Writer: Helena Bergström
During our 1-year trip around Europe in 2015, we followed the coast - from the west coast of Normandy in France to the coasts of the eastern part of Europe, in Albania, Montenegro and Croatia. Along with previous trips around Europe, we've managed to visit quite a few beaches... So where are the most beautiful beaches? Today we present 10 beautiful beaches in Europe, in no particular order. What are your favourite beaches in Europe?
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1st Saleccia, Corsica
Saleccia beach is not far from St Florent in northern Corsica, but there are no roads so you have to take a boat or an off-road motorbike. If you manage to get here, you can look forward to a day in paradise. Read more about Saleccia beach.
2nd Zarautz, Spain
You might not think of the Spanish north-west coast very often, but the beach in Zarautz is stunningly beautiful. Up on the mountain above the beach there is also a nice campsite. Read more about Zarautz.
3rd Galé, Portugal
Galé is located just outside Albufeira on the Algarve coast. Here you will find lots of rock formations that divide the beach into small cosy sections. Read more about the beach in Galé.
4. bunec beach, Albania
On this long stretch of beach, you'll only meet a few locals. The water is absolutely crystal clear and mixed with streams of refreshingly cool mountain water. Magical! Read more about Magical beaches in Albania.
5: Plage Cupabia, Corsica
Plage Cupabia is probably our number one paradise beach! The water is emerald green, you can swim naked at the end of the beach, and the charming natural campsite is situated so that the sand is soaking in. Read more about Paradise beach in Corsica.
6. Hel, Poland
The photo was taken at the end of September, but you get the idea, the beaches along the Hel peninsula seem endless and are magically beautiful. Image google 'Hel Poland' and you'll see! In summer you can sunbathe, swim or surf here. Read more about Hel.
7th Cala Gonone, Sardinia
The high mountains and deep caves make Cala Gonone on the east coast of Sardinia look like something out of a fantasy film. And because you need a boat to get to the beaches, it doesn't get too crowded either. Read more about Cala Gonone.
8th Zlatni Rat, Croatia
This beach, located on Brac, has topped many lists of the most beautiful beaches in Europe and the world. The beach juts out into the sea like a tongue, and you can swim on both sides. Read more about Zlatni Rat.
9. El Templo del Sol, Spain
You can only experience this beach if you are willing to sunbathe and swim without clothes. It is located on the grounds of the naturist campsite of the same name. Read more about a naturist campsite deluxe.
10. Sperone, Corsica
Located east of Bonifacio in southern Corsica, Sperone is home to one amazing beach after another. Rent a kayak, wade through the turquoise waters or relax on the beach. Read more about Sperone beaches.
Previous posts in this series:
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English (UK) 
Svenska
anita wag agrimanaki says:
Now you have to come to Crete to discover our beaches! Falassarna, Elafonissi and others. Have a good time! Greetings from a Chania in pouring rain right now.
05 February 2016 - 9:14
Bara brittiskt says:
Porthcurno in Cornwallhttps://barabrittiskt.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/minackteatern-och-porthcurno/
05 February 2016 - 9:35
admin says:
Anita, yes I can imagine that there are many nice beaches in Greece! Have seen some in pictures. In reality, we have only seen a single beach in northern Greece.
Steve, if I hadn't blogged about the beaches, I would never have remembered the names either... And as I wrote to Anita, I realise that there are many beautiful beaches in Greece!
Just British, now of course I immediately wanted to check out the nice link, but because it is connected to the word before it is not clickable. I go in and check when I'm sitting at a computer (copy and paste is sometimes tricky from my mobile phone, I think...).
05 February 2016 - 9:42
Lennart says:
I add " Golden Mile "!
The beach between Marbella and San Pedro.
Bicycle-pedestrian path all the way. I ride there every day, sometimes several times!
05 February 2016 - 9:44
Steve says:
These were great contrasts to yesterday's post about the Haltia Nature Centre in Espoo.
I don't even remember the names of the best beaches I have visited. The ones I remember are in the Greek islands and in Portugal.
05 February 2016 - 9:14
Åsa says:
For us it's probably Guincho. The surf, the windsurfing, the sand dunes, the mountains in the background, the cycle path (inlines!) there from Cascais...but it rarely has that crystal clear turquoise colour. It's a wild Atlantic beach.
There are a number of different beaches of varying character quite close to here but Guincho is somehow the Mother of beaches.
05 February 2016 - 10:22
Ama de casa says:
I'm probably not a beach person anymore... But I like the long beach between La Mata and Guardamar here a bit north of Torrevieja. It is probably a mile long, and nice to walk along. Not too crowded either, except in some places where there are slopes and car parks.
🙂
05 February 2016 - 10:56
Lina says:
Wow so many lovely beaches 🙂 so nice pictures 🙂 nice weekend! Krsm
05 February 2016 - 11:04
Renates Reiser says:
Oh, so much beauty! The beaches in Corsica looked absolutely magical! Have heard that it is beautiful there, but did not know that it was SO great 😀 Otherwise, I have a great desire to visit the coast of Albania, have heard (and see here) that the beaches there are also incredibly beautiful. 🙂
05 February 2016 - 11:43
Ditte says:
For me some of the beaches in Corsica are the best, with the fine sand, the turquoise and warm sea and the environment. I like long beaches with fine white (preferably) sand and there should be plenty of space and not just a lot of sunbeds and parasols in long rows.
Sardinia also has, in my opinion, beautiful and elongated beaches.
I am also fond of Menorca and many of its beaches.
Here in Torrevieja there is the long, beautiful La Mata beach and a few kilometres north is Guardamar beach, which is also very nice.
But now it's not exactly beach life...
Wonderful pictures of your treasures.
05 February 2016 - 12:38
Steve says:
I forgot Las Canteras, the beach in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria. I liked it in the 70s and 80s. It is located "in the centre of the city", you could say, and is directly connected to the lovely promenade.
I'm one of those people who likes to walk along the beach rather than lie down and "squeeze" and Las Canteras is a favourite as it is 3 km long. I always stayed in hotels along the promenade.
05 February 2016 - 11:55
Ontrip.dk says:
WOW what delicious beaches and pictures. You often forget that there are actually a lot of delicious beaches in Europe. Corsica and Sardinia look really nice, we have to consider it 🙂 Thank you for a nice post with good inspiration 🙂.
05 February 2016 - 12:57
BP says:
So three of your 10 favourite beaches are in Corsica. I can see why you like the beaches. The combination of light-coloured sand and emerald blue water is really hard to beat.
05 February 2016 - 14:13
admin says:
Lennart, that sounds great!
Åsa, great to have nice beaches nearby! 🙂
Ama de casa, nice when you can get away from the worst crowds, it's hard to get that paradise feeling then 😉.
Lina, glad you like the pictures and thank you!
Renate, we think Corsica has the most beautiful beaches in Europe, from what we have experienced.
Steve, nice beach walks can be nice! We liked the promenade on Brac, near Zlatni Rat. Beaches in the centre of town can have their charms, in their own way.
Ditte, we also think Corsica is at the top. We also like it when there are not too many people. Nice with long beaches, but also with some rock formations and such, I think! Interesting with Menorca, we have not been there.
Ontripdk, Corsica and Sardinia are amazing islands. Can absolutely recommend going there! 🙂
BP, yes I could have chosen even more beaches in Corsica... The beaches there are amazing!
05 February 2016 - 16:52
Rolle o Carina says:
Many beautiful beaches that you have photographed and posted!
My favourite is on Key West in Florida 🙂 .
I don't have a picture, but it was nice and warm!
Have a good time ..... Have a nice weekend 🙂 .
05 February 2016 - 17:24
Maria says:
What wonderful beaches! 3, 5 and 7 attract me the most! 🙂
05 February 2016 - 17:46
admin says:
Rolle and Carina, admittedly Florida is not known to be in Europe 😉 but I can imagine that there are nice beaches!
Maria, then I think you like beaches with some rock formations. So do I 😉 .
05 February 2016 - 18:58
Elisabeth says:
The beach in Galé is really nice, like many others in Portugal. The beaches in Spain are not too bad.
05 February 2016 - 19:29
admin says:
Elisabeth, I agree that there are many nice beaches in Portugal. In Spain we found most of them a bit straight and boring with big hotels next to them, but of course there are nice beaches here and there in Spain too!
06 February 2016 - 9:13
admin says:
Monica, thank you for your efforts to showcase what Sweden has to offer! What an amazingly beautiful beach! 🙂
07 February 2016 - 14:04
Monica says:
Since Sweden seems to be completely forgotten, I am making an effort:
http://www.guteinfo.com/?id=87
Sudersand on Fårö is fantastic, many summers, yes springs and autumns with before the tourists poured in, it was visited, what dunes, mile-long beach walks, beautiful and interesting nature, my brother had a house here and I relaxed from hospital work in Visby where I was lent from Ackis:-) and returned from time to time.
07 February 2016 - 13:40
Katarina Wohlfart says:
I really think Portugal and France's beaches beat Corsica. The beaches you were on early during your trip last year or autumn 2013 are the ones I like best. 🙂 So amazing. However, I am not so much for azure blue sea and bright white beach. I even find it quite boring. I prefer dramatic, barren and long beaches.
07 February 2016 - 17:13
admin says:
Katarina, interesting to hear your point of view and there are many different types of beaches to enjoy! I agree that there are super nice beaches on the French west coast (they could definitely have been on the list). However, I think it is a little more difficult to find nice beaches in Spain where the beaches are often flat and lined with hotels, which in my opinion is a bit boring.
07 February 2016 - 19:34
Linda says:
Great post, lists are so easy to absorb, thank you!
24 March 2016 - 0:34