If you are planning a summer vacation in Europe this year, you should definitely check out some of the best beaches the old continent has to offer.
- Shipwreck Beach (Zakynthos, Greece)
This secluded cove got its name thanks to the MV Panagiotis Freightliner located on its shore. It can only be accessed by boat, but it is a very popular locale, so tours that go there are regular. In the past several years, this beach has become increasingly popular, so you should aim to arrive there early in the morning, ahead of all the droves of tourists.
- Aguas Blancas (Ibiza, Spain)
Famed for its dark sand and nearby rocky cliffs, the Aguas Blancas beach is a half-hour away from Ibiza, one of the party capitals of Europe. The nearby caves are perfect if you want to indulge in a bit of scuba diving and exploration.
- Silver Strand (Dublin, Ireland)
Ireland isn’t well-known for its warm weather – quite the opposite – but Dublin’s Silver Strand beach stands out for its picturesque beauty all year round. You’ll be able to take a swim only on the hottest of summer days, but this beach is always a sight to behold.
- Gjipe Beach (Albania)
White sand, tall cliffs, pristine water – Gjipe beach offers all this and more. Many who have visited it rightfully consider it to be one of the most woefully underrated and cleanest beaches in the entire world. You need to walk for about half an hour to get there, so it never gets overcrowded and you can enjoy peace and quiet while there.
- Golden Horn Beach (Brac, Croatia)
One of the most unique beaches you will ever be able to visit, the Golden Horn (or Zlatni Rat, as it is called in Croatian) extends for half a kilometer in the shape of a horn. Because of the tides, the shape constantly fluctuates and changes, so it is always an adventure to visit it.
- Grundlsee (Styria, Austria)
One of the most beautiful lake beaches in all of Europe, Grundlsee lake is located in the middle of Totes Gebirge mountains and is surrounded by forests, untouched nature, and clean mountain air.
- Perissa Black Sand Beach (Santorini, Greece)
As the name implies, the sand here is a dark black color – a sign of the long past volcanic activity on Santorini. The contrasting effect between the black sand and aquamarine waters is stunning, but be advised – the color of the sand means that it’s even hotter than regular-colored sand, and walking on it during peak hours of the day can be difficult without footwear.
