Omio ranks Spain's Benidorm and Cíes beaches as top in Europe for 2026

Omio has released its 2026 annual ranking of the best European beaches, evaluating 75 coastal destinations on affordability and overall beach experience. The methodology combines the average cost of accommodation, sun‑bed and umbrella hire, typical summer items such as ice‑cream, iced coffee and a Spritz, visitor ratings, Blue Flag certification, water and air temperatures, and an estimate of tourist density.

Spain secured the two leading spots: Playa de Poniente in Benidorm was named the best‑value beach in Europe, with sun‑beds and umbrellas starting at €6, ice‑cream at €1.70, a Spritz at €7.20, and average accommodation around €100 per night in high season. The second place went to Playa de Rodas in the Cíes Islands, offering similar affordability with nightly stays near €85 and a Blue Flag designation.

Other countries represented in the top ten include Italy, France, Montenegro, Croatia and Germany, but Spain’s dominance highlights its diverse coastal offerings from lively urban shores to protected Atlantic islands.