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Revealed: Europe’s best beaches, according to travellers

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
TripAdvisor has released its Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best list.

Every year, TripAdvisor releases its Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best list, which recognises the destinations, beaches, hotels, things to do and restaurants around the world that consistently receive excellent reviews from travellers. 

If you’re in the midst of planning your Euro summer getaway, the 2026 list of incredible European beaches has you covered on where to spend sun-soaked days. From Greece to Portugal, these pristine coastlines offer crystal-clear waters, soft sands and postcard-perfect views, year-round.

The ranking is based on real customer reviews and ratings collected over 12 months. Greece was the most celebrated country, with four beaches in the top 10, followed by two in Italy and two in Spain.

Here are the most popular beaches in Europe, according to travellers’ reviews on TripAdvisor.

The pink sand at and turquoise water at Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece.
Elafonissi Beach in Crete is Europe’s most loved beach. (Getty: Patryk_Kosmider)

Elafonissi Beach in southwestern Crete takes the top spot as Europe’s most-loved beach. This unique, natural paradise boasts pink-tinged sand, turquoise waters and shallow lagoons that are perfect for swimming and for children to splash in. The beach has sunbeds, umbrellas and a few snack bars.

Balos Lagoon beach in Crete
Balos Lagoon features the tiny, uninhabited island of Imeri Gramvousa. (Image: Getty/SCStock)

The second most popular beach in Europe is another Crete favourite: Balos Lagoon. Formed by the peninsula of Gramvousa and the tiny, uninhabited island of Imeri Gramvousa, this top spot is framed by rugged coastline and features calm, shallow waters and a bar serving drinks and snacks. In third, Praia da Falésia in Olhos de Água, Portugal is adored for its dramatic red and orange cliffs, golden sands and clear turquoise waters perfect for swimming and long walks along the shore. 

And in fourth, another Crete favourite: Falassarna Beach on the island’s western coast. This haven draws in crowds for spectacular sunsets over the Libyan Sea, beach clubs and sparkling waters. 

The top 10 beaches in Europe

La Pelosa beach in Sardinia, Italy
La Pelosa beach in Sardinia, Italy. (Image: Getty/Francesco Frilli)
  1. Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece
  2. Balos Lagoon, Crete, Greece
  3. Praia da Falésia, Olhos de Água, Portugal
  4. La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia, Italy
  5. Falassarna Beach, Crete, Greece
  6. Platja De Muro, Majorca, Spain
  7. Paleokastritsa Beach, Corfu, Greece
  8. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Italy
  9. Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain
  10. Plage de Palombaggia, Corsica, France

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Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is a freelance travel journalist, editor and hotel addict based in the UK. She was formerly International Traveller's Evergreen Editor and was responsible for the foundational content ahead of its website relaunch, as well as managing and growing the brand’s destination guides. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to creating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love and Bed Threads. Next on her travel wish list is Malta.
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What the European heatwave means for your summer travel plans

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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    Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK. 

    Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

    And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

    Why is it so hot in Europe?

    Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

    France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

    In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

    The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

    Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

    How travel is impacted

    A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius
    A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

    During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

    If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

    Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

    people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris
    People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

    With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

    Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

    How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

    Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

    Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

    Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.