Europe's 'cleanest beach' in popular seaside town loved by British tourists

This blue flag-certified beach has been named one of Europe’s cleanest beach and is loved by British tourists thanks to the activities and services on offer. 

The beach has been awarded its blue flag year after year, an exceptional feat since all are usually withdrawn at the end of the season, ensuring that all beaches are constantly living up to the criteria.

With over 600 blue flag beaches, Spain won a Guinness World Record in 2022 for the most certified beaches and has held the record for two consecutive years.

One of the cleanest and most beautiful is found in the southern resort town of Nerja. This beach possessed the Q for Tourist Quality - a recognition granted by the Spanish Institute for Tourism Quality to tourism establishments that comply with the quality standards established in the Spanish Tourism Quality System - in 2016. 

Burriana beach, at 800 metres long and 40 metres wide, is home to dark-golden sand and has rental sun-loungers, well-maintained toilets, a scuba diving area and even a library.

It is also bordered by a parade of souvenir stands, shops and restaurants. Its eateries range from typical Spanish restaurants with fried fish and wood-fired paella, to pizzerias and even an Indian restaurant. There are also numerous ice cream parlours and kiosks. 

Its services include lifeguards, showers and telephones and has been fully adapted for disabled people. It is the only beach you can access directly from the Parador de Turismo in Nerja via their lift. Paddle boats can be rented, as well as experiencing jet-skiing or riding the “banana” boat. It is also recommended to take a parasailing tour, which will allow you to take in the incredible views for 12 minutes. 

Its moderate waves make for excellent swimming conditions. Its wind is often gentle and mild, with temperatures in the late 20s to 30℃. 

While the area is quite built up behind it, with four and five-storey buildings, further development has been prevented thanks to the surrounding cliffs. Thanks to its available amenities, it is popular among those who enjoy a lively holiday. 

The beach is also less than a mile from the town of Nejra, which is steeped in rich history, with unique architecture, museums and caves to explore. The beach can be accessed via bus from Nerja during peak months, otherwise parking is available nearby, with the free street parking filling up quickly in the mornings. However, most people opt to walk from the town. 

Ravings about the beach on Tripadvisor are numerous. One said: “ It took us half an hour to walk there and we weren't disappointed. It has the right mix of beach, water sports, prom side restaurants and shops and good toilets”. 

Another added: “This beach was spotless clean, there were lots of places to rent lounge chairs with parasols, lots of wonderful places to eat, rentals of all sorts for waters sports, and clear beautiful water”. 

One avid traveller even said: “We are lucky enough to travel extensively, but this would be one of our favourite places anywhere. Compact and beautiful”. 

The coveted Blue Flag programme, run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Copenhagen, is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary awards for beaches, marinas and tourism boats, awarded based on criteria including water quality, environmental, educational and safety-related and access-related litmus tests. These requirements must be maintained by operators. The accolade guarantees stunning beauty as well as a commitment to sustainability and top-notch amenities.

An international jury made up of FEE, UNESCO, the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) among others, carry out the evaluation of applications and decide which beaches to award the Blue Flag for the season. To date, 5038 beaches, marinas and boats across 51 countries have been certified.