These are Europe’s best beaches, according to the Telegraph

Did any of your favorites make the list?

By Amanda Teague Published May 31, 2025

bolonia andalusia — Cavan-Images / Shutterstock

If you’re planning a trip to Europe this summer, finding the perfect beach to relax and explore is probably high on your list. Telegraph Travel’s destination experts have done the hard work for you, compiling a list of 40 of Europe’s best beaches. Instead of ranking them from best to worst, they grouped the beaches by country, spotlighting standout shores across the continent.

Heading to Spain? Don’t miss Bolonia, Andalusia, a stunning beach famous for its vast sand dune. Climb the dune at sunset, and on a clear day, you can even see Morocco across the water.

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If France is on your itinerary, Plage du Coz-Pors in Brittany is a top pick. This quiet beach is dotted with large rocks and offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, plus a handful of charming restaurants, all just an hour’s drive from the ferry port of Roscoff.

For Greece lovers, Xerocambos on Crete’s southeastern tip promises crystal-clear waters and fewer crowds, thanks to its remote location away from the island’s main tourist spots.

Even the Nordics, not usually famous for beaches, made the cut. Sweden’s Sandhammaren, a protected nature reserve in Österlen on the southeastern tip of Skåne province, offers unspoiled landscapes. Meanwhile, Denmark’s Blokhus Beach also earns praise for its wide shores and relaxed vibe.

The top 40 beaches in Europe

Spain

Bolonia, Andalusia
Praia de Rodas, Illas Cíes, Galicia
La Concha, San Sebastián
Playa de Poo, Asturias
Praia As Catedrais, Galicia
Platja de Treumal, Catalonia
Platja de Formentor, Mallorca

Portugal

Porto Santo
Praia da Adraga, Sintra
Praia Fluvial de Monsaraz, Alentejo
Praia do Barril, Algarve
Praia do Cabedelo, Viana do Castelo

France

Plage du Coz-Pors, Brittany
Calanque de Figuerolles, Côte d’Azur
Plage de Wissant, Hauts-de-France
Plage de Gatseau, Île d’Oléron, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Plage de Roccapina, Corsica
Dune du Pilat, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Plage des Fosses, Côte d’Azur

Greece

Xerocambos, Crete
Saria, Karpathos
Seychelles, Ikaria
Voidokilia, Messinia
Fteri, Kefalonia

Other European destinations

Zlatni Rat, Bol, Brač, Croatia
Punta Rata, Brela, Croatia
Sahara Beach, Rab, Croatia
Kraljicina Plaza (Queen’s beach), Sveti Stefan, Montenegro
Binz, Germany
Haukland Beach, Lofoten, Norway
Phaselis, Türkiye
Blokhus Beach, Denmark
Sandhammaren, Sweden
Ramla Beach, Gozo, Malta
Lara Beach, Cyprus

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Amanda, an accomplished freelance writer featured in several online publications, is a dedicated explorer of both the world…

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