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Methodology

How we research and compare beaches.

Our Editorial Philosophy

The best beach depends on who is going, the wind that day, how you are travelling and the month. We compare beaches using cited sources, then explain the tradeoffs.

How We Compare Beaches

Recommendations consider these criteria and explain their limits:

  1. 1

    Beach character

    Sand or pebbles, shelter, water depth and how busy it tends to be.

  2. 2

    Access

    Walking paths, buses, boats and parking as published by operators and tourism offices.

  3. 3

    Facilities

    Lidos, sunbeds, lifeguards and toilets where a source documents them.

  4. 4

    Evidence

    Cite factual claims and identify unsupported or uncertain details.

What We Don't Rank By

Understanding what we explicitly exclude matters for trust.

  • ✗Affiliate commission rates
  • ✗Paid placement
  • ✗Invented visits
  • ✗Unverified guarantees

Where Our Data Comes From

Our recommendations synthesize multiple signal types. We prioritize signals in this order:

  1. 1. Tourism offices and official listings

    Municipal and regional tourism pages, Blue Flag and bathing-water listings

  2. 2. Operators

    Bus, ferry and boat operators, lidos and beach clubs

  3. 3. Attributed reporting

    Published context with an identifiable source and date

Handling Uncertainty

When a source doesn't confirm a detail, the guide says so and points you to the operator or tourism page to check. We'd rather be clear about what is published than guess.

Read our editorial policy for the scope and limits of article review.