‘What more could you want?’ Your favourite European beaches that aren’t full of tourists

It’s the first day of your summer holiday. After a hearty breakfast and an iced coffee by the pool, you beeline for the nearest beach.

But when you get there, it’s chaos. Not one sunbed is free, the sand is cluttered with towels, and the air is thick with thumping house music from the crowded beach bar.

Currently, many European holiday hotspots are grappling with overtourism. Barcelona has introduced a new tourist zone while Majorca is placing caps on tour group sizes. Santorini has rolled out a cruise ship levy, and in Zante, tourists are outnumbering locals.

So, to promote sustainable tourism and give you a steer on some roads less travelled, we asked Metro readers – and our staff – to share their favourite European beaches that aren’t full of tourists.

Metro readers have their say

First up, Matty Townsend recommends Soorts-Hossegor, on France’s southwestern Atlantic Coast.

Located within La Côte d’Argent, one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of sandy beaches in Europe, its size guarantees a day of sunbathing in peace.

Matty says: ‘It’s a very chill surf town and not super touristy. They host the free Quicksilver Festival on the beach every September, we went last year and it was great.

‘Free live music from bands like Skegss, a beach backdrop and professional surf competitions during the day, what more could you want?’

While you’re in France, Matty says Saint-Georges-d’Oléron is also worth a visit. It’s the largest commune on the island of Oléron, and has ‘hardly anyone there.’

In place of people, Matty says there are dozens of bike trails through forests, as well as beautiful beaches.

Having visited Saint-Georges-d’Oléron in a campervan, Matty says you can drive over a long bridge to get there from La Rochelle. No ferry is needed.

Turkish native Özge Björnesson sings the praises of Cirali and Adrasan. She says both are typically only visited by locals, and are worlds away from the stifling feeling of hotspots such as Antalya and Bodrum.

Metro’s Paul Hardcastle also flies the flag for France. He raves about Marbella beach in Biarritz, which is only accessible by passing through the two large beaches in the centre of town. Because of the extra steps, he says most people don’t bother visiting.

Further south in Spain, Metro’s Brooke Johnson loves Cadaqués in the Costa Brava region. She describes the beach as surprisingly tourist-free.

Elsewhere, Metro’s Ross McCafferty says Cartagena is spectacular. Located in the Murcia region – and around 37 minutes from the ‘Garden of Europe’ – he says he found stunning little bays and coves that were relatively quiet.

Ross also recommends Cullera, in the province of Valencia. He says: ‘Valencia is my favourite city in the world, but their beaches are a bit too busy. However, Cullera is just out of town and is beautiful.’

North to Scandinavia now, Metro’s Ellie Hutchings says Kastrup in Denmark is a real hidden gem.

Even though it’s close to Copenhagen, she says it’s not really known by international tourists. During her trip, she visited an ‘amazing sea bath you can swim in.’

Ellie also recommends Sampieri in Sicily as an off-the-beaten track summer destination.

Meanwhile, Metro’s Rosy Shearman shares her love for Elie Beach near St Andrews in Scotland. She says: ‘The massive beach is home to the world’s only cricket club who apparently play their matches on a beach.’

Further south in the UK, on the Isle of Scilly, Rosy suggests checking out St. Martin’s.

While white sandy beaches await, Rosy says it’s a faff to get to, which means there’s often hardly anyone there.

Over in Greece’s Aegean Sea, Panormos beach in Skopelos is a lesser-known beauty. This writer visited the island, famed for being the filming location of 2008’s Mamma Mia!, last July, and was blown away by its beauty and lack of tourists.

Sitting quietly on Skopelos’ west coast, Panormos is unspoiled. An ancient Greek harbour, you can reach the beach by travelling like locals on a €5 (£4) return bus from Skopelos Town. If you’d rather get a taxi, a one-way journey costs around €20 (£16).

Edging onto the seafront, you immediately get the ‘Greek paradise’ feeling everyone talks about.

White pebbles stretch into shimmering ocean, and lush greenery surrounds the bay, which is lined with traditional tavernas serving stewed plums — a Skopelos delicacy. Read the full Skopelos travel guide here.

What to do in Sampieri

If you’re a sucker for an Italian fishing village, Sampieri in southern Sicily provides the goods without the crowds.

The Sicilian settlement, with pretty stone houses and cobbled streets, is situated between two beaches.

The main beach is 2km long and surrounded by a pine forest. TripAdvisor describes it as long, wide, with tiny soft sand. At the end of the coast is a high cliff, where adrenaline junkies can snorkel or dive in the clear waters.

For those who plan to do nothing on holiday but lie horizontally and eat,Sampieri is the perfect destination.

TripAdvisor houses masses of positive reviews for the town, with many declaring they’d love to come back. Adam, who visited Sampieri for the day, said the beach was superb and almost empty.

However, Carallo, the beachfront restaurant he dined at for lunch, was the highlight.

Adam said: ‘Fantastic food, we had seafood gnocchi and tuna carbonara. Great service and great location. If we ever make it back to Sicily, we’d stay at Sampieri for 2, 3 nights to really experience it.’

Calabistrot is another standout, boasting 4.3 out of 5 stars. Here you can enjoy sea views while dining on seafood and Mediterranean cuisine.

Prices are moderate: for €18 (£15), try Calamarata with mussels, broccoli cream and tomato capuliatu. Or, for €20,00 (£16.83), indulge in fresh snapper with sautéed vegetables and citronette sauce.

Nearby attractions from Sampieri include the more famous fishing village of Scicli, known for its Baroque architecture, beautiful palaces and churches dating to the 17th century.

The UNESCO World Heritage site holds several festivals throughout the year, including the Festa delle Milizie on the last Saturday of May to commemorate a battle against the Saracens.

What to do in Soorts-Hossegor

Soorts-Hossegor is often referred to as the surf capital of Europe, thanks to its reliable swells and powerful breaks.

While perfect for water sports enthusiasts, the French commune is also ideal for nature lovers. From endless golden sand beaches, crystal clear lakes, and verdant forests, spend your time swimming, biking and hiking.

The Lac Hossegor loop is a great hiking option for any fitness level, while the Le Fond du Lac loop from Les Estagnots is dubbed as intermediate.

Once you’ve exerted all your energy exploring Soorts-Hossegor, Matty says there are many seafood places to check out. The town is primarily known for oysters, with TripAdvisor crowning Chez Jerome as the best place to enjoy the saltwater dish. It’s cheap too, costing €7 (£5.89) for six.

La Cabane a huitres is also a cheap but revered joint, according to TripAdvisor users. A regular called Kathleen said: ‘Very affordable restaurant, very tasty and very friendly staff. We always have a great time and my sons always enjoy a dozen oysters for themselves for only 9 euros.’

Of course, there’s also the Quicksilver festival. The dates have not been announced for 2025 yet, but expect the crème de la crème of world surfers who hit the iconic beaches of Capbreton, Hossegor and Seignoss. Surf, skate, art, and music play a major part in the festivities, too.

What to do in Cadaqués

After breathtaking landscapes, artistic heritage and unique charm? Head to Cadaqués in Spain’s Costa Brava region.

With whitewashed buildings, terracotta roofs, cobbled streets and a bustling harbour filled with fishing boats, it’s a dreamy summer holiday spot.

While the village of Cadaqués only has one sandy beach, the surrounding bay offers access to numerous coves and pebbly beaches.

The Cap de Creus Natural Park is another stunning spot with diverse ecosystems and almost 100 rugged coves waiting to be explored. As the first park in Spain to encompass both land and sea, there are many scenic walking trails with the most unreal views.

For the arty types among us, no trip to Cadaqués is complete without a visit to Casa Dalí – Salvador Dalí’s former home. The village is heavily associated with the Spanish surrealist artist, whose dream house is filled with fantasy furniture and fixtures.

Dalí lived in the former fisherman’s hut from 1930 until 1982 with his wife Gala, and transformed the home into what it is today.

The property is located eight minutes from Cadaqués in the small village of Portlligat. Tickets must be booked in advance and cost €15 (12.62) for general admission. This includes access to the house and olive garden. Tickets to the olive garden only are €8 (£6.73).

Following a visit to Portlligat, indulge in the mouthwatering Catalan and Mediterranean cuisines. Focusing heavily on seafood and fishing culture, expect classic dishes like paella, grilled fish, plus other seafood like anchovies, sardines and breams.

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