According to The Serbian Economist, Mogren Beach in Budva, Montenegro, took first place in the European Beach Index 2026, compiled by experts from the British service Quotezone.co.uk. It outperformed beaches in Cyprus, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, and other European countries thanks to its combination of warm sea, affordable prices, and proximity to the airport.
When compiling the index, analysts took into account the average water and air temperatures in July, the number of five-star reviews, the cost of a three-day hotel stay, the minimum price of draft beer, and the distance from the nearest airport. Points were awarded to beaches for each indicator, and the total score determined their final ranking.
The average water temperature near Mogren Beach in July is 25.5 degrees, and the average air temperature is 26.7 degrees. The researchers estimated the average cost of a three-day stay in the Budva area at 194.56 pounds sterling, and the minimum price of draft beer at 1.29 pounds. The distance to the nearest airport is about 22 km. At the time of data collection, the beach had 479 five-star reviews.
Second place went to Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, which had topped the previous ranking. It outperforms Mogren in terms of temperature: the water here warms up to an average of 27.4 degrees, and the air to 28.9 degrees. However, a three-day stay is more expensive—approximately 318.85 pounds.
Playa de Maspalomas on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria came in third. The beach has garnered over 5,000 five-star reviews, but the average cost of a three-day stay reached 365.97 pounds. Fourth place went to Irakli Beach in Bulgaria, where the lowest price for beer among the ranking’s participants was recorded—0.88 pounds.
Rounding out the top ten were Elafonissi in Crete, Praia da Falésia in Portugal’s Algarve, Zlatni Rat on the Croatian island of Brač, and La Pelosa in Sardinia. Bournemouth Beach in England took ninth place, while Palombaggia in Corsica came in last.
Quotezone representative Helen Rolf noted that tourists are increasingly seeking destinations that combine pleasant weather, picturesque coastlines, and affordable vacation costs. According to the study’s authors, Montenegro was able to outrank more well-known resorts primarily due to relatively low costs and Mogren’s convenient location near Budva.
Data from Tripadvisor, Budget Your Trip, Numbeo, and climate and mapping services were used to calculate the index. Each country was represented by one popular beach, so the ranking reflects a comparison of a specific sample of ten destinations, rather than all of Europe’s beaches.
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