Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in Europe

We rank the top 40 of 136 unspoiled beaches without sunbeds in Europe. Navagio Beach (Greece) comes first with 4.9 / 5, followed by Cala Goloritzé, Cala Mariolu.

The sea reaches about 23 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 8 of the 40 have easy access, and 30 are hidden gems.

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1Navagio Beach

Zakynthos, Greece · 4.9 / 5 · Moderate access · about 26 °C

The iconic Shipwreck Beach, enclosed by soaring white limestone cliffs — arguably the most photographed beach in the world.

2Cala Goloritzé

Sardinia, Italy · 4.8 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A secluded cove under a limestone needle, reached only on foot or by boat — worth every step.

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.

4Cala Pregonda

Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A wild north-coast cove of reddish-gold sand framed by rust-coloured rocks and clear green-blue water, with no buildings behind it.

5En-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.

6Saleccia

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.

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.

8As 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.

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 en Turqueta

Ciutadella, Menorca, Spain · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A small sandy cove with clear green-blue water and pine trees reaching down to the shore on the south-west coast of Menorca.

11Cala Varques

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

A small sandy cove with clear turquoise water in a pine lined inlet on the east coast of Mallorca, with no bars or other services.

12Cala Violina

Scarlino, Tuscany, Italy · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A crescent of fine pale sand inside the Bandite di Scarlino nature reserve on the Tuscan coast, said to squeak underfoot, which is how it got its name.

13Dune du Pilat

Arcachon Bay, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A huge sand dune beside the Atlantic at the mouth of Arcachon Bay, with wide beaches and views across the water.

14La Pelosa

Stintino, Sardinia, Italy · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A shallow white-sand lagoon facing the Torre della Pelosa at the northwest tip of Sardinia.

15Plage de Roccapina

Sartene, Corsica · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A wide sandy bay in south-west Corsica, watched over by the Genoese tower and the granite Lion of Roccapina.

16Plage du Lotu, Corsica

Desert des Agriates, Corsica · 4.7 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

Lotu is a white-sand beach with turquoise water in the Desert des Agriates on the north coast of Corsica.

17Playa de Bolonia

Tarifa, Andalusia, Spain · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A wide, wind-swept Atlantic bay on the Costa de la Luz with a huge sand dune at one end and the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia just behind the beach.

18Playa de Torimbia

Llanes, Asturias · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A beautiful, unspoilt cove of golden sand backed by green meadows and cliffs on the Asturian coast.

19Porto 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.

20Praia 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.

21Praia da Ursa

Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Challenging access · about 17 °C

A small, wild sand cove below steep cliffs near Cabo da Roca, known for its tall rock stacks and rough Atlantic surf.

22Praia do Camilo

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 20 °C

A small golden cove framed by honey coloured cliffs and rock stacks near Lagos, reached by a long wooden staircase of around 200 steps.

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.

24Stiniva

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.

25Baia del Buondormire, Palinuro

Capo Palinuro, Cilento, Campania · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

Baia del Buondormire is a small bay of clear turquoise water on Capo Palinuro, in the Cilento coast of Campania, enclosed by tall cliffs and rocks.

26Cala Azzurra, Favignana

Favignana, Egadi Islands, Sicily · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

Cala Azzurra is a small cove on the island of Favignana in the Egadi archipelago off west Sicily, with a narrow sand and pebble beach, pale rock and very clear turquoise water.

27Cala degli Inglesi

San Domino, Tremiti Islands · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A rocky cove on San Domino in the Tremiti Islands, with clear blue water and a rugged shoreline.

28Cala Fuili

Cala Gonone, Dorgali, Sardinia, Italy · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A pebble and rock cove near Cala Gonone on the east coast of Sardinia, set below green limestone cliffs.

29Cala Mitjana

Ciutadella, Menorca · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A small, sheltered cove of white sand and clear turquoise water, framed by pine trees and low cliffs on the south coast of Menorca.

30Cala Sisine

Baunei, Gulf of Orosei, Sardinia · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A remote cove in the Gulf of Orosei, where a green canyon opens onto pale sand and shingle.

31Cala 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.

32Calamosche 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.

33Calanque 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.

34Chiaia di Luna Beach, Ponza

Chiaia di Luna, Ponza, Lazio · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

Chiaia di Luna is a long crescent of pebbles on the west coast of Ponza, below a huge curved white cliff.

35Katergo Beach

Katergo, Folegandros · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 23 °C

A wild, unspoilt cove on the south-east side of Folegandros, backed by tall cliffs and with deep blue water.

36Kleftiko

Milos, Cyclades, Greece · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A cluster of white rock arches, caves and sheltered coves on the south-west coast of Milos, once used as a pirate hideout.

37Lama Monachile

Polignano a Mare, Puglia · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A small pebble cove at the foot of Polignano a Mare, framed by tall limestone cliffs and houses built right at the edge.

38Los 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.

39Nonza Beach

Nonza, Cap Corse, Corsica · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

Nonza beach is a long beach of dark grey pebbles at the foot of the Corsican village of Nonza, on the west side of Cap Corse.

40Nugal Beach

Makarska, Dalmatia · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A small, secluded pebble cove with clear turquoise water below limestone cliffs and pines, reached on foot along a path from the Makarska coast.

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How we picked these beaches

Included when our practical info reports no sunbed or umbrella rental, so the beach stays natural, then ranked by editorial score. Bring shade and water. See how we rate beaches for the full method.

Frequently asked questions

More lists

• Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in Spain
• Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in Greece
• Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in Italy
• Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in France
• Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in Portugal
• Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in Croatia
• Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in Malta
• Unspoiled Beaches Without Sunbeds in the Algarve

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