As long as possible. As much sand as possible. These two features make many beach vacationers rave. We looked around Europe and found wonderful sandy beaches with astonishing dimensions.
There are many answers to the question of your personal dream beach. But there are usually two characteristics: fine sand and spacious. We present the most beautiful of this kind. Sandy beaches that invite you to swim, sunbathe, relax, play beach volleyball, do water sports, ride a horse or go for a walk. And which, simply because of their enormous size, convey feelings of freedom, peace, romance and endless love of life.
When Germany looks for the super sandy beach, names like the west coast of Sylt or the twelve kilometer long North Sea beach of St. Peter-Ording come up. However, the winner is the island of Usedom, located in the southern Baltic Sea. Because it is surrounded by the longest sandy beach in the country: 42 kilometers! If you want to see the entire beach in one day, you have to complete the distance of a marathon.
If that’s too strenuous, there are plenty of reasons to settle down somewhere on the fine, white sand, perhaps even in a beach chair, to enjoy the sun and the sound of the sea. From a purely statistical perspective, Usedom is the place with the most hours of sunshine in the republic. According to the German Weather Service, this should be 1,900 per year. And there’s more good news: at its widest parts, the beach is 70 meters – enough space to develop freely.
Admittedly, Denmark is not the classic bathing destination. But it could become more popular as a result of global warming and the search for places with pleasant temperatures. After all, almost half of the country surrounded by the North and Baltic Seas consists of islands. One of these, on Falster near the village of Marielyst, is also home to the country’s longest sandy beach, 20 kilometers long.
With its shallow, calm waters, white dunes and numerous sandbanks, it is perfect for families. And everyone who seeks privacy while basking in the sun and splashing around in the refreshing Baltic Sea water. However, Marielyst is no longer considered an insider tip, as it has already been voted the best beach in Denmark several times.
The competition for eternally long sandy beaches is great in the Netherlands: the sandy beach in the west of the island of Texel and the 17 kilometer long beach on the island of Schouwen-Duiveland in the south are considered to be one of the most extensive. In order not to just mention island beaches, we dedicate ourselves here to the coastal town and spa Noordwijk. It is located in the middle of the flower bulb growing region between Amsterdam and The Hague and is considered one of the coolest beach locations.
The sandy beach, which is 13 kilometers long and has a mix of light golden yellow and delicate pink, is home to casual boho-style beach clubs. With unconventional beach pavilions and the Blue Flag, the seal of quality for clean and safe beaches. Swimmers, kite surfers, riders, joggers, children and sandcastle builders can let off steam here to their heart’s content. If you like it quieter, chill out in one of the lounges in the beach club, sip a cocktail at sunset and enjoy the lightness of being.
French Atlantic coast, most people think of Normandy and Brittany. A little further south is the Côte d’Argent on the Bay of Biscay, in the southwest of France. To be more precise: 250 kilometers of unspoiled sandy beaches between Soulac-sur-Mer in the north and the surfing stronghold of Hossegor in the south. The name Silver Coast already reveals what is on offer here: sand that is so light and so fine that it shimmers silvery. In dune format, with lots and lots of space. Surrounded by pine forests and oyster farms.
The Plage Le Porge-Océan, which is located near Bordeaux, is considered one of the most beautiful and longest. 14 kilometers of natural dune landscape and wildness on the Atlantic. However, since it also has large waves and dangerous currents, caution is advised when swimming. If you don’t want to deal with the untamed nature, drive a few kilometers south to the magical coastal town of Arcachon. It lies in a huge, protected bay and amazed Empress Sissi with its miles of silvery-white sandy beaches. Like the quiet Pereire beach, which is three kilometers long and 100 meters wide and flows seamlessly into Le Moulleau Beach, where young people like to party. From here you can walk along the beach to the Dune de Pilat, the largest shifting dune in Europe.
Just naming a beach would be a sin in Spain. After all, the land of King Felipe VI. with the Canary Islands offering year-round beach destinations. With Mallorca via the Germans’ favorite holiday island and also on the mainland via countless beach paradises. Let’s start with the beach island par excellence: Fuerteventura. The second largest and easternmost of the Canary Islands boasts almost 150 kilometers of wide, bright sandy beaches. The Morro Jable near the fishing village of the same name in the south is considered one of the longest – 17 kilometers of sand and wind.
Perfect for beach walkers, windsurfers and kitesurfers. On Mallorca, the unspoilt Playa de Muro in the northeast takes the beach crown. It is six kilometers long, known for its white sand dunes and its location directly in front of the Albufera nature park and bird sanctuary. On the Spanish mainland, the Playa de Mazagón in Andalusia stands out. With a length of 13 kilometers, fine sand and many dunes on the Atlantic, this beach meets all the requirements of a superlative sandbox. This also includes an extraordinary silence that stretches from the Coto de Doñana National Park to the coastal city of Huelva.
For once it’s not the Algarve: the Alentejo coast with its 44 Atlantic beaches begins just under an hour from Lisbon. White sand and dune landscapes, some in natural parks, invite you to hikes, bike tours, surfing and horseback riding.
Almost 50 kilometers of the finest sandy beach stretches from the Tróia peninsula to Sines. The only difficulty here is finding access to the undeveloped coast – the endless sand dunes on the Atlantic are so remote and lonely. Overtourism is still a foreign word on the Alentejo coast.
Bibione or Jesolo? The two seaside resorts on the Italian Adriatic coast in the Veneto region have been very popular with German beach holidaymakers since the 1950s. The extensive beach of Bibione is 800 meters long and around 300 meters wide. However, it is topped by the beach of Jesolo, which is a little further towards Venice.
It is 15 kilometers long and its fine, golden sand is lined with colorful parasols and deck chairs, as well as white bathing huts for changing. In high season, the centerpiece, the Lido di Jesolo, is particularly busy. But that’s part of the typical, lively Jesolo feeling. The focus here is on child- and family-friendly vacations, which is why the beach areas are well supervised and there is a wide range of activities on offer.
Rock, stone, gravel – this is what most beaches in Croatia are made of. But there are also a few sandy beaches. Small but nice. Like the difficult-to-pronounce Kraljičina Plaža, just north of Zadar near the town of Nin. Translated, it is called Queen’s Beach, which also fits with its scenic beauty.
Three kilometers of fine sand, clear water and an impressive view of the Velebit Mountains. It also proudly calls itself the longest sandy beach in the country. And the area has something else special to offer: healing mud, which is said to help with skin diseases and rheumatic diseases. And ensures a very special beach experience.
There are many record-breaking beaches in the country of origin of Olympia. On the largest island of Crete, Georgioupolis Beach holds the title of the longest sandy beach. It stretches for ten kilometers on the northwest coast, between the cities of Chania and Rethymnon. Only a few rocky outcrops interrupt the sand, whose delicate yellow tones form a wonderful contrast to the azure sea.
The western end of the beach is in the town of Georgioupolis, opposite the small chapel of Agios Nikolaos, which seems to float above the water. What hovers over the entire beach is this priceless feeling of being almost alone on the big island.
