The 10 Best Beach Destinations to Visit in Europe
With so many beach destinations to visit in Europe, choosing your next beach vacation in Europe means you don’t have to compromise a luxury lifestyle, amazing food and spectacular views.
But picking the right beach destinations to visit in Europe may be tricky with so many options.
Best Beach Destinations to Visit in Europe
To make your choice easier and save you time we put together a list of some of the best beach destinations to visit in Europe.
Capri, Italy
Capri is an island located in Italy, in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula, just 5 km from the mainland in the Bay of Naples. This may be a small island but it offers different varieties of things and activities suitable for a different type of taste.
Some of the main attractions of the island include different events and painting and sculpture exhibitions, plays and dance performances taking place from April to the end of the summer. Many Celebrities can be spotted around here which only indicates how suitable is this place for rich people.
Besides that is one of the top beach destinations to visit in Europe, other highlights include the Marina Piccola, the limestone crags called sea stacks, the town of Anacapri, a high panoramic promenade lined with villas called the Belvedere of Tragara, the ruins of the Imperial Roman villas and more.
The French Riviera, France
The French Riviera is one of the most popular beach destinations to visit in Europe and it is located in the southeast corner of France, of the Mediterranean coastline.
Here you’ll also find some of the most popular beach cities in the world such as Nice, Monaco, Cannes, Saint Tropez, and Marseille. Every year the French Riviera is visited by millions of people who came here to enjoy plenty of upper-class seaside resorts, yachts and golf courses, the delicious French cuisine, warm blue water and beautiful beaches.
The Riviera is well developed and you have plenty of options for transportations, places to visit, events, restaurants, bars, clubs and more.
Sardinia, Italy
Sardinia is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and an autonomous region that currently belongs to Italy. Sardinia is the Italian region with the largest coastal development and at the same time, the sea is clear of pollution. Many Sardinian beaches are internationally well known, like those of the Costa Smeralda, of Villasimius, and of Alghero.
Sardinia’s Mediterranean beauty is attracting many people for swimming, boating, windsurfing, hiking, climbing, and camping and is one of the top choices for beach destinations to visit in Europe. Sailing has become increasingly popular, in particular in the Costa Smeralda area.
If you prefer mountains you can explore the area of Gennargentu, the vastest mountain range in Sardinia. This region is rich in flora and fauna and home to many species now threatened with extinction, including mouflons, golden eagles, Sardinian deer, and others. There are many hiking trails.
You’ll find many megalithic building structures scattered throughout Sardinia, including Su Nuraxi di Barumini which is declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca is an island located in the Mediterranean, and it is part of Spain. It is one of the most popular beach destinations to visit in Europe as well as a major holiday destination, visit with millions of people from all over the world every year.
The most popular city here in Palma de Mallorca and its airport is one of the busiest in Spain with over 20 million annual passengers. This island is known for its Moorish and Roman remains, beach resorts, and limestone mountains.
Mallorca is part of the archipelago Balearic islands, where you can visit other popular island places like Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.
Canary Islands, Spain
The Canary Islands are another famous Spanish territory located in the Atlantic Ocean near Morocco, on the west coast of Africa. It is also close to the archipelagos of the Madeira Islands and Azores Islands, which are Portuguese territories.
This archipelago includes many islets and smaller islands, and eight main islands with the most famous Tenerife. The Canary Islands is one of the popular beach destinations to visit in Europe.
The islands offer a range of outstanding natural attractions and many ways to enjoy water sport activities such as scuba diving and windsurfing. The beaches are perfect for relaxing in the sun, enjoy the sunset or go for a walk or hike in any of the four national parks. Five of the Canary Islands have been declared a Biosphere Reserve.
Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza or also know as Eivissa is another famous island from the Balearic Islands, which are Spanish territory. The island has become well known for attracting large numbers of young tourists due to its great beaches, busy nightlife with many electronic dance music clubs.
The island is great for people who want to explore some of the traditional countrysides of this beautiful island, and enjoy parasailing or relax on a boat. Its long beaches, historic towns, big nightclubs, and Mediterranean sun makes Ibiza one of the best beach destinations to visit in Europe and can become favorable for families and couples of all ages.
There are many fantastic sightseeing opportunities that Ibiza has to offer to travelers who are not into the nightlife but more looking for a trip off the beaten track.
Algarve, Portugal
Algarve is the beautiful southern coastline region of continental Portugal. Algarve has historic towns, stunning landscapes, high-quality beaches, golden cliffs, islands between Ria Formosa and the sea, mountains and small coves as wells as blue and calm and warm water inviting you to swims in some of the great spots in the area. The beaches are among the beach destinations to visit in Europe and cleanest.
The Algarve is one of the most developed regions of Portugal. It is famous for its hand-painted pottery and ceramics. You’ll find many historic attractions and thousands of species of flora and fauna. In Algarve, you can explore the historic towns like Faro and Lagos, spa town Caldas de Monchique, some of the top beaches include Marinha Beach, Praia da Rocha and Armação de Pêra or play golf in some of the top leading European golf courses.
You can find a wide range of accommodation from high-rise resorts to traditional guesthouses.
Crete, Greece
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands and the fifth largest one in the Mediterranean Sea. Besides exploring the glorious beaches, nearby you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys and enjoy a taste of the island’s rich gastronomic culture.
The beaches of Crete are wonderful places to spend a long day under the sun and enjoy crystal Caribbean-like water, and stunning natural beauty. There are hundreds of beautiful beaches across the island.
This island of Crete has been one of the favorite holiday beach destinations to visit in Europe and gaining a lot of tourists attraction from other parts of the world.
Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos is an island in Greece known also as The Island of the Winds. It became more open to international tourism since the 1960s. It attracts a wide variety of people with its exceptional beaches, expensive yachts, award-winning restaurants, luxury hotels and 5-star service.
Many times has been voted a top summer holiday destination and a great choice for wedding and honeymoon destination.
Mykonos quickly became one of the favored beach destinations to visit in Europe for the super-rich, artists, and movie stars.
Hvar, Croatia
Hvar is a Croatian island located off the Dalmatian coast, in the Adriatic Sea, and known also as the queen of the Croatian Dalmatian islands. The island is rich in various natural, historical, and cultural monuments, great beaches with over 2700 hours of sunshine a year, and a popular destination among celebrities.
The tourism industry continues to grow and it has a long history attracting travelers with its unique gastronomy, beautiful beaches, clear water and bays.
Hvar town is one of the most popular destinations in the Adriatic and it is attracting a lot of young people. With its beautiful, crystal-clear blue sea, clean air, big green hills, and old paved stone streets, there is no doubt that this is one of the magical beach destinations to visit in Europe.
