12 Best Beach Towns in Europe for 2025

Even before reaching the beach, Nerja exudes charm. Its narrow streets are lined with whitewashed houses, creating a picture-perfect setting. But once you reach Balcón de Europa— a dramatic cliffside overlook doubling as a central square—your breath will be taken away. There you have an expansive vista of the glorious southern Mediterranean coast. California lovers will surely get flashbacks to San Diego beaches as Nerja’s Calahonda looks like a European version of La Jolla.

Don’t Miss: Go further to find small coved Carabeillo and long sandy Burriana beaches that put this small town north of Málaga among the most striking beach towns in Spain. Nerja is an ideal destination for a laid-back Mediterranean escape where you have everything close by.

Almería is for experiencing the South of Spain at its most authentic. Having some of the best sandy beaches in the country, it’s still very much a hidden gem, even for the Spanish. The town itself doesn’t lack dramatism: the medieval Moorish Alcazaba fortress (the country’s second-largest after Granada’s Alhambra) rises over the labyrinthine streets of the old quarter. Paseo de Coches and Paseo de Almería are two promenades full of cafes, restaurants and bars. But Almería also has some fantastic beaches. Vast and sandy San Miguel and Zapillo beaches are for urban sunbathing and swimming.

Don’t Miss: Venture a bit further north and you’ll find the spectacular Cabo de Gata-Níjar—an unspoiled natural park with hidden coves, empty beaches and volcanic geological formations.

It’s hard to remain indifferent to Rovinj’s beautiful silhouette. This Istrian town seems made for admiration, and the scenic promenade ensures you can fully soak in its romantic allure. Sunrise and sunset strolls here are truly unforgettable. Rovinj’s UNESCO-protected medieval center, with its strong Venetian influence, invites endless exploration. Beyond its historic charm, the town is a holiday destination, offering luxurious hotels, a string of Croatian pebbly beaches just outside the city center and the idyllic Golden Cape Forest Park, filled with cedar and cypress trees.

Don’t Miss: For the ultimate view, climb to the top of St. Euphemia’s Basilica for the best city views.

Malta is among the best destinations in Europe for turquoise beaches. Marsaskala is how you experience the quieter, lesser-known side of this marvelous Mediterranean island country. A former fishing village, it’s a pearl of the South Eastern Region of Malta and a favorite summer holiday town for locals. It’s best for careless sun-filled relaxation, slow promenade walks, sampling Maltese food at low-key restaurants and, of course, scenic swimming. Marsaskala is home to St. Thomas Bay, a beautiful area with sandy and stone beaches hugged by the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Don’t Miss: Outside the town, you’ll find St. Peter’s Pool which is among Malta’s most spectacular natural pools. Marsaxlokk—a picture-perfect fishing village with a vibrant market—is another highlight of the region.

Naxos—an eponymous capital of the largest Cycladic island—is everything you’d expect from a gorgeous Greek island escape minus the crowds of Santorini or the prices of Mykonos. There’s a maze of old whitewashed houses in ancient Hora, a towering medieval fortress on the hill with stunning views and the portal-like seaside ruins of the Temple of Apollo greeting visitors. Having seen many Greek islands, Naxos remains my favorite. Probably because this place retains its authenticity and pairs it with cinematic beauty.

Don’t Miss: Sandy Agios Georgios Beach serves as the main urban stretch, but take a 5-minute ride to Agios Prokopios Beach for the island’s best bathing.

Beaches are irresistible on the dreamlike Amalfi Coast, but most are tiny and can get very crowded during high season. There’s always Maiori, though. Sure, it doesn’t have the Instagrammable beauty of Positano or the cinematic background of Atrani (the filming location of Netflix’s Ripley), but it’s Amalfi’s best beach destination thanks to an almost mile-long stretch of sand. Maiori’s accommodation prices tend to be lower than in neighboring towns, it is mostly flat but very family-friendly.

Don’t Miss: Maiori serves as a perfect base for navigating around the Amalfi Coast: it’s connected to Amalfi and Positano by ferries and buses and you can easily walk to Minori.

Cascais is a magical place. Set less than 1 hour away from Lisbon’s city center and connected to the capital by train, it gets you to some of the most dazzling ocean views on the continent. For me, Cascais is the definition of an ideal beach town. There’s a pretty old quarter filled with life and seafood restaurants. Laid-back golden sand Praia da Rainha, Praia da Ribeira and Praia da Duquesa are immediately accessible from the city center.

Don’t Miss: If you love to walk, Cascais is a paradise for scenic views. The promenade starts at the dramatic Fortress Nossa Senhora da Luz and goes next to the Museu de Santa Marta Lighthouse on the breathtaking Boca do Inferno cliffs. Further ahead, the cliffs grow and the ocean gets even more majestic.

While located just outside vibrant Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer feels worlds away. It’s a gem of the French Riviera with one of the most photogenic harbors in the Mediterranean. Everything here makes you stop and admire. There’s a terracotta-colored Old Town, a 16th-century citadel and an ultra-scenic seaside promenade. But Villefranche-sur-Mer is more than just pretty looks, the town has a rich and sometimes quirky link to the entertainment world.

Don’t Miss: The local Chapelle St-Pierre has chalk drawings of famous French director Jean Cocteau inside and Villefranche-sur-Mer was a filming location for Never Say Never Again, The Bourne Identity, Killers and Ronin. The Belle Epoque Nellcôte mansion was also where the Rolling Stones recorded their 1972-released album Exile on Main St.

While Croatian destinations have been firmly included in the beach town itineraries of travelers, there’s an equally charming coastline nearby that remains overlooked. Slovenia has a modest 30-mile-long Adriatic stretch but packs it with amazing places to see. If you were to visit just one, make it Piran. There’s a stunning medieval Venetian old town, an epic hilltop church and city walls reminiscent of Dubrovnik. Like the famous Croatian Adriatic counterpart, Piran serves magnificent sea vistas. Unlike Dubrovnik, there are no crowds here.

Don’t Miss: Enjoy the relaxed restaurant terraces on the narrow old streets, take dips from urban Piran beach and sip coffee with a view of the pretty Baroque Tartini square. The Mediterranean holiday is a delight in Piran.

Albania is the next big thing in Mediterranean travel. The “next” in the name refers to the authenticity and underdog status that this country still possesses. Sarandë is the gateway to the stunning Albanian Riviera and the best introduction to the beach life of this underrated Balkan country. This resort town has a long, scenic beach-dotted promenade, energetic nightlife and a great deal of Albanian restaurants. Sarandë works best as a base for beach hopping and coast exploring.

Don’t Miss: Go to the UNESCO-protected Butrint National Archaeological Park for ancient Greek and Roman city ruins, find the Ionian Sea bliss on the turquoise beaches of Ksamil and see the fantasy-like Blue Eye Spring natural pool.

It’s not only the Mediterranean in Europe, the Baltic Sea also has its share of amazing beach destinations. Located on the pine tree-covered Hel peninsula in Northern Poland, Jastarnia is how you get to the most magical sandy stretches of the Baltic. The whole peninsula seems to be one long stretch with beautiful dunes, cozy coffee shop shacks and wooden restaurants serving grilled seafood. Think Maryland’s Ocean City but without the condos and high-rise hotels.

Don’t Miss: While water temperatures may be cold to swim even during the summer, the Polish Coast is more about pensive nature enjoyment. The classic way to experience it is by hiking and biking. That doesn’t mean that you can’t bravely take a dip if you feel like it.

Our top Black Sea beach town for 2025 is Bulgarian Nessebar. With an ancient UNESCO-protected historic quarter, miles of sandy beaches on both sides and the country’s most-visited resort strip Sunny Beach, the town is the ultimate place for vacationing. Apart from being an activities-packed destination, Nessebar is also a budget-friendly alternative to Mediterranean beach towns.

Don’t Miss: Sights-wise, visit the ruins of the 5th-century Church of Saint Sophia, explore the Western Fortress Wall, see the picturesque revivalist wooden houses and take photos of the seaside old mill.