Europe has a coastline for every mood. From Turkey’s hidden coves to Portugal’s golden cliffs.
My travelmates and I have chased beaches for years. Tiny bays. Wide sandy shores. Secret coves.
Some felt like movie sets. Some felt like private islands. Each one surprised me in a different way.
This list collects the twenty most beautiful beaches I found. Places worth a plane ticket, and worth lingering.
Pack a towel. Bring an open mind.
Contents
Sun, Sand, and Ancient Shores: The Med’s Best Beaches
Our journey begins in the sun-drenched eastern Mediterranean. Here, ancient history meets impossibly blue waters. These are the beaches that define the classic European summer holiday.
1. Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon, Turkey
The name Ölüdeniz translates to “Dead Sea” because its waters are so calm, even during storms.
This world-famous spot on the Turkish Riviera is a national nature reserve, which means its stunning beauty is protected from over-development.
The main beach is pebbly, but it protects a breathtakingly beautiful blue lagoon.
The view from above is just as famous as the beach itself. Look up, and you’ll see dozens of paragliders soaring down from Mount Babadağ. It’s considered one of the best places in the world to try it.
2. Kaputaş Beach, Turkey
Getting to Kaputaş is part of the adventure. You park on the coastal road between Kaş and Kalkan and descend 187 steps to reach the sand. The view from the top of that staircase is mesmerizing.
Tucked into a canyon mouth, this small beach boasts golden sand and stunning turquoise water. Because it’s a bit of a climb, it feels like a hidden paradise.
It’s a perfect spot for a day trip to just swim and soak in the dramatic scenery.
3. Ksamil Beach, Albania
Welcome to the “Maldives of Europe.” Ksamil is the star of the Albanian Riviera, a true hidden gem that is thankfully still affordable. The water is crystal clear, the sand is white, and the vibe is pure paradise.
What makes Ksamil truly special are the four small, uninhabited islands just off the coast. You can easily rent a small boat or even swim to the closer ones for your own private slice of heaven. It’s an incredible experience.
You have seen this beach on a million postcards. Towering white limestone cliffs frame a perfect cove with a rusting shipwreck, the MV Panagiotis, resting on the sand. It is undeniably one of the most iconic sights in Greece.
However, you must know this: the beach itself is currently CLOSED to visitors. Due to the risk of landslides, you cannot walk on the sand.
Boat tours still approach the cove for incredible photos, and you can visit the clifftop viewpoint. Always check the latest local updates before you go.
5. Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece
Yes, the sand really is pink! Elafonissi is famous for the beautiful pinkish hue of its sand, especially at the water’s edge.
This color comes from pigmented microorganisms that grow on seaweed and get crushed into the sand by the waves.
The beach is a protected nature reserve. It connects the mainland to a small island through a warm, shallow lagoon. You can easily walk through the knee-deep water to explore the island’s more secluded spots.
6. Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus
If you’re looking for energy, Nissi Beach is the place to be. This is the most famous beach in Cyprus, and it has a split personality. One end is long and lively, while the other is smaller and quieter.
The Nissi Bay Beach Bar is legendary for its daily parties. Expect DJs, foam parties, and a vibrant crowd.
A small island gives the beach its name, and you can walk to it through the shallow, clear water.
7. Sveti Stefan, Montenegro
Sveti Stefan is more of a fairytale than a beach. A fortified 15th-century village sits on a tiny island, connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. It is one of the most photographed spots in the Balkans.
The island itself is an exclusive Aman resort, so you can’t just wander onto it. However, the public can use the beautiful beach to the left of the causeway. You can pay for a lounger or find a free spot on the pebbles.
8. Zlatni Rat, Croatia
Zlatni Rat, or the “Golden Horn,” is a beach that never stays still. This incredible spit of white pebbles on the island of Brač juts out more than 500 meters into the Adriatic Sea.
Its most amazing feature is that its tip changes shape with the wind and currents. One day it points east, the next it points west. It’s a paradise for windsurfers, who flock here for the reliable afternoon winds.
Italian Wonders and Maltese Blues
Now we head to the heart of the Mediterranean. Here, we find some of the clearest water on the planet and beaches that require a true sense of adventure to reach.
9. Blue Lagoon, Comino, Malta
The Blue Lagoon is all about one thing: the color of the water. It is the most unbelievably bright, clear cyan you will ever see.
Tucked between the tiny islands of Comino and Cominotto, this sheltered lagoon is a perfect spot for swimming and snorkeling.
It is only accessible by boat, with many tours departing from both Malta and Gozo. My best advice? Take the first ferry of the day to experience its magic before the crowds arrive.
10. Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, Italy
Consistently voted one of the best beaches in the world, Rabbit Beach is worth the journey.
It’s on the remote island of Lampedusa, which is actually closer to Africa than it is to mainland Italy.
The beach is part of a protected nature reserve. It is one of the last places in Italy where loggerhead sea turtles come to lay their eggs.
This means access is sometimes restricted, but it also ensures the beach remains absolutely pristine.
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11. Cala Goloritzé, Sardinia, Italy
This is a beach you have to earn. Cala Goloritzé is a tiny, perfect cove that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
It is famous for its limestone cliffs, a stunning natural arch, and a towering rock pinnacle.
You can only reach it in two ways: by boat or via a challenging 3.5 km hike that takes over an hour each way.
Visitor numbers are limited, so you must book your spot in advance. The effort is absolutely worth it for this unspoiled natural jewel.
Atlantic Drama: The 20 Most Beautiful Beaches in Europe Continues
The wild Atlantic coast offers a different kind of beauty. These are shores shaped by powerful tides and dramatic cliffs, offering some of the most spectacular scenery you can imagine.
12. Praia da Marinha, Portugal
Praia da Marinha is the Algarve’s postcard-perfect beach. It’s famous for its stunning golden limestone cliffs and unique rock formations, including a double sea arch known as the “M Rock”.
The water here is calm and clear, making it great for snorkeling. It is also the starting point for the magnificent Seven Hanging Valleys coastal trail, one of the best hikes in the region.
13. Praia do Camilo, Portugal
Just a short walk from Lagos, Praia do Camilo is a small but spectacular beach. You reach it by descending a long wooden staircase of about 200 steps, which offers incredible photo opportunities on the way down.
The beach is actually two small coves connected by a tunnel carved through the ochre cliffs. Be sure to check the tide times, as much of the sand disappears at high tide.
14. Playa de Ses Illetes, Spain
For a taste of the Caribbean in Europe, head to Formentera.
This small island, a short ferry ride from Ibiza, is home to Playa de Ses Illetes. It’s a long, narrow spit of land with fine white sand and shallow, turquoise water on both sides.
It’s a chic spot, attracting yachts and offering several high-end beach clubs where you can dine with your feet in the sand.
15. Praia As Catedrais, Spain
The “Beach of the Cathedrals” in Galicia is a natural wonder.
At low tide, a series of breathtaking rock arches and caves is revealed, resembling the flying buttresses of a massive Gothic cathedral.
This is critical: you can only visit at low tide. At high tide, the beach completely disappears. During busy seasons, you also need to book a free access permit online in advance.
Planning is essential, but walking through these giant arches is an unforgettable experience.
16. Plage de Palombaggia, France
Often called the most beautiful beach in Corsica, Palombaggia is a stunner.
It’s a long stretch of fine white sand, framed by umbrella pines and distinctive pink and red granite rocks.
The water is shallow and incredibly clear, making it a perfect and safe spot for families with children.
For the best photos, stay for the late afternoon light, when the sun makes the red rocks glow.
17. Keem Bay, Ireland
Tucked away at the western end of Achill Island, Keem Bay is a perfect horseshoe of golden sand and turquoise water. It’s a true gem on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Recently, it gained global fame as a filming location for the movie The Banshees of Inisherin.
For an incredible view, take the steep but rewarding hike up the cliffs to the old coastguard station.
18. Luskentyre Beach, Scotland
You might not expect to find a Caribbean-looking beach in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, but Luskentyre is real.
It offers vast, sweeping expanses of white sand and stunning blue-green water.
Even on a summer day, you might have this enormous beach almost to yourself. It’s a place of incredible peace and solitude.
Keep an eye out for the famous white ponies that sometimes wander along the shore.
Redefining Beach Beauty: Iceland and Norway
Our final stops on this tour of the 20 Most Beautiful Beaches in Europe challenge the very idea of what a beach should be.
These northern shores offer a dramatic, moody beauty that is powerful and unforgettable.
19. Reynisfjara, Iceland
Reynisfjara is a place of raw, mythic beauty. Its black volcanic sand, towering basalt columns, and jagged sea stacks create a landscape that feels otherworldly.
But you must be extremely careful. This beach is known for deadly “sneaker waves” that can appear without warning.
Never turn your back on the sea, and always stay at least 30-50 meters from the water’s edge.
20. Haukland Beach, Norway
Located high above the Arctic Circle in the Lofoten Islands, Haukland Beach is simply breathtaking. It has been voted Norway’s most beautiful beach, and it’s easy to see why.
Here, a perfect crescent of white sand and turquoise water sits against a backdrop of sharp, dramatic mountains. The contrast is stunning.
For the ultimate view, hike the trail up Mount Mannen and look down on this Arctic paradise.
Go Where the Waves Guide You
From the party shores of Cyprus to the mythic black sands of Iceland, we’ve seen it all.
These are places of incredible power and peace.
So, what do you think? Did I miss your favorite spot? Let me know in the comments below!
I hope this guide to the 20 Most Beautiful Beaches in Europe helps you plan an amazing trip.