What to expect in the world of travel this year
Score: 3.988
Surprisingly, Germany also has a beach worth visiting this summer! Warnemünde Strand is great if you want to visit the beautiful Baltic Coast.
Score: 3.970
Located in the center of Santander, this expansive sandy beach is great if you're looking for a city and beach holiday at the same time.
Score: 3.959
Located on Tavira Island in Portugal's Algarve region, this rarely crowded beach embraces the ocean with its golden-white sands.
Score: 3.939
Located in the southeastern corner of Sardinia, Porto Giunco is one of the finest beaches on the island.
Score: 3.931
A hidden gem in the Riserva dello Zingaro in Sicily, this small pebble beach is known for its crystal clear waters.
Score: 3.996
Integrated into a marine reserve on Madeira island, Praia do Garajau's natural conditions are perfect for scuba diving.
Score: 4.018
Located on Armona Island in the Algarve, this long, sandy beach is accessible by ferry or water taxi from the city of Olhão.
Score: 3.999
Another breathtaking beach in Sardinia, this pebble beach is also located on the southeastern corner of the island.
Score: 4.019
Located in the northeastern coast of Crete, Seitan Limania is a beautiful, hidden beach. The rocky underwater is perfect for snorkeling!
Score: 4.028
Located on the small island of Porto Santo, in the archipelago of Madeira, this beach is a beautiful five-mile (nine-km) stretch of sand.
Score: 4.046
Locally known as Calo s'Alga or Racó of s'Alga, this little Ibiza beach is a calm haven on the notorious party island.
Score: 4.011
An idyllic pebble beach, Oprna Bay is a true gem and one of the most beautiful beaches on the Croatian island of Krk.
Score: 4.030
Located on the coast of Almería in southeast Andalusia, this beach is known for its distinctive rock in the middle.
Score: 4.055
Located on the island of Lampedusa, 109 miles (176 km) south-west of Sicily, Spiaggia dei Conigli, or Rabbit Beach, is named after its original inhabitants.
Score: 4.086
One of the most emblematic beaches of Portugal, Praia da Marinha is located on the Atlantic Coast in Caramujeira, Algarve.
Score: 4.130
Known as Galebove stijene in Croatian, this rock beach is located in Stoja, one of Pula's neighborhoods, and is the most western beach in the city.
Score: 4.1
In the center of Primošten, along the town promenade, lies the idyllic pebble-covered beach of Mala Raduča. It's truly a Croatian summer dream!
Score: 4.153
Lama Monachile beach is set in a rocky sea inlet, surrounded with high cliffs and houses in the town of Polignano a Mare.
Score: 4.081
Approximately six miles (10 km) northeast of the coastal city of Alicante you'll find the beautiful San Juan Playa.
Score: 4.142
Located in southwestern Ibiza, Cala Comte is an enchanting beach with beautiful turquoise water.
Score: 4.137
With its stunning blue water and fine white sand, Spiaggia di Tuerredda is among the most beautiful and most famous beaches in Sardinia.
This gem of a beach is celebrated for its striking golden clay cliffs and inviting blue waters. Visitors here are also treated to sublime weather conditions all year around.
Tucked along the coast near Popovići, close to Dubrovnik Ruđer Bošković Airport, Pasjača Beach has an excellent water quality rating.
Score: 4.268
Claiming the second spot on Europe's best beaches list is Praia da Falésia in the Algarve coast.
Score: 4.29
Celebrated for its stunning views, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant promenade, Playa de La Concha is Europe's best beach in 2024.
Located in the Basque city of San Sebastián, this beach offers an ideal location, sparkling clean waters, and balmy weather.
Sources: (BookRetreats) (Time Out)
Score: 4.219
Nestled between a towering 200-foot (60-m) cliff and pristine waters of the Adriatic, Pasjača Beach is a hidden little gem that cracks the top three.
Score: 4.213
In the vibrant heart of Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria lies one of Europe's most famous city beaches, Las Canteras.
Europe's most amazing beaches
These hotspots came out on top for sun, safety, and swimming
TRAVEL Vacation
Summer is creeping up on us fast, and with it comes the promise of escaping to the sun, unwinding, and sinking your toes into the sand. But what exactly does the perfect beach look like? Retreat booking platform BookRetreats has evaluated beaches across Europe based on their popularity, typical weather conditions, safety, accessibility, and water quality. Using data from Google reviews, safety rankings from the Global Peace Index, and water quality information from the European Environment Agency (EEA), each location was given a score from zero to one for these categories, with a total possible score of five. With that, click on to discover the best European beaches for summer 2024!