6 of the best European beaches to visit
We generally think of ourselves as experts on great beaches, so how do the sandy (or rocky) shores of Europe stack up? Here we look at the tops European beaches you’ll want to visit.
1. Plata Migjorn, Formentera, Spain
The tiny island of Formentera is the quiet little sister of legendary party island Ibiza. Migjorn is a long sweep of powdery white sand fronting on to unbelievably turquoise water and has to be one of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, if not in the world. The whole island has a relaxed, laid-back feel that draws everyone from local families to celebrities like Kate Moss. There’s no airport on the island, which keeps the numbers down, and everyone arrives via a beautiful ferry crossing from Ibiza.
2. Navagio, Zakynthos Island, Greece
A huge, rusting freighter isn’t usually considered a drawcard, but on this tiny arc of sand in the Ionian Sea it’s actually quite picturesque. The ship ran aground here in the early 1980s and sits smack in the middle of the beach, just a few metres away from the waves. The beach is surrounded on all sides by towering cliffs so the only way to reach it is from the ocean and there are no facilities, so you really will feel like you’ve been shipwrecked.
3. Santa Margherita, Liguria, Italy
Don’t expect long swathes of white sand here (or anywhere in Italy for that matter). Instead, the coast of the Cinque Terre is dotted with tiny pebbled beaches, with colourful villages stacked above them on the hillside like children’s building blocks. It’s easy to imagine you’ve stepped back in time to the glamorous 1950s, when it was the holiday destination of choice for the global jet set. Many of the beaches around Santa Margherita belong to private hotels, though there are a few open to the public.
4. Saplunara, Mljet Island, Croatia
The name means ‘tiny sand’ in Latin and this sweet little beach might be one of the last undiscovered gems of the Adriatic. The whole island is part of a national park so the beach is largely pristine, with no development and (usually) no rubbish. Most people come as day trippers from Dubrovnik, so try to stay overnight and you’ll have the beach to yourself for your early morning dip.
5. Comporta Beach, Tróia, Portugal
Comporta is one of those rare places where A-list celebrities and local surfers fit comfortably side by side. It’s a place where the rich and famous go to get off the grid, spending weeks in plush seaside villas. Despite that, it’s still accessible and you can find somewhere reasonable to stay and spend your days flopped on sand bleached bone white by the intensity of the sun. The beach is in a protected nature reserve so will never be overdeveloped and will (hopefully) stay as perfect as it is now.
6. Vik, Iceland
This isn’t the kind of beach you swim at (the rough, almost freezing waters of the Atlantic aren’t made for that) but it is one of the most stunning coastal spots in the world. The black sand is dotted with strange rock formations that have been shaped over time by the battering sea and harsh winds. It’s an eerie, otherworldly place with a beauty that will stay with you long after you leave.
Have you been to any of these spectacular beaches? How did you think they compared to the beaches back home? Let us know in the comments.
Related links:
5 stunning European islands you haven’t heard of
10 gorgeous photos from seaside towns in Italy
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