The most beautiful beaches in Europe

The most beautiful beaches are just a short hop away

12 February 2022

There’s no need to jump on a long-haul flight to sink your toes into pearlescent white sand or splash around in a silky turquoise lagoon. Europe’s thousands of miles of coastline are a feast of postcard-perfect beaches, off-radar bays and wild sweeps of soul-stirring scenery – and they’re all just a few hours from the UK. We’ve rounded up the most beautiful beaches in Europe, from Scandinavia to Sardinia, to help you start plotting your first post-pandemic escape.

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Santa Giulia, Corsica
There’s a glut of beautiful beaches in Corsica, but the dreamy white-sand, horseshoe bay of Santa Giulia tops our list. Just a few miles south of glamorous Porto Vecchio, the beach’s shallow glossy lagoon means it’s perfectly pitched at families with small children in tow – and popular with kayakers and paddle-boarders taking advantage of the low winds. Sprawl out under the shade of an ancient umbrella pine or join the hordes of smart Parisian holidaymakers bronzing themselves on the sand: in the high summer months, it gets busy – so arrive early to snap up your spot.
Where to stay near Santa Giulia: Hotel Casadelmar is a smart stay with a Michelin-starred restaurant and private beach area. Book any room and you’ll enjoy views over Porto Vecchio bay from your terrace.
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Porto Katsiki, Lefkada, Greece
It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that modern infrastructure arrived on this corner of Lefkada’s rugged west coast, finally opening Porto Katsiki up to people, instead of just goats. Now, it’s one of the most popular beaches on one of the best Greek Islands, framed by dramatic white cliffs carpeted in pines. The deep-blue sea is a sublime spot for swimming; and while the cliffs keep the pebbly sand under shade until midday, there are plenty of multicoloured umbrellas on standby for the steamy afternoons. Best of all, boats are barred from entering the bay, treating sunbathers to blissfully unbroken Ionian views.
Where to stay near Porto Katsiki: Villa Lefkada is a 35-minute drive away from Porto Katsiki. The beach house sleeps six to eight people and has a more bohemian, lived-in feel than most of the soulless rental properties on the island, plus an incredible pool.
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Calanque d’en Vau, Cassis, France
The wild and wonderful stretch of coastline between Marseille and Cassis is often lauded as Provence’s sleepier, more low-key alternative to the ritzy Côte d’Azur. It’s also home to a string of secret inlets – or calanques – punctuating the shore: finger-shaped slits of iridescent blue water flanked by fat shards of limestone cliff. By far the prettiest is Calanque d’en Vau; it’s a real adventure arriving here by kayak, but if you haven’t got sea legs, the other option is a steep and badly signposted climb from Cassis. It’s hard work, but you’ll be rewarded with magnificent views of the Mediterranean on the way.
Where to stay near Calanque d’en Vau: Hôtel Les Roches Blanches Cassis is a charming gem set in a grove of windswept umbrella pines. All rooms have sea-facing terraces with breathtaking views of the coast. The terrace restaurant is also hard to resist.
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Kvalvika beach, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Norway is well known for its epic mountains and fjords; less so for its beaches. But up in the rugged and unfathomably handsome Lofoten archipelago – deep inside the Arctic Circle – the sea is as clear as you would find in the Med. Hemmed in by precipitous rocks rising directly out of the sand, Kvalvika’s slip of golden sand is almost always deserted: visitors must trek through birch forests and wildflower meadows to get here, some stopping along the way to set up camp for the night. To see the beach at its most magical, come late in the evening for a dip in the light of the midnight sun.
Where to stay near Kvalvika beach: Hotels are few and far between on the Lofoten Islands. The closest address to the beach is Lydersen Rorbuer, an inn that offers apartment-style accommodation, a shared kitchen and has a restaurant on site. But it’s not the hotel you come for, it’s the view of the fjords from the terrace and the potential to see the Northern Lights.

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Praia do Carvalho, Portugal
Picture the Algarve and you’ll probably think of big, wide beaches awash with tourists seeking short-haul sun – but time your visit to Praia do Carvalho right and you’ll likely be sharing it with just a handful of in-the-know locals. If it wasn’t for the steep sandstone staircase and fossil-lined tunnel whittled into the rock, the only way to get here would be by abseiling down the cliff face, lending this scenic sheltered bay a proper desert-island feel. Thrill-seekers head up rocky promontories to launch themselves into the clear waters below – the sea is teaming with aquatic life, so it’s well worth packing a snorkel. Be sure to bring plenty of supplies – there’s nothing nearby.
Where to stay near Praia do Carvalho: Bela Vista Hotel & Spa is a 30 minute drive away, although the 19th-century boutique beauty sits in a prime position on Praia da Rocha beach. Within the grounds are three separate buildings including a six-bedroom villa, Casa Azul, and a two-storey extension with 20 bedrooms overlooking the chic swimming pool framed by stately palms.
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Spiaggia Grande, Positano, Italy
Just for a moment, forget the crowds, the serried ranks of overpriced sun loungers and the gravely black sand underfoot: there’s something utterly beguiling about the main stretch of beach in Italy’s most picturesque seaside resort. Stacks of pastel-painted houses tumble down the cliff face to kiss the sand; the heady scent of bougainvillaea and lemon trees lingers in the air and the splendid Tyrrhenian Sea shimmers in the sun. Everything you could possibly need – from a designer bikini to a supersized Aperol Spritz – is right here along the seafront, but when hunger strikes, skip the restaurants by the shore and hop in a boat to whoosh over to Da Adolfo, a shabby-chic trattoria on tiny Laurito beach next door.
Where to stay near Spiaggia Grande: Le Sirenus is within walking distance of the beach. The family-run hotel has a comfortable lived-in elegance, with a beautiful majolica-covered third-floor terrace and small swimming pool.
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Zlatni Rat, Brač, Croatia
A pilgrimage to Zlatni Rat makes it onto almost every Croatian island-hopping itinerary. This is the country’s poster child of beaches – and an extraordinary showcase of mother nature’s beauty to boot. Located on Brač island’s sunny south coast, the tongue-shaped peninsula stretches all the way from the harbour village of Bol to about 1,640ft into the Adriatic Sea, its tip subtly changing shape according to the current or the wind. The best views are from above: climb up nearby Vidova Gora mountain or strap into a harness and parasail along the smooth, pebbly shore (this is a hotspot for windsurfers). It’s a great spot for families too, with shallow waters to splash about in and a pretty pine grove in the centre providing respite from the heat.
Where to stay near Zlatni: Bluesun Hotel Elaphusa is within walking distance of the beach.
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Cala Macarella, Menorca, Spain
This paradisiacal bay – located on the most authentic and understated Balearic island – is lapped by some of the most breathtakingly blue waters we’ve clapped eyes on. The lucky ones swing by on their yachts, stopping to grab an ice-cold beer from the laid-back restaurant on the arc of virgin white sand, but if you’re arriving by land, there’s a car park conveniently located nearby. When the crowds pick up, sling on your trainers and head along the coastal path to reach Cala Macarella’s more secluded little sister, Cala Macarelleta. It’s a popular nudist spot, so if you’re keen to blend in, leave your bathing suit behind.
Where to stay near Cala Marcarella: Biniatram, a lovely, unpretentious hideaway within walking distance of the beach at Cala d’Algaiarens and a 30 minute drive from Cala Marcarella. The working farm has four rooms and six apartments.

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Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, Scotland
Right on the cusp of the bracing Atlantic, the Isle of Harris sits at the heart of Scotland’s mercifully unspoilt and underpopulated Outer Hebrides. It’s the last place on earth you’d expect to find a scene as ethereal as Luskentyre, where the chalk-white sand and dazzling teal water could easily masquerade as the tropics. Visit at low tide to glimpse the beach at its most beautiful; acres of sand are backed by storybook Scottish views of vibrant purple heather poking through wind-thrashed dunes – and you might even spot the odd pony taking itself for a walk along the shore.
Where to stay near Luskentyre: Scarista House is the only hotel on the island that can claim to be five minutes from the sea. The Georgian manse, a 20-minute drive to Luskentyre beach, is located overlooking a shell-sand beach of its own, along whose shores otter footprints are often found.
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Sveti Stefan beach, Montenegro
Tethered to the mainland via a narrow sweep of pink-tinged sand, the tiny terracotta-roofed islet of Sveti Stefan found fame in the 1960s as a playground for the rich and famous. Now entirely taken over by Aman, it’s still the country’s smartest retreat – and the owner of one half of Montenegro’s pin-up beach. Surrounded by thick pine forest, the left side of the narrow isthmus is reserved exclusively for hotel guests (or those prepared to splash out on a sun lounger), while the right side is open to all. There are plenty of deckchairs to rent, and the inky-blue waters are a lovely spot to wallow in.
Where to stay near Sveti Stefan beach: Aman Sveti Stefan is located next to the beach on the tiny island of Sveti Stefan. Part of the fortified village dating back to the 15th century, the hand-restored stone buildings of the Aman dwellings comprise 51 rooms, cottages and suites.
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Kleftiko beach, Milos, Greece
Milos has the most diverse and dramatic coastline of all the Greek islands. Savvy travellers skip famous Sarakiniko beach, where the crowds can be intense, and head south-west to Kleftiko: as there’s very little development nearby, it’s this stretch’s seclusion that makes it so special. Most visitors arrive by boat, but for those on foot there’s a dusty hiking trail winding down to the sea. Come for epic cliff-jumping; snorkel through alabaster-white rock chambers, and bathe in the sizzling Greek sun. There’s no beach as such, but plenty of large, flat rocks to sprawl out on. On the way back up, have a nose around Agios Ioannis Siderianos monastery – locals used to hide out here from pirate attacks.
Where to stay near Kleftiko beach: There’s not much accommodation located nearby the beach, so it’s best to stay in Pollonia or Adamas and visit the beach on a day trip. We love the Santa Maria Luxury Suites, located just outside Adamas and close to Papikinou beach.
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Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera
With its slither of sugar-soft sand and glassy cerulean sea so clear that boats often appear suspended in mid-air, Formentera’s Playa de Ses Illetes is about as close to a vision of the Caribbean as a European beach gets. In the summer, salty haired day-trippers hop over from Ibiza, spilling off their yachts for barefoot lunches at the jumble of shacks strung along the shore. As you’d expect, it’s rarely crowd-free, but wander up past the tussocky dunes and you’ll find much more space to spread out. On a calm day, it’s even possible to wade across to the wilder, uninhabited islet of s’Espalmador, which is tantalisingly close.
Where to stay near Playa de Ses Illetes: Etosoto is a 15 minute drive from the beach. Converted from an old farmhouse, the villa is decorated with shell chandeliers and basket lights, rustic bamboo sunbeds and crochet hammocks. The nine bedrooms are tactile, whitewashed, polished-cement escapes, with windows looking out to shaded courtyards.

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Butterfly Valley Beach, Turkey
The Blue Lagoon of Ölüdeniz hooks most people into this corner of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, but as the area around the celebrated sandbar gets more built up, so too do the crowds. Instead, head a few kilometres down the coast to this hidden gem – so called because of the 100 species of butterfly that flutter around the government-protected valley. It's carved out of the scrubby mountains behind, so the only way to get here is by boat, leaving the bay’s ribbon of golden sand gloriously footprint-free. There’s nothing here apart from a lo-fi beach bar beloved by hippies and ecotourists: this is a full back-to-nature beach, ringed by some of the country’s most extraordinary flora and fauna.
Where to stay near Butterfly Valley Beach: Nautical Hotel is near Butterfly Valley, and also enjoys a spectacularly secluded setting in the forest with a private beach.
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Cala Coticcio, Maddalena Archipelago, Sardinia
With its seven large isles and 55 tiny isolotti strewn across the crystalline waters between Corsica and north-eastern Sardinia, the Maddalena archipelago has true Robinson Crusoe romance. The best way to get to this dreamy beach is by swooshing in on a boat and snorkelling through the gin-clear lagoon to reach the shore. If you’re on foot, come prepared for a hot and sticky hike: it’s a schlep, meaning only the most determined make it here – but peek at the milky-white sand and you’ll quickly realise why the locals call it Italian Tahiti. A barefoot beach at its best.
Where to stay near Cala Coticcio: Hotel Pitrizza is a club-like crash-pad located near Porto Cervo. Part of The Luxury Collection, the stone-hewed cottages and villas are scattered among rocks and flowering gardens, while the swimming pool is carved out of rocks.
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Seitan Limania beach, Crete, Greece
There’s a reason why Seitan Limania is more popular with brave locals than gaggles of tourists: you need nerves of steel to tackle the dirt roads and hairpin bends that lead here. Bring proper shoes for the final scramble along the cliff face and watch out for the cheeky pack of resident goats patrolling the route – eventually, it gives way to a well-hidden, itsy-bitsy zigzag cove of white pebbles and eye-poppingly blue sea. It’s worth visiting in the morning; the tall rocks protect the beach from Crete’s infamous winds, but it’s completely covered in shade by mid-afternoon.
Where to stay near Seitan Limania beach: Domes Zeen Chania is one of our favourite Greek Island hotels. The family-friendly stay consists of Palm Springs-style concrete villas dotted along the hillside towards the sea, plus a black-tiled pool surrounded by thatched parasols for snoozing under.