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.
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
