This Lesser-known Beach Was Just Named the Best in Europe — and It Has Red Sand, Clear Water, and Stunning Cliffs Surrounding It

Chances are the last time you spent time daydreaming about a summer vacation to a European beach, flight prices to Italy and Greece were the next thing to cross your mind. And while there’s no denying that those two countries are world-renowned for their sandy shores, neither is considered to have the best beach in Europe, according to the ranking organization, European Best Destinations (EBD).

EBD recently released their 2024 report on the Most Beautiful Beaches in Europe and their top choice might surprise you. 

Beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder, so to identify the 15 most scenic beaches and to name the most beautiful beach in Europe, EBD polled over 100,000 travelers from 116 countries. While some spots on EBD’s report, like Porto Timoni on Greece’s Corfu and Calpe Beach on Spain’s Costa Blanca, may be more well-known to travelers, others like Ksamil Beach in Albania, Oludeniz Beach in Turkey, and Las Teresitas Beach in the Canary Islands were more unexpected. But claiming the No. 1 spot was a low-key beach on the island of Malta, giving the Mediterranean island nation its (literal and figurative) moment in the sun. 

Maltese for “Apple’s Eye,” and known to locals as “Riviera Beach,” Ghajn Tuffieha Bay Beach is a favorite for its preserved natural beauty. The beach boasts a shore that is not only sandy — Malta is known for its rocky beaches — but one that is blessed with red sand. The beach is also known for its impressively clear water and its stunning backdrop of surrounding cliffs.

Located on the northern end of the island — note that Malta is made up of several islands, with the three largest and inhabited being Malta, Gozo, and Comino — Ghajn Tuffieha Bay Beach is very close to Malta’s more famous Golden Bay Beach, but far less crowded. The reason? To reach the secluded sandy shore of Ghajn Tuffieha Bay Beach, a significant descent of over 100 steps is required. And while lugging a large beach bag down (and then up) the stairs is not exactly everyone’s idea of a relaxing day in the sun, it’s about the journey as well as the destination.

Those who make the trek to the water will be rewarded with less-crowded crystalline swimming water, wildflowers, and walking trails in the cliffs including one that connects you to Golden Bay Beach. All that and the knowledge that you made it to the most beautiful beach in all of Europe. We think that sounds like a journey that’s more than worth the climb.