In third place is Zlatni Rat Beach, better known as the Golden Horn.
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Frequent heatwaves and almost constant high temperatures have kept beaches across Europe packed this summer. If you're tired of fighting to find a spot on the sand or a place to swim in the sea, a study by Hungarian airline Wizz Air can point you in the direction of Europe's least crowded beaches.
The company analyzed over 50 European countries and their most popular beaches, and used a formula to estimate how much space each beach offers per person: measure the area of the beach, divide it by the size of a beach towel, then divide that by the average number of visitors per day.
“While most people are familiar with Europe's iconic beach resorts such as Ibiza, Tenerife and the Algarve, there are countless coastal destinations that are lesser known to travellers,” says Andras Rado, the airline's head of public relations. “From the secluded coves of Croatia to the hidden sandy beaches of Albania, there are plenty of lesser-known beach spots where you can relax away from the crowds.”
Albania has some of the least crowded beaches in Europe
The study rated Durres Beach, located in Albania's historic city of Durres, as the least crowded of the beaches surveyed. Despite being one of Albania's most popular coastal spots, it has a laid-back atmosphere. Wizz Air calculates that there is enough space for just under 65 beach towels per visitor.
The study rated Durres Beach, located in the historic Albanian city of Durres, as the least crowded beach of those surveyed.
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Albania is a popular destination for travelers looking for lesser known scenery in 2024. The country has plenty of wild nature to explore and it’s affordable too.
Camber Sands is the least crowded beach in the UK
Coming in second on Wizz Air's list of quietest beaches is Camber Sands in East Sussex, England. Known for its vast sandy beach that stretches for about five miles along the English Channel, Camber Sands is spacious enough to accommodate up to 61 beach towels per person, giving you plenty of room to relax.
Coming in second on Wizz Air's ranking is Camber Sands in East Sussex, England.
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Thanks to its growing popularity on TikTok, Camber Sands has become increasingly popular with locals and tourists, especially Londoners looking for a quick escape from the city.
The least crowded beaches in Croatia and France
Coming in third is Zlatni Rat Beach, colloquially known as the Golden Horn. This iconic beach in Bol, Brac island, Croatia, is known for its distinctive, horn-shaped sandbar of golden pebbles that stretches into the turquoise Adriatic Sea.
Zlatni Rat Beach, Golden Horn or Golden Cape, Bol town, Brac island near Split, Croatia. Gravel … (+) Adriatic beach, pine trees and turquoise waters on a sunny summer day.
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Although it's a popular destination attracting visitors from all over the world, its size and coastline leave it spacious and it feels less crowded than some of Croatia's smaller, busier beaches – in fact, beachgoers are allowed 54 towels per person.
In fourth place is Borsh Beach in Albania, one of the country's longest and most beautiful beaches, which according to calculations has space for 43 beach towels per person. In fifth place is Plage de Pampelonne in Ramatuelle on the French Riviera, with space for just under 34 beach towels per person.
