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There is nothing better than a beach holiday.
And whether you want beautiful blue beaches on the Mediterranean or wild and windy, rugged beaches along the Atlantic coast, Europe always delivers.
So which Euro destination has the best beaches for you?
The experts at Book Retreats have ranked the best beaches in Europe for 2024, and these five countries came out on top.
Spain
Think Spain, think beaches! So it should come as no surprise that 3 of the top 10 beaches in Europe are located along the beautiful Spanish coastline.
Spain also takes home the award for the official best beach in Europe.
This is La Concha Beach, which is located right in the center of San Sebastian, making it incredibly easy to get to both from the city and from the airport.
La Concha beach is popular with both locals and tourists, who are attracted to the beautiful waters that are perfect for swimmers, as well as the picture-perfect shell-shaped sand.
Other notable Spanish beaches on the list include Las Canteras Beach, which is located on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria. A mecca for surfers and snorkelers, the clear turquoise waters are teeming with marine life. Add to this the island’s good weather all year round and it is easy to understand why this beach is so popular.
Portugal
Portugal was listed as one of the five safest coastal countries in the world. It also won the award for being home to Europe’s best beach for adventure.
Praia de Samoqueira beach is a must-visit destination for adventurers thanks to its rugged views that make it perfect for hikers. The beach here is beautiful and has a wilderness feel. Visitors can enjoy caves, rock formations and even a waterfall.
Another Portuguese beach, Praia de Falesia, was also crowned the second best beach in Europe overall. This popular beach is located in the Algarve and the contrast of the golden clay cliffs with the vibrant blue waters attracts visitors from all over the world.
This beach also topped the list thanks to its high level of tourist safety and beautiful weather all year round.
Croatia
Croatia was chosen (along with Cyprus and Greece) as the country with the best beaches for swimmers. According to the report, more than 95% of swimmable beaches in Croatia have excellent water quality.
The 3rd the best beach in the world is in Croatia, and the country has placed no fewer than 3 different beaches in the top 10.
Pasjaca Beach is located just 29 kilometers south of Dubrovnik, meaning it’s easy to explore this exceptional beach and Croatia’s most popular and iconic city at the same time.
Pasjaca Beach is considered the pearl of Croatian beaches. The reason it scores so high is because of its breathtaking location. It lies between an awe-inspiring 60-metre high cliff and the shimmering blue of the Adriatic Sea.
Italy
Sardinia and Sicily in Italy were chosen as the best European beach destinations for sun seekers. Both have an average peak summer temperature of 33 degrees Celsius (91.4F).
Two of the top 10 beaches in Europe are in Italy. They are Lama Monachile Beach and Tuerredda Beach.
Lama Monachile beach is located in Polignano a Mare and is the first pebble beach to appear on this list.
Pebble beaches have a ‘love them or hate them’ effect, but this compact bay beach is breathtakingly beautiful.
Set among towering cliffs, the drama of the beach, as well as the incredible turquoise water, makes it worth your attention.
Tuerredda Beach in South Sardinia is considered the best sandy beach in Italy. Extensive white sandy beaches create a paradise effect here.
Greece
Kleftiko Beach in Greece is considered the best beach in Europe for relaxation.
It also received praise for being less crowded than many other beaches in this notoriously crowded beach destination.
Another Greek beach worth seeing is Seitan Limania beach in Chania, Crete. It takes some effort to reach this beach as it is hidden at the bottom of a cliff, but it is worth it for the beautiful views and crystal clear waters in this secret cove.
The Greek beaches score high in terms of accessibility, weather in the summer and popularity.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
