Sian Lewis

Whether you’re an avid sunbather, sandcastle builder, swimmer or stroller, there are plenty of things that go into making a truly great beach. But thankfully, you don’t need to venture all the way to the Caribbean for brilliantly white shores, or all the way up into the mountains for some seriously dramatic landscapes. From the black sand of Iceland and the rugged coasts of Norway to the white sand of Croatia and tiny coves of Italy, Europe’s got us covered for brilliant beaches. Grab your sunnies, your beach towel, your bucket and spade – here’s our roundup of the continent's very best beaches. ➡️ READ MORE: Europe’s most underrated beaches🔔 BOOK NOW: Our ultimate guide to hotels in Europe Ella Doyle is Time Out’s Europe editor. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by locals and experts across Europe. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.