Europe's best and worst European coastal destinations ranked by Which?

Europe’s best and worst coastal destinations ranked by Which? – with Valencia No.1 and Mykonos BOTTOM (so which is YOUR favourite continental seaside spot?)

• Valencia scores five stars for beaches and is the only Spanish destination with top marks in value for money
• Mykonos has an unimpressive overall score of 58 per cent, with just three stars for its seafront and marina
• READ MORE: Full steam ahead! Champagne, sumptuous seats, delicious food – English rail travel at its finest

The European coastal destinations that Britons love the most – and the least – in 2023 have been revealed by Which? – and it’s Valencia in Spain that comes top, and Mykonos in Greece that’s ranked bottom.

The consumer champion recently asked more than 3,500 members to rate their experiences of 44 coastal towns and cities across Europe.

Locations were marked on 12 criteria – the town’s beach; seafront or marina; food and drink; accommodation; tourist attractions; attractiveness; shopping; entertainment; peace and quiet; safety; friendliness; and value for money.

Spanish port city Valencia tops the charts with an impressive destination score of 91 per cent.

Visitors heaped praise on the city’s beaches, said Which?, rating them a full five stars out of five, and it was the only Spanish destination in the survey to score full marks for value for money.

Spanish port city Valencia, pictured, tops the charts in the Which? survey, with an impressive destination score of 91 per cent

Which? recently asked more than 3,500 members to rate their experiences of coastal towns and cities across Europe in the past three years and the results are shown here

It also scores a full five stars for the quality of its tourist attractions, shopping, friendliness, and attractiveness, and scores no less than four stars in any of the remaining categories.

‘A less obvious choice than Barcelona (sixth, 84 per cent), visitors to Valencia felt the benefit of its comparatively lower tourist numbers, with bustling but not overcrowded streets evidenced in its five-star rating for peace and quiet,’ Which? said.

‘It also offers a renowned gastronomic scene and an intriguing mix of historic and futuristic architecture, which one respondent praised as “amazing, even away from the town centre”.’

Tied in second place with destination scores of 88 per cent are Venice and Porto.

Which? said: ‘While the former drew criticism for its hefty prices and crowds, with scores of two stars for value for money and peace and quiet, visitors were nonetheless captivated by the “magical” views and unique architecture.’

It is rated five stars for its attractiveness, and for its tourist attractions, which include the famous St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, and the opportunity to meander through the city’s canals by gondola.

Portugal’s second city, meanwhile, was described as ‘picturesque’ by respondents, and is rated a full five stars for its marina, friendliness and value for money.

Which? said: ‘Often overlooked in favour of the country’s coastal capital Lisbon (joint sixth, 84 per cent), visitors nonetheless felt the town punched well above its weight, and appreciated the city’s “laid-back” energy, with a chic selection of restaurants and bars, as well as its world-renowned bookshop Livraria Lello.’

Tied in second place with destination scores of 88 per cent are Venice, pictured, and Porto. Which? said: ‘While the former drew criticism for its hefty prices and crowds, with scores of two stars for value for money and peace and quiet, visitors were nonetheless captivated by the “magical” views and unique architecture’

Which? said: ‘It might be worth switching a city break in Barcelona or Lisbon for one in Valencia or Porto (pictured) both of which were top rated by visitors’

Tavira, located in Portugal’s Algarve region, finds itself in third place overall with a destination score of 87 per cent and this picture of its beaches suggest why

Among the high-scoring destinations on the Costa del Sol is Nerja (seventh, 83 per cent), pictured here, and described by Which? as ‘a low-rise town of white-washed buildings perched on the cliffside’

‘Praised for its “unspoilt old town”, Estepona (pictured) was awarded five stars for its palm-fringed promenade and for the opportunity to enjoy some peace and quiet,’ Which? said

Tavira, in the Algarve, finds itself in third place overall with a destination score of 87 per cent.

Which? said: ‘One of the Algarve’s most historic towns, it boasts quaint seafood restaurants, independent boutiques and pretty cobbled streets.’

Described by one traveller as ‘beautiful and unspoilt’, respondents rated it five stars for its marina, value for money, friendliness, peace and quiet and safety.

It scores four stars for its attractiveness, quality of its tourist attractions, and food and drink, with multiple respondents praising its ‘excellent restaurants’.

Spain’s Costa Del Sol and Portugal’s Algarve coast accounted for a significant proportion of the most-visited towns, but scores vary significantly.

Among the high-scoring destinations on the Costa del Sol are Nerja (seventh, 83 per cent), described by Which? as ‘a low-rise town of white-washed buildings perched on the cliffside’, and Estepona (joint eighth, 82 per cent).

‘Praised for its “unspoilt old town”, Estepona was awarded five stars for its palm-fringed promenade and for the opportunity to enjoy some peace and quiet, a characteristic not always associated with resorts on the bustling Costa del Sol,’ Which? added.

It also scores four stars for its beach, the quality of the food and drink, accommodation, attractiveness, safety, friendliness and value for money.

Mykonos, seen here, has an unimpressive overall score of 58 per cent, and manages just three stars for its seafront and marina, and just three stars for friendliness. Although, on the positive side, it scores a more respectable four stars for attractiveness

Ranked second from last in the consumer champion’s survey is Fuengirola, pictured, on the Costa del Sol, with a destination score of just 66 per cent

Visitors admired the town’s ‘narrow pedestrianised streets, lined with flower displays bursting with colour, and its numerous murals’.

At the opposite end of the table, Mykonos – despite remaining a popular destination among Brits who flock to its beaches every summer – has an unimpressive overall score of 58 per cent, and manages just three stars for its seafront and marina, and just three stars for friendliness. Although, on the positive side, it scores a more respectable four stars for attractiveness.

Previous reports suggest customer service is not a selling point on the island, which has gained a reputation for rip-off restaurants.

Multiple warnings have been sent out about one venue in particular, DK Oyster Bar, where customers have been charged hundreds of pounds for snacks.

Ranked second from last in the consumer champion’s survey is Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol, with a destination score of just 66 per cent.

‘Beleaguered by high-rise developments right down the beachfront, respondents scored it just two stars for attractiveness,’ Which? said.

Third from last is Portimao, on the Algarve and pictured here, with a score of just 68 per cent. ‘Historically an industrial port town known for shipbuilding and sardine fishing, its commercial roots are still largely visible, and it scored just two stars for attractiveness, and three stars for its seafront,’ Which? commented

The town, which is just a 40-minute drive from one of the highest-rated destinations in the survey, Estepona, achieves a clutch of mediocre three-star ratings in most of the remaining categories, with its highest score of four stars awarded for safety.

Nonetheless, respondents praised its ‘fun, lively atmosphere’ and the feeling that it was ‘a real living town, not just a holiday resort’.

Third from last is Portimao on the Algarve, with a score of just 68 per cent.

‘Historically an industrial port town known for shipbuilding and sardine fishing, its commercial roots are still largely visible, and it scored just two stars for attractiveness, and three stars for its seafront,’ Which? commented.

Nonetheless, visitors praised its friendly feel, giving it five stars, and scored it four stars for the quality of the food and drink, as well as for value for money.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: ‘If you’re planning your next getaway and looking for a slice of sea and sun, our survey results show that it’s well worth looking beyond the biggest name destinations.

‘The Costa Del Sol, for example, has much more to offer beyond its most infamous resorts, with some of the highest-rated spots, such as Nerja and Estepona, having a more laid-back atmosphere compared to the likes of Fuengirola.

‘Meanwhile, it might be worth switching a city break in Barcelona or Lisbon for one in Valencia or Porto, both of which were top rated by visitors.’

The survey was carried out between March and April 2023.

Destination scores are based on a combination of overall satisfaction and how likely people are to recommend the town as a holiday destination.

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