Europe's Top 50+ Beaches
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Rabbit Beach (Lampedusa) // Italy
Located on the little island of Lampedusa, 176 km (109 miles) south west of Sicily, Rabbit beach is named after its original inhabitants. Lampedusa is actually closer to the coast of North Africa than it is any other part of Italy and the weather certainly reflects this; rain is rare and summer temperatures can reach 40°C, that's well over 100°F.… read more »
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Isola Bella // Italy
© Gnuckx / CC BY Also known as the "Pearl of the Ionian Sea", Isola Bella is a tiny island in a protected bay on Sicily's west coast. With crystal clear azul waters and a backdrop of mountains and pine forests this is a truly beautiful spot.
The beach here is a pair of coarse, stony sand crescents either side of the island which meet… read more »
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Tamariu // Spain
© Elena Aliaga It may only be small, but the beach at Tamariu is one of the most sheltered in the Costa Brava region. It is overlooked by a pretty former fishing village which has escaped overdevelopment and the calm waters and Blue Flag status make it a popular beach with families.
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Plage de Pen Hat // France
The beach of Pen Hat is one of the most exposed on the Crozon Peninsula. Facing directly into the full force of the Atlantic Ocean the rolling waves can be very impressive. Whilst this is often great news for the surfers it adds to the beaches already dangerous reputation for swimming. In fact bathing here is prohibited due to the presence… read more »
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Potami // Greece
© Samos@Wikipedia Project / CC BY Potami beach lies on the verdant and hilly northwestern coast of the Aegean island of Samos. It is a long pebble beach with a distinctive rock formation mid-beach. The water here is a particularly clear blue which contrasts beautifully with the forested hillside behind.
Potami is a place of beauty and is largely unspoilt. A small beach bar provides snacks and… read more »
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Eriks Hale // Denmark
Sintakso The Ærø island beach of Eriks Hale is set on a narrow spit of land which juts out into the Baltic Sea. This has the effect of creating a beach with two very different coasts. To one side the Baltic Sea crashes against the sand, whilst to the back of the beach you have the sheltered lagoon of "Lille Hav"… read more »
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Bellevue Strand // Denmark
Guillaume Baviere Summer holidays are a big part of the way of life in Denmark – literally. Holiday time has been mandated by the Danish government since the 1930s, and since then Bellevue Strand has been one of the most popular beaches in the country. That is due in no small part to the fact it is located within a stone's throw… read more »
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Lakolk Strand // Denmark
Arne List Just across the border from Germany on the little barrier island of Rømø is the wide open windswept expanse of Lakolk Strand. Often battered by the wind and waves of the North Sea this is both a place to feel at one with the elements, but also a great family beach during the summer months.
borders a UNESCO nature preserve, so… read more »
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Bunec beach // Albania
Albinfo Bunec Beach is a quiet, yet beautiful, spot near Saranda in Albania. With a backdrop of mountains it offers an opportunity to get in touch with the natural beauty of Albania.
Littered with white pebbles, the water at Bunec is crystal clear and the beautiful shade of blue-green you only find in the Ionian Sea. The remote location means visitors will… read more »
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Mango beach // Albania
© master2 A lovely convergence of sapphire sea and sun-kissed sparkling white sand, Mango Beach in Sarande is one of Albania's best-kept secrets. Sitting at the southern tip of Albania, bordering Greece, Mango Beach is a perfect slice of sweet Southern Mediterranean bliss.
The Sarande area is known for its rich cultural past and is located near the ancient city of… read more »
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Primorsko South beach // Bulgaria
AcerStan Primorsko's other beach sits to the south of the headland which is home to this pleasant resort town. This long stretch of golden sand is partly backed by sand dunes and the Dyavolska River which helps preserve something of a wild feeling, particularly towards the southern end of the beach.
South beach is one of… read more »
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La Palue // France
Jeanne Menjoulet Loved by those seeking out the wilder reaches of France's Atlantic coast, Plage de la Palue lies on the western side of Brittany's Crozon Peninsula, close to its southernmost point of Cape de la Chèvre. Its wide expanse of yellow sand provides a powerful contrast to the crisp blues of the Atlantic, and the low cliffs that book end either… read more »
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Plage de Kermor // France
© Chris Leather Facing south, the almost straight ribbon of sand that is Plage de Kermor stretches for more than three kilometres, although it takes on a name change to Plage de Teven towards its western end. Located roughly midway between Sainte Marine port in Combrit and the quaint village of Île Tudy, the beach provides the perfect blend of natural majesty… read more »
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Praia da Bordeira // Portugal
© CanStockPhoto Bordeira beach is located on the wild, western coast of the Algarve which is a very different place to the resort beaches further south. This magnificent stretch of wide open golden sand is pounded by the full force of the Atlantic waves making it one of the most popular surf spots in the Algarve region. One of the lovely things… read more »
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Praia da Marinha // Portugal
© Inacio Pires / 123RF 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 »
