A new study has named the “Top 10 Beaches Among Popular European Tourist Destinations” and Nissi Beach in Cyprus takes the top spot, with a UK beach beating Corsica to the top of the list.
Making lists of the best beaches is a popular pastime and now travel insurance company Quotezone has joined the cause with this ranking. First, 10 stretches of sand were chosen for their popularity and location, and then evaluated based on five factors: average sea and air temperature in June, number of five-star reviews, average daily costs and wave height.
Each beach was given a score out of 10 in these categories and then ranked according to an overall score out of 100.
Ayia Napa’s gold-digging beach is “known for its sparkling turquoise waters, golden sands and warm sea and air temperatures,” according to Quotezone.
He continued: ‘This quintessential beach destination has been awarded the Blue Flag for its cleanliness and offers a budget daily rate of €103 (£87), which includes everything you need for a day trip, including meals, transport and even accommodation.
The ‘best beaches in popular European holiday destinations’ have been revealed and Nissi Beach in Cyprus takes the top spot (pictured)
In second place is Mellieha Bay Beach in Malta (above), which offers “crystal clear waters for snorkelling and swimming”.
Portoroz beach in Slovenia (pictured), a “hidden gem in Europe”, is ranked third
In second place is Mellieha Bay Beach in Malta, which offers “crystal clear waters for snorkelling and swimming”.
The investigation found it had an average sea temperature of 22.5 degrees Celsius, more than 1,500 five-star reviews on Tripadvisor, a daily cost of €117 (£126) and a low wave height of 0.13 metres.
Slovenia’s Portoroz beach, a “hidden gem in Europe,” takes third place. “This destination made it into the top three thanks to its combination of low costs, warm temperatures and gentle waves, making it a safer beach for small children,” Quotezone said.
In fourth place is Elafonissi Beach in Crete, which has received more than 10,000 five-star reviews on Tripadvisor, although visitors hoping to visit should note that the average daily cost is higher at €184 (£155).
Zlatni Rat in Croatia comes in at number 5, with a total of 1,378 excellent reviews on Tripadvisor and an average daily cost of €96 (£80).
In fourth place is the beautiful Elafonissi beach in Crete (above)
The picture shows the Croatian beach Zlatni Rat, which is ranked fifth in the ranking.
La Pelosa beach in Sardinia is ranked sixth on the list of the best beaches
La Pelosa beach in Sardinia is in sixth place, in seventh place is Falesia beach in the Portuguese Algarve, and in eighth place is Maspalomas beach in Gran Canaria.
Bournemouth Beach in England is ranked ninth.
Quotation zone He said: ‘While Bournemouth beach offers beautiful sea views and a pier full of attractions for all the family, due to England’s cold sea and air temperatures, the beach comes second to last.’
Plage de Palombaggia in Corsica, France, rounds out the top ten, with travel experts noting that this is “largely due to its expensive food, hotel and transport costs, which cost travellers more than double compared to the cheapest destination, Slovenia.”
In seventh place is Praia da Falesia beach in the Algarve of Portugal (above)
Maspalomas Beach in Gran Canaria is ranked eighth on the list (pictured)
Bournemouth Beach, ranked ninth in England (above), offers “beautiful sea views and a pier full of attractions”
La Plage de Palombaggia, an incredible looking beach in Corsica, France, takes tenth place on the list
| Beach classification | Average sea temperature (June) | Number of 5 star reviews | Average temperature in the hottest month | Average daily cost | Wave height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus | 24.4 °C | 4.334 | 30.5 °C | 103 € (86 £) | 0.25 m |
| 2. Mellieha Bay Beach, Malta | 22.5 °C | 1,580 | 29.2 °C | 117 € (98 £) | 0.13 m |
| 3. Portoroz Beach, Slovenia | 23C | 148 | 21.7 °C | 93 € (78 £) | 0.3 million |
| 4. Elafonisi Beach, Crete, Greece | 22C | 10,499 | 25.6 °C | 184 € (154 £) | 1.05 m |
| 5. Zlatni Rat, Croatia | 22C | 1.378 | 23.8 °C | 96 € (80 £) | 0.27 million |
| 6. La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia | 21.5 °C | 6.768 | 24.2 °C | 166 € (139 £) | 1.05 m |
| 7. Praia da Falesia, Algarve, Portugal | XIX century | 4.042 | 24.4 °C | 137 € (115 £) | 0.6 m |
| 8. Maspalomas Beach, Gran Canaria | 21.3C | 4 ,971 | 24.6 °C | 151 € (127 £) | 1.06 m |
| 9. Bournemouth Beach, England | 14.7 °C | 5,987 | 17.2 °C | 180 € (151 £) | 0.17 million |
| 10. Plage de Palombaggia, Corsica, France | 21.8 °C | 3.394 | 22.8 | 233 € (196 £) | 0.48 m |
Greg Wilson, CEO of Quotezone, said: ‘Travellers looking for the perfect summer getaway will be looking for destinations where they can soak up the sun and relax on the beach without worrying about big waves and cold temperatures.
‘Our team analysed ten popular summer holiday destinations across Europe and ranked them based on factors such as water and air temperature, waves and 5-star reviews.
‘Another factor we took into consideration was the average daily costs at each destination, including meals, transportation and hotels, as many families are looking for budget-friendly vacations that won’t break the bank.
‘Our European Beach Index 2024 revealed that Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, is the number one beach destination with excellent scores across all categories.
‘Nissi Beach has been ranked above some of the other most popular European holiday spots due to its warm sea and air temperatures, as well as being one of the most affordable in terms of daily expenses.
‘The Plage de Palombaggia is an amazing looking beach in Corsica, France. However, it ranks last largely due to the high prices in the area.
‘We encourage those still planning their summer holidays to consider Europe’s hidden gems, including our top three beach destinations, Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia.’
The independent study was conducted without authorization from Tripadvisor.