I asked 10 travel experts to name Europe’s best beach — only one was named twice | Beach Holidays | Travel

Europe is full of beautiful beaches. There’s one island, easily accessible from the UK, home to several of the most beautiful beaches on earth.

And people are discovering the amazing beaches on offer outside the traditional holiday hotspots of Spain and Greece, like the one that’s earned the nickname ‘Maldives of Europe’ for its beaches and blue water.  

So with so many amazing beaches to choose from — and lots of them still at temperatures well into the 20Cs in September and October — I asked travel experts which European beach they prefer above all others. Hopefully, this can help you choose your next beach getaway. There were stunning beaches named from across the continent — but only one was named twice, so it must be truly special. 

Liz Delia, of travel guide Zest for Latitudes, named Calanque d’en Vau in southern France near Cassis. She said: “It’s only accessible by foot or boat, giving it a hidden cove feel, even if summer crowds show up.

“The scenery is unbeatable: towering limestone cliffs plunging into sparkling turquoise water. We love hiking from nearby Cassis to reach it — it makes the beach feel earned and adds an adventure element to the visit. Some tips: start early, bring sunscreen and water, and be prepared for very little shade and no facilities.”

Daniel Clarke, director of Parklink, which connects people to holiday parks, said: “Although the clear waters of Croatia or white sands of Monaco have a lot of appeal when it comes to European beaches, my favourite is closer to home: West Runton on the Norfolk coast.

“No matter what time of year you visit, you can enjoy different elements of the coast. With a blend of smooth grey stones and sand, there are options for whether your kids want to build sand castles or you’d rather sit on the stones and avoid the sand completely.

“There are rock pools which can provide endless fun and are the perfect distraction from every day life. The cliffs above and the beachfront are the perfect place for kite flying, and when the tide is out the expanse of flat sand is calling for a game of cricket or frisbee.

“There are toilets which are open all year round, and during the summer a thriving cafe and small stalls offering local crafts. Throughout your visit you may see paddle boarders, crabbers, detectorists, dog walkers and artists, or head there early, off season or when the tide is coming in and you can even get the shore to yourself.

“West Runton offers total escapism, whether it’s a fresh and breezy walk, a play on the beach and an ice cream or even watching the bats in the cliffs at dusk. For me, you can’t beat this beautiful british beach, in every type of weather.”

Salvador Ordorica, CEO of a language translation company and a self-described “global nomad and first-hand connoisseur of European beaches”, said: “Of all the European beaches I have visited, one of my favorites is Platja de Ses Illetes in Formentera near Ibiza.

“It is special not just for its bounty of clean, white sand that stretches into the sea in natural fashion, but also the water here looks like the Caribbean: various tones of turquoise give way to dark blues as you go deeper, punctuated with splashes from breaking waves during a calm period.

“If you stand at some points on the beach, you can see both ends of Formentera, in other words a strip of paradise suspended between two seas. I find it astonishing that the location, so close to the lively white island of Ibiza, can offer such peace. It’s just right: you dive into the calm water for a tranquil swim, then pop out and within minutes find yourself at all kinds of stylish beach clubs that bring in a varied and totally international crowd. In this sense both serenity and energy describe the beach perfectly.”

Tracy Lamourie, a travel expert and publicist, saiys  Ramla il Hamra in Gozo, Malta is “one of the most amazing beaches I have seen anywhere”.

She said: “Malta is becoming increasingly known as a holiday destination for a lot of reasons but tinier, more traditional Gozo is still a secret to many. The Maltese islands have several fantastic beaches but my favourite is Ramla il Hamra in Gozo, under the cliffs that are said to be where the legendary Calypso’s Cave made famous by Odysseus was.

“Gozo is Malta’s smaller, more traditional island — quieter, less built up, and increasingly known for eco and cultural tourism. The name Ramla i Hamra means ‘red sand’. It’s a colour that no other beaches on the island come near. Totally unique and unlike the smaller beaches at Marsalforn or Xlendi its not all built-up — no holiday apartments and just a small restaurant or two and a food truck nearby.

“It must be maintained in its state by law, so its still much the way it must have been for thousands of years, or in the days when Naploleon’s ships literally came up on its shores.”

Jennifer Johnson, a travel designer with Tribù Travel who is based in Mallorca and has spent more than 15 years creating design-led journeys through Spain and Kenya, said: “Even though I send travelers all over Menorca, Cala Macarelleta is the beach I day-dream about when I’m stuck at my desk. It’s a small cove of pale sand, ringed by pine trees and limestone cliffs, and part of the magic is how you get there — on foot.

“You follow this path that winds along the coast, and when you catch that first flash of impossible turquoise water, your whole body just relaxes. My ritual is to go early, find a warm patch of rock for my towel, and get in a swim before the chatter picks up. The water is so clear you can literally count the fish swimming around your feet. It has the perfect balance of feeling special without being a scene.

“I love it most in the shoulder season, like late May or September, when the light is softer, the sea is still warm, and you can actually hear the breeze in the pines.”

Gaia, a travel planner and founder of Italy Travel Plan, said her favourite European beach is San Fruttuoso in Liguria, Italy, found in a hidden bay inside the Portofino Regional Park with a Benedictine monastery dating back 1,000 years right on the water.

She said: “Arriving by boat is unforgettable: the abbey suddenly appears between the hills, and the view is jaw-dropping. The beach can get busy in peak season, but it’s absolutely worth it. The turquoise water is unreal, and the setting is unlike anywhere else. Tucked into the landscape and protected by a 16th-century tower, the abbey feels suspended in time.

“Beyond the beach, my favorite spot is the loggia with its arches, a perfect frame for the sea and one of the best photo spots in Liguria.

“Getting there is part of the adventure. You can arrive by boat, either on a private or group tour, or by ferries that connect San Fruttuoso with Camogli, Recco, Portofino and other Ligurian towns. Otherwise, you can hike one of the park’s trails. My favourite is the four-hour hike from Camogli, which offers breathtaking views before descending into the bay — just wear proper shoes!

“San Fruttuoso isn’t only about the beach or the abbey though. The bay is also home to the famous Christ of the Abyss, a submerged statue that has become one of Liguria’s most iconic dive sites.”

Darijo Šarić, CEO of Croatian travel company VIP Holiday Booker, said: “This beach is famous for its unique shape that changes with the currents and wind. A crystal-clear turquoise sea surrounds it on both sides, and the pine forest behind the beach offers natural shade and walking trails. 

“Zlatni Rat is ideal for both swimming and water sports. In fact, it’s one of the top windsurfing and kitesurfing spots in the Adriatic.

“Without a doubt, it’s one of the most recognisable beaches in Croatia, and you can often see it on postcards and in the international travel magazines.”

LaDell Carter, of luxury travel firm Royal Expression Travels, chose Spaggia Rosa in the Maddalena archipelago of Sardinia. Spaggia Rosa means “pink beach” and is so named because of the distinctive colour of its sand. 

It is so protected by the Italian authorities that it can only be viewed from afar by boat. Anyone who comes within touching distance of it may end up breaching a strict rule. It stands out as one of the world’s most stunning coastal destinations owing to its captivating and uncommon pink sand that sparkles beautifully under the sunlight and is attributed to the Pink Miniacina micro-organism shells.

LaDell said Sardinia is just “different”. She said: “It was also where I chartered my first crewed yacht. The staff was more like old friends. We ate fresh pasta, drank chilled Cava, and leapt into water so clear it resembled air. Paddleboards drifted nearby.

“We glimpsed the pink sands of Spiaggia Rosa from the deck of our yacht, an otherworldly brushstroke of color against endless turquoise.”

Praia da Marinha in the Algarve, Portugal was the only beach named by two different experts.

Emily Bowerson, a travel agent at Explore with Emily, said it “is often called one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and with good reason”. 

She added: “It sits along Portugal’s southern coast in the Algarve region, known for its golden limestone cliffs and sheltered coves. The beach itself is a crescent of soft sand framed by towering cliffs, with dramatic rock arches and sea stacks rising right out of the turquoise water. At low tide, you can wander between little coves and explore tide pools, while at high tide the water is calm and perfect for swimming.

“Above the beach, there’s a scenic clifftop trail where you get postcard-worthy views of the coastline — this is where many of the famous photos of Praia da Marinha are taken. Kayaking and boat trips are also popular here, since they allow you to weave in and out of hidden caves and grottos nearby.

“Despite its popularity, Praia da Marinha still feels a bit more natural and less built-up compared to other Algarve beaches – there aren’t rows of hotels directly behind it, so the setting feels wild and unspoiled. Many travelers say it’s a must-see not just for sunbathing and swimming, but for the sheer beauty of the landscape.”

Georgia Fowkes, a travel adviser for Altezza Travel, also named Praia da Marinha. She said: “Marinha is a natural amphitheater where the ocean cuts into cliffs and golden arches carved by wind and time.

“There’s one arch with a perfect round hole that frames the Atlantic like a window to another planet. There are coves with pillars and rock domes that look like fantastic palaces. Every turn of the head reveals a new piece of this stone gallery shaped over millions of years.

“I choose Marinha because it makes you feel the scale: you stand at the base of the cliffs and the whole place rises above you, a stage where the ocean performs its own play. Marinha reminds me that here humans are only guests, spectators in a masterpiece nature has been building for millennia.”