The Cornish town of Bude—ranked by The Times as the best beach in the U.K.gettyA good beach in Europe is a very personal thing, and I think it’s somewhat related to character, but sometimes it just depends on our mood. Sometimes we want fully-padded beach beds and waiter service to bring us chilled rosé, and other times, maybe we’re just looking for unbridled nature and zero convenience.Some characteristics can, however, be defined as on the whole necessary for any beach and any mood. Take water quality, for example—a pre-requisite for any good bathing spot. But maybe you’re looking for a beach that is dog-friendly? Or you want to be reassured by the presence of lifeguards? Food and access to other amenities like toilets can also help—who doesn’t want a delectable meal at sundown watching the waves?Here are some great beaches, rounded up by travel journalists and travelers across the U.K. and European mainland.The Best Beaches In The U.K., As Per The TimesThe chief travel writer for The Times recently spent five weeks and 4,307 miles inspecting 607 beaches to find the best ones across the U.K.What’s more, it even comes with a location checker so you can find the nearest one by postcode or name.Bude Summerleaze is on Cornwall’s north coast in the south of the country and was the overall winner, with rentable beach huts, a cafe bar on the dunes and surfers to watch riding the big waves.It’s part of the South West Coast Path, which itself is part of the King Charles III England Coast Path, the longest managed coastal path in the world. It might just convince you to walk the 2,700 miles of coastline, with its changing landscapes, history, and wildlife, to find some of the others.The Best Beaches In Europe, As Per Blue Flag CertificationCNTraveler recently highlighted the best countries for the most Blue Flag beaches. Run by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Copenhagen, this is a voluntary award based on stringent environmental, educational, and water-safety benchmarks that must be maintained, and it is taken very seriously across Europe. Blue Flag sites are reviewed annually, and the award lasts only one year. It aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with Northern Hemisphere beaches reviewed in April and the Southern Hemisphere in September.In June 2026, 5,274 beaches, marinas and boats were certified and here are the top five countries with the most beaches with Blue Flag certification:Spain—676 Blue Flag beaches. The country set a Guinness World Records title for the most Blue Flag beaches in 2022. Burriana Beach in the resort town of Nerja is one of the cleanest beaches.Greece—624 Blue Flag beaches. The island of Crete has 154 alone.Turkey—580 Blue Flag beaches and this year, Bodrum Public Beach was certified for the first time.Italy—525 Blue Flag beaches, adding 14 newly certified beaches in 2025. Liguria in the Italian Riviera is the region with the most.Portugal—396 Blue Flag beaches, with Mira beach on the Atlantic coast the only beach that has received a Blue Flag certification for 40 consecutive years. 94 locations are in the Algarve.France ranked sixth with 387 Blue Flag beaches, and it’s a testament to how important the Blue Flag is, considering that these countries are the most visited in Europe, and this year is no exception. The Blue Flag was conceptualized in France in 1985, and you can find a map of its beaches here.The Best Beaches In Europe, As Per The World’s 50 Best BeachesVoted for by over 1,000 travel professionals (including journalists, photographers, and travel advisors), this annual list is global and the rankings broadly align with the countries that have the highest numbers of Blue Flag beaches. The top ten beaches in Europe were in the top six most awarded Blue Flag countries:Fteri Beach (Greece)Cala Macarella (Spain)Cala dei Gabbiani (Italy)Kaputaş Beach (Türkiye)Porto Katsiki (Greece)Santa Giulia (France)Playa Cofete (Spain)Praia da Falesia (Portugal)Porto Timoni (Greece)La Pelosa (Italy)No single list can settle the debate over what constitutes a good beach in Europe because the perfect stretch of sand depends on what you’re looking for. But taken together, these rankings reveal a clear pattern: Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal continue to combine clean water, protected coastlines and spectacular scenery.MORE FROM FORBESForbesTraveling To Europe? Five Things To Expect This SummerBy Alex LedsomForbesHow Useful Is Your Passport In 2026 For The Best Global Mobility?By Alex Ledsom