New research has crowned Europe’s BEST-rated beaches that are a must-visit for 2026, with locations in Portugal, Greece, France, and Spain topping the ranking.
The study, conducted by the airport transfers experts at hoppa, analyzed dozens of European getaways, scoring each on factors such as airport-to-beach transfer time, average 3-star hotel cost, and Google review scores to determine Europe’s best beaches to visit for summer 2026.
You can view the full research here.
Europe’s best-rated beaches, according to reviews:
| Beach | Location | Google review score /5 | |
| Praia da Falésia | Algarve, Portugal | 4.7 | |
| Platja de Muro | The Spanish island of Majorca | 4.7 | |
| Myrtos Beach | Kefalonia, Greece | 4.7 | |
| Plage de la Promenade des Anglais | Nice, France | 4.7 | |
| Playa de Poniente | Benidorm, Spain | 4.7 |
Praia da Falésia is a popular long, sandy beach stretching over 8km along the central Algarve coast in Portugal. One of the finest beaches in the region, with its golden sand backed by distinctive orange and white clay cliffs. This beach also ranks 4th overall in the study for being the easiest to reach for travellers.
Platja de Muro is located on the island of Majorca and is popular for its shallow turquoise waters, fine sand, and dreamy sunsets. This beach is incredibly family-friendly, offering top-tier amenities and is partly backed by the scenic S’Albufera Natural Park. Looking at the wider study, this beach also ranks second in Google searches, further proving its popularity.
Myrtos Beach is the most famous beach on the northwest coast of Kefalonia, Greece, popular for its milky blue waters and white pebbles, often seen on magazine covers and postcards, and has been repeatedly awarded for its cleanliness and natural beauty.
Plage de la Promenade des Anglais is a 7km-long palm-lined pebble beach in Nice, France, with a mix of public and glamorous private sections leased to popular beach clubs and restaurants. The beach is known for its lively atmosphere, turquoise waters, and vibrant city life, and it has the fifth-fastest airport-to-beach transfer time in the study.
Playa de Poniente is located in Benidorm, Spain and is the city’s largest beach, offering a quieter alternative to nearby crowded areas. The beach is popular among Spanish and international holidaymakers for its cleanliness, wide expanse of sand, and welcoming Mediterranean sea.
The study also revealed:
- Portugal’s Praia de Faro ranks as Europe’s easiest beach getaway, with a transfer time of just five minutes — seven times faster than the 35-minute average.
- Nissi Beach records the warmest summer temperatures of any beach analysed at 28°C and is one of the driest, with virtually no rainfall across the season.
- Faliraki Beach in Rhodes has the most affordable accommodation, with nearby three-star hotels averaging just £36 per night.
