I spent a year traveling to 26 countries. These 3 European beaches are my favorite hidden gems.

Greece, Croatia, and Italy all boast beautiful beaches, but let’s face it: During the summer months, they can absolutely teem with tourists.

I learned this pretty quickly when I spent a year traveling across 26 countries. During this time, I explored all kinds of beaches, from popular tourist spots to hidden gems recommended by locals.

Many of my favorites were off-the-beaten-path spots that were quiet, serene, and relatively free of crowds. Here are the three underrated beaches I’d recommend to anyone planning a summer trip to Europe.

Kašjuni Beach was the best beach I visited in Split, Croatia.

I came upon Kašjuni Beach while hiking through Split’s Marjan Park. I made it to the top of the Marjan Park Viewpoint, then checked Google Maps and noticed a beach near the end of my trail.

After such an arduous hike, a dip in the Adriatic Sea sounded perfect. When I arrived, I found a stunning beach with crystal-clear water nestled between a peninsula of rock formations.

There was a small tiki bar that provided drinks and light bites, and the cost was much more affordable than other beach bars I’d visited across Europe.

I had the option to rent a beach chair, but opted to lie on the white sand instead. The beach wasn’t crowded at all during my visit, and the water was so clear that I could see schools of colorful fish swimming beneath my feet.

I learned about the magical Kalogeros Beach from a local in Paros, Greece.

I spent 10 days in Greece following a careful itinerary I’d made with my sister. However, on our last day, we decided to be a little more spontaneous.

A friendly shop owner in Naousa, a village in Paros, recommended we visit Kalogeros Beach — so, we rented a car and drove to the other side of the island to do just that.

One of the coolest things about this beach is the signature gray clay that sticks to the cliffs. Once we arrived, we saw fellow beachgoers coat themselves in the mud before washing themselves off in the clear Mediterranean water.

There wasn’t a beach club or restaurant, and the beach itself felt quiet and sparse. We felt like locals as we created our own DIY mud masks and cooled off in the clear, cold water.

Many of Cinque Terre’s beaches were crowded, but I loved how calm Spiaggia Del Paese felt.

I’d visited Cinque Terre before, and mostly spent time at the beach clubs in Monterosso. However, on this most recent trip, I wanted to find somewhere a little more remote.

A long walk through the five towns led me to Spiaggia Del Paese, a small beach in Riomaggiore.

People were sunbathing on the soft and colorful stones, but I was excited to find that there was still lots of space for me — a welcome change from the sardine-like crowds of some other Cinque Terre beaches.

I took a swim in the heavily-salted water and floated for hours while gazing at the Cinque Terre landscape. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll definitely ditch the beach clubs and head here first.

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