‘The softest white sand and crystal-clear water': readers' favourite beaches in Europe

The Guardian

09-05-2025

While staying on the northern Pelion peninsula in Greece we made our way by foot along the coast path to Paralia Fakistra beach, which is only accessible via a walk in from local villages along the coast. The white pebble beach is backed by a freezing cold waterfall, which cools you down after the dusty, challenging coast path route. The crystal-blue water is home to lots of sea life and snorkelling was joyous. One of the attractions that keeps visitor numbers down is that there are no cafes or bars or even shade, so I recommend taking a light parasol and some cool drinks, but keep your load light as the walk can get hot, especially along the coast path from nearby Damouchari, another great beach spot on the Pelion.Layla Astley
Our favourite beach in Europe is Plage de Péru in Corsica. It can be reached by a pleasant downhill walk from the Greek village of Cargèse. However, we were lucky enough to have direct access from the Hotel Thalassa, a simple and sleepy hotel with balconies and a leafy garden facing the turquoise waters. There may be better beaches in Corsica but we love this one as it's perfect for swimming and never seems to get busy. You can spend a day walking from the beach to the local Genoese tower, then return and grab a seat at one of the beach pailottes where you can eat or drink watching the sunset.Eleanor
Guardian Travel readers' tips
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The Cyclades island of Naxos has stunning beaches everywhere but there's nothing like Kastraki. It has the softest white sand, which extends under the stunning, crystal-clear water that sometimes is the lightest blue, and sometimes turquoise. Perfect for swimming as it's never too still to be boring, rarely too wavy to be dangerous. The best thing about Kastraki is that depending on where you want to be, you can have wild and deserted or you can have busy. Go towards the south - but this applies to most of the beach really - for several miles of glorious peacefulness, where you'll hear nothing but the sea. If you like good low-key services, go to the north bit, right next to the little headland. You'll find some sunbeds and a great taverna right on the sand. The whole place is pure bliss; the only way you can top it is if you stay to watch the sunset, then catch some cocktail vibes in the beach bar 100 metres back next to the marsh, then dinner in the beach's little village.Cris
We had a wonderful week in Les Sables d'Olonne in the Vendée last year. The town has plenty of sites to see - the shell museum was well worth a trip – and there are many seafood restaurants to choose from and everything you'd expect from a well-loved, mainly French-visited seaside resort. The main beach (La Grande Plage) is extremely popular with everyone, and has beignet- and glace-sellers and beach volleyball. However, we found ourselves gravitating to the less busy Plage de la Paracou, smaller and more rugged with no tourist trappings and the most wonderful sunsets where we were at times one of only a handful of people on the sands as far as could be seen. There was also a fantastic small open-air bar just over the dune, which had great live acoustic music and drinks a few nights a week. Dolly
From the classic hilltop town of Motovun in the beautiful Istrian countryside it's a relaxed 40-mile (60km) drive to Brestova and the winding, sloping road to the slipway. Sea-spray on the brief ferry-ride across to Porozina on Cres island gives way to a heat-hazy road-cruise down the island, crossing on to Lošinj over the rotating bridge at the impossibly pretty village of Osor (population 26). Heading south another 12 miles or so we reached pine-shaded Mali Lošinj for basking on rocks and plunging from them into deep, clear water.Mark de Brunner
Either side of Ystad (of Wallander fame) on the southern tip of Sweden, you'll find several unspoiled stretches of soft white sand. To the east is Sandhammaren, a seemingly endless ribbon of gold fringed by forest. To the west, there are shorter stretches of sand punctuated by the odd restaurant or cafe for fika and separated from civilisation by grassy dunes. One day last August, my boyfriend and I cycled (along dedicated cycle paths) from Ystad to the wonderful Skateholm Strand, stopping off at several more beautiful beaches along the way. As the Swedish school holidays had finished, we practically had the place to ourselves.Helen
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One of the best beaches for adventurous souls has to be Playa de Güigüí on the west coast of Gran Canaria. It has wild, remote beauty and is only reached by a long, invigorating hike through steep, rocky terrain. Be sure to set off early with lunch and plenty of water packed as there is nothing close by at all. After the trek with stunning views, you will be rewarded with clear, gentle waves for a much-needed swim and stretches of secluded sand all to yourself.Alzira
The beaches of the town of Tropea are framed by the Sanctuary Santa Maria dell Isola and cliffs and houses high above. The turquoise water is the clearest I've seen in Calabria. Tropea is so friendly, beautiful, delicious, affordable – what a delight. The B&Bs we've stayed in there all are full of warm Italian hospitality. Eating out is reasonably priced and restaurants offer superb menus, as always. David innes-wilkin
I've been lucky enough to spend several summers at Kadikalesi beach, tucked away on the Bodrum peninsula. Easy to reach by dolmuş (minibus), it's a peaceful hideaway. Mornings drift by with gentle swims and coffee sips by the water's edge, and I like to spend afternoons lounging under olive trees to the lull of soft waves. Local cafes serve fresh lahmacun and pide (a kind of Turkish pizza), kofte (meatballs) and frothy ayran (yoghurt drink). Best of all are the evenings, when the sky blushes pink and orange over the Aegean, and the whole world seems to slow down – I can't imagine a summer without it.Yasmin Ann
The train from Barcelona deposits its passengers right on the shore of Sant Pol de Mar's harbour. The sound of gently bobbing rigging and the whiff of seafood drifts somewhere from the village, where the promise of a splendid lunch awaits. The Playa el Morer is reached on foot along a curving bay after which frazzled city-dwellers dig their heels in that hot, inviting amber sand and bliss out with siestas and the occasional dip. Sant Pol, it seems, exists to mend broken hearts, heal the soul and is a place where all is well in the world.Liz