Dreaming of tropical sunsets and crystal clear waters? It turns out you don’t have to travel far, as this gorgeous Spanish island boasts one of Europe’s best beaches
If you aren’t able to jet off to your dream tropical paradise this year then don’t worry – this top-rated Spanish beach looks just like an equatorial dream. Complete with hazy sunsets, crystal clear water and a silken stretch of sand it’s a mere two hours away from Britain.
Often referred to as Ibiza’s “discrete little sister”, Formentera is one of Spain’s sun-soaked Balearic islands, located just a ferry ride away from the coast of Barcelona. The little island boasts over 40 miles of coastline, filled with long beaches, charming coves and idyllic views. But the most beautiful of these is undoubtedly Playa de Ses Illetes.
The stunning location was recently featured in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Beaches for 2025, ranking in the top 20 European beaches. And for good reason. The pure azure water and the soft white-gold sand make the beach look like the backdrop of a Bond film.
Just some of the beach’s distinctive features include its several small islets, which sit just metres from the shoreline. The sand bed remains soft and shallow, even as you wade deeper in, making it perfect for those who aren’t strong swimmers. Adding even more to its unique charm, Playa de Ses Illetes is also sometimes referred to as the pink beach, named so for the crushed coral dust that sometimes gives sections of the sand a pink hue.
Despite its popularity, the beach has retained a relatively wild and untouched appearance, making you feel as though you have truly wandered into a secret paradise. This is largely thanks to the lack of rental sunbeds clogging up the space.
According to one Tripadvisor review: “Probably the most beautiful beach of Ibiza and Formentera combined. The landscape is more than sublime mixing white sand and a crystalline Mediterranean sea giving an impression of the end of the world, at the edge of Europe. The month of April is perfect to go there, the water is not too fresh, the temperature is pleasant and especially the tourists are absent from these deserted beaches.”
Of course, it offers more than just a scenic place to lie down and relax. Adventure-seekers will be excited to discover the wide selection of water sports on offer, including windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, paddle-boarding and snorkeling. Alternatively, you can also rent a canoe or catamaran to explore the nearby uninhabited of Espalmador.
The beach is also relatively accessible, lying in wait just a 10 minute drive or moped ride away from the nearby resort of Es Pujols. The best way to get to Formentera from the UK is to fly to Ibiza and then hop on a ferry which should take about 35 minutes.
