Spectacular views, impeccable services, crystal-clear sands and waters, ideal for practicing water sports, secluded… The best beaches on the planet stand out above the others for some particular characteristic that distinguishes them and makes them especially appreciated by its users. Subjectivity plays an important role in these cases and is responsible for no two rankings being the same. However, when many people agree on the valuation of a place, logic suggests that we are facing exceptional sandy areas.
For many lovers of the sea and the sun, the beach is the goal of getaways and vacations, so the right choice is the key to success. If this is your case, knowing this year’s winners of the Travellers’ Choice Beaches, TripAdvisor’s awards, can make things easier for you. As in the eleven previous editions, the Best of the Best has been compiled based on the opinions expressed by travelers on the website over the last 12 months.
On this occasion, the Portuguese Praia de Falesia, from the Algarve, has become No. 1 in the world, displacing the Caribbean Grace Bay, on the island of Providenciales, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which has been relegated to fifth place. They are followed by the Italian Spiaggia dei Conigli, and, in third place, the Concha de San Sebastián, which completes an entirely European podium. Another Spanish one appears in the top 25, Las Canteras beach, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
In this year’s list of the best in Europe, in addition to the two mentioned, there is also Maspalomas, also in Gran Canaria, which confirms, once again, the beauty and quality of Spanish beaches.
It is not the first time that this beach in the Portuguese Algarve appears among the best on the Old Continent. And this endless sandy area – it extends for six kilometers – flanked by spectacular reddish stone cliffs dotted with pine trees has become one of the best bathing options in a region already famous for its spectacular natural landscapes. The best beach in the world and in Europe in 2024 is located in the town of Olhos de Agua, between Albufeira and Vilamoura, and has easy access via ramps and wooden stairs. Although it is frequented by numerous tourists in summer, it retains especially quiet sections.
This idyllic beach hidden on Isola dei Conigli, in the south of Sicily, is once again among the favorites of travelers (in the past it was No. 1 in the world). It is a virgin reserve of white sand bathed by crystal-clear waters that is accessed by a narrow path, where loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs. It does not have tourist infrastructure and its access is limited in order to avoid crowds. For this reason, it is recommended to make a reservation in advance.
The urban beach of the capital of Gipuzkoa, considered one of the most beautiful bays on the planet, is the third best in the world and in Europe in the Best of the Best. It extends for 1.5 kilometers where it is possible to walk, sunbathe or swim, or practice some type of sport. Flanked by the Igeldo and Urgull mountains and bordered by a century-old railing, it has become the great icon of San Sebastián. The image of the sunset, with the island of Santa Clara in the center, takes your breath away.
On the southern coast of Iceland – probably the most charming on the island – Reynisfjara emerges, the sandy area that last year was at the top of the European podium. This long, solitary beach of black sand, basalt columns and caves draws a spectacular landscape a short distance from the fishing village of Vik i Myrdal and the Sólheimajökull glacier. When looking at the image, more than one reader may find the image familiar. The reason is that it was once one of the locations of Game of Thrones.
Not only is it the fifth best of the Travelers’ Choice Beaches in Europe, but it also occupies 16th position in the global top 25, and with good reason. And this renowned urban and family-friendly beach in Las Palmas is frequented throughout the year by local bathers and tourists who take advantage of the pleasant temperatures of Gran Canaria. It extends three kilometers, from La Puntilla to the Alfredo Kraus auditorium, protected by a natural reef known as La Barra, a long rock formation that runs parallel to the shore and protects it from the tides. It has a lively promenade and has numerous services, with terraces and restaurants by the sea.
It is one of the best-known beaches in Crete, a land where, according to mythology, the gods turned into humans to enjoy a paradise of infinite beauty. Located on Cape Gramvousa, in the west of the island, it is a pink sandy area with turquoise waters that extends for several kilometers. Easy access and with all kinds of services, it is ideal for windsurfing. As a curiosity, at the end of the beach the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Falassarna remain standing, of which walls and towers from the 4th century BC are preserved. c.
The seventh best European beach in 2024 is located in Ayia Napa, a small town of just three thousand inhabitants in eastern Cyprus. It is, without a doubt, the best known in the country, not only for its beauty, but because in summer it is one of the most atmospheric corners, with the continued presence of international DJs. It extends about 500 meters surrounded by mountains and cliffs and, a short distance away, is the islet of Nissi, which is easily accessed at low tide, due to the shallow depth of the waters. Here you will find tranquility and it is possible to practice nudism.
Kefalonia is one of the quietest and most unexplored islands in the Ionian Sea and Myrtos, accordingly, is an Eden of peace. This semicircular beach of white sand flanked by a line of limestone cliffs surrounded by pine trees and pebbles draws a landscape of wild beauty. It is accessed via a winding path, but the prize is worth it. At one end, we find a small cave with its own beach. If you visit the area at dusk, you cannot miss the sunset, it is magical.
The good evaluation by users has placed this beach, a golden sandy area of ??almost three kilometers and with hardly any waves, among the best. Located in the Maspalomas Dunes natural reserve, it is ideal for families, as it has all kinds of services and spaces enabled for water sports. Among its innumerable attractions, the lighthouse stands out, which offers enviable sunsets; the dunes, which evoke the Sahara desert, and the pond, a paradise for birds.
Although Iceland is dotted with black sand beaches, this one stands out especially for its beauty. Black Sand Beach is actually the beach of the small town of Vík í Mýrdal and is located right around the cape cliff that juts out into the sea and separates it from the famous Reynijsfjara beach. The landscape of the beach that closes the top ten of the best in Europe is similar, but there are much fewer visitors here, although there is a small cafe and you can practice outdoor activities. Touring Iceland and missing it would be a big mistake.
