Europe is home to some of the most majestic places on earth. Every milepost of a European country tells its history. All the countries of Europe are culturally rich and filled with historic landmarks. Being bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, Europe boasts colourful coastal cities, sandy beaches, and caves. All these things make Europe one of the most visited places in the World.

Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, UK, and almost all countries with a coastline have great beaches and islands to offer, ranging from sandy beaches to rocky beaches, to deserted islands. You cannot probably visit all of them on one trip or even multiple trips. Whether you are looking for sunbathing, surfing, or a quiet beach to chill in, Europe has it all. Here in this article, we find out the top 17 beaches and islands in Europe to visit for your next vacation.

1. Nice, France 

Nice is a seafront city on the French Riviera. The city is just 21 miles east away from Cannes and 13 miles west away from Monaco. Its unique location between Monaco and Cannes makes it an easy-accessible and attractive place for visitors. Nice has many beautiful beaches to offer. This includes rocky beachfront to sandy beaches, making it a great spot for sunbathers and swimmers. These beaches also offer outdoor adventures like sand volleyball and jet skiing.

2. Cavoli Beach, Italy

Cavoli beach is a pristine blue water sand beach on the west coast of island Elba in Italy. Famous among the young crowd and families, the beach is located in the Tuscan archipelago. The clear water is best for boating and other water adventures. If you are planning to spend a few days here, the place also has many resorts, hotels, and cafes along the coast.

3. Navagio Beach, Greece

Remember the famous Korean drama Descendants of The Sun? This is the beach featured in the movie. Navagio beach is the Mediterranean’s best-kept secret. Located on the coast of the Zakynthos region in the Ionian sea of Greece, this beach is known as Shipwreck Beach for a shipwreck that happened there in 1980 and the remainder is still found on the shore.

Greece is home to some of the world’s best beaches and seafront cities. Navagio is one of them. The crystal clear blue water beach looks like it is guarded by long cliffs.

4. Sylt, Germany

Germany is a popular tourist destination but not for its island or beaches, still, it has numerous beautiful beaches to offer with its islands in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Germany may not boast long coastlines like some of its fellow European countries France, Portugal, Italy, Greece, yet it provides you the same Mediterranean vibe in northern European style with the island like the Sylt.

Sylt is the northernmost island of Germany on the North sea. Known for its seaside resorts and long expansive white sand beaches lined with restaurants and music bars, Sylt has become a popular tourist destination in Germany as well as in northern Europe.

5. Monte Gordo Beach, Portugal

Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world. The country’s coastline is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, making it the perfect paradise for beach lovers. Monte Gordo Beach or Praia de Monte Gordo is located in Monte Gordo town in the southeastern end of Portugal. This Portuguese beach is famous among locals, as well as foreigners for its warm temperature all year round. The sandy beach offers a long coastline with warm and clean water.

6. Woolacombe Beach, England

The United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, except for Northern Ireland which shares its border with the Republic of Ireland. Although the UK is famous for its cities, towns and vast green fields, and museums, the beaches also make England one of the favourite destinations in Europe.

Woolacombe beach is one of England’s most visited beaches. Best known for its scenic landscape, sloping dunes, and greenfields located along the coast, the waves of the sea make it a perfect Paradise for Surfers.

7. Luskentyre Beach, Scotland

Luskentyre beach is situated on the west coast of Harris in the Outer Hebrides island chain of Scotland. Famous for scenic landscapes, it is awarded as one of the best beaches in the UK. Luskentyre Beach is best known for its expansive white sand and crystal clear water. The beach is worth visiting for its beautiful scenery.

8. Makarska, Croatia

Located in the centre of the Makarska Riviera, Makarska is a famous tourist destination in Croatia. The seafront city on the shore of the Adriatic Sea is situated only 40 miles south of Split, the second-largest city in Croatia.

Although Makarsha has many beautiful beaches to offer, the city itself is a famous spot for nightlife and Mediterranean vibes.

Beaches that make Makarsha a favourite destination among travellers include Nugal Beach, Makarska Beach, and Beach Garma, among many others. Numerous hotels and bars adjacent to the beaches make Makarsha a must-see place in Europe. 

9. Cannes, France

Dubbed as Hollywood’s favourite party destination in the Mediterranean, Cannes is best known for hosting the Cannes International Film Festival. Home to many beautiful beaches, shopping centres, and luxury hotels, Cannes is located on the French Riviera. The resort town attracts people from Europe and all around the world all year round.

Most of the ports in Cannes are filled with luxury yachts and sailing boats. But there are some beaches where you can see the full view of the Mediterranean. Almost every beach in Cannes has restaurants and hotels lined along the coast. Some beaches even offer uninterrupted views of the French Riviera.

Read Also: 20 Best Places You Should Visit in Canada This Summer

10. Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean sea and one of Spain’s islands located in the Balearic archipelago. Ibiza is best known for its DJ, electronic music, and nightlife. The island has many beaches and every beach on this island is worth visiting. Ibiza is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Summer is the best time to visit the island as many hotels and nightclubs shut down in winter. Ibiza is a favourite place for cheerful party-loving young crowds as the place boasts many boat parties and clear water beaches.

11. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is the second-largest city located on the shore of the Balearic Sea in north-eastern Spain. Besides being a famous tourist destination in the world, its beaches are also world-renowned and cover one of the longest coastlines in Europe.

The most fascinating part of the beaches in Barcelona is that you don’t need to go anywhere else to find them. All the beaches wend along the east side of the city. Skyscrapers of the city can be seen from almost every part of the beaches. The restaurants, hotels, and buildings along the waterside promenade make Barcelona a fabulous place for beach lovers.

12. Sicily, Italy

When it comes to islands and beaches, Italy has the best to show. Lying on the Mediterranean sea, Sicily is the largest island in Italy. It is also the largest island in the Mediterranean sea. The island has exuberant cities and towns along its coast, some of which are Palermo, Marsala, Messina, Catina, and Syracuse. The turquoise water of the Mediterranean makes the sand beaches of Sicily look like a natural paradise. The rich culture of Sicily has centred around its cuisine, literature, music, arts, and old-era architecture.

13. Sardinia, Italy

The Mediterranean country has all the wonders of nature, with Sardinia being one of them. It is the second-largest island in both Italy and the Mediterranean. The island is located south of the Italian peninsula. Sardinia is filled with stunning sand beaches, coral reefs, and picturesque coastal towns. You can consider this island the twin brother of Sicily. You will find more than 100 beaches with white sand and turquoise water. Cagliari, Sassari, and Alghero are some of its most beautiful cities.

14. Santorini, Greece

Santorini, Greece’s landmark tourist destination, lies on the Aegean sea. Its picturesque coastal towns and cities make it a world-renowned destination. The beauty of the island is so immense that this place has become a prominent wedding destination. Santorini is mainly famous among young couples as it is considered to be the best place for a romantic getaway.

The entire island is an active volcano. Although the island has many scenic coastal cities and towns, Fira and Oia are those striking places whose one sight makes Santorini an epic attraction to visitors. These hilltop towns feature a swag of resorts and restaurants from which you can get a direct view of the ocean and some volcanic small islands in the Aegean Sea. The island also features various beaches, ranging from white sandy beaches, black beaches, and red beaches to rocky beaches with rugged cliffs along the coast.

15. Mykonos, Greece

Mykonos is another Greek island of the Cyclades Island group in the Aegean Sea located 93 miles North away from Santorini. The main difference between Mykonos and Santorini is that Mykonos serves as the party capital of the Aegean. Windmills, seafront hotels, and beaches are some of the features that make it a popular tourist destination in Europe. The place is best known for its vibrant nightlife, cosmopolitan centres, and nightclubs.

16. Cyprus

Cyprus is an island nation in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia. Cyprus is probably the most underrated country in the  Mediterranean. The history-rich Island is filled with coastal cities, museums, blue water beaches, National parks, shopping centres, nightclubs, etc. Some of the famous beaches on the island are Coral Bay, St’George Beach, and Nissi Beach.

17. Corsica, France

Lies in the Mediterranean, Corsica is a French Island. The island is influenced by Italian culture because of its closeness to the Italian Peninsula. A lot of its residents speak Italian here as well as French. Corsica is located just 7 miles north of Sardinia. The strait of Bonifacio has divided the two islands. Corsica was also the birthplace of the famous French historical figure Napoleon Bonaparte.

From rugged cliffs, and hiking trails to Sandy beaches, to mountains, to coastal nature reserves, Corsica is ready to make your day filled with aesthetic experiences. Corsica is home to the GR20, one of Europe’s most visited hiking trails. The island also contains the Regional Natural Park of Corsica which is home to many walking trails, rare wildlife, and blue water beaches as well.