17 Of The Most Incredible Beaches In The Mediterranean

While many think that the beaches of the Caribbean, South Pacific or the Maldives are ideal, the Mediterranean Sea actually laps some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. There is sun, sea and sand to suit everyone and the following are just some of the most incredible beaches on offer.

1. Sagres Beach, Algarve, Portugal

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Algarve beaches in general are gorgeous, but Sagres is exceptional. Undeveloped, secluded, backed by rocky cliffs with impressive surfing rollers coming in, this beach is on the border of the Algarve and Alentejo in Portugal.

2. Tarifa, Costa de la Luz, Spain

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The Tarifa beach scene offers wide and seemingly endless fine golden sand with the best waves and wind conditions for kite surfing. Further out of town, beaches are empty and shared only with the cows and sheep offering perfect peace.

3. Golden Mile, Marbella, Spain

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The Golden Mile actually consists of four miles of gorgeous, clean and golden sand on the Costa del Sol, close to the world-famous and celebrity-packed Puerto Banus and popular, upmarket Marbella itself.

4. Puerto Sóller, Mallorca, Spain

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On Mallorca in the Balearic islands, the hidden and beautiful coves of Puerto Sóller offer clean golden sand lapped by the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, close to the charming town with all its facilities.

5. Chia Beach, Sardinia, Italy

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Silky sand, towering dunes and crystal clear turquoise waters, flanked by juniper trees, with traces of the original ancient Phoenician city of Bithia, make for a perfect beach destination.

6. Es Trenc Beach, Mallorca, Spain

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Totally secluded and unspoiled, these three kilometers of pristine white sand are framed by natural dunes with only the sea thistle and tamarind trees for company.

7. Chiaia di Luna, Ponza, Italy

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One of the most scenic beach settings in Italy, named for the narrow curve of silky sand which hugs the base of a towering, 328-foot rock wall. Chiaia di Luna is situated on the island of Ponza, which has several other spectacular beaches.

8. Red Beach, Santorini, Greece

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Santorini offers some of the most unique beaches in Greece, and few of them have white or golden sand. They are more likely to have volcanic sand in shades of black, grey, or in this case red.

9. Marasusa Beach, Tropea, Italy

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This lovely beach is in the town of Tropea on what is dubbed “La Costa degli Dei” or “Coast of the Gods,” appropriate indeed for the pristine white sands and scenic cliffs overlooking the crystal clear, aquamarine sea.

10. Ramla Bay, Gozo, Malta

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Gozo is one of the Maltese Islands and is popular as being among the best diving locations in the Mediterranean Sea. Ramla Bay is one of four bays on the small island and is stunningly beautiful with golden-red sand framed by lush green hills.

11. Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece

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Navagio is one of the best, and probably most photographed, beaches on the island of Zakynthos in Greece. While the beach is small, the location, surroundings and colors are stunning.

12. Turquoise Coast Beach, Patara, Turkey

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Patara offers 19 kilometres of sandy beaches, flanked by huge sand dunes. Largely unspoiled and undeveloped, the beach is a nesting area for the endangered loggerhead turtle and retains a national park status.

13. Kaputaş, Kalkan, Turkey

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For those who prefer the busier resorts, Kalkan has a popular pebbly beach in town, but also offers Kaputaş Beach, a sandy swimming cove nestled at the foot of a striking mountain gorge, approximately 10 minutes from Kalkan.

14. The Beaches Of Hammamet, Tunisia

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Among the best-known beaches in Tunisia, the stretches of fine white sands are bathed in the clear Mediterranean Sea with a wealth of marine life making them popular for scuba-diving. The warm year round climate also makes Hammamet a great winter sun destination.

15. Kelibia, Cap Bon, Tunisia

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Considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Northern Africa, Kelibia is located in the northwest of Tunisia, overlooked by an ancient fortress and the harbor of the small coastal town.

16. Beit Yanai Beach, Israel

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Beit Yanai Beach is considered to be one of Israel’s most beautiful beaches. Pristine and quiet, it is the ideal kite-surfing spot.

17. Banana Beach, Tel Aviv, Israel

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Located on the southernmost edge of Tel Aviv near Jaffa, Banana Beach is a kind of bohemian sanctuary in a gorgeous sun and sand setting.