Are you looking for the clearest water in Europe? There are loads of dreamy destinations on the continent where you can see mind-blowing translucent waters.
Some of my favorites include:
- Kvalvika Beach, Norway
- Comino Island, Malta
- Plage de Palombaggia, France
Whether you are planning a mountain escape or a beach vacation, there’s a lovely clear water destination for you to enjoy on your travels. Let’s get started and learn about some of the best!
15 Places With The Clearest Water In Europe (Beaches, Lakes, etc!)
La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia
The tranquil waters at La Pelosa Beach on the island of Sardinia are amongst the clearest water in Europe. The stunning shades of blue will blow your mind upon your arrival at this incredible beach.
If you are keen to swim or wade in the water, this beach is perfect for it as you can walk out quite far into the sea and the water will only be at knee height. Keep in mind that this beach is one of the best beaches in Europe and as such is extremely popular, so you will want to arrive very early in the day or visit during the off-season if you want to avoid the crowds.
Pasqyra Beach, Albania
Also called Mirror Beach, Pasqyra Beach is among the very best clear beaches in Europe. It is a pebble beach in the south of Albania in the town of Saranda. This is very close to Greece, just a half an hour’s drive!
You will find a bar and restaurant here as well as sunbed and umbrella rentals. As with most of the destinations with the clearest water in Europe, you should expect crowds. For the most enjoyable experience during your visit, consider the crowds in your travel planning.
Paxos, Greece
Paxos is an island in the Ionian Sea, just south of Corfu. The island only has 2500 inhabitants and is known for many things such as olive oil plantations, deep caves, vineyards, and most importantly, crystal clear waters.
Easily home to some of the most incredible beaches with the clearest water in Europe, Paxos is a bucket list destination for anyone planning on visiting Greece. Some of the top beaches to visit on the island to enjoy the clear water are Orkos Beach, Lakkos Beach, and Monodendri Beach.
Keep in mind, that Mongonissi Beach is the only sandy beach on the island. The rest are shingle and pebble stone beaches. So, while the island’s crystal water is beautiful, the beaches aren’t the best laying out on!
Ölüdeniz Beach / aka The Blue Lagoon, Turkey
This dazzling beach in Turkey is roughly ten hours south of Istanbul and it is home to the bluest water in Europe. The beach is a protected national park, which means there is a small fee to enter. While you are there you will have access to showers, toilets, and cafes, and you are able to rent sunshades, loungers, and paddle boats.
The Blue Lagoon has green space around it, creating a spectacular landscape filled with greens and blues; perfect for relaxing. If you are feeling adventurous, you can go paragliding off of one of the nearby mountains so that you can view the beach from 6500 feet above!
Navagio, Greece
Navagio Beach, also called Shipwreck Beach, a breathtaking beach on the island of Zakynthos is among the top white sand beaches in Europe (and it’s easy to see why!) You can find this beach on the northwest coast of the island where the shocking contrast of white and blues is mind-blowing!
You have a couple of options for how to view this beach. You can take a full-day cruise around the island which will make a stop at the beach, you can take a speed boat to the beach which will only take around fifteen minutes, or you can view the beach from a platform on the cliffs above.
Lake Annecy
Lake Annecy is one of the clearest lakes in Europe. It can be found in southeastern France, roughly an hour south of Geneva, Switzerland. Thanks to the strict laws, this lake is famous for being the cleanest in all of Europe!
There are loads of things to do around Lake Annecy like hiking one of the more than fifty walks and hikes, paragliding over the lake, taking a guided tour of the town, or if you are feeling highly adventurous, you can go canyoning!
The water here showcases dreamy shades of blue and with the green hills surrounding it, you can see why this lake sees over two million visitors each year.
Karersee Lake, Dolomites
Thinking about visiting Italy? Smart choice! In the Dolomites, you will find Karersee Lake which has some of the clearest water in Europe. You may also hear this lake referred to as Lago di Carezza, Lake Carezzo, or Lec de Ergobando.
You can reach this lake in a couple of different ways. You can take a car along the winding mountain roads and park in the parking lot at the top of the mountain (small fee) or you can take the bus from Bolzano to the lake which takes about forty minutes.
Kvalvika Beach, Norway
You can find one of the beaches with the best clear water in Europe located on Moskenesoya Island in the Lofoten Islands of Norway. The beach is on the north side of the island surrounded by steep mountains riding more than six hundred meters above the sand and waves below.
You will have to hike to get to this beach, roughly one and a half hours from Fredvang. The trail is rated as easy in difficulty and is a four-kilometer round trip. The hike is worth it to see this staggeringly beautiful beach. Despite the isolation, you are unlikely to be alone if you are visiting during the summer months.
Comino Island, Malta
Without a doubt, the uninhabited Comino Island in Malta is home to some of the clearest water in Europe. The translucent aquamarine water here is reason enough to visit this incredible island; however, there’s much more to see and do!
While on the island, you can explore historical sites, go hiking, take boat tours, or visit the Santa Maria Caves. There are five caves in total and they are filled with crystal-clear water. You can only access these charming sea caves via a small boat through narrow openings. Perfect for adventurers!
Capri, Italy
Capri is home to spectacularly blue and clear water alongside rocky cliffs and lush green foliage. There are a lot of fabulous beaches here where you can enjoy beautiful water. For swimming and for family travelers, Marina Grande is the beach for you as there are shallow waters and refreshment stands.
At Marina Piccola you can yacht-watch, at Marina di Mulo you can enjoy a calm and quiet day in the water, and at Faraglioni, you can take the most incredible photos of the clear water and rock formations along the coast. And if you want to see the water from above, you can head to the top of Monte Solaro!
Playa de Ses Illetes, Spain
Spain has the best clear-water beaches in Europe and Playa de Ses Illetes is one of the very best! The narrow strip of white sand and the shockingly clear blue water is something you will not want to miss. You can reach the beach via car and park for the day for less than ten euros.
So, who is this beach best for? If you are traveling with children or are looking for a good place to swim, this beach is for you as the water is relatively calm and there are lifeguards available in the summer months. You will also have access to fantastic restaurants close by.
Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
You can reach Lake Bohinj via a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Ljubljana. You can catch a bus from Ljubljana to Lake Bohinj as well. While here you can take advantage of the opportunities to go hiking, paddle boarding, kayaking, and swimming.
There are awesome things to do around the lake like visiting the Saint John Baptist Church, seeing the ethereal Savica Waterfall, hiking the 12-kilometer Mostnica Gorge, and riding the Vogel Cable Car for impeccable views of the Julian Alps.
Zlatni Rat Beach, Croatia
You can find Zlatni Rat Beach (Golden Horn) on the island of Brac in Croatia. Home to some of the clearest water in Europe, this beach is famous for its unique horn-like shape. This is a perfect place for spending the day laying in the sunshine; you can rent sun beds and umbrellas or bring your beach towels to lounge on.
The beach is in the town of Bol which is the most popular holiday destination in Croatia and one of the best beach towns in Europe. In Bol, you can try local wines, rent a bike to explore the town, visit the churches, walk along the promenade, and of course, eat coastal Croatian cuisine.
Elafonisi Beach, Greece
Fancy crossing a visit to a pink beach off of your bucket list? Elafonisi is a pink beach on the island of Crete. This beach not only has pink sand but also some of the most crystal clear water in Europe!
If you are coming from Chania, the drive will take around one and a half hours for you to reach this beach. Other than enjoying the beauty of the clear water, you can also keep an eye out for sea turtles, watch the sunset, swim in the warm shallow waters, and go windsurfing!
Plage de Palombaggia, Corsica
If you are looking for the cleanest beaches in Europe, you will want to check out Plage de Palombaggia on Corsica. The fine white sand and turquoise water are met by orange rocks and vibrant green trees along the coast, creating an incredible sight to behold!
You can expect this beach to be quite crowded in the summer as it is considered one of the best in Europe. You can park on the northeast end of the beach in a bumpy parking lot that is free of charge. There are other parking options in the area, but they require a fee.
You can swim at Palombaggia which is such good news for those excited to enjoy the clear water. In the late summer months, the water temperature is very warm and it is still over 20 degrees Celsius, making an early fall swim enjoyable as well!
The clearest water in Europe is meant to be enjoyed! With all of these gorgeous destinations to choose from you can rest assured that there will be a stunning location for you to visit on your next European adventure.
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