Readers pick favourite beaches across Europe from Sicily to Latvia

Guardian Travel readers have highlighted favourite beaches across Europe, from Cefalù in Sicily to the ribbon of sand near Riga in Latvia. Forty miles east of Palermo, readers praise Cefalù for its perfect half‑moon beach of golden sand melding into clear turquoise sea, medieval lanes in a diamond pattern, a lively square and a Norman cathedral with twin towers and Byzantine mosaics.

In Portugal, Fuseta in the Ria Formosa natural park sits between Olhão and Tavira and is described as accessible but blissfully remote, with sand spits and islands creating miles of calm lagoon waters reached by water taxi. Further west, the mile‑long Porto de Mós beach near Lagos draws attention for Atlantic rollers and the Campimar beach shack, which reviewers also recommended as a restaurant for seafood and wine.

Other reader favourites include the Fourni islands in the north Aegean, where Petrokopio beach has ancient marble quarries and white stones, Kampi is backed by tamarisk trees, and a boat trip to Thimena can reach Paralía Kerameidioú and its relaxed restaurant; the report says Fourni can be reached from Piraeus on the ferry to Samos.

A few miles west of Riga, the Jūrmala–Bigauņciems stretch is described as a perfect ribbon of sand with pine forests of Ķemeri national park running up to the shore.

Key Topics

World, Cefalù, Fuseta, Ria Formosa, Porto De Mós, Fourni Islands