The Top 10 Most Loved Beaches in Europe 2025:

1. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Italy

Google Maps Rating: 4.9
Number of Reviews: 2,967

Taking the top spot for 2025, Spiaggia dei Conigli (Rabbit Beach) on the island of Lampedusa, Italy, is renowned for its pristine white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters. This stunning beach is often hailed as one of the most beautiful in the world, offering a truly idyllic escape. Its protected status as a nature reserve, famous for loggerhead sea turtle nesting, adds to its untouched allure, making it a perfect spot for nature lovers and those seeking tranquility.

2. Barafundle Bay Beach, Pembrokeshire, UK

Google Maps Rating: 4.9
Number of Reviews: 1,668

Barafundle Bay Beach, nestled in the Pembrokeshire region of the UK, is a hidden gem that captures the essence of untouched beauty. Often described as a “hidden jewel,” this beach features golden sands backed by dunes and pine trees, accessible only by a half-mile walk from the nearest car park. Its seclusion and unspoiled landscape make it a perfect retreat for those seeking tranquility away from the bustling crowds.

3. Traeth Mwnt, Ceredigion, UK

Google Maps Rating: 4.9
Number of Reviews: 722

Traeth Mwnt, another Welsh wonder, is situated in Ceredigion. This charming beach is known for its white sands and the iconic Mwnt Church overlooking the bay. The scenic coastal paths offer spectacular views, making it a favorite spot for hikers and wildlife enthusiasts. Whether you’re interested in exploring the local heritage or simply soaking up the sun, Traeth Mwnt promises an unforgettable experience.

4. Woolacombe Beach, Devon, UK

Google Maps Rating: 4.8
Number of Reviews: 32,006

Woolacombe Beach in Devon, UK, stands out with an impressive number of reviews, indicating its widespread popularity. This expansive sandy beach is a favorite among families and surfers alike, offering miles of golden sand and excellent waves. Its vibrant atmosphere, coupled with numerous amenities and stunning coastal views, makes it a top choice for a lively beach experience.

5. Dunraven Bay, Glamorgan, UK 

Google Maps Rating: 4.8
Number of Reviews: 18,412

Dunraven Bay is located in Glamorgan and is a picturesque spot known for its unique geology and dramatic cliffs. This beautiful bay offers a mix of sandy and rocky areas, with fascinating rock pools to explore at low tide. It’s a popular destination for fossil hunting and coastal walks, providing a rich natural experience for visitors.

6. Cala Mariolu, Sardinia, Italy

Google Maps Rating: 4.8
Number of Reviews: 5,597

Cala Mariolu in Sardinia, Italy, is a true Mediterranean beauty. Accessible primarily by boat, its isolation contributes to its pristine beauty, featuring a mix of tiny white pebbles and crystal-clear, intensely turquoise waters that shift to emerald green. The towering limestone cliffs that frame the cove create a dramatic backdrop, making it a paradise for snorkellers, divers, and those seeking an unspoiled and breathtaking natural escape.

7. Playa de Cofete, Canarias, Spain

Google Maps Rating: 4.8
Number of Reviews: 4,746

Playa de Cofete, located on the wild and rugged Jandía peninsula of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, is a beach of immense scale and raw beauty. This vast, seemingly endless stretch of golden sand is backed by the imposing, desolate mountains of Cofete, creating a dramatic and almost otherworldly landscape. Its remote location, often requiring a challenging drive, adds to its untamed allure, appealing to adventurers and those seeking solitude amidst a truly magnificent natural setting.

8. Simos Beach, Attica region, Greece

Google Maps Rating: 4.8
Number of Reviews: 4,552

Simos Beach, on the small island of Elafonisos in the Attica region of Greece, is renowned for its mesmerising dual bays and fine, golden sand. Its shallow, iridescent turquoise waters are incredibly inviting, making it a favorite for families and those who love to wade and relax in  clear seas. Backed by juniper trees and offering stunning views of the surrounding Peloponnesian coastline, Simos Beach embodies the quintessential Greek island paradise.

9. Praia da Adraga, Lisbon Region, Portugal

Google Maps Rating: 4.8
Number of Reviews: 2,585

Praia da Adraga is situated on the dramatic coastline of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park near Lisbon, Portugal. It’s a wild and captivating beach famed for its striking rock formations and powerful Atlantic waves. Enclosed by rugged cliffs and featuring golden sands, it offers a dramatic and picturesque setting that appeals to photographers and those who appreciate raw natural beauty. Despite its somewhat secluded feel, it is home to a renowned seafood restaurant, adding a culinary draw to its stunning vistas.

10. Playa de Mataleñas, Cantabria, Spain

Google Maps Rating: 4.8
Number of Reviews: 2,421

Playa de Mataleñas, a charming cove beach in Cantabria, offers a picturesque escape within easy reach of Santander. Tucked between cliffs and the lush fairways of a golf course, this golden sand beach is characterised by its tranquil atmosphere and stunning natural surroundings. Its sheltered position provides calm waters ideal for swimming, making it a local favorite for those seeking a peaceful and scenic spot to enjoy the Bay of Biscay.

Methodology

We created a dataset of beaches in Europe by analysing the Google Maps database for the term “beach” in all of Europe’s coastal provinces. From the 9500+ results, we filtered out all results that were not beaches. We then took the Google Maps user rating (out of 5 stars) for each beach and created a ranking based on the top-rated beaches, prioritising those with the most reviews. Beaches with less than 100 ratings were not included, as the average rating for such beaches can be interpreted as unreliable or irrelevant. The data for this 2025 ranking was collected in May 2025.

The Best Beaches for 2022 in…

Best Beaches on the Cape Cod

Cape Cod is known as a summer hotspot and home to some of the most stunning beaches. So lay back in your ​​Adirondack chair and let this list will take you on a journey through sandy shores, remote dunes, and sprawling coastlines. Start creating your perfect summer bucket list now with Holidu’s top 10 best Cape Cod and Nantucket beaches to help start your planning!

1. Ballston Beach – 110 reviews – average rating: 4.9

Ballston Beach is an ocean side beach, located in the relaxing town of Truro, Massachusetts. Its crisp ocean salt water is sure to keep you cool even on the hottest of days. Most known for its iconic sand dunes, and being the muse of Edward Hopper Truro paintings, it makes it the ideal first stop to dive into your summer holiday. With an average rating of 4.9 on Google and a total of 110 reviews, Ballston Beach takes first prize in this ranking and should be at the top of everyone’s bucket list for summer 2022.

2. Nauset Beach – 1,152 reviews – average rating: 4.8

You’ll want to gab your swimsuit and boogie board for this next one. Located in Orleans, Massachusetts, on the ocean side, Nauset Beach comes in with a whopping 1,152 reviews and an average rating of 4.8. Known as a popular place for swimming and boogie boarding due to its waves, you won’t want to miss this beach gem.

3. Coast Guard Beach – 842 reviews – average rating: 4.8

Located in Eastham, Massachusetts, Coast Guard Beach is a part of Cape Cod’s National Seashore. Coming in at an average rating of 4.8 with 842 reviews, it is hard to not love Coast Guard Beach. During low tide it is a popular destination for skimboarding, although boogie boarding and surfing are also popular at this beach. Fall under the spell of Coast Guard Beach’s natural beauty and charm and make it the next stop for your summer escape.

4. Herring Cove Beach – 813 reviews – average rating: 4.8

As one of the largest beaches in Provincetown, Herring Cove Beach is a bayside beach known for its calm and warmer waters. Herring Cove is the only Cape Cod National Seashore beach on the bay side of Cape Cod. It is also closer to the downtown area, generally making it more accessible than, the also beautiful, Race Point Beach. With an average rating of 4.8 on Google and a total of 813 reviews, Ballston Beach is a can’t miss on your Cape Cod beaches bucket list for summer.

5. Marconi Beach – 574 reviews – average rating: 4.8

Located in ​​Wellfleet, Massachusetts, Marconi Beach is a picturesque Cape Cod National Seashore beach on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Cape. This beach not only offers refreshing cool water and warm sand, but also activities like hiking and bike paths! With an average rating of 4.8 on Google and a total of 574 reviews, relax and spend the say at this bucket list worth beach!

The Best Beaches in Nantucket

1. Madaket Beach – 142 reviews – average rating: 4.8

With an average rating of 4.8 on Google and a total of 142 reviews, Madaket Beach takes first prize in this ranking and should be at the top of everyone’s bucket list for 2022. Madaket Beach is located near Smith Point on Nantucket. With its crisp water and rustic sand, it is easy to see why this beach is at the top of our list. Take a lovely stroll down the beach dotted with quaint cottages. Madaket Beach is also known as a sunset watching hotspot, you aren’t going to want to miss this stunning backdrop for your next summer trip to Nantucket.

The Best Beaches in the UK (2022)

The Best Beaches in Wales (2022)

1. Barafundle Bay Beach, Pembrokeshire – 1388 reviews – average rating: 4.9

Barafundle Bay is dubbed as one of the best places in Wales to go to if you fancy some open water swimming this summer. This ‘Jewel in the Crown’ is found in a secluded cove which means that the waves aren’t so strong so it’s perfect for less confident swimmers looking for a safer environment to cool down in this year. This gem is only accessible on foot which only adds to the secluded charm.

The Best Beaches in Scotland (2022)

1. St Ninian’s Beach, Shetland Islands – 290 reviews – average rating: 4.9

Scotland’s best-rated beach this year is actually located north of the mainland in the Shetland Islands! St Ninian’s Beach is located on the west coast of the island and links the south mainland with the Isle of St Ninian’s. Visitors to this picture can enjoy an array of watersports, including kayaking, canoeing, snorkelling, sailing and windsurfing. The beach is also dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friend along too!

The Best Beaches in England (2022)

1. Bossiney Cove, Cornwall – 152 reviews – average rating: 4.9

England’s most beautiful beach for this year is Bossiney Cove in Cornwall. This is a beautiful secluded beach that is nestled in a picturesque cove. This is the perfect beach for anyone looking to spend some time swimming in the sea as it is home to a reef along the western edge of the sands, providing a wonderful marine environment for snorkelling.

Methodology

The study was conducted using the Google Maps database and searching for the word “beach” in Cape Cod, Massachusetts for the US ranking and all regions in the UK for the British one. The results were then manually filtered to exclude any results that were not beaches. The lists were then used to compile rankings based on the beaches with the best average rating, giving priority to those with the most reviews. Beaches with less than 100 reviews were not considered. In the UK section, no Northern Irish beaches are mentioned as they did not feature in the top 50 list.