A “stunning” beach in southern Croatia once identified as the country’s most beautiful has been named one of Europe’s best this year.

Beaches from 16 European destinations were considered by BookRetreats based on their popularity, safety, water quality, typical weather conditions and how accessible they are.

Europe’s best beach in 2024 is La Concha Beach, San Sebastian, Spain, accroding to the ranking, with Praia da Falésia, Portugal, in second place.

Pasjača Beach, Croatia, comes in third, above La Canteras Beach, Spain and Lama Monchile, Italy, in the top five.

Croatia’s top ranking beach is about 17 miles (28km) away from Dubrovnik and about a 20 minute walk from the village of Popovići.

According to Olivia Loren, writing in the Inspired by Croatia blog, Pasjača Beach is an 80 metre long stretch of sandy shore beneath a “stunning” backdrop of cliffs.

It was voted Croatia’s most beautiful beach in 2019 and remains a “hidden gem”, according to the blogger, who hailed its remoteness and tranquility.

There are no public transport links to the beach, with car or taxi recommended by Ms Loren, or hiring a skipper to take you down the coast in a private boat.

From the top of the cliffs, it’s a hike down to the beach, with the first part of the path paved and the rest a rocky, dirt path.

July can be busy, but June and August are less so, according to Ms Loren, who noted it is a small beach which can get crowded in busy periods.

Other beaches appearing in the rankings are Cala Comte, Spain, Tuerredda Beach, Italy, Seagull’s Rocks, Croatia, Mala Raduča Beach, Croatia, Marinha Beach, Portugal, San Juan Playa, Spain, and Rabbit Beach, Italy.

Spain dominates the ranking with seven Spanish beaches listed, Portugal took six spots and Croatia has four in the top 25.

Only one beach in Greece is listed – Seitan Limania in Crete – with Germany also seeing one of its sandy spots appear in the top 25, Warnemünde Strand, near Rostock.

The best beaches for swimmers, according to the ranking, are in Cyprus, Greece and Croatia. More than 95 percent of all bathing sites in these countries reported excellent water quality.

Sunbathers will be best served by the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily, with an average monthly peak temperature in summer of 33C, according to BookRetreats.

It also found Denmark, Ireland and Portugal are among the five safest European coastal countries in the world.