Best Beaches in Europe in May

We rank the top 40 of 130 beaches to visit in May. Balos Lagoon (Greece) comes first with 4.8 / 5, followed by Cala Macarelleta, Cala Mariolu.

The sea reaches about 23 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from May to October. 17 of the 40 have easy access, and 19 are hidden gems.

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1Balos Lagoon

Crete, Greece · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 25 °C

A shallow lagoon of pale pink sand and impossible blues at the tip of the Gramvousa peninsula.

2Cala Macarelleta

Menorca, Spain · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A tiny turquoise cove tucked below pine-covered cliffs, a short coastal walk from its bigger neighbour.

3Cala Mariolu

Gulf of Orosei, Sardinia, Italy · 4.8 / 5 · Challenging access · about 23 °C

A pebble cove with vivid turquoise water below steep cliffs, reachable only by boat or on foot.

4Egremni Beach

Lefkada, Ionian Islands, Greece · 4.8 / 5 · Challenging access · about 23 °C

A long sweep of pale sand and vivid turquoise water below white limestone cliffs on the west coast of Lefkada.

5Elafonissi Beach

Crete, Greece · 4.8 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A rare pink-sand lagoon at the southwestern tip of Crete, where shallow crystal-clear waters meet rose-tinted sands.

6En-Vau Calanque

Cassis, Provence, France · 4.8 / 5 · Challenging access · about 22 °C

A small pebble beach at the head of a narrow inlet between white limestone cliffs, with clear turquoise water, in the Calanques National Park near Cassis.

7Saleccia

Agriates, Corsica, France · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A long white-sand beach with shallow turquoise water on the wild Agriates coast of Corsica, far from the nearest road.

8Voidokilia Beach

Pylos, Messinia, Greece · 4.8 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A near perfect omega shaped bay of fine sand on the Messinian coast, with calm shallow water and the Gialova lagoon wildlife area just behind it.

9Zlatni Rat

Brač Island, Croatia · 4.8 / 5 · Easy access · about 26 °C

The famous "Golden Horn" — a distinctive pebble cape that juts into the Adriatic and magically shifts shape with the currents and winds.

10As Catedrais

Ribadeo, Galicia, Spain · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 18 °C

Towering sea arches and caves carved by the Atlantic along the coast of Galicia, walkable only at low tide.

11Benagil Cove

Algarve, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A small cove leading to a sea cave with a skylight in its roof — best seen by kayak or paddleboard.

12Cala d'Hort

Sant Josep, Ibiza · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A small, beautifully framed cove in south-west Ibiza where the dramatic rock of Es Vedra rises from the sea just offshore.

13Cala Luna

Gulf of Orosei, Sardinia, Italy · 4.7 / 5 · Challenging access · about 22 °C

A crescent of pale pebbles and coarse sand between limestone cliffs, with caves along the back and a freshwater pond behind the beach.

14Es Trenc

Mallorca, Spain · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

Mallorca's finest untouched beach — miles of pristine white sand, turquoise shallow water, and no high-rise hotels in sight.

15Falasarna Beach

Chania, Crete · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A broad golden beach on the far west coast of Crete, with clear turquoise water and views toward the Gramvousa peninsula.

16Falassarna Beach

Chania, Crete, Greece · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A long, wide beach of pale sand and clear shallow water on the far west coast of Crete, known for its sunsets.

17La Courtade Beach

Porquerolles Island · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A long sandy bay on the car-free island of Porquerolles, with very clear turquoise water and woodland behind the beach.

18Playa de Sotavento

Jandia, Fuerteventura · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A very long beach of pale sand on the south of Fuerteventura, with a shallow turquoise lagoon and a sandbar that changes with the tides.

19Porto Giunco

Villasimius, Sardinia · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A wide sandy beach in the south-east of Sardinia, with an old watchtower on the headland and a lagoon behind.

20Porto Timoni

Afionas, Corfu · 4.7 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

Two back-to-back coves on the north-west coast of Corfu, separated by a narrow strip of land.

21Praia da Bordeira

Carrapateira, Algarve · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A wide, wild Atlantic beach on the west Algarve coast with dunes, cliffs and a shallow lagoon that forms behind the sand.

22Praia da Falésia

Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A long golden beach backed by red and ochre cliffs and pine trees, stretching toward Vilamoura.

23Sarakiniko

Milos, Greece · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A lunar shoreline of smooth white volcanic rock sculpted by wind and sea, with deep clear water for swimming from the rocks.

24Spiaggia Grande

Amalfi Coast, Italy · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

Nestled beneath the pastel-coloured cliffside village of Positano — one of the most dramatic and romantic settings in Europe.

25Stiniva

Vis, Croatia · 4.7 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A hidden pebble cove squeezed between sheer cliffs, with a narrow sea entrance framing the turquoise water.

26Cala Galdana

Cala Galdana, Ferreries, Menorca · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A half-crescent cove of white sand and calm, shallow water on the south coast of Menorca, ringed by pine-covered cliffs.

27Cala Santanyi

Santanyi, Mallorca · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A small sandy cove tucked between pine-covered cliffs on the south-east coast of Mallorca, with calm turquoise water.

28Cala Saona

Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A sheltered sandy cove on the west coast of Formentera with clear shallow water and traditional boat houses on the rocks.

29Cala Torta

Arta, Mallorca · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A wide, undeveloped sand beach on the north-east coast of Mallorca near Arta, with golden sand and clear water.

30Calamosche Beach

Vendicari, Noto, Sicily · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A small sandy cove between rocky headlands inside the Vendicari nature reserve on the south-east coast of Sicily.

31Calanque de Sugiton

Marseille, Calanques, France · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 20 °C

A small rocky cove set between limestone cliffs in the Calanques National Park, reached on foot from Marseille.

32Calo des Moro

Santanyi, Mallorca · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A very small sandy cove squeezed between rocky walls on Mallorca south-east coast, known for its turquoise water.

33Formentor Beach

Pollensa, Mallorca · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A sheltered bay of pale sand and shallow turquoise water at the foot of the Formentor peninsula in northern Mallorca, backed by pine trees.

34Kavourotrypes Beach

Sithonia, Halkidiki · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A string of small coves on the east coast of Sithonia, also known as Orange Beach.

35Los Genoveses Beach

Cabo de Gata, Almeria, Spain · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A broad, undeveloped sandy bay inside the Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park, backed by dunes and low hills.

36Mylos Beach

Agios Nikitas, Lefkada · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A wild, mostly pebbly beach south of Agios Nikitas, framed by steep green hills and bright blue water.

37Playa de Calblanque

Cartagena, Murcia · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A string of sandy coves inside Calblanque Regional Park on the Murcia coast, with dunes and low hills and no buildings behind the beach.

38Playa de Cofete

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 20 °C

A wide, wild beach of golden sand below the Jandia mountains, with strong waves and very few facilities.

39Playa de Monsul

Cabo de Gata, Almeria · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A wide golden beach of fine sand backed by dunes and a striking volcanic rock, set inside the Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park.

40Playa de Papagayo

Playa Blanca, Lanzarote · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A golden cove at the foot of dark volcanic cliffs on the south coast of Lanzarote.

Quick comparison

How we picked these beaches

Included when the beach usual swimming season covers the month, then ranked by editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.

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More lists

• Best Beaches in Europe in June
• Best Beaches in Europe in October

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