Some sun worshipers require just three things for a perfect beach holiday in Europe: a shimmering sun-kissed shoreline, shade-casting parasols, and a fully stocked beach bar. Meanwhile, if you’re a more restless beach bum like me, you might prefer a European beach destination paired with a first-class food scene, cliff-hugging hiking trails, or epic inland adventures.
Luckily, the continent’s coast offers a plethora of beach resorts to suit any kind of sun-seeking traveller. From beautiful island-hopping sojourns across slightly offbeat archipelagos to fossil-finding coastal experiences, the best beach holidays in Europe can involve much more than laying out your towel – if you want them to!
Here are twelve of the best beach destinations in Europe – each of which I love for very different reasons – to help you decide on where to head for your next seaside escape, no matter what kind of beach vacation you’re craving.
The Algarve, Portugal
Best for: Family-friendly fun, excellent holiday resorts, and clifftop adventures
Why and when to go? Portugal’s southern region has long been considered one of the best beach destinations in Europe, welcoming visitors in their millions during the summer months. But even in the offseason (I live here, and April and October are my favourite months), it’s a great place for a seaside escape. Many of the most popular beach resorts, such as Lagos or Carvoeiro, have developed from traditional fishing villages, meaning the whitewashed towns have a little more intimacy than the likes of Benidorm in Spain, but still with plenty of activities and seafood restaurants to choose from. With an abundance of sea-facing villas in Portugal, especially the Algarve, it’s a great destination for getting away with a large family or group of mates, as the fresh fish and produce markets allow for an affordable self-catering vacation.
Where are the best beaches? One of the most important things to know before coming to the Algarve is that Portugal isn’t on the Mediterranean Coast but rather hemmed by the Atlantic Ocean. This means the waters aren’t the warmest, though in late summer (August and September), water temperatures can reach around 24 degrees. Some of the best beaches in the Algarve include the barrier islands in the Ria Formosa reaching breathtaking Cacela Velha, the small coves along the coast between Benagil and Ferragudo, and the long copper-cliff backed stretch of sand at Praia da Falésia. You can also kayak into the famous (and often overcrowded) Benagil Cave for an even more unique spot of sand – beach holidays in Europe don’t get much more cinematic than this.
Activities beyond the beach? While the region might be best known as one of the more popular beach destinations in Europe, there are actually plenty of things to do in the Algarve away from the coast. A trio of waterparks will keep kids and big kids entertained, the museums and historic centres of Faro, Tavira and Moorish Silves – one of my favourite hidden gems in the Algarve – are great for an afternoon of exploring, and on the windswept west coast, you’ll find one of Portugal’s best multi-day hiking routes, the Fishermans Trail, just beyond the panoramic viewpoint from Ponta da Piedade which is best seen by kayak. Don’t miss the Seven Hanging Valleys Coastal Trail, which takes in some of the most dramatic cliff-top views along the central coast in only a few hours.
Sicily, Italy
Best for: Delicious dishes, cinematic shorelines, and layer-upon-layer of history
Why and when to go? Sicily’s timeless charm and alluring coastline have long been a summer escape of choice for Italians and foreign tourists. But now, with newfound fame thanks to TV’s The White Lotus, it might feel like you’re seeing the island discussed everywhere. Luckily, it’s far from overrun, especially in the offseason when enjoyable temperatures (if cooler waters) are paired with affordable getaways. I spent the month of November in Sicily last year and adored every second, and the weather was (mainly) on my side. But this isn’t just one of the best beach destinations in Europe; Sicily is something of a time capsule. Having hosted Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, and then some, there are visible vestiges of the past here, ranging from Greek temples atop hills to some of the finest Roman mosaics you’ll ever see.
Where are the best beaches? You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to tanning in Sicily, with spectacular shorelines ranging from volcanic island bays to irresistibly clear waters. One of the most popular beach holidays in Europe can be enjoyed in the seaside town of Cefalù, where historical sights back the gorgeous golden bay, along the coast of Taormina, where the Isola Bella sand bar shines brightest, and at the almost photoshopped waters of the offbeat Aegadian islands. I personally adore the Aeolian Islands, where the beaches might be more pebbly, but you’re treated to the backdrop of Stromboli, an active volcano.
Activities beyond the beach? There are countless reasons to visit Sicily without even considering getting a toe wet. Palermo, the island’s characterful capital, is a pulsating city decked out with monuments, markets and excellent nightlife. In slightly more classical Catania, you can explore palaces and venture up Mount Etna, the active volcano just beyond. In Syracuse, the stories of those who came and conquered before spill out across amphitheatres and archaeological museums, and then there are my two personal favourite historical sights: the excellent Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale and the Greek wonders at the Valley of the Temples. Oh, and if you want a European beach destination with delicious dishes, this is the one. From caponata, a sweet and sour aubergine-based dish, to cannoli, a tube-shaped ricotta stuffed pastry, every bite is as memorable as the beaches.
Croatia’s Unsung Islands
Best for: Paradisiacal sands and an island-hopping sailing adventure
Why and when to go? Croatia’s charms are plenty, and while Game of Thrones stans might have taken over the walled city of Dubrovnik, there are plenty more incredible places in Croatia to experience across the country’s thousand-plus islands and islets. Being a Mediterranean nation, the winters are relatively mild, although to experience this European beach destination at its best, you’ll want to come between spring and autumn. My first big solo backpacking trip was crossing Croatia from bottom to top in late September, and I found the beaches fairly quiet and the weather top-notch. But if you want to really get a feel for the country away from the cities, the best way to explore the coast is on a sailing adventure, where you can enjoy incredible beach views from small ships on an island-hopping itinerary, usually starting in Split or Dubrovnik, before taking in famed islands such as Hvar, and some other lesser-visited isles.
Where are the best beaches? With countless incredible beaches, sand bars, and secluded island coves, the best beach in Croatia is often the closest one! That said, there are a few spots that particularly stand out. The bays around Makarska (to the south of Split) are some of the finest you’ll find on the mainland, as are those on the Peljesac Peninsula. Across the islands, you’re even more spoilt for choice, with the headland sands of Zlatni Rat on Brac and Jagodna on Hvar being two that spring to mind. With so many great spots to take a dip, cramming it all in is impossible, but on a 7-day Croatia itinerary from Dubrovnik to Split, you can easily include a couple of islands.
Activities beyond the beach? Not content with being just one of the best beach destinations in Europe, Croatia packs plenty into its long and narrow mainland and islands. On fancy Hvar Island, you’ll find haute cuisine and upscale cocktails, while those who prefer to party all night should head to Pag. Personally, I adore Korcula, a somewhat more laid-back Adriatic Island, where you’ll find beautiful beaches, vineyards, and a medieval-walled old town. Once one of my favourite hidden gems in Europe, it’s started to get much more popular in recent years.
San Sebastián, Spain
Best for: A city beach break paired with a first-class food scene
Why and when to go? Situated in Northern Spain’s Basque Country, close to the border with France, San Sebastián is a different kind of beach city than those in the country’s south. Without the Mediterranean winter climate, it’s best for a seaside sojourn from late spring until early autumn, although if you prefer spectacular shoreline vistas over afternoons on the sand, it’s a decent city for a weekend getaway year-round. Renowned as one of the best cities in Spain – and indeed the world – for food, San Sebastián’s culinary reputation is hard to beat. Pintxos, a form of small paid-for tapas, are the city’s bar-topping winners, with plenty more underground culinary clubs and haute cuisine to sink your teeth into. Combine these plates with some sweeping bay vistas, and you get one of the best beach destinations in Europe for a weekend getaway, no matter the season.
Where are the best beaches? If you pick San Sebastián for your beach holiday in Europe, you won’t need to stray far to start topping up your tan. Flanking both sides of the historic centre are a couple of gorgeous sandy bays: La Concha and Zurriola. With promenade strolls, fantastic views of the rocky outcrops in the bay, and everything you need (to eat) just moments away, you get the best of both. Activities beyond the beach? Unlike some of the most popular beach resorts in Europe, San Sebastián remains a very much lived-in city, ensuring an active calendar of events, such as the San Sebastián Film Festival, one of the city’s many museums to visit, and plenty of fantastic pintxos bars to try. You can take a cable car to the top of Monte Igueldo, one of the hills framing the bay, for breathtaking vistas, or head to the beaches in Zarautz and Zumaia to admire the flysch geological formations for another side of the shore. The inland city of Pamplona is also just an hour away if you want to see the running of the bulls during
