The world is full of amazing beaches, where you can sink your toes into soft sand while listening to the magical sound of waves lapping.
Wide or narrow, golden or chalk white – they come in countless variations.
Here we present some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches.
Few beaches will make you gasp out loud like sublime Cala Goloritzè, on Sardinia’s east coast Golfo di Orosei.
With its snow-white pebbles giving way to a sea of purest aquamarine blue.
Limestone cliffs jut out dramatically over the bay, as does Monte Caroddi, a 148-metre needle of rock beloved by climbers.
The Greek beach that is surely on a million postcards.
Navagio on Zakynthos, is a place where you can be happy to be shipwrecked – hence its prosaic nickname Shipwreck Beach.
With mighty cliffs jutting up above a perfect arc of sand and sea so blue it looks photoshopped.
The serpentine road winding down the steep slope to Myrtos on Kefallonia raises the pulse as much as the bay itself.
From above, it looks as if mighty Poseidon has emerged from the depths and cleaved the coast in two, leaving behind this starkly beautiful cove of white rock, framed by sheer cliffs and surrounded by seas that tick almost every shade of blue on the color chart.
Relaxed atmosphere, soft sand dunes and Caribbean blue water in southern Mallorca.
Es Trenc’s seven kilometers is a fascinating stretch of beach with an atmosphere that feels decidedly Caribbean.
The pearly white sand on the 35 meter wide beach shines in the sun as the waves gently crash against the shore.
Depending on the time of day and the natural light, the sea can look anywhere between deep blue, turquoise or emerald green.
Maspalomas Beach is probably the most famous beach in the Canary Islands.
When you see postcards of Gran Canaria with sand dunes right next to the sea, you are looking at Maspalomas Beach.
Sunbathing all day and lots to do at night in Gran Canaria
Maspalomas beach has sections for everyone: The eastern end borders the resort of Playa del Ingles and offers plenty of family-friendly services such as sunbeds and umbrella rentals, showers and snack stands.
As you head west to the center of the beach, towards the Maspalomas lighthouse, the beach becomes wilder with water sports zones and nudist areas.
After sunbathing during the day why not head to Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés for a taste of the nightlife?
Elafonissi beach is actually a small uninhabited island on the southwestern part of Crete, about 60 kilometers from Chania.
The beach is particularly known for its pink shimmering sand and crystal clear turquoise waters.
Consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, it is a popular spot for families, thanks to the shallow waters.
Elafonissi Beach is full of finely ground shells that have colored the sand pink. It is also the reason why it shimmers when the sun shines.
The natural beauty of Porto Katsiki offers one of the most impressive themes that Lefkas is known for.
Abrupt white cliffs form a wild but magnificent backdrop and a unique contrast to the deep blue waters of the Ionian. Lush vegetation covers the surrounding area, creating one of the most idyllic landscapes in the world.
Many sunbeds and umbrellas cover this famous sandy beach but the cliffs offer some lovely shady spots for some privacy and relaxing sunbathing. A few steps lead you directly to the beach.
Porto Katsiki is simply irresistible for thousands of visitors around the world and a unique sightseeing experience. It is frequented by private yachts and is simply the best way to access this beach, other than a car.
It can also be reached by taxi boat from the villages of Vassiliki and Nidri. A car park, bars and dining rooms are at the top of the stairs.
