Top Beach Cities in Europe for Your Next Vacation
Some travelers want to have it all—rich cultural experiences, fine dining, upscale shopping—and lazy hours spent sunning, swimming, or strolling along the beach. Many of Europe’s finest cities aren’t just popular for their art museums or nightlife scenes; they’re also home to some of the most beautiful beaches on Earth. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe, sharing their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities based on their attractions, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and overall value. We took a close look at the European cities travelers love most and found that many of them feature knockout beaches. Of Barcelona, one reader said: “It has everything you could want in a city—plus a gorgeous beach.” Other readers agreed, hailing the Spanish city’s “fantastic mix of city, history, and beaches.” Even Dublin, known for its breweries and cobblestoned streets, was celebrated for its “friendly people, amazing culture, beaches, shopping, and fantastic food.” Although Ireland may not be renowned for sunbathing weather, its rugged coastline is just as beautiful as the better-known urban beaches of Rio de Janeiro or Sydney. From the balmy, turquoise waters of the Mediterranean to the frothy waves of the Atlantic, here are the favorite European beach cities according to GoTravelDaily readers.
16. Nice, France
Join locals for summer on the French Riviera—also known as the Côte d’Azur. Favorites include the year-round Plage Beau Rivage and Blue Beach.
15. Split, Croatia
The medieval port city’s mild weather is ideal for those interested in sailing, with easily accessible quiet, isolated beaches located on the islands scattered around the Dalmatian Coast.
14. Tallinn, Estonia
Charming Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, features beautiful beaches that are gradually washed by the warm waters of the shallow Baltic Sea. Visit in June for 24 hours of sunshine and pleasant temperatures.
13. Copenhagen, Denmark
Travelers enjoyed biking along the sandy beaches and waterfront parks in Copenhagen.
12. Trieste, Italy
Could this be the next Portofino? This buzzworthy Italian city on the edge of the Adriatic offers an impossibly blue bay lined with beaches.
11. Dubrovnik, Croatia
One of the best beaches in all of Croatia, Dubrovnik’s popular Banje Beach is close to the city’s Old Town and boasts plenty of beach clubs.
10. Bodrum, Turkey
“Beaches are great,” said one GoTravelDaily reader. “It’s the cleanest part of the Mediterranean, and people are friendly.”
9. Galway, Ireland
The best way to experience County Galway’s distinctly Irish, wild coastline? Spend a weekend at the cozy Dolphin Beach House.
8. Bruges, Belgium
Europeans have long known that Belgium’s ample coast is a beautiful—and convenient—beach destination. Bruges is only 15 minutes (by public transport) from the popular resort town of Ostend.
7. Porto, Portugal
For a quintessential, sandy beach day, head to the nearby beaches of Praia de Matosinhos or Praia do Ourigo.
6. Dublin, Ireland
Yes, Dublin has beautiful beaches. Skip crowded Sandycove and head instead to Tower Bay Beach, just 30 minutes north of Dublin City.
5. Lisbon, Portugal
Heading to Lisbon’s beaches? One reader recommended the “lovely beaches” of Cascais—a wealthy coastal town in the suburbs of Lisbon.
4. Venice, Italy
If you’ve maxed out on museums and piazzas, spend an afternoon at Lido Beach. Visitors can take a vaporetto to this seven-mile island in the Venetian Lagoon. Do it right with a negroni in hand.
3. Istanbul, Turkey
Whether you stay in the city or venture to one of the nearby islands, Istanbul’s upscale beaches provide a perfect place to cool down on a hot summer day.
2. San Sebastian, Spain
“The beauty of the city and its location make San Sebastian a wonderful tourist destination,” raved a reader. “You can spend hours just strolling the streets window shopping or walk along the various beaches for a different vibe.”
1. Barcelona, Spain
With magnificent beaches, mountains, history, spectacular architecture, and wonderful food, a reader claimed this is the best of Spain’s cities and, according to the vote, the best beach city in Europe.
