By Robert Schrader | Published on November 17, 2021
Find A Spot In Spain
If you've ever been to Barcelona or Malaga in the summer, the thought of a secluded beach escape in Spain can seem as crazy as the Sagrada Familia ever being finished. However, there are plenty of Spanish beaches without any towels on them, just waiting for you to put yours down. All you need is a day or two to travel away from where the crowds are, and an hour or two to reach the hidden spots.
One of the best places to find secret beaches in Spain is Costa Brava, which is surprisingly close to Barcelona — just two hours by car, or slightly more using local buses or trains. Head to Cadaques to sit down for lunch or pick up some snacks to take with you, then set your GPS for Cala Jugadores, where the party vibes of La Barceloneta feel as far away as Madrid or Bilbao. Although the rocky cliffs and coves may seem inhospitable to beachgoing at first sight, the contrast of their muted sands with the electric cobalt of the water invites you to stay. You won't likely see many other sunbathers, but you will see plenty of expensive yachts out in the bay.
Another place in Spain to find the best Mediterranean beaches are the islands of Mallorca and Menorca. Although these are part of the Balearic Islands, the same island chain as party capital Ibiza, they tend to be a lot less packed, particularly during "shoulder" months like June and September. Most beaches outside of larger cities are relatively quiet, but choices like Mallorca's Cala Varques and Menorca's Cala Macarelleta are particularly good ones for tranquility-minded beachgoers. While both require short hikes to reach from their parking areas, the moment you see the sparkling turquoise waters through clearings in the pine-lined paths, you'll get a second wind that will power you all the way to paradise.
Hacking The French And Italian Rivieras
I'll admit it: The crowded coast of Nice, France, is home to some of my favorite beaches in the world. In spite of this, I'd be lying if I didn't also acknowledge how wonderful it is to get off the beaten path of the Côte d'Azur. Luckily, you don't need to go far to find some of the least crowded beaches in this region. One of my favorite beaches is actually about halfway between Nice and Monaco. While all the tours are at the mountaintop citadel of Èze village, I recommend you hike down to Èze-sur-Mer Beach, which, on account of its hard-to-reach location, is often totally quiet. As is the case in Nice, much of this beach is pebbly rather than sandy, which is why its waters are so perfectly clear.
This is not to say that all of France's hidden beaches are on the French Riviera, even if Calanque d'En-Vau near Marseilles and Plage de la Moune in upmarket Saint-Tropez feel much further from civilization than they are. While Calanque d'En-Vau's deep emerald waters are only a short drive from Marseille's Old Quarter, Plage de la Moune is actually mere steps from Saint-Tropez's much busier sands.
Another not-so-secret French idyll to flock to if you're seeking a silent swim is Corsica, accessible by Nice or Marseille by ferry. While the ideal way to explore Corse (as they call it in French) is to rent a car and stop wherever you spot sand and no people, you could alternatively make a beeline for spots like Ficajola Creek in Piana, which requires a long hike to reach, and Cap Corse's Nonza Beach, whose black sands will have you feeling like you're on the moon.
You can employ a similar strategy when it comes to seeking out Mediterranean beaches in Italy. On the Italian Riviera itself, many of the most incredible beaches are actually near the French border. While most people are waiting in line to dip their toes into the water at Cinque Terre, you can have the sands of Varigotti Beach, whose backdrop is a pastel-painted town, all to yourself.
Of course, as is the case with France and Spain, you could also just abandon the mainland. Head to Sardinia and make haste for Cala Goloritze (whose unique "stone forest" landscape is accessible only by hiking) or the castaway La Maddalena archipelago. Or, choose the truly secluded Isola di Stromboli, which seems so remote it'll make you feel like a castaway, even though it's accessible by ferry from Naples.
Should You Visit Croatia, Albania Or Both?
If you've been to Croatia in recent years on a Dalmatian cruise, you might not associate the country with secret beaches. Croatia has exploded in popularity, thanks both to its increasing commonness as a cruise destination, as well as stunning coastal cities like Split and Dubrovnik. While no crowd can fully dim the excitement of walking through the places where "Game of Thrones" was filmed, city beaches along the Dalmatian Coast can be surprisingly crowded.
As is the case elsewhere along the Med, you can find more private places to swim if you know where to look — Mljet Island is a great place to begin. On its eastern end, you find Saplunara Beach, whose soft sands sit on an isolated isthmus that most tourists don't bother visiting. Another awesome Mljet beach is Ropa Beach on the south-central coast — its lack of sand makes its deep, clear waters better for swimming than for sunbathing.
Want to find secluded beaches without as much effort or expense? Head a bit further south along the Balkan Peninsula to Albania. While the tourism infrastructure isn't quite as built up as it is in Croatia, the quality and exclusiveness of the beaches more than makes up for any lack of creature comforts. Palase Beach's powdery sands require you to hike through a coastal national park, while Shpella Lukove's relaxed vibe mirrors those of the small villages near it.
The Truth About The Greek Islands
Speaking of Greece, I want you to try and jettison your image of the country's islands as tourist-filled party hubs where the only sand you see is what's left in your bag after a day at the beach. While it can indeed be hard to find a quiet spot to swim on islands like Mykonos, the reality is that many tourists head to the same places when they visit the Greek Islands. If you venture even a bit off the tourist trail, you may be surprised by how exclusive what you find feels.
Would you believe, for example, that some of the least-crowded beaches in Greece are on the popular island of Santorini? It's true, although it might not seem possible as you're waiting for sunset with the masses in Oia or departing from your cruise ship in Skala.
One of these places is not only less crowded than mainstream beaches in Perissa and Kamari but seems downright otherworldly. As you make your way down to the sands of southern Santorini's "Red Beach," which is known among locals by its Greek name Kokkini Paralia, you might feel like you've found an ocean on Mars, instead of amid the Mediterranean.
For other amazing Mediterranean beaches in Greece, you can of course venture further afield. The coastline of Kos island in particular is stunning — limestone from the cliffs that rise behind its fluorescent waters has crumbled over the centuries into sand that's almost chalky. Crete, likewise, is home to some very private-feeling beaches including Bali Beach and Panormos Beach, the latter of which sits near a charming fishing village of the same name.
Don't have the time or inclination to venture far from tourist areas? Consider booking a late summer cruise in September, so you can enjoy more popular beaches when the summer partiers have returned home to work and study.
The Allure Of The Eastern Med
If you've got the time and curiosity, why not head even deeper into the Mediterranean? Cyprus, a tiny island that punches way above its weight, is a fantastic choice. In fact, you can cruise directly to Ayia Napa, from which the seemingly private beaches like Glyki Nero and Sirens Beach are easy to reach. Keep in mind that while sandy Sirens Beach feels legitimately deserted, you'll achieve real seclusion at Glyki Nero only amid the "sea caves" you have to swim to.
The journey to reach Cyprus might take longer than for more typical beach destinations in the Med. However, the reward you find once you get there is so amazing you might wonder if what you see before you is even real.
Indeed, it might surprise you to learn that some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean are technically outside of mainland Europe. Turkey is a great example of this. While the powdery sands that rise up out of the cerulean Öludeniz Blue Lagoon are anything but off-the-beaten-path, many beaches not far from popular Turkish coastal cities like Fethiye and Antalya feel almost abandoned.
Kidrak Beach, whose water and sand are the same color as you find in Öludeniz, feels hours away from its more popular sister beach, in spite of being less than a mile down the road. Cirali Beach near Antalya, on the other hand, requires a long drive down an impossibly steep road, so it's no wonder that its perfectly white sands are as empty as they are, in spite of the ruins of nearby Olympos being a stone's throw away.
If you're feeling more adventurous you could even head to Israel, where the beaches just off the Roman ruins of Caeserea seem like they haven't been touched since at least the time of the last emperors. Lebanon, too, offers amazing beaches, namely the Palm Island Nature Reserves, accessible via an easy boat trip from the city of Tripoli. While most of Egypt's best beaches are not on the Med but on the Red Sea, tiny Tunisia boasts some amazing, quiet coastlines, including Tabarka and Barkoukech Beaches, whose sugary sands look as if no one has ever walked along them.
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