11 Secret Beach Destinations in Europe to Avoid the Crowds

Spiaggia di Piscinas on Sardinia’s Costa Verde near Arbus is a unique place for beach goers. It’s a sprawling stretch of high dunes (sometimes reaching heights up to 60 meters) meeting the azure sea and protected by Mediterranean greenery. Large, wild and spacious, it never gets crowded. This spot is one of the few European beaches that actually feel unspoiled and pure. The breathtaking desert-like scenery only add to the allure. Reaching it is fairly simple: just follow the dirt road off SP4 and leave your car at a designated parking lot.

Don’t Miss: It’s almost always windy at Piscinas making the beach a great spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing (or catching a glimpse of the pros in action).

Just outside the busy Lloret de Mar in Spanish Costa Brava, Cala Boadella is a spectacular beach. Reached by the short forest trail, it’s a secluded cove with golden sands and transparent blue waters. Rocky boulders set the gorgeous scene and you’ve got the best views of the wild Girona county coast. The beach is divided into naturist sections so if you want to bare it all, this is a great spot. And be sure to grab your snorkeling gear as Cala Boadella is perfect for exploring the underwater world.

Don’t Miss: A short hike away is picture-perfect Santa Cristina Beach—another uncrowded and idyllic Costa Brava destination to check out. Cala Bodella also sits under the gorgeous cliffside Gardens of Saint Clotilde, a sublime botanical garden with great water views.

The southernmost region of mainland Italy, Calabria, is home to some of the best beaches in the country. The great news is that it remains largely undiscovered by mass tourism. That means that local beaches rarely get too crowded. The long, pebbly stretch in Scilla is among the most dramatic. Flanked by the mountains and overlooking the historic center with a castle perched on the hill, it can easily give Amalfitan towns a run for their money. Except here you won’t have a problem finding a spot to sunbathe and swimming in clear azure Tyrrhenian Sea waters is an absolute delight. Most of the beach is free with pockets of private areas with loungers and umbrellas to rent.

Don’t Miss: Scilla is also notorious for its 2,000-year-old swordfishing tradition, which uses special boats called passerelle with watchtowers and an elongated bridge in front.

A gateway to Costa Brava, Blanes is a typical seaside resort with a long sandy beach, many xiringuitos (traditional beach bars) and seafood restaurants along the promenade. What makes it a great beach destination is Cala de Sant Françesc, a magnificent bay sheltered by high cliffs. You reach it by following a scenic coastal trail from the city center. The beach has a Blue Flag award, convenient car parking nearby and all the hygienic facilities. It’s perfect for families looking for a semi-wild experience while being close to the city.

Don’t Miss: The Marimurtra Botanical Garden right above the beach with a stunning selection of Mediterranean and sub-tropical plants. Another highlight of Blanes is Cala Sa Forcanera, a picturesque cove reached only by boat or kayak.

Malo Zaraće is an example of why Croatia is regarded as a paradise for unspoiled, turquoise Adriatic beaches. Located on the southern coast of Hvar Island, it’s a small bay surrounded by the pine forest. The water here is bluer than blue, it rarely gets crowded and you can easily reach the stretch from Hvar Town in less than 15 minutes. Malo Zaraće is also a fantastic place for sunset watching to the sound of cicadas.

Don’t Miss: The surface here is a mix of limestone and pebbles, so bring your swimming shoes. A small cliff makes it possible to just jump straight into the water. Coming here, you’re getting the best of two beaches as there’s a wider Velo Zaraće stretch a short walk away.

Reaching Notre Dame Beach requires some effort, but once you’re there, you’re rewarded with one of the most exquisite Mediterranean experiences. First, get to Porquerolles, one of the Îles d’Hyères islands off the French Riviera. Then, take a bike (preferably an e-bike) to follow the natural trail to Notre Dame. Alternatively, you can just walk for about 45 minutes from Porquerolles’ port.

Don’t Miss: The ultimate hidden gem beach, Notre Dame is a piece of Caribbean in the Mediterranean with blue waters, soft golden sands and a long crescent-shaped appearance. It’s also quite a wild experience as there’s no civilization around the beach except for a modest snack bar during summer.

Calanques de Piana is one of Corsica’s most striking natural sights. These narrow red ochre steep-walled inlets are protected by UNESCO. Found at the bottom of one of the calanques, Ficaghjola Beach is the island’s precious treasure. Follow the steep hiking trail among untouched Corsican nature to reach the stretch. Once you’re at Ficaghjola, you’re met with a paradise-looking combination of mighty cliffs, turquoise waters and the island’s mountainous coast. Be sure to take snacks and drinks with you as there are no services on the beach. There is parking on top of the cliff, though.

Don’t Miss: Snorkeling and paddle boarding are great ways to experience the local beauty.

The Baltic Sea can be stunning and Jurata is where you get the best views. Located on the Hel peninsula, it’s often named one of the finest white sand beaches in Poland. Summer is a fantastic time to experience it and enjoy the larger-than-life panoramas, vast dunes, the music of the waves and endless pine tree forest hikes. The sheer size of Jurata means it never gets too crowded. Pop-up beach bars and coffee shops appear during the high season. As for the accommodation, there are many options in Jurata making it the ultimate destination for Baltic slow travel.

Don’t Miss: The beach is well-connected to major cities like Gdynia and Gdansk by train—the station is right at the entrance to the dunes. This makes it a great home base for exploring.

Algarve beaches are spectacular and Cordoama is no exception. Located three miles out of Vila do Bispo, this stretch is guaranteed to take your breath away. The rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean crash into monumental black cliffs and gently hug the long sandy surf. Mornings bring the atmospheric mist, while evenings gift you some of Portugal’s most beautiful sunsets. Cordoama is a wild beach that can only be reached by a dirt road. There are no facilities or places to eat, it’s just pure, untamed Atlantic nature.

Don’t Miss: While not a place for relaxed swimming, this beach is among the top surfing destinations on Portugal’s west coast thanks to consistent waves. During low tide, you can also walk to neighboring Castelejo and Barriga beaches.

Towering white chalk-colored cliffs, cyanic waters and no crowds—welcome to Fteri. It might be the most beautiful beach in Greece that few people have heard of. Located on the Ionian island of Kefalonia, the stretch remains an open secret for those who vacation here. It’s the access that makes it still relatively unfrequented—Fteri can only be reached by a water taxi from Zola village or by a scenic (yet quite demanding) one-hour hike. All the effort is totally worth it as this beach is exceptionally spectacular. Be sure to take beach shoes with you as the stretch is pebbly.

Don’t Miss: The incredible views. You’re getting the same white-cliffs-meet-azure-sea magic of Zakynthos’ most popular Shipwreck Beach without the crowds and with the wild allure.

Egremni Beach on Lefkada looks like a dream. It’s a long stretch on the island’s southwestern coast where you can see the bluest waters in Europe. The beach is nestled under a tall limestone mountain wall giving it a stunning look. You can reach it either by boat or by car. If you’re choosing the second option, be prepared to hike around a mile from the parking lot down to the beach and then take the stairs to the stretch (about 400 steps). Wilderness requires sacrifices, after all. Make sure to take all the beach essentials with you as the way back will involve lots of climbing.

Don’t Miss: Remoteness makes Egremni Beach less crowded than other Lefkada beaches and there’s always space as Egremni stretches for almost 2 miles.