Spain is home to countless beautiful beaches attracting both locals and holidaymakers to their sparkling shorelines, but there is one beach in particular which has been named among “Europe‘s best beach destinations” for 2024.
Travel insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk created the 2024 European Beach Index to help travellers find their ideal beach holiday destination, and Maspalomas Beach (Playa de Maspalomas) was the only Spanish beach to make the top 10 list.
The beach is located on the Spanish archipelago of Gran Canaria – the largest of the Canary Islands.
Nestled on the southern part of Gran Canaria, the region is known for its glorious weather and is “one of the most visited sections of coastline in Europe”, according to Turismo de Gran Canaria.
Maspalomas Beach spans 400 hectares and is home to magnificent golden sand dunes which are one of the main draws of the beach. However, the vast size of the beach means there is plenty of room to set up for a day sunbathing and splashing in the sea.
The waters are relatively calm, making it a great beach destination for holidaymakers hoping to swim or paddle. The climate also means that the waters are warm throughout the year, and Gran Canaria’s mild weather means that it’s not uncommon to see people taking a dip even in the autumn and winter months.
Posting a review to Tripadvisor, a previous visitor who spent a day at the beach in August 2023, said: “The dunes make it. Let’s face it you are there because of the dunes. The beach itself is okay. Wavy and full of sand so it’s not clear. It’s a bit shallow at the beginning so that was nice.
“The way the waves come in leaves a nice pattern. You can walk and walk and hit the dunes. There are shops and [restaurants] close by.” [SIC]
The beach is also fantastic for long seaside walks, although it’s worth noting that nudists mingle on certain parts of the beach. A traveller from the UK left a review on Tripadvisor in October 2023 stating: “Long beach with huge dunes as the backdrop. Spotlessly clean with grey sand.
“I walked from Playa de Ingles to Meloneras which takes about an hour. Expect to see nudists mingling with you as you set off to Meloneras.
“I didn’t swim but there were plenty of people in the water. There are a couple of bars on the beach should you need refreshments. Take a walk into the dunes as they are amazing.” [SIC]