‘If Mars had a beach, it would look like this’: Europe’s greatest beaches, according to Time Out

The Earth is full of beautiful landscapes, but some are so mystifying, so incomprehensibly gorgeous that you’ll marvel and think: ‘is this even on Earth?’

That’s certainly how it feels walking along Praia da Falésia, a 6km stretch on Portugal’s craggy Algarve coast, which has just been named Europe’s best beach in Time Out’s ranking. 

‘If Mars had a beach, it would look like Praia da Falésia at sunset,’ writes Time Out’s travel editor Grace Beard. ‘I spent two weeks beach-hopping Portugal’s Algarve and it became a ritual to end each day with a stroll on this stretch of sand, which in certain lights took on the same orangey-red shade as the limestone cliffs that run behind it.’

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And it is striking, though beauty isn’t the only thing this beach has going for it. Portugal’s Atlantic shores make it great for watersports, and you’ll find people kayaking, paddle boarding, as well as surfing and parasailing on windier days. 

There’s also so much space that even at the height of summer, you won’t struggle with finding somewhere to sunbathe. What's more, not too far away are Vilamoura marina, as well as some sweet bars and restaurants. 

Ranking second place on our list is Isola Bella in Taormina, Sicily, named after a tiny green eponymous islet which is peppered with half-hidden grottoes and follies. Rounding off the Top 3 is St Paul’s Bay in Rhodes, one of the absolute prettiest spots along Greece’s 13,600 kilometres of coastline. 

🏖️ Have a read of Time Out’s list of Europe’s very best beaches. 

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