Inspiration

The best beaches in Europe for 2025

Our editors share their favourite sandy spots by the coast, plus where to stay in Europe
Notre Dame beach on Porquerolles island France
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Think of the most idyllic holiday destinations, and perhaps sandy shores spring to mind. While far-flung destinations like the Caribbean and the best islands in Thailand hold bucket list top spots during winter, the best beaches in Europe get our editors’ vote as soon as spring comes around. From Mijorn’s ‘too good to photograph’ sunsets to Fteri’s quiet surroundings, these European beaches are some of the most memorable destinations we’ve been to. Plus, we’ve added our favourite places to stay, from romantic hotels to kitsch Airbnbs, so you can make the most of your visit to one of the best beaches in Europe. Add our favourite beaches in Europe to your 2025 travel agenda to see the corners of the world we’ll be returning to time and time again.

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  • Beautiful lagoon of Fteri beach on Kefalobia Greece. There are several sailboats anchored in the lagoon and the sea is...
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    Fteri beach, Kefalonia
    Best beach in Europe for: having the place to yourself

    If your algorithm is as hooked on breathtakingly beautiful beaches as mine is, chances are you’ll have seen a video of this staggering Greek island beach. Kefalonia is known for its candy-coloured villages, stunning shorelines and rugged hinterlands. Fteri Beach is one of its prettiest (worst-kept) secrets. At the foot of dramatic white cliffs, this beach is on a secluded cove accessible only via boat or an hour-long hike. It’s worth rising early and being one of the first to arrive. You’re guaranteed to have the stretch to yourself, to stretch out and soak up the sun, go snorkelling in the bluest water you’ve ever seen, or explore the greenery fringing the beach. Remember to bring water shoes with you, as you’ll have to jump from the water taxi and clamber up the white pebbly shore, which can be quite painful – I promise it’s worth it, though.

    Where to stay: There aren’t many hotels near this beach (which is probably why it manages to stay so quiet in the early hours), but a 40-minute drive away is Kefalonia Grand Hotel, a serene escape with sea views and an excellent restaurant. Olivia Morelli

    Seralia Beach, Sifnos
    Best beach in Europe for: Tucking into the best zero-waste, locally-sourced food around

    While I look forward to discovering new places each year, one destination remains on my agenda: Greece. A week of ferry hopping around just some of the many beautiful small islands – usually at the end of September or the start of October – is the ultimate way to relax and recharge before heading into the madness of the festive season back in London. 170 of Greece’s 2,000 islands are inhabited, so you can bet there’s a spot to suit whatever you’re after – from the glitz and glam of Mykono, to the staggering sunsets of Santorini. If the idea of heading somewhere a bit more untouched and authentic appeals, then Sifnos is worth adding to your bucket list. We spent a perfect day on the tiny pebble Seralia beach, which sits just below the village of Kastro on the island's east coast. The highlight? Heading to Cantina – a wonky stone shack overlooking the bay – where we perched on rocks to eat the smoothest eggplant mousse, perfectly crisp chickpea panisse and smoky calami grilled over the fire while the waves crashed below and the sky turned pink.

    Where to stay: In the sleepy fishing village of Faros – just 20 minutes drive from Seralia beach – Nos is the ultimate relaxing retreat. Lounge by the photogenic pool by day and at night, tuck into modern Greek dishes at the outdoor restaurant. If you’re lucky, you might get a view of Chryssopigi, the island’s prettiest monastery, from your room. Sarah Allard

  • Balearic islands mediterranean coastline. Picturesque village Deia cove. Spain
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    Cala de Deiá, Mallorca
    Best beach in Europe for: rugged beauty and meals with a view

    If you are searching for one of those paradise beaches of powder-soft white sands, this is not it. Nonetheless, the charm of Cala de Deià lies in its rugged beauty. Everything about it is just a little bit difficult, from the winding drive along hairpin bends to the scrabbly rocks of the beach – and don't forget to keep an eye out for spiky urchins lurking below the waterline. Yet it’s this sense of adventure and wildness that amplifies the whole experience of visiting Deiá. Once you reach the tiny, sheltered cove and take in the twinkling, jewel-like waters, you’ll feel as though you’ve won the lottery. Park your towel on a large smooth rock in the sun and take delicious refreshments from the charming restaurant perched above, and you may well be in for a perfect day. Lucy Bruton

    Where to stay: For something luxurious and a little further away book La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, or keep things local and choose Son Net.

    Ile Vierge Brittany, France
    Best beach in Europe for: a secluded hideout

    This little cove on the Crozon Peninsula has a handsome lighthouse dominating its horizon. The beach itself is rugged and wild, with steep cliffs covered in pines, which means scrabbling down to Pointe de St Hernot isn’t the most accessible of options. For those who can make the trek, the reward is well worth it.

    Where to stay: I always choose an Airbnb when I visit Ile Vierge to make it feel like a home away from home. Sarah James

  • Cala Gracioneta is a small beach from Ibiza at the south of the island in San Antonio. This summer colors invites anyone...
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    Cala Gracioneta, Ibiza

    Best beach in Europe for: Ibiza’s raw beauty, plus one of the best chiriguitos on the island

    Follow the dusty path down to Cala Gracioneta and its straw-topped sun loungers to experience the westerly side of Ibiza in all its stripped-back beauty. Not far, of course, is Sant Antoni – famed for being the party capital of the island – but here, you’d never know it. The chiringuito, which adopts the same name is arguably one of the best restaurants in Ibiza, and it serves vast, shared pans of paella, plates of calamari and jugs of sangria throughout the day and into the evening when the scene becomes ever-more perfect thanks to Edison lights strung from palm to palm. It’s true, you need a car in Ibiza, or at least a taxi, but making the journey to this small but charismatic cove is well worthwhile.

    Where to stay: Stay at OKU or Hostal La Torre if proximity is your priority, or book beautiful Petunia and use the journey as a chance to explore. Sarah Bannerman

    Lungomare di Cefalù, Sicily
    Best beach in Europe for: the best of both

    Sweeping semi-circle stairs lead down to this Sicilian beach, which stretches and curves along the coast, backed by the fortress-like city of Cefalù. It’s a gorgeous sight: creamy sand slopes into glittery water (still warm enough to swim in at the end of October), seeming to fade imperceptibly into the sandy-coloured buildings of the city. It’s not quiet or hidden, but it is a fabulous place for a hit of morning sun and sea before retreating into the city for a spot of lunch at one of the many lovely restaurants.

    Where to stay: Le Calette Bay gets my vote every time. Sarah James

  • Hotel Jökulsarlon</a> has smart modern interiors and beautiful views over the mountains from most rooms, while being a stone’s throw from the beach. There’s also a nearby <a href=https://www.cntraveller.com/"https://uk.hotels.com/ho558950/fosshotel-glacier-lagoon-fagurholsmyri-iceland//">Fosshotel and, while I’ve not stayed, the one I did stay in near Rekjavik was perfectly lovely. <em>Charley Ward</em><br>","contentType":"photo","credit":"Getty Images","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":213,"width":320,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/67474741daf4a95ebc6f7948/master/w_320,c_limit/Plage%20Notre-Dame,%20Porquerolles-GettyImages-2101143401.jpg"},{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/67474741daf4a95ebc6f7948/master/w_640,c_limit/Plage%20Notre-Dame,%20Porquerolles-GettyImages-2101143401.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/67474741daf4a95ebc6f7948/master/w_640,c_limit/Plage%20Notre-Dame,%20Porquerolles-GettyImages-2101143401.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/67474741daf4a95ebc6f7948/master/w_1280,c_limit/Plage%20Notre-Dame,%20Porquerolles-GettyImages-2101143401.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":683,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/67474741daf4a95ebc6f7948/master/w_1024,c_limit/Plage%20Notre-Dame,%20Porquerolles-GettyImages-2101143401.jpg"},{"height":1365,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/67474741daf4a95ebc6f7948/master/w_2048,c_limit/Plage%20Notre-Dame,%20Porquerolles-GettyImages-2101143401.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/67474741daf4a95ebc6f7948/master/w_1280,c_limit/Plage%20Notre-Dame,%20Porquerolles-GettyImages-2101143401.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/67474741daf4a95ebc6f7948/master/w_1280,c_limit/Plage%20Notre-Dame,%20Porquerolles-GettyImages-2101143401.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
    World famous beautiful Notre Dame beach on Porquerolles island
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    Plage Notre-Dame Porquerolles, France

    Best beach in Europe for: a laid-back long weekend

    There’s something decidedly glorious about bumping along a eucalyptus-lined dusty red dirt trail on a rented bicycle, knowing that certain things about Porquerolles – an island roughly nine kilometres long and two kilometres wide, off the coast of Hyères – never change, beginning with the pristine beaches. I’ve visited countless times over the past three decades and this favourite swimming spot, Plage Notre-Dame, remains a high Technicolor experience with a soundtrack of grinding cicadas. The ritual: you lock your bike on a weathered post, shaded by windswept umbrella pines, then pause to admire the perfect panoramic curved strip of fine quartz sand before scrambling down the rickety wooden stairs to find a place to unfurl your towel. Wading through the limpid shallows – a glittering pale aquamarine – t’s hard to imagine that you’re only a 15-minute ferry or water taxi-ride away from the overdeveloped French Riviera. And – except for the swarm of day-trippers in high season – you’re on your own.

    Porquerolles, a government-protected National Park, prohibits cars and smoking (except in the tiny village square, lined with cafés, where old-timers play pétanque). Bring snacks and plenty of water – there are no lifeguards, no sandwich stands, no sunbeds, and very little shade. Another option, once you’ve dried off, is to visit the nearby Villa Carmignac, a cutting-edge contemporary art museum, then lunch at their superb outdoor restaurant serving Provençal specialties and chilled island-grown rosé. Come back for a dip at sunset, when the palms turn black against an orange and fuchsia-streaked sky.

    Where to stay: For a romantic break, book Le Mas du Langoustier or for a family-friendly stay, choose Hotel les Medes. Lanie Goodman

    Diamond Beach, Iceland
    Best beach in Europe for: black sands and breathtaking beauty

    Just a short hop from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon there lies an unusual beach. There’s no glowing golden stretches, not a single bar blasting cheery music, row of humbug-striped deckchairs or crowd of surfers. You’re certainly not going to don your bikini. However, a quick stop here made the most memorable beach experience I’ve ever had. The highly volcanic earth gives this small strip of sand a charcoal hue; as if the contrast has been turned up on a photograph. All along the shoreline, bright, glimmering chunks of glacier from the nearby lagoon have washed up on the shore. The sight of hundreds of shining globes of ice reflecting a kaleidoscope of colours against inky dark sand as the light dipped below the sea is something I’ll never forget. Leave your beach bag and sunglasses at home and instead bring three jumpers and your thermals. However, as with most places in Iceland, the unique beauty of the spot will linger long in your mind.

    Where to stay: Hotel Jökulsarlon has smart modern interiors and beautiful views over the mountains from most rooms, while being a stone’s throw from the beach. There’s also a nearby Fosshotel and, while I’ve not stayed, the one I did stay in near Rekjavik was perfectly lovely. Charley Ward

TopicsBeachesShort BreaksItinerariesSummer HolidaysCoast & CountrysideEuropeCroatiaFranceSpainItalyPortugalMost Read Articles 2019Most read articles in 2020