Whether you want to relax on the warm, golden sands, swim in the azure, blue waters or build sandcastles with your children, Europe’s best beaches will have you coming back for more.

Praia Da Cova Redonda Beach, Portugal

Idyllically located on the South coast of Portugal, the Redondo Beach is popular for its golden sun-kissed sands and calm blue waters. The beach is known for the ragged and fantastic rock formations and thick vegetation of pine trees. You can enjoy a ride on glass bottom boats and relish the delicious grilled fish and seafood.

Other interesting activities include surfing and a dazzling array of cafes, bars and restaurants along the water’s edge. It takes about 5 hours and 15 minutes to travel by bus/train from Lisbon to Praia Da Cova. The fare varies from £10 to £20 depending on the service.

Calo Des Moro Beach, Spain

The Calo des Moro Beach is located in the South East of Mallorca, about 6 kilometres from Santanyi. Visitors love the beach for its blue, clear waters and gently sloping sands. The Calo des Moro is particularly suitable for children because of its shallow waters and is also known for its excellent snorkelling and surfing. The beach is surrounded by picturesque cliffs but you need to carry your own food as there are no restaurants nearby.

The best time to visit Calo des Moro is during spring and autumn as it gets extremely crowded during summers.

Myrtos Beach, Greece

Myrtos is one of the best beaches of Greece and is located on the Ionian Island of Kefalonia. The beach is surrounded by steep limestone cliffs and is about 1.5 miles in length. The beach stretches in a semicircular shape and its spectacular setting makes it one of the most featured European beaches in travel magazines.

The beach is relatively unspoilt and offers umbrellas, sundecks and tall, iced drinks. There are no water sports available except swimming. Myrtos is especially known for its unique sunsets. There are several daily flights from Athens to Kefalonia and direct ones from UK to Kefalonia too.

Isolla Bella Beach, Sicily

Isolla Bella Beach is located in Sicily, near a small town known as Taormina in Southern Italy. The beach is known for its spectacular views, grottos and coves. There are several luxurious resorts near the beach. Taormina Island is home to several species of exotic birds. Children above the age of 6 enjoy exploring the various corners of the fascinating beach. Isolla Bella beach is known for excellent sunbathing and swimming.

Cala Mariolu, Italy

The incredibly picturesque Cala Mariolu beach overlooks the blue waters of the Gulf of Orosei. The beach gets its quirky name from the monk seal that stole the fish from nets. The waters are endowed with eye-catching hues from the sunlight that penetrates the clear waters. The beach is accessible by boat or bus services from nearby islands of Santa Maria, Arbatax and Cala Gonone.

The calm, shallow waters make this an ideal beach for children and families. Other interesting activities include snorkelling, scuba diving, hiking and boating.

Zlatni Rat, Croatia

The Zlatni Rat is also known as the Golden Horn and is one of Croatia’s most popular beaches. The beach changes its shape depending on the direction of wind and water currents. Zlatni Rat is situated on the Croatian Island of Brac and is known for wind surfing, kite surfing and sailing thanks to the strong winds that blow over this part of Brac. The beach is easily accessible by road from the nearby town of Bol (Bol is just 2 km away).

Sopot Beach, Poland

This vast expanse of appealing beach area overlooks the Bay of Gdansk in Poland. This Baltic spa town was once the playground of Prussian aristocracy and currently houses numerous pubs, cafes, restaurants and resorts. Sopot also has several wooden walks (including the longest pier in the world), cycling paths and promenades. For those looking for some fun, Sopot has a thriving nightlife with all-night discos and bars dotting the seafront.

If you want to plan a beach holiday which offers you a taste of paradise, you don’t have to travel to the Caribbean resorts. There are numerous European beaches closer to home to choose from. What European beach would you recommend? Leave your recommendation in the comments below!