Europe's Top 50+ Beaches

• Praia da Marinha // Portugal

  

  Ocre coloured cliffs are a trademark of the coves of the central Algarve, as are the amazing rock formations and clear aquamarine waters. However, with the possible exception of Praia Dona Ana in Lagos, nowhere are these rocks as spectacular as at Praia da Marinha.

  Over the millennia the ocean has carved the limestone cliffs here into various arches, caves… read more »

• Sennen Beach // UK

  

  Situated just around the corner from Land's End is one of Cornwall's finest stretches of sand, Sennen cove. The beach itself isn't really a cove at all, it is a wide open expanse of golden sand backing onto sand dunes and craggy hillsides. At one end of the beach is the little village of Sennen with its quaint harbour. Heading… read more »

• Praia da Rocha // Portugal

  

  Praia da Rocha is one of the Algarve's best known and certainly most impressive beaches. A vast expanse of golden sand backed by the ochre coloured sandstone cliffs unique to this stretch of the Algarve. The beach's name translates to 'rock beach' and this refers to the numerous rock formations that punctuate the golden sand towards the western end.

  Being located… read more »

• Cala Mitjana // Spain

  

  Located in a wide rocky inlet on the south coast of Menorca are two of the islands most beautiful beaches; Cala Mitjana and the tiny cove of Cala Mitjaneta. Here you will find a bay with brilliant turquoise sea which contrasts with the low white cliffs surrounding it. All around the beaches and bay are pine and olive groves and… read more »

• La Pelosa // Italy

  

  Lying at the foot of Capo Falcone on the north-western tip of Sardinia is one of the islands most stunning beaches. A stretch of white sand and shallow, turquoise waters make La Pelosa everything you could desire from a Mediterranean beach. In addition to all this the beach has a secure enclosed feeling with the island of Piana just offshore… read more »

• Saplunara // Croatia

  

  Set at the far end of the somewhat undiscovered Dalmatian island of Mljet is the seaside village of Saplunara. Even as Croatia edges its way from the peripheries of the tourist map Mljet remains one of the hidden gems of the Adriatic and this is despite being only 30 km from Dubrovnik. The northern end of the island is a… read more »

• Minori and Maiori beach // Italy

  

  For some reason these two neigbouring beaches on Italy's Amalfi Coast are always mentioned in the same breath. So, here you get two fantastic Italian beaches for the price of one!

  Now, my limited knowledge of all things Latin tells me Maiori means something bigger and Minori something smaller, which sums up these beaches. The beach at Maiori is in… read more »

• Cala Mariolu // Italy

  

  Not far along the coast from the stunning cove and rock formations of Cala Goloritze is another Sardinian gem, Cala Mariolu. This little beach is set at the foot of plunging limestone cliffs which contrast with the stunningly clear blue water of the Gulf of Orosei. So alluring is the water here that I challenge anyone to not take a… read more »

• Rusalka Beach // Bulgaria

  

  Ruslaka Beach is set on the Black Sea between the city of Varna and the border with Romania. A small beach in an area dominated by coastal cliffs, it has crystal clear waters known to be home to dolphins. Its name comes from the Bulgarian word for mermaid. It is predominantly made up of a light coloured sand, mixed… read more »

• Île-Tudy // France

  

  Set just across the River Odet from the popular beach resort of Bénodet is this great crescent of white sand beach, backed by low dunes and lapped by clear blue ocean. Stretching nearly 5km from the upmarket yachty village of Sainte Marine to the sleepy seaside village of Île-Tudy this is well known as one of the best family friendly… read more »

• Plage de l'Écluse - Dinard // France

  

  The seaside resort of Dinard still retains much of its belle-époque charm leading to it being referred to as the "pearl of the Emerald Coast" by some. Dotted with literally hundreds of elegant turn-of-the-century villas and a number of grand hotels the town makes a fantastic backdrop to some wonderful sandy beaches.

  Of Dinard's four main beaches it is the Plage de l'Écluse that… read more »

• Plage du Môle - St Malo // France

  

  Plage du Mole is the southernmost of St Malo's beaches. The name comes from the french word for breakwater (not the small furry animal) and the beach sits in the shelter of the Mole des Noires jetty which protects the entrance to the main harbour behind. There are good views across the bay towards Dinard less than 1 km away.

  This… read more »

• Plage d'Herlin // France

  

  The sandy cove of Plage d'Herlin lies on the south coast of the island of Belle Île. It was formed by the confluence of three river valleys and is now a beautiful beach protected from the wind by low cliffs to all sides.

  Plage d'Herlin is a popular family beach and does get reasonably busy during the summer holidays. There is usually plenty… read more »

• Playa de Esquinzo // Spain

  

  Not to be confused with the beach of a similar name in Fuerteventura's south, Playa de Esquinzo is a relatively remote stretch of soft golden sand on the northwest coast, six kilometres from El Cotillo. It lies within a small horseshoe shaped bay at the end of a gravel road and beyond a footpath leading from the car park down… read more »

• Playa Del Matorral // Spain

  

  Curving around the southernmost point of the island, the three-kilometre-long Playa del Matorral can be roughly split into two equal parts. Its rich golden sands have been awarded Blue Flag status for cleanliness time and time again over the years, while the waves that come ashore are also normally calm.

  The section closest to the city of Morro Jable is where… read more »

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