Best Summer Beach Vacations In Europe To Add To Your Bucket List
International beach vacations were once reserved for the wealthy and elite members of society, but not anymore! Get out of the U.S. and explore new lands and beaches in Europe this summer. We’ve put together a list of beautiful, clean, and exotic beaches that you won’t want to leave. Whether you venture with your family or get a group of your best girl pals to go, there is something for everyone.
La Maddalena Archipelago Beach
La Maddalena Archipelago is a group of islands in the Strait of Bonoificiao. The Archipelago consists of seven main islands, the largest being La Maddalena. The archipelago of La Maddalena, off the Costa Smeralda, is a quiet place of turquoise lagoons, deserted islands, and the most heavenly beaches in Sardinia.
Puglia Beach
Italy’s just discovered beach resort area is the Puglia, the heel of the country’s familiar boot shape. Travelers tend to visit Italy for its food, history, landscape, and culture. For beach lovers, Puglia is a treasure trove of stunning strands, intimate rocky coves and wild, sandy shores, from the Gargano peninsula in the north to the stiletto heel of Salient in the south. When visiting, the seasides towns of Polignano a Mare and Gallipoli are good places to travel to for the best beach access.
Mykonos Beach
Mykonos is loaded with great beaches. It’s a beach paradise whether you are swimming or sunbathing. Paradise Beach is the party beach. Ornos and Platys Gialos are great for families and couples. To experience one of the best beach vacations walk along the coast between the beaches of Psarou and Paradise beach is a highlight of a visit to Mykonos that you do not want to miss!
Elafonsi Beach
Elafonsi Beach was a secret beach known to only locals on Crete. Today, it is one of the top 25 beach vacations to experience according to Trip Advisor. If you go early in the season, you can experience pink sands, wildflowers, and strange rock formations in relative peace. However if you go to too late, you’ll find this beach covered and crowded with beach loungers. So plan your beach vacations far in advance and go at a low peek time to truly experience the beauty of Crete.
La Concha Beach
The beach of La Concha is a crescent shaped urban seaboard of the city of San Sebastian located at the Bay of La Concha in the Basque Country, northern Spain. The shape of the bay explains the name “Concha” It is a sandy beach and has frequently been called one of the most beautiful and most famous urban beaches in Europe. La Concha belongs to the best city beaches around the world according to Travel and Leisure Magazine.
La Concha Beach is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and paddling- due to it’s size. Since the beach is also surrounded by mountains, it’s also perfectly protected against high waves and strong winds. What other beach vacations can provided a stunning landscape of green mountains? La Concha is easily one of the most refined beaches around the world.
Nissi Beach
Nissi Beach is a popular beach in the resort of Ayia Napa, Cyprus. The beach stretches for 500 meters and the water is clean enough for the beach to have been awarded the blue flag designation. Nissi Beach has become a popular destination for clubbers following live programs transmitted through BBC’s Radio 1 Roadshow during summer tourist season. If you want to explore a great beach with an equally great night life, add Nissi Beach to your list of destination beach vacations.
Praia de Camilo
The beach of Camilo is Lago’s iconic beach with golden sand and crystal clear, blue waters. To reach the beach you have to descend 200 wooden steps which wind their way down the orange cliffs. These cliffs offer shelter from the ocean winds making it safe for swimming. The open-air seating area on the cliff top affords a fabulous panoramic view over the coastline between Lagos and Albufeira and a sweeping perspective of the ocean with dotted white triangles of yachts. If that didn’t sell you to visit, there are even secret tunnels you can explore which leads to a different beach by going through a cave.
Balos Lagoon
Balos is famous for its turquoise waters, the wild natural beauty and the beautiful exotic scenery. During the summer, Balos is visted by thousands of tourists. If you are not a fan of crowds, best to avoid the beach during peek summer season in July and August. The lagoon of Balos has white sand and vivd blue and turquoise waters. The sea is warm and shallow and in many places the sand is a lovely pink color due to the millions of crushed shells.
Playa de Muro Beach
Playa de Muro is one of Mallorca’s best blue flag beaches near Alcudia. This white sandy beach is quieter than neighboring Alcudia Beach. All along the beach there are plenty of hotels, restaurants, bars, and sun loungers available. There is also a great selection of beach clubs along Playa de Muro’s beachfront offering a stunning setting for drinks or a quick bite.
Kleopatra Beach
Kleopatra Beach is located at the foothills of Alanya Castle. It is one of Turkey’s most protected beach because of it’s unusual silky fine sand. According to legend, this beach got it’s name from the Egyptian Pharoanin herself on a journey through the Mediterranean Sea.
There are plenty of sun beds and umbrellas on the beach and most parts offer free Wi-Fi so you can post photos of your trip to show everyone back home what a fantastic time you are having. Kleopatra Beach is not just a magnet for tourists but for turtles too. Year after year, reptiles return to the place they were born to lay eggs. So, if you were wanting to see some wildlife up close while sunbathing, book this dream beach vacation!
