Ever wondered what the stretch of sand beneath your sun lounger is actually worth?While most of Europe’s beaches are free to visit, some sit beside property markets where land prices soar into the hundreds of millions.And one glamorous French Riviera beach has emerged as Europe’s most valuable – with a price tag that could buy a staggering number of luxury villas.Research by luxury villa holiday specialists CV Villas has revealed the estimated value of Europe’s most expensive beaches.Pampelonne, a three-and-a-half-kilometre stretch of sand just along the coast from Saint-Tropez, takes the top spot with an eye-watering estimated land value of €843 million (£720 million). Pampelonne has been ranked as Europe’s most valuable beachThere’s good news for Britons seeking a taste of paradise – it’s just a two-hour flight from London Heathrow to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. From there, it’s around a 90-minute drive to the beach itself.Pampelonne is closely associated with Saint-Tropez’s glamorous image. Its pale sand became a symbol of Riviera glitz in the 1950s. The beach clubs located along it, including the popular Club 55, still draw a summer crowd that arrives as much by yacht as by road.Today, travellers can swim in its clear water and enjoy a glamorous lunch barefoot at a beach club. Behind the sun loungers are some of the most expensive coastal properties in Europe, which is what carries it to the top of the ranking. The sandy stretch has an estimated land value of €843 million (£720 million)Second in Europe is Praia da Falésia, a five-kilometre stretch near Albufeira backed by rust-coloured cliffs and pines. Visitors come for long walks beneath the cliffs and warm water, and it is a favourite with families. Its length is a big part of its value here: even at lower Algarve property prices, a beach this substantial pushes them up.Third in the list of most valuable beaches in Europe is Playa Bolonia near Tarifa, Andalucía. The Spanish beach is known for its huge natural dune and for the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia at one of its ends. It sits within a protected natural park, which keeps the coastline as unspoilt as possible. Travellers can climb the dune for sweeping views and wander the ruins, then cool off in the Atlantic Ocean.Rounding out the top five are Ölüdeniz in Turkey and Alzada Beach in Spain. In second place is Portugal’s mammoth Praia da FalésiaEurope’s 15 most valuable beaches 1. Pampelonne Beach, France, €843 million (£720 million)2. Praia da Falésia, Portugal, €573.2 million, (£489 million)3. Playa Bolonia, Spain, €364.9 million (£311 million)4. Ölüdeniz, Turkey, €113.2 million (£96 million)5. Alzada Beach, Spain, €104.4 million (£89 million)6. Palombaggia, France, €64.9 million (£55 million)7. Jaz Beach, Montenegro, €64.1 million (£54.8 million)8. Cala Brandinchi, Italy, €50.6 million (£43 million) 9. Positano Beach (Spiaggia Grande), Italy, €49.3 million (£42 million)10. Lotu Beach, France,€40.1 million (£34 million)11. Ses Illetes, Spain, €39.3 million (£33.6 million)12. Zlatni Rat, Croatia,€33.8 million (£29 million)13. Elafonissi Beach, Greece, €26 million (£22 million)14. Plavi Horizonti, Montenegro, €22 million (£18.8 million)15. Cala dei Gabbiani, Italy, €17.6 million (£15 million) Source: CV Villas <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/travel/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
Hannah Marshall, luxury travel destination expert and marketing manager at CV Villas, said: ‘Everyone has a beach that means something to them, so there’s something fun about seeing what those stretches of sand might be ‘worth’ if you valued them like the land behind them.’What comes through is how much location drives the figure: a beach in St-Tropez carries a value that a quieter shore – even just as beautiful – simply won’t.’It’s a good reminder that the pull of a favourite beach comes down to how it makes you feel. ‘The good news is that spending a day on the world’s most valuable sand costs nothing at all.’