While the sparkling beaches in Malaga, St. Tropez and St. Ives are forever engraved as summer must-sees, they come with the cost of crowded shorelines, inflated pricing and the same backdrop for all of your mates’ Instagram stories.
This year, according to the travel booking platform Hellotickets, the real luxury is privacy. Just picture it: stretching out in the sun without bumping into your neighbour, who’s also just doing their best to catch some rays.
So, to help scout out the perfect, under-the-radar beach spots, Hellotickets just produced a list of the 10 best secluded stretches of coast to visit in Europe this summer.
Accessible only by boat, 4x4 or a long hike, Playa de Saleccia is located in the Agriates desert on Corsica’s northern coast, and tops Hellotickets’ list with its gleaming sand and hidden coves. Waters are transparent and warm (perfect for scuba diving), and space is vast enough to stretch out properly without being tutted. Just make sure to bring plenty of food, sunblock and beach equipment, as shade and facilities are hard to find.
Recommended: These are the best beaches in Europe, according to Time Out.
In sixth place is Seixal Beach in Madeira with its black sands and teal waters which are surrounded by lush, green cliffs. Seixal is not only a gateway to Portugal’s more secluded waters, but from there hiking trails through Laurissilva Forest are accessible, and you can gander past a hidden stone house which once used as a refuge during the Second World War. There are also shower facilities, kayak rentals and a lounge bar for when you need some refreshing.
For a little more action, try Greece’s Golden Beach in Paros. It offers a range of facilities like sunbed and umbrella rentals and scuba diving tours with Paros Diving Centre to explore the Panderonisi Cave. Feeling extra outgoing? Golden Beach is known for its optimal wind and kitesurfing conditions, and when the post-adventure hunger strikes, take a stroll past the restaurants dotted along the shore.
Europe’s secret beaches to escape this summer
- Playa de Saleccia, Corsica, France
- Playa Gulpiyuri, Asturias, Spain
- Praia da Marinha, Algarve, Portugal
- Cala Goloritzé, Sardinia, Italy
- Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece
- Maderia’s Seixal Beach, Madeira, Portugal
- Golden Beach, Paros, Greece
- Kleopatra Beach, Alanya, Türkiye
- Ramla Bay, Gozo, Malta
- Luskentyre Beach, Harris, Scotland
Check out Time Out’s roundup of the planets best beaches, and the most underrated places to visit in Europe.
Plus: The Italian island named the world’s most colourful destination.
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