The ’10 best beaches across popular European holiday destinations’ have been named in a new study, and Nissi Beach in Cyprus takes the top spot, with a UK beach beating Corsica in the list.
Listing top beaches is a popular pastime – and now travel insurance company Quotezone has thrown its hat into the ring with this ranking. First, 10 strips of sand were picked for their popularity and location, then assessed on five factors – the average sea and air temperature in June, the number of five-star reviews, average daily costs and the height of the waves.Â
Each beach was scored out of 10 in these categories and then ranked based on an overall score out of 100.
The Ayia Napa beach that takes gold is ‘known for its sparkling turquoise waters, golden sands, and warm sea and air temperatures’, according to Quotezone.
It continued: ‘This ultimate beach destination has been awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness and offers a budget-friendly daily cost of €103 (£87), which includes all you’d need for a day trip such as meals, transport, and even overnight accommodation.
The ‘best beaches across popular European holiday destinations’ have been revealed, and Nissi Beach in Cyprus takes the top spot (pictured)Â
In second place is Mellieha Bay Beach in Malta (above), which offers ‘crystal-clear waters for snorkelling and swimming’Â
Portoroz Beach in Slovenia (pictured), a ‘hidden gem in Europe’, comes thirdÂ
In second place is Mellieha Bay Beach in Malta, which offers ‘crystal-clear waters for snorkelling and swimming’.
The research discovered it had an average sea temperature of 22.5 degrees Celsius, over 1,500 five-star Tripadvisor reviews, a daily cost of €117 (£126) and a small wave height of 0.13 metres.
Portoroz Beach in Slovenia, a ‘hidden gem in Europe’, comes third. ‘This destination made the top three due to its combination of low costs, warm temperatures, and gentle waves, making it a safer beach for young children,’ Quotezone said.
In fourth place is Elafonissi Beach in Crete. It received over 10,000 five-star Tripadvisor reviews, though visitors-in-waiting should note that the average daily cost is higher at €184 (£155).
Zlatni Rat in Croatia comes fifth, receiving a total of 1,378 top-rated Tripadvisor reviews and carrying an average daily cost of €96 (£80).
In fourth place is beautiful Elafonissi Beach in Crete (above)Â
Pictured is Croatia’s Zlatni Rat beach, which comes fifth in the ranking
La Pelosa beach in Sardinia ranks sixth on the list of best beachesÂ
La Pelosa Beach in Sardinia places sixth, in seventh place is Portugal’s Praia da Falesia beach in the Algarve, and in eighth is Playa de Maspalomas in Gran Canaria.
England’s Bournemouth Beach comes ninth.Â
Quotezone said: ‘While Bournemouth beach offers beautiful seaside views and a pier full of attractions for the whole family, due to England’s cold sea and air temperatures, the beach has ranked second to last.’
Plage de Palombaggia in Corsica, France, rounds out the top ten, with the travel experts noting that this is ‘largely due to its expensive food and hotel and transport expenses, costing travellers more than double compared to the cheapest destination, Slovenia’.
In seventh place is Portugal’s Praia da Falesia beach in the Algarve (above)Â
Playa de Maspalomas in Gran Canaria ranks eighth on the list (pictured)
Ninth-place Bournemouth Beach in England (above) offers ‘beautiful seaside views and a pier full of attractions’
Plage de Palombaggia, ‘an incredible looking beach’ in Corsica, France, ranks 10th on the list
| Beach ranking  | Average sea temp (June) | Number of 5-star reviews | Average temp in the hottest month | Average daily cost | Wave height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus | 24.4C | 4,334 | 30.5C | €103 (£86) | 0.25m |
| 2. Mellieha Bay Beach, Malta | 22.5C | 1,580 | 29.2C | €117 (£98) | 0.13m |
| 3. Portoroz Beach, Slovenia | 23C | 148 | 21.7C | €93 (£78) | 0.3m |
| 4. Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece | 22C | 10,499 | 25.6C | €184 (£154) | 1.05m |
| 5. Zlatni Rat, Croatia | 22C | 1,378 | 23.8C | €96 (£80) | 0.27m |
| 6. La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia  | 21.5C | 6,768 | 24.2C | €166 (£139) | 1.05m |
| 7. Praia da Falesia, Algarve, Portugal | 19C | 4,042 | 24.4C | €137 (£115) | 0.6m |
| 8. Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria | 21.3C | 4 ,971 | 24.6C | €151 (£127) | 1.06m |
| 9. Bournemouth Beach, England | 14.7C | 5,987 | 17.2C | €180 (£151) | 0.17m |
| 10. Plage de Palombaggia, Corsica, France | 21.8C | 3,394 | 22.8 | €233 (£196) | 0.48m |
Quotezone CEO Greg Wilson said: ‘Travellers seeking the perfect summer getaway will be searching for destinations where they can soak up the sun and relax on the beach without worrying about big waves and cold temperatures.
‘Our team looked at ten popular summer holiday destinations across Europe, ranking them on factors such as water and air temperatures, waves and 5-star reviews.
‘Another factor we took into consideration were the average daily costs in each destination, including meals, transport and hotels, as many families are looking for budget-friendly holidays that don’t break the bank.
‘Our 2024 European Beach Index revealed that Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, is the number one beach destination with excellent scores in every category.
‘Nissi Beach has been ranked above some of the other famously popular European holiday hotspots due to its warm sea and air temperatures, as well as being one of the most affordable in terms of daily expenses.
‘Plage de Palombaggia is an incredible-looking beach in Corsica, France. However, it comes last largely due to the expensive prices in the area.
‘We encourage those who are still planning their summer holidays to consider the hidden gems of Europe, including our top three beach destinations, Cyprus, Malta, and Slovenia.’
The independent study was conducted without authorisation from Tripadvisor.
