The Best Beaches in Europe

Atlantic beaches

The beaches on Europe's Atlantic side have colder water and heavier surf than the Mediterranean ones. At Plage de Pen Hat near Camaret-sur-Mer swimming is prohibited because of rip currents. Praia da Ursa near Sintra is a small cove under high cliffs, reached by a steep, slippery trail of about 30 minutes. Praia da Bordeira at Carrapateira has a lifeguard and a small river that forms a warmer lagoon near the sea. Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris lies off a single-track road with passing places, and the walk in from the small car park goes over the dunes.

Adriatic pebbles

The two Croatian beaches are pebble beaches with clear water. Punta Rata at Brela has small polished stones and a row of pines whose shade is taken by mid-morning, and parking costs about 30 euros a day in cash. Pasjača Beach in Konavle sits below steep cliffs at the end of a ten-minute railed path, and stones sometimes fall from the rock above.

Northern Cyprus

Both Cypriot beaches are in the north of the island, where prices are in Turkish lira. Maraş Beach in Famagusta is backed by the abandoned hotels and apartment blocks of Varosha; visitors leave the car at the entrance and walk 15 to 35 minutes, rent a bike or take a shuttle. Golden Beach is near the eastern tip of the Karpas Peninsula, past Dipkarpaz, and the last 10 km of road are potholed. Turtles nest at the beach, which has dunes behind it.

Mediterranean islands

Many of the Mediterranean beaches are on small islands and need a ferry or a water taxi first, among them Ses Illetes on Formentera and Voutoumi Beach on Antipaxos. Car parks fill by mid-morning in summer at many of them, and natural shade is scarce.