Europe's Top 50+ Beaches

• Vai Beach // Greece

  

  Vai beach sits at the foot of the Vai palm forest, the largest of its sort in Europe. There are various stories of how the palm trees came to be here ranging from Arab pirates spitting date stones ashore to Phoenician traders planting them. The truth is though, they were always here and as a protected site will hopefully remain.… read more »

• Ramberg // Norway

  

  The description of Ramberg beach on the Lofoten Islands begins like many of the other tropical beaches on the World Beach Guide. A crescent of white sands washed by crystal clear turquoise water...

  ...but hold on a minute. Ramberg is anything but tropical, it is located in the Arctic Circle. In fact you are more likely to be chased polar… read more »

• Albena Beach // Bulgaria

  

  This beautiful expanse of fine golden sand stretches for 5 Km (3 miles) and is largely backed by the woodland of the Baltata National Reserve. Despite being on the Black Sea coast the water is anything but black here. Maybe the "crystal clear azure coast" would have been a more appropriate name as this beach is the proud owner of… read more »

• Holkham Beach // UK

  

  Holkham beach is widely regarded as the finest beach in Norfolk, and by some the UK. In fact a recent survey amongst travel editors and writers put Holkham beach right at the top of the list. Whilst I don't agree with this result, it is still a very fine beach.

  The beach at Holkham is a great expanse of fine… read more »

• Breidavik Beach // Iceland

  

  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 »

• Sunny Beach // Bulgaria

  

  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 »

• Sutomore Beach // Montenegro

  

  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 »

• Agiofarago Beach // Greece

  

  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 »

• Playa de Matagorda // Spain

  

  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 »

• Playa de Vueltas // Spain

  

  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 »

• Bratten Strand // Denmark

  

  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 »

• Nymindegab Strand // Denmark

  

  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 »

• Uttakleiv Beach // Norway

  

  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 »

• Preveli Beach // Greece

  

  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 »

• Petrovac Beach // Montenegro

  

  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 »

• 

  Europe

• 

  North America

• 

  Africa

• 

  Asia

• 

  Central America

• 

  Oceania