Europe's Top 50+ Beaches
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Praia dos Viños // Spain
Henrique Pereira The little beach Praia dos Viñosis on the Cíes Islands is located near the more famous Praia das Rodas and is usually seen as a quieter alternative. The name translates to "beach of the wines" although there are no obvious clues as to why this is the case!
The beach has fine white sand and clear turquoise waters, typical… read more »
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Oasi Naturista di Capocotta // Italy
Anthony M. Located only around 10 kilometres from the Italian capital the stretch of coast between Ostia and Torvaianica is largely incorporated into the Litorale Romano State Nature Reserve. A swathe of pine forests, wetlands and dunes this is a pristine area of environmental interest. The reserve is also dotted with various historical and archaeological sites.
All this makes for a lovely and unspoiled backdrop… read more »
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Sarakiniko // Greece
Marco Verch Breath-taking Sarakiniko Beach lies on the north coast of the Greek island of Milo. Surrounding a narrow inlet of the Aegean Sea, it is not noted for its sand (which is almost entirely absent) but its dazzling white bedrock.
Sarakiniko Beach is reached down a series of slopes that those in wheelchairs or with pushchairs may find a little tricky to… read more »
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Spiaggia Ficogrande // Italy
Marcus Andersson Rising out of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Aeolian island of Stromboli looks every bit the archetypal volcano it is. The towering, and often smouldering cone, is one of three active volcanoes in Italy. It is therefore perhaps no surprise the little island is home to a number of volcanic black sand beaches.
Best of the bunch, or at least the easiest… read more »
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Perivolos Beach // Greece
Klearchos Kapoutsis Stretching along Santorini's southeast coast, the black sands of Perivolos Beach (Paralia Perivolos) are broad enough to accept several neat rows of sun loungers without anyone feeling hemmed in. It lies in between the beaches of Perissa and Agios Georgios, with little to separate them other than their separate names, making one long ribbon of sand several kilometres… read more »
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Playa de Ajuy // Spain
© tomas t. A beach that is as deep as it is wide, Playa de Ajuy is composed of dark, almost black sand surrounded in bare grey cliffs on either side. Situated on the west coast of Fuerteventura, Ajuy Beach is an area of the island's coast to enjoy from the land, since strong currents can drag swimmers out to sea.
Immediately behind Playa… read more »
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Praia do Amado // Portugal
Aires Almeida Praia do Amado is found on the Algarve’s west coast, within the Costa Vicentina Natural Park. Surrounded by a series of low grassy hills and cliffs, its broad expanse comprises rich golden sands sweeping into the shallows and an area of shingle and seashells behind.
However, there’s still plenty of space for everyone who visits, with the sands stretching… read more »
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Praia de São Rafael // Portugal
Located approximately four kilometres to the west of Albufeira old town centre, Praia de São Rafael is a Blue Flag beach recognised officially for its cleanliness. It marries the rich blue of the sea with a wide triangle of golden sand. This is edged by attractive rocky cliffs the colour of butter and biscuits which are etched with caves… read more »
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Praia de Odeceixe // Portugal
Otávio Nogueira Situated within Costa Vicentina Natural Park, Praia de Odeceixe is a Blue Flag beach on the north-western edge of the Algarve. Formed from a promontory on the southern side of the estuary of the Ribeira de Seixe River, the beach consists of soft sand separating the river from the Atlantic Ocean and providing two options for swimming.
Praia de Odeceixe stretches… read more »
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Praia do Camilo // Portugal
© Frank Nürnberger A pleasant 30 minute stroll from the historic heart of Lagos, Praia do Camilo is accessed via a wooden staircase of around 200 steps which wind among the ochre-coloured cliffs, enclosing its sands almost entirely. The result is one of the Algarve's most iconic beaches.
Praia do Camilo is relatively small in size, with the high tide covering up to… read more »
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Praia dos Pescadores // Portugal
Sean MacEntee Praia dos Pescadores (or Fisherman’s Beach) is a Blue Flag beach which forms one stretch of golden sand running along the coastal side of Albufeira. A stone’s throw from the old town, as well as places to eat, drink and sleep, this beach is unsurprisingly popular with Algarve locals as well as those on holiday in the region.
Named after… read more »
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Meia Praia // Portugal
Situated between the town of Lagos and the mouth of the Ribeira de Odiaxere river, Meia Praia is the region's longest area of beach. Providing plenty of space even during the busy summer period, Meia Praia has a total length of around four kilometres, but still has a calm and understated atmosphere compared to many other beaches in the… read more »
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Caletón Blanco // Spain
Dario Garavini This rocky and sandy spot means ‘big white cove beach' in English, and it's another of Lanzarote's best family-friendly beaches. It's on the island's northern tip, just a couple of minutes' drive away from the fishing village of Orzola.
In terms of facilities, there's not much to speak of by way of bars and restaurants, so you're best bringing your own… read more »
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Playa de los Pocillos // Spain
Katie Belle This laid-back Lanzarote town sits on the island's east coast, just a 15-minute stroll away from the much livelier, Puerto del Carmen.
Unlike many other parts of the island, Playa de los Pocillos doesn't have a long history of tourism, with most of the town's development taking place in the early nineties. As a result, despite being relatively busy, it remains… read more »
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Playa de Mogan // Spain
There's a best-of-both-worlds vibe to this golden crescent of sand, which is the westernmost beach on Gran Canaria's south coast.
The picturesque town that sits just behind the sand is a hub of whitewashed houses and narrow, cobbled streets, which are far removed from the tourist-filled spots on the island like Playa del Ingles, and far more in keeping with… read more »
