forests and wetlands that surround Lake Korission, one of Corfu's most important bodies of freshwater.

  This south facing beach lies in the far south of the island, and benefits from a lifeguard presence during the high season.… read more »

• Marathias beach // Greece

  

  Marathias Beach stretches for roughly two kilometres of fantastic orange sand. Awarded a Blue Flag, it is located on Corfu's southwest coast, and is surrounded by mature native forest and low sea cliffs. To its north is Agios Georgios Argyrades, while to the south Marathias runs without a break into Santa Barbara Beach.

  However, it is also backed by a good… read more »

• Vera Playa - Playa El Playazo // Spain

  

  Vera Playa is located at the northern end of Playa El Playazo, a beach measuring two kilometres in length and up to 100 metres wide. It fronts a relatively developed and well-catered for section of Spain's eastern Almeria coastline.

  The first official site for nudists in Europe, it has developed into something of a naturists resort, as well as holding the… read more »

• Platja es Grau // Spain

  

  Six hundred metres long by roughly 35 metres wide, Menorca's Es Grau Beach sits beside a small fishing village of the same name within the island's Natural Park of S'Albufera de Es Grau. This means visitors to Es Grau beach are able to enjoy a fine natural landscape of grassy sand dunes while being certain they'll find somewhere to enjoy… read more »

• Platja de Formentor // Spain

  

  The highly rated Platja de Formentor can be found on a peninsula in the island's rugged far north. Arcing around Cala Pi de la Posada Bay, its waters are calmed by the dominating presence of Formentor headland at its easternmost point.

  Formentor beach is surrounded by the pleasant wooded slopes of the Tramuntana Mountains, which echoes with birdsong and is steeped… read more »

• Perissa Beach // Greece

  

  Lined from end to end with sun loungers and umbrellas of thatched palm leaves, Perissa Beach is renowned for its unusual black sands. They are the result of volcanic eruptions from Mesa Vouno Mountain thousands of years ago, and create an impressive contrast with the whitewashed buildings and deep blue sea around it.

  Situated on the southeast coast of Santorini, the… read more »

• Red Beach // Greece

  

  This unique and stunning beach was formed by volcanic eruptions and is one of the must see attractions for tourists visiting the gorgeous island of Santorini. As the name suggests, its sand has a distinct red hue. 

  Located on the southern part of the island in Akrotiri Village, Red Beach is a 20-minute drive from Fira town. If you'd rather have… read more »

• Spiaggia Rosa // Italy

  

  "Pink Beach" lies wild and unspoiled on Budelli Island, a tiny expanse of land just off the northern coast of Sardinia in the Maddalena Archipelago. While rare, being only a handful of pink beaches known worldwide, its faint rosy hue is entirely natural. It results from high concentrations of crushed corals and shells among the sands.

  Backed by lush Mediterranean… read more »

• Cala del Ambolo // Spain

  

  Stretching for just 150 metres (500 feet) in length, Playa de Cala Ambolo faces south from Spain's beautiful Costa Blanca coastline. Surrounded by rugged rocks that rise almost vertically from the enticing shallows, Cala Ambolo Beach is reached via a concrete stairway with a good handrail. While this may seem like a drawback, especially if you're travelling with children, the… read more »

• Güi-Güi // Spain

  

  All but hidden by the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean at high tide, at low tide Güi Güi Beach reveals a narrow stretch of dramatic sand. A rich brown-black in colour and backed by towering mountain slopes dotted with tall cacti, it lies in a remote area of the Reserva Especial Natural de Güi-Güi.

  Pronounced ‘wee wee', Güi Güi Beach… read more »

• Cabo de Gata (San Miguel) // Spain

  

  Playa de San Miguel is a located in the town of the same name in Cabo de Gata. It is one of the more accessible beaches in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, and offers a mix of natural beauty and convenience. The shoreline is long, with fine pale golden sand mixed with some pebbles, and the Mediterranean waters are… read more »

• Praia de Figueiras // Spain

  

  Praia de Figueiras is a small beach on the Cíes Islands, just off the coast of Galicia  in Northern Spain. The beach is located on the north island of Monteagudo, not far from the main landing area.

  This beach is known for its fine white sand and clear blue waters, not unlike nearby Praia das Rodas. However, it is… read more »

• Praia das Rodas // Spain

  

  Praia das Rodas is probably the best known of the beaches on the Cíes Islands. This little group of islands lie just off the coast of Galicia in northwestern Spain. 

  Often regarded as one of Spain’s best beaches,  Praia das Rodas features a curving stretch of soft white sand. To one side are the clear turquoise waters of the Atlantic,… read more »

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