Europe's most-loved beaches revealed - with UK destinations beating holiday hotspots in Spain and Greece
A new study has found that of the five most-loved seaside destinations across Europe, four are in Britain – with Welsh locations performing particularly well.
The UK beaches are ranked higher than any of the coasts in popular holiday haunts such as Spain, France and Greece.
Barafundle Bay Beach in Pembrokeshire was ranked in second place in the analysis from Holidu, an online holiday rental portal.
The Welsh bay has a stretch of golden sand and clear water – it is often compared to a beach in the Caribbean.
The beach is only accessible via a half-mile walk from the nearest car park, which gives it a true sense of seclusion.
Continuing to fly the flag for Britain in third place is the charming Traeth Mwnt on the west coast of Wales, known for its white sand and scenic coastal paths.
Woolacombe Beach in Devon is England's first entry in the rankings, coming fourth.
Traeth Mwnt on the west coast of Wales, left, and Woolacombe Beach in south-west England found themselves in third and fourth place in the rankings
The West Country spot is popular with families and surfers.
Fifth place returns to Wales, with the accolade going to Dunraven Bay in Glamorgan.
It offers a mix of sand and rocks beside dramatic cliffs, with low tides exposing rock pools.
In the full list of 25 beaches, 10 are in the UK.
At the very top of the rankings is Spiaggia dei Conigli – or Rabbit Beach – on the Italian island of Lampedusa.
It is famous as a nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles and is protected as a nature reserve, meaning it remains relatively untouched and calm.
The Mediterranean beach can only be reached by boat or on a 15-minute trail from the main road.
Closing out the top 10 most-loved beaches was Cala Mariolu in Sardinia, Italy, Playa de Cofete in Fuerteventura, one of Spain's Canary Islands.
Praia da Adraga is around 35 minutes by car from Sintra in Portugal, or an hour from Lisbon
They were followed by Simos Beach in Greece's Attica region, Praia da Adraga, not far from Sintra in Portugal, and Playa de Matalenas in northern Spain.
The full list can be found on Holidu's website.
The list was compiled using data from Google Maps, analysing thousands of reviews and ratings.
Earlier this month, Europe's sunniest beach was named as Oludeniz Beach in Fethiye, Turkey.
Visitors can expect highs of 32 degrees and nearly 10 and a half hours of sunshine a day.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Dua Lipa shows off amazing figure in lace bikini while sunbathing on vacation with fiance Callum Turner
Dua Lipa showcased her toned figure in a skimpy lace bikini while in the Amalfi Coast. The singer, 29, has been soaking up the sun with her fiance Callum Turner, 35, in Ital y. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Dua put on a sizzling display as she relaxed in a black and white polka dot bikini. Elsewhere in the post, Dua shared some sweet snaps with actor Callum, as he draped his arm around her shoulder. Dua also shared a picture of Callum in front of a stunning view along the Amalfi Coast. In another snap, Dua could be seen wearing a cropped green T-shirt and jeans, as well as a baseball cap, as she wandered the cobbled streets.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Euro 2025: How expensive is Switzerland for travellers?
The women's Euro 2025 football championship is taking place in one of Europe's most expensive countries: Switzerland. Ahead of the first matches for both England and Wales, the English midfielder Georgia Stanway described the cost of living in Switzerland as 'extremely high' – saying players are paying to help ensure friends and family can support them as they defend their European title in one of the world's most expensive countries. 'A lot of us are putting our hands in our pockets to make sure that our families can get over there,' she said. 'We would love to see as many fans as possible and we want to thank them in advance because we know it's not cheap.' But just how pricey is the Alpine nation? I have calibrated some key purchases. One global comparator of prices is The Independent 's Hard Rock Cafe index, comparing the cost of a burger and beer at branches of the franchise around the world. But Switzerland does not currently have any branches of the music-themed chain. Instead, a Big Mac at McDonald's is used – together with a pint of beer at an Irish pub in the city centre. Other comparisons involve a bed in an airport Holiday Inn; the cost of public transport from the biggest airport to the city; rail fares for travelling between venues; and the cost of entry to a leading museum. Overall, my conclusion is that Switzerland is about one-fifth more expensive than the UK – or, more specifically, London. While the Swiss enjoy an efficient and comprehensive public transport system, it comes at a high price. This is particularly the case on the trains, where locals mostly carry half-price railcards that are beyond the scope of overseas visitors. Eating and drinking are significantly more expensive – approaching 30 per cent higher – than London prices. Swiss tourism officials politely remind visitors they should tip 10 per cent on top. And as with most nations in Continental Europe, the top Swiss museums charge admission – unlike the policy in the UK. Action points? For matches in Geneva, supporters could base themselves across the border in France, where prices are lower. Replacing a restaurant lunch with a picnic will help. And be careful about where you source those colourful but expensive Swiss francs; changing money at airport bureaux de change will make the stay even more painfully expensive. Check in: airport Holiday Inn. For the night of 3 July, the hotel nearest to Zurich airport costs SFR266 (£246), while the one closes to Heathrow is £220. Switzerland 12 per cent higher. From the airport Zurich to the centre SFR7 (£6.50); Heathrow to the centre £5.80 – though if you want a bit more speed the price roughly doubles for the Elizabeth Line and quadruples for the Heathrow Express. Switzerland 12 per cent higher. Big Mac At the elegant McDonald's opposite the main station in Basel: SFR6.90 (£6.40); £5 in central London. Switzerland 28 per cent higher. Pint in an Irish pub in the city centre O'Flanagan's in Basel: SFR9.80 (£9); Waxy O'Connor's in London: £7 Switzerland 29 per cent higher. Rail fares The rail distance from Geneva to Zurich is 160 miles, about the same as London to Doncaster. The cheapest 'walk-up' fare between the two cities is SFR92 (£85). In the UK you could in theory pay £134 for a trip from the capital to South Yorkshire, but with a multiplicity of fares available on LNER and Hull Trains a fare of around £70 is more likely. Switzerland 21 per cent higher. Cost of culture National Museum in Zurich: SFR 13 (£12); British Museum in London: free. No contest. Tipping Switzerland Tourism says: 'In Switzerland, the guest is not obliged to tip. In many restaurants, however, it is customary to pay a tip. This amounts to approximately 10 per cent or it is rounded up to a round amount.' Visit Britain tells prospective visitors: 'Tipping is not expected in Britain like it is in some other countries. Workers do not have to rely on tips to live and all staff must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. It's not necessary to tip but it's polite to do so if you've had good service, and it's always appreciated.' Let's call it a score draw.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
TSA announces change to security checks at 10 airports
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced a major change to security checks at 10 airports across the country. The administration shared that it would be adding a new expedited lane and discounts 'to enhance the travel experience for members of the U.S. military community,' per PR Newswire. Gold Star families - those who have lost a loved one in military service - will also now have TSA PreCheck fees waived. Additionally, TSA will now offer a $25 discount on TSA PreCheck enrollment for spouses of military and uniformed service members. 'This Independence Day and beyond, TSA reaffirms its commitment to ease travel for the military community through its TSA PreCheck program by providing it free to Gold Star families, discounting it for military spouses and creating expedited lanes for service members,' she said, according to the publication. 'By expanding access, easing enrollment, and partnering with our TSA PreCheck enrollment providers and industry partners, we strive to honor those who serve and the families who stand beside them.' To make things as accessible as possible, TSA PreCheck is hosting mobile enrollment events near major US military locations. The new lanes will be implemented at 10 American airports in cities including: San Antonio, Texas, Anchorage, Alaska, Atlanta, Georgia, Austin, Texas, Colorado Springs, Colorado, El Paso, Texas, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Nashville, Tennessee, San Diego, California, and Seattle, Washington. In other airport news, TSA was recently forced to issue a hilarious statement about which ID cards qualify as official identification while traveling. It came after a user on X, formerly known as Twitter, posted a picture of a bright yellow Waffle House customer card with the caption, 'TSA might want REAL ID, but I have the realest ID.' It read 'Matthew Cappucci, Meteorologist,' with an American flag in the right corner. The post amassed over 2.2 million views and thousands of replies - including one from the official TSA account. 'Respectfully, no… Waffle House IDs will not suffice as a Real ID alternative (sorry),' the organization's comical response read. Cappucci followed up his post by writing: 'One of my greatest life accomplishments is being one of the only 90 people in this world that Waffle House follows.' TSA has also responded to travelers who attempted to use their Costco cards as valid ID at the airport. US travelers are now required to have a federally approved REAL ID or passport to board a domestic flight , with a standard driver's license no longer cutting it.
