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From the gale-battered shores of Ireland to the paradisical golden coasts in southern Spain, Europe’s beaches boast a whole load of variety.
However, one destination has consistently topped rankings of the loveliest beaches in the continent, and thanks to routinely accruing the highest volume of what Tripadvisor dubs ‘above-and-beyond’ reviews, it’s this year’s winner of the Travellers’ Choice Awards. Which one, we hear you ask? It’s Elafonissi Beach in Crete.
Wrapped around the island’s southwestern corner, this beach is known for its dream-like appearance where cyan sea laps against expansive shores of pink-hued sand. The phenomenon is caused by crushed seashells and deposits of red-pigmented microorganisms, which originated on coral reefs, that have been dropped off by the tide and mixed with the white sand.
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You can either align your visit with low tide to watch the isthmus emerge and connect Crete with Elafonissi Islet, or wade through knee-deep water to reach it and enjoy its more secluded coves. Either way, we’d recommend visiting in off-peak season, as word has certainly spread about this beach’s beauty.
Stunning, right? Elafonissi Beach was actually named as the best beach not just in Europe but the world in 2025, but this year that global title was instead awarded to Isla Pasion in Mexico. Crete fared well in the 2026 ranking, though, with three beaches claiming a spot in the top 10 – scroll on to find out which.
The 10 best beaches in Europe, according to Tripadvisor
- Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece
- Balos Lagoon, Crete, Greece
- Praia da Falésia, Olhos de Água, Portugal
- La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia, Italy
- Falassarna Beach, Crete, Greece
- Platja De Muro, Majorca, Spain
- Paleokastritsa Beach, Corfu, Greece
- Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Italy
- Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain
- Plage de Palombaggia, Porto-Vecchio, France
🏖️ Have a read of Time Out’s list of Europe’s very best beaches.
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