Which Beaches Have Just Been Ranked The Best In Europe?

Whether in Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, or more, Europe is renowned for its many idyllic beaches. Travelers flock there every year for their summer destinations. However, according to a study by European Best Destinations, these seven beaches come out tops in the EU bloc. The results vary from highly popular to hidden gems dotted all across Europe.

Top beaches in Europe for 2023

1. Torrent de Pareis, Mallorca, Spain

According to a new study, the top, number one beach in Europe is Torrent de Pareis on the beautiful Balearic Island of Mallorca. This is one of those places that take some effort to get there, as the beach can only be accessed by a hard six-hour hike, or by boat. However, once there, the beach is well worth the effort, with its pristine sand, crystal clear turquoise water and stark and rugged cliffs surrounding it. Of interest to note, Torrent de Pareis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. Bordeira Beach / Praia da Bordeira, Algarve, Portugal

The second-best beach in Europe is in Portugal. To be exact, Bordeira Beach (Praia da Bordeira) lies in the stunning Algarve of southern Portugal. While the region is known for its rugged cliffs and beautiful beaches, Bordeira Beach is one of the more remote and wild beaches on the Algarve coast. Sitting on the far western tip, this awesome beach (pictured top and above) is also a popular spot for surfers.

3. Amio Beach / Playa de Amio, Pechón, Cantabria, Spain

Spain makes the list of best beaches in Europe again with Amio Beach (Playa de Amio. However, this isn’t your typical Spanish beach and is located in Cantabria. This underrated region of northern Spain is away from the overdevelopment of eastern and southern Spain and this gorgeous stretch of sand is only accessible at low tide. This makes Amio Beach the perfect spot for those who truly want to get away from the tourist crowds.

4. La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia, Italy

Third in line for the best beaches in Europe and nestling on the Italian island of Sardinia is La Pelosa Beach. However, like many beaches on the island, La Pelosa has suffered from overtourism. For that reason, local authorities have imposed new protocols by limiting the number of visitors to 1,500 per day. Moreover, beachgoers have to pay a €3.50 ($4) entry fee and towels are banned, as they displace sand on the beach. While this might sound tedious, the beach is gorgeous, so maybe it is worth the bother.

5. As Catedrais Beach / Playa de As Catedrais, Galicia, Spain

Spain comes up again and this time in position 5 with the gorgeous Playa As Catedrais in green and beautiful Galicia. Located in a fairly remote location, this beach doesn’t get overcrowded. Moreover, walking through the amazing arches in the rock do make it feel like a natural cathedral. Once again, most of the beach is only accessible during low tide.

The following beaches may not have made it to the top 5, but all are beautiful and definitely worth a visit on your next vacation in Europe.

6. Cala Granadella, Spain
7. Butterfly Valley Beach, Turkey
8. Praia Nova, Portugal
9. Cala Moraig, Spain
10. Cala Tonnarella dell’Uzzo, Italy
11. Sykia Beach, Greece
12. Kriaristi Beach, Greece
13. Monterosso al Mare, Italy
14. Ostriconi Beach, France
15. Spiaggia Rosa, Italy