Europe's Top 50+ Beaches
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Breidavik Beach // Iceland
© Danilo Forcellini The pretty little settlement of Breiðavík is located just around the corner from Iceland's (and Europe's) most westerly point, Látrabjarg. Besides the weatherboard church and a clutch of houses there is one thing that draws people to Breidavik - the enormous stretch of white sand beach.
Breidavik Beach is said by many to be the finest beach in Iceland and… read more »
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Sunny Beach // Bulgaria
© Boby Dimitrov / CC BY There is little doubt which of Bulgaria's beaches is best known (and liveliest). Sunny Beach (Slanchev Bryag to the locals) is legendary for its golden sands and entertainment, both on and off the beach. The resort is extremely popular with Europeans and tourists from further afield looking to sun themselves in the day and dance the nights away at one of… read more »
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Sutomore Beach // Montenegro
© Luca Conti / CC BY Sutomore is one of the most developed resorts on the Montenegro coast. Situated between the cities of Bar and Petrovac, its long stretch of sandy beach is a magnet for beachgoers from far and wide. Sheltered from wind by the surrounding pine forests and mountains beyond the area has an innate natural beauty depite the beachfront developments. You will have… read more »
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Agiofarago Beach // Greece
© B.psycha / CC BY Agiofarago Beach sits at the foot of the Agiofarago Gorge, which you will need to traverse in order to reach the beach. This is an experience in itself as you hike through the vertical walls of rock. You will also pass by a number of caves where hermits from the Odigitria monastery still live today. There is also a small… read more »
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Playa de Matagorda // Spain
Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez Perhaps the first beach anyone sees when arriving into Lanzarote because of its proximity to the island's airport, Playa de Matagorda flies a Blue Flag as it winds along the southeast coast in a tempting string of dark sand.
Paralleled by the Avenida de las Playas promenade for its entire length of approximately 850 metres, Playa de Matagorda is at the… read more »
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Playa de Vueltas // Spain
Falco Ermert This soft sand beach is tucked into a picturesque corner of La Gomera's south west coastline.
As with most of the island's beaches, the sands here are volcanic black, but unlike many of the others, this one's sheltered by a breakwater, so the waves rarely get too choppy. As a result, this spot's a popular choice with families, although that's partly… read more »
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Bratten Strand // Denmark
Jørgen Larsen Located about 10 km north of the east coast town of Frederikshavn the beach at Bratten Strand feels a million miles from anywhere. This long sweeping stretch of fine white sand and sapphire sea seemingly stretches on of ever. But it doesn't as this is the far north of Denmark and before long you will run out of land where… read more »
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Nymindegab Strand // Denmark
© Aleksandr Zykov Nestled on the west coast of Denmark, 500 m from the town of the same name, sits Nymindegab Strand, one of the most popular holiday getaways in the entire country. That's due in no small part to the fact that the area is home to some of the most stretches of North Sea coast.
The beach is located at the southernmost… read more »
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Uttakleiv Beach // Norway
Eivind Barstad Waaler Uttakleiv Beach is probably the most visited and photographed in all the Lofoten Islands. I suspect this is more to do with its location than it being any more stunning and beautiful than Lofoten's other amazing beaches. That is not to say Uttakleiv doesn't have the same near-white sands, turquoise sea and dramatic mountain backdrop.
As a beach, Uttakleiv is one… read more »
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Preveli Beach // Greece
© jarekgrafik Preveli Beach is possibly the most famous of Crete's beaches. Situated at the mouth of the Kourtaliotiko Gorge, this is where the Grand River flows into the Mediterranean. It has a tropical landscape with a number of Theophrastus palm trees which line the river for around 500 meters before it empties into the sea.
The beach itself is a small… read more »
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Petrovac Beach // Montenegro
Herbert Frank A popular summer spot on the Budva Riviera, Petrovac is a charming little town wrapped around a cove. The beachfront has a few newer apartment buildings but largely retains the old stone buildings that are quite charming. This is a more relaxing and upmarket holiday spot than other resorts on the coast, with fewer clubs and beach parties; it is… read more »
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Ribersborg Beach // Sweden
Maria Eklind In contrast to Skåne's generally rural beaches, Ribersborg in Malmö is very much the city beach. Situated only three kilometres from the city center it is easy for residents to reach, and in the summer months they flock here.
The beach at Ribersborg very much has the feel of a park - which is no coincidence as this is how Ribersborgsstranden… read more »
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Playa de Castilla // Spain
Antartidae 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 »
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Son Bou // Spain
© lunamarina The largest beach on the island, Son Bou can be found on Menorca's southern coastline. Though backed onto by a large and well-equipped holiday resort and multi-storey hotels at its eastern end, they are separated from the beach by dunes and reeds that provide an important habitat for birds and butterflies, and provide a sense of isolation. At its western… read more »
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Praia da Salema // Portugal
Jose Goncalves Praia da Salema, or Salema Beach, is a Blue Flag beach by the village of the same name known for its dinosaur footprints. Facing south, it is a stretch of sand approximately a kilometre in length. Relatively undeveloped because of its location within Vincente Coast Natural Park, Praia da Salema manages to maintain its traditional atmosphere, with fishermen continuing to… read more »
