The definition of a great beach depends enormously on what a great beach day looks like to you. Are you an avid sunbather, a wildlife-fanatic snorkeller, or a keen hiker after some dramatic, rugged coastal vistas? Well, there’ll be a beach out there for you.
However, Europe’s coasts are dotted with well-rounded crowd pleasers, too, and European Best Destinations has conveniently conducted some comprehensive research to provide us with a list of the absolute best.
Everything from water quality, accessibility and available activities to natural beauty, family-friendliness and environmental preservation has been scrutinised based on both traveller and editorial experience, and the official top 10 has just washed up.
The coveted top spot was claimed by Praia de Monte Clérigo, a sweeping sandy beach in Portugal’s idyllic Algarve region. It sits within the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and is primed for active travellers keen to hike or catch some waves.
Our tip if you’re heading here is to book a spot at O Sargo – it’s a classy seafood restaurant perched on the south side of the beach which overlooks its dreamy, sandy expanse – and do so at dusk to see this place live up to its nickname: The Sunset Beach.
However, one Mediterranean country completely dominated this ranking, claiming half of the top 10 spots. It was Greece, which filled places two, three, four, eight and ten – with two in Corfu.
Voutoumi Beach in Antipaxos claimed second place, and Fteri Beach claimed third (after recently being crowned best in Europe by World’s 50 Best Beaches). Elafonisi Beach in Crete came fourth – though it’s the reigning champion according to the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.
Clearly this roundup includes the crème de la crème of Europe’s coasts – scroll on for the full top 10, and read more about each of them on the official European Best Destinations website.
These are Europe’s top 10 beaches, according to European Best Destinations
- Monte Clerigo – The Sunset Beach, Algarve, Portugal
- Voutoumi Beach, Antipaxos, Greece
- Fteri Beach, Kefalonia, Greece
- Elafonisi Beach, Crete, Greece
- Bogliasco Beach, Italy
- Cala Mesquida, Mallorca, Spain
- Kvalvika Beach, Moskenesoy, Norway
- Rovinia Beach, Corfu, Greece
- Kaputas Beach, Türkiye
- Paleokastritsa Beach, Corfu, Greece
🌞 Oh, and here are the best beaches in Europe, according to .
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