This Cyprus beach has just been crowned Europe’s best

Scenery and atmosphere are important when it comes to a great beach, but when you get down to the nitty gritty, there are actually so many factors to consider to maximise your trip to the seaside.

The Telegraph recently published its analysis of the world’s best beaches, which included recommendations for atmosphere, sunsets, and families. And now travel insurance platform Quotezone.co.uk has set out to find the best beaches in Europe.

It evaluated factors such as average sea temperatures in June, peak summer temperatures, the number of five-star reviews, the daily cost of staying nearby and the typical wave height, and the results are in!

Claiming the top spot is Nissi Beach, a stunning stretch of white sand and pristine waters in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. Known as a spot with plenty of nearby bars and beach parties, Nissi is also great for sunbathers, as the average temperature is 30.5C, and the sea temperature a toasty 24.4C. Nissi Beach also has 4,334 five-star reviews – clearly it does the job!

In second place it’s Mellieha Bay Beach in Malta, where temperatures average a slightly more comfortable 29.2C and waves are lower at 0.13m, compared to Nissi’s 0.25. In third place was Portoroz Beach in Slovenia, which only has 148 five-star reviews but is the cheapest destination on the list, with a one-night stay costing around €93.

These are the 10 best beaches in Europe, according to Quotezone

Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Mellieha Bay Beach, Malta

Portoroz Beach, Slovenia

Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece

Zlatni Rat, Croatia

La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia, Italy

Praia da Falésia, Algarve, Portugal

Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain

Bournemouth Beach, England

Plage de Palombaggia, Corsica, France

Life’s a beach

There’s plenty that goes into a great beach, from the whitest sand to the bluest water. But for more advice from the experts, Time Out has lists on the very best in the USA, the UK, Europe and the world.