Best Beaches In Europe

Locked in time, the medieval town of Cefalù is the kind of place that makes you forget about everywhere else. Small enough to wander around but developed enough to offer some of the best seafood restaurants and gelato shops in the Med – it’s the beach that really makes you want to turn days into weeks. Fringed by yellow cliffs and leading down to some of the calmest, warmest waters in Europe, the narrow crescent of sand beyond Cefalù’s walls seems made to keep you coming back. Perfect for families, the still waters, fiery sun and proximity to one of Sicily’s prettiest cultural gems offer something for everyone.

Recommended Club Med Resort:
Cefalù Resort…set on Sicily’s north coast with unparalleled views of the Mediterranean ocean

Bodrum is surrounded by beautiful beaches – with popular stretches like Kumbahce, Kargi bay and Gumbet drawing big crowds in the peak season. All are great choices if you want to be nearer the amenities in town (and Kargi is a must if you want to ride a camel…), but for something a bit more serene, head east of Bodrum along the peninsula to Kisebükü Cove. Isolated enough to be a challenge to get to in a car, and scattered with the ruins of an ancient hamam, it’s the sort of beach you don't want to tell other people about in case they all turn up at once. With stunning views across Karaada island to Kos, there’s nowhere better for watching the sunset.

Recommended Club Med Resorts:
Club Med Palmiye…a paradise perched on a vast stretch of sandy beach
Bodrum Palmiye…where sea and sky meet on the shore of the Aegean Sea

Nestled between the twin delights of Cannes and Nice, Antibes is the place where the French Riviera comes to relax. A far cry from the crowds and casinos of Provence’s grand cities, the coastal region separating them offers almost every type of beach you might want – from Juan les Pins’ sleepy seaside towns and the watersports of Plage Ponteil to the kind of places you travel miles for just to try the local seafood. But it’s the hidden coves of Cap d’Antibes that offer a real escape – with no facilities, no crowds (and sometimes no signposts), finding a wild beach with no one on it makes you feel richer than the high-rollers in Monte Carlo (which is only about an hour away, should you still be feeling lucky).

Recommended Club Med Resort:
Opio en Provence … located on the Plateau de Valbonne, between olive groves, pine forests, sea and mountains, only a short drive away from Antibes.