Many of them receive visitors throughout the year, but it is during the summer season when they gather the most fans. We are talking about the best beaches in both Spain and Europe, among which a good number of Canarian beaches stand out, especially in Fuerteventura, as well as Italian and British beaches. Among the Spanish beaches, Cofete Beach in Fuerteventura stands out in the first place for its wild character and its privileged climate, which allows enjoyment all year round.
Mataleñas Beach in Cantabria, Sotavento de Jandía in Fuerteventura, and Gandía in the Valencian Community continue the list of destinations selected by Holidu, the vacation rental search engine, which has analyzed Google Maps data to compile a list of the best-rated beaches in Europe for this year.
The ranking is based on thousands of traveler opinions and ratings, highlighting destinations that offer not only natural beauty but also memorable experiences. From the rugged coasts of the United Kingdom to the pristine beaches of Greece and Spain, these places are famous not only for their crystal-clear waters but also for the satisfaction they provide to visitors, becoming havens of tranquility and fun.
3. Sotavento de Jandía (Fuerteventura).
6. Risco del Paso (Fuerteventura).
7. La Concha (Isla de Lobos, Fuerteventura).
8. Barnejo-Berrellín (Cantabria).
For the study conducted in May, the term "beach" was used in all coastal provinces of Europe. Out of the more than 9,500 original results, all non-beach locations were filtered out, creating a ranking based on the best-rated by users, giving priority to those with more reviews. Those with fewer than 100 reviews were not included, as below this number, it could be seen as unreliable or irrelevant.
Thus, the ranking of Spanish beaches is led by the aforementioned Cofete Beach, where the waves of the Atlantic merge with a vast expanse of golden dunes. With a rating of 4.8 on Google Maps and over 4,700 visitor reviews, it is the perfect retreat. Next come Mataleñas Beach in Cantabria, a living picture of the Green Coast that stands out for the quality of its waters and the tranquility of the place, reflected in its also 4.8-star high rating, the same score obtained by Sotavento de Jandía (Fuerteventura), with 2,301 reviews.
Following are Gandía Beach (Valencia) and Corralejo (another one in Fuerteventura). The golden sand of the former, combined with the calm waters of the Mediterranean in this area, and the scenic beauty of the latter have been enough to make it into the ranking.
1. Playa de los Conejos (Lampedusa, Italy).
2. Barafundle Bay Beach (Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom).
3. Traeth Mwnt (Ceredigion, United Kingdom).
4. Woolacombe Beach (Devon, United Kingdom).
5. Dunraven Bay (Glamorgan, United Kingdom).
6. Cala Mariolu (Sardinia, Italy).
8. Simos Beach (Attica, Greece).
As for the overall European list, only two of the aforementioned national beaches, Cofete Beach in Fuerteventura and Mataleñas Beach in Cantabria, appear in it, ranking seventh in the top ten. The top five places are for Playa de los Conejos (Lampedusa, Italy) and four British beaches: Barafundle Bay Beach, Traeth Mwnt, Woolacombe Beach, and Dunraven Bay.
The sixth position is held by Cala Mariolu in the Italian island of Sardinia, while at the bottom of the list are Simos Beach (Attica, Greece) and Adraga (Lisbon region, Portugal) along with Mataleñas Beach in Cantabria.