Just in time for Spring, TripAdvisor has named the top 25 beaches in Europe for 2015 in the Traveler’s Choice Awards. With Spring having sprung just in the nick of time, what better information do those with cabin fever over the winter need? Here’s a look at some fantastic beaches to start warming up at in April.
Rabbit Beach On Sicily
With golden sands and typical crystal blue waters, Rabbit Beach has a lot to offer under the sun, and in the moonlight. Snorkling, sunbathing, and water sports are on the list, of course, but there’s more. Located on the Island of Lampedusa just underneath Sicily, and very close to Tunisia, it’s actually been a playground for the likes of the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs too. The island is also famous for it’s Loggerhead Sea Turtle’s, the endangered species that lays eggs here. Isola dei Conigli (Island of Rabbits), is a rocky natural paradise where the real treasure may well be the locals. The 4500 (plus or minus) inhabitants are Italian, but islanders through and through too. One story goes the whole Island tried to surrender to a crash landed RAF pilot in WW II. Rumors today, resound of the same super friendly inhabitants greeting visitors. Maybe this is why Rabbit out did other Europe beaches?
Playa de Ses Illetes – Balearic Islands
Fancy yachts offshore, magnificent views, and the endless sea on the horizon make this lesser known beach paradise a charm on the Mediterranean island bracelet. This has been Formentera’s most fashionable seaside hangout for decades. Day trips from notorious Ibiza and the clubbing that always leads to day long sunbathing (recuperation) make the place a bit crowded in summer. However, this is not your typical beach resort, but rather a no frills sand and sea adventure apart from Miami ideas. The rich and famous come here to capture the sun’s glow, only to head back to their luxury yachts for moonlit masquerades of another kind. In the case of Playa de Ses Illetes attractions, a beach towel and Ray Bans is all that’s needed.
Elafonissi On Crete
A personal second choice behind Crete’s Falasarna, this magnificent beach is set in a pristine Cretan landscape far away from the crowds and traffic of Heraklion. The place is a true natural paradise to the far west of the island the Minoans inhabited several millenniums ago. Shallow, blue glass clear waters, pristine sands, and the gentle breezes from the Aegean and Libyan Seas make this place special. The protected nature reserve here is for good reason, as you can tell from the atypical image of Elafonissi above, there’s more than sand and sea here.
Woolacombe courtesy of Becks
Woolacombe Beach United Kingdon
Okay, I didn’t believe it either. A top beach on those foggy and cold isles to the north? Never! But wait. The seaside resort on the coast of North Devon, England is actually stunning. Always voted Britain’s best beach, this surfer paradise is also a natural gemstone not so many outlanders know about. Historic, part of the Natural Trust, and just downright delightful to surf, swim, or sunbathe (yes there is sun in England) at, Woolacombe is worthy of its spot on the TripAdvisor list. If you have the chance to visit, I recommend the
Woolacombe Bay Hotel for the full strong treatment.
Iztuzu Beach – Dalyan, Turkey
Turkey beaches are not so often mentioned when Europeans discuss seaside vacation plans. At least not as often as their neighbors in Greece, Cyprus, and Mallorca etc. Iztuzu is, however, one iconic sand and surf experience that’s become a word of mouth vacation legend. Another nesting recluse for sea turtles, this magnificent stretch of beach is surrounded by mountainside pine forests, a natural setting unlike any other in Europe. Located in the Muğla province in the southwest of Turkey, Iztuzu is part of the Köyceğiz-Dalyan Special Environmental Protection Area. This fact is the key reason for the beach’s pristine-ness and its popularity, it’s protected from mass development and from over use. To get to the beach one has to venture on a day trip from nearby Dalyan. So, as you can imagine, the beach always seems less crowded than some of its contemporaries to the west.
My personal number one beach – Falasarna west of Kissamos (March 2014)
The remaining 20 top beaches in TripAdvisor’s 2015 Traveler’s Choice selections were (in order of ranking); Fig Tree Bay in Cyprus, Cala Rossa Sicily, Weymouth Beach in the UK, Eggremni Beach, Playa de Bolonia in Spain, Rhossili Bay UK, Balos Lagoon on Crete, St. Paul’s Bay Greece, St. Brelade’s Bay Beach UK, Playas de las Cathedrales in Spain, La Pelosa Beach Italy, La Concha Beach Spain, Porthminster Beach UK, Cala Mariolu Italy, Praia Dona Ana and Praia da Falesia in Portugal, Kaputas Beach Turkey, Cala Comte Spain, Jurmala Beach in Latvia, and Cote des Basques in France.