Best Beaches in Europe in October

We rank the top 40 of 106 beaches to visit in October. Balos Lagoon (Greece) comes first with 4.8 / 5, followed by Cala Macarelleta, Egremni Beach.

The sea reaches about 23 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from May to October. 19 of the 40 have easy access, and 13 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.

3Egremni 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.

4Elafonissi 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.

5Saleccia

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.

6Spiaggia dei Conigli

Lampedusa, Sicily, Italy · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 25 °C

A sweep of pale sand and shallow turquoise water on Lampedusa, set inside a nature reserve and often counted among the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean.

7Voidokilia 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.

8Zlatni 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.

9Benagil 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.

10Cala 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.

11Cala 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.

12Es 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.

13Falasarna 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.

14Falassarna 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.

15Playa 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.

16Porto 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.

17Porto 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.

18Praia 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.

19Sarakiniko

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.

20Spiaggia 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.

21Cala 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.

22Cala 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.

23Cala 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.

24Cala 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.

25Calamosche 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.

26Calo 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.

27Formentor 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.

28Los 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.

29Mylos 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.

30Playa 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.

31Playa 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.

32Playa 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.

33Playa de Valdevaqueros

Tarifa, Cadiz, Andalusia · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A long open beach west of Tarifa, backed by the large Punta Paloma dune.

34Praia da Albandeira

Lagoa, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A small, sheltered cove at the foot of golden limestone cliffs in the Algarve, with a natural rock arch and clear water.

35Praia de Sao Rafael

Albufeira, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A golden cove with striking rock stacks and cliffs on the Albufeira coast, with clear water and a calm feel compared to the town beaches.

36Praia Dona Ana

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

Golden cliffs, sea stacks and a sheltered turquoise cove, a short walk from Lagos town.

37Praia dos Tres Irmaos

Alvor, Algarve · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A sandy beach in Alvor, in the western Algarve, with golden sandstone cliffs and rock stacks that form little arches and caves at low tide.

38Preveli Beach

Rethymno, Crete, Greece · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 23 °C

A cove of sand and pebbles where a river meets the sea, below steep cliffs on the south coast of Crete.

39Punta Molentis

Villasimius, Sardinia · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A small beach of pale sand and clear shallow water near Villasimius, between low granite rocks.

40Scala dei Turchi

Realmonte, Sicily, Italy · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A dazzling white marl cliff carved into giant steps above a small sandy beach on the south coast of Sicily, near Agrigento.

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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 May
• Best Beaches in Europe in June

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