The best places for snorkelling Europe

The best places for snorkelling Europe

European snorkelling destinations

If you’re new to snorkelling or you’re looking for places to snorkel in Europe with your kids, there are some pockets of loveliness across the continent. Snorkelling in Europe is very different to snorkeling in Egypt or the Maldives but there are big marine creatures in our waters as well as a good range of fish and glorious swaying kelp forests.

Where do you think are the best places for snorkelling in Europe? Let me know in the comments at the end of this article.

This page contains affiliate links which means if you click and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay.

Unless your kids are lucky enough to have visited far-flung destinations already, they will be wowed by what they discover beneath the waves. I still remember experiencing the beauty of the underwater world when I first tried snorkelling in Europe. Just being beneath the surface in clear water is a wonderful experience. The changes in sound, space and colour are mesmerising. Although well-travelled parents might find snorkelling in Europe underwhelming, seeing it through your children’s eyes will be a wonderful experience.

There are lots of organised snorkelling trips in Europe. It’s worth doing a bit of research to find a good one with environmental credentials. By going on an organised trip, you’ll be taken to the right snorkeling spots, you’re more likely to see exciting sea creatures and you’ll learn a lot more in the process.

You will see a pattern in this list of snorkelling spots in Europe – most of these European snorkelling destinations are rocky islands. Here in the UK, you can swim over forests of kelp and hunt for sea creatures hidden amid the swaying vegetation. There are seals and dolphins to look out for and – if you’re very lucky – basking sharks to spot.

However, you don’t have to hop on a boat to a rocky outcrop to find beauty beneath the waves. I have very happy memories of spending hours snorkelling off the coast of Calabria when I was a student in Italy. My kids enjoyed checking out what was beneath the surface of the rivers in Corsica a couple of summers ago (not a lot as it transpired, but the water was crystal clear so they loved it). But, I also spent a lot of time under the water during a stay on the island of Lampedusa off the coast of Sicily and I’ve heard good things about snorkelling around the Tremiti islands in Puglia. So overall, I think you do need to make a bit of an effort to seek out good snorkelling in Europe.

Obviously this list of some of the best snorkeling spots in Europe is by no means exhaustive – it’s a list of suggestions, of which there are many more. I’ve drawn on the places I’ve visited as well as recommendations from friends, family and travel partners. If you have any suggestions of the best places to snorkel in Europe, please get in touch.

Anywhere in Europe which has clear waters and a rocky, rather than sandy, bottom, is going to be a good spot for snorkelling.

Looking for beach holidays in Europe? Read my article about the best beach towns in Europe.

Where to snorkel in the UK

If you’re not sure where in the UK to visit for a family beach holiday, check out my article about family friendly beach breaks across the UK.

Isles of Scilly snorkel with seals

My brother was lucky enough to book onto a seal snorkelling trip during a stay in the Scilly Isles. These trips sell out fast (I didn’t manage to go during my visit to the islands), so it’s worth booking as soon as you’ve secured your accommodation.

Seal looking at the camera underwater, best places to snorkel in Europe
Seal snorkelling on the Isles of Scilly, copyright Seal Snorkelling Adventures

There’s just one outfit offering this experience, Seal Snorkelling Adventures. As this is open water swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, participants need to be aged 12 minimum. Thick wetsuits are included in the price – the water is very chilly! I’ve swum with seals elsewhere (by chance), and it is a really incredible experience seeing these creatures up close.

Considering a trip to the Isles of Scilly? Read my guide here.

Prussia Cove snorkelling, Cornwall

This collection of three rocky coves – Piskies, Bessys and Kings, near Penzance is a well known snorkelling and diving spot in Cornwall. It is a good five to 10 minutes walk from the car park and there are no facilities or lifeguard so it remains less visited than other popular areas of Cornwall. You can snorkel straight off the beach (at high tide the beach disappears) and discover wrasse, lobster and jelly fish amid the rocks and kelp.

Snorkelling spot in Cornwall
Prussia Cove in Cornwall, Photo by Graham Powell-Wood on Unsplash

Children will no doubt be enthralled by the tales of smugglers and ship wreckers which abound in this area of Cornwall.

Read my article about things to do in Cornwall with kids.

Lundy Island snorkelling with seals in Devon

There are several outfits which offer visitors to North Devon the opportunity to swim with seals at Lundy Island. As well as this, you can also book onto a more general guided snorkel session with the Landmark Trust – the island is owned by the National Trust but managed by the Landmark Trust.

Lundy Island snorkelling in Devon
Lundy Island, copyright Tara McEvoy-Wilding

Boat trips to the island depart from Ilfracombe.

Kimmeridge Bay snorkel trail in Dorset

Visitors to the Jurassic Coast are in for a treat. At Kimmeridge Bay there’s a snorkel trail, with buoys to help direct you, set up by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. There’s also a visitor centre if you prefer to learn about the sea from dry land.

Snorkelling spot in Dorset
Kimmeridge Bay, Image by Roman Grac from Pixabay

The self-guided snorkel trail – around 400 metres – takes swimmers through a variety of habitats including sandy seabed, rocky reef and Japanese seaweed garden. There’s a really useful video on the website showing you what to expect at each section of the trail.

Find out more about the Kimmeridge Bay snorkelling trail

Where to snorkel on the Pembrokeshire coast

Obviously, Pembrokeshire covers quite a wide area of Wales. The areas which are particularly good for snorkelling in Pembrokeshire include St Brides Haven, Martins Haven and black sand Abereiddi beach.

Keen divers and snorkellers come to Pembrokeshire in May and June to witness the mating spider crabs at Stackpole Quay. Piled on top of one another in huge numbers, the males can be up to a metre across.

If you fancy a boat trip out into deeper water to try to spot some of the larger inhabitants of Pembrokeshire’s waters, I think Celtic Deep sounds like a good outfit. I have not used them but they get some good online reviews and have some decent environmental credentials. Their trips include swimming with blue sharks and visits to Skomer Island.

Best places to snorkel in Spain

Jablillo Beach, Lanzarote

If you’re wondering where to snorkel in the Canary Islands, I’ve read positive reviews about Jabillo Beach on the south east of Lanzarote.

Jabillo has a breakwater so it’s a good option for families. This is a popular spot for both diving and snorkelling on Lanzarote.

Illes Medes, Catalonia

The Medes Islands are located off the Costa Brava in northern Spain. Reached via boat from the port of l’Estartit, this protected marine area is a popular spot for both divers and snorkelers. There are glass bottom boat trips available too should you prefer to keep a bit of distance between you and the water.

Read my review of visiting the Costa Brava with kids.

Best snorkelling in Italy

Where are the best places to snorkel in Italy? Italy has many rocky islands surrounded by waters with crystal clear visibility. Parts of Italy’s mainland also have some excellent sections for snorkelling – and they’re often away from the crowds too. I loved snorkelling in Calabria and I’ve heard good things about the little stretch of coastal Basilicata, near the pretty town of Maratea.

I’ve written rather a lot about Italy snorkelling destinations as it’s the place (aside from the UK) that I am most familiar with. I spent a lot of time in the sea when I lived there as a student!

For more on Italy, start with my guide to Italy for families which has links to lots of ideas for young and old alike.

Tremiti Islands in Puglia

This archipelago 22 kilometres off the northern coast of Puglia is one of Italy’s most rewarding hidden gems. Rocky and pockmarked with caves, the five Tremiti islands are popular with both divers and snorkelers. Beneath the waves are shipwrecks and a submerged statue (these are more accessible with a tank than a snorkel) but also sea caves and an impressive array of marine life.

snorkellers in Italy by rockss in the sea
Snorkelling at the Tremiti Islands, copyright Marlin Tremiti

There are plenty of boats plying the Tremiti islands, taking visitors on snorkelling and diving excursions. For those who prefer to stay dry, glass bottom boats open up a window onto the crystal clear waters below.

For more on the Tremiti islands, check out my guide to Puglia or read my article about Italy hidden gems for more off the beaten track destinations.

Isola d’Elba in Tuscany

The island of Elba looks a bit like a fish swimming away from the coast of Tuscany towards the northern end of Sardinia. It’s a great island to combine with a few days in Pisa or Florence if you fancy a mix of culture and beach from your Italian summer holiday.

Elba has both sandy and rocky beaches and there are countless spots for snorkelling. In the north is Capo Sant’Andrea, a area popular with both snorkellers and divers. In the south, there are various areas which are best reached on an organised boat trip – if you’re not keen on diving but want to swim close to a shipwreck, the 1970s Elviscot wreck sits in shallow waters off the south west coast of the island, near Pomonte.

Snorkelling in Calabria

I have great memories of spending hours snorkelling off the coast of Calabria back when I was a student in Italy. You can snorkel off the beach at the popular seaside town of Tropea or head a little further south to the rocky coastline around Capo Vaticano.

Another good spot in Calabria which I have yet to visit is Scilla. This little fishing village sits astride a rocky spur close to the Straits of Messina, near Sicily. It’s another good under the radar destination in Italy for snorkellers and divers.

Lo Zingaro, Sicily

This protected nature reserve in western Sicily is lauded for its scenic hiking trails. In spring the landscape is covered with wild flowers. There is a series of rocky coves to explore along the trails – ideal for a refreshing dip if you’re visiting in warmer months.

It is a remote spot and once you set out on foot there are no facilities so it’s essential to carry enough water for your trip. For this reason, some visitors choose to take a boat to the best snorkelling (and diving) spots along the Zingaro coast.

Such is the popularity of this area of Sicily, you can take day trips from as far afield as Cefalu. Most boats depart from Catellammare del Golfo and San Vito Lo Capo.

Favignana, Egadi Islands, Sicily

The waters around Favignana, are a particularly vivid shade of turquoise. Favignana is one of the Egadi Islands which can be reached from the port of Trapani in western Sicily. The islands are popular for holidaying Italians but less well know to international visitors. Snorkellers might come across their future dinner while swimming beneath the waves – octopus is regularly spotted along with wrasse and sea bream.

There are lots of rocky coves to explore – those closest to the main town, such as scenic Cala Rossa, can get busy with day trippers so it’s worth heading to the western side of the island for a more tranquil swimming experience. There are plenty of boat trips which bring swimmers to the more remote and less easy to reach spots – definitely worth considering.

Ustica island, Sicily

Ustica is a tiny island lying off the north coast of Sicily, a journey of around 1.5 hours by ferry. The island is popular with divers who come here for the volcanic rock formations, caves and abundant marine life – sections of the coastline of Ustica are a protected marine area.

Best snorkelling in Italy, rocky island of Ustica
Ustica, Sicily, Photo by Giuseppe Gallo on Unsplash

The island is best explored by boat – visitors can hire their own boat or go on an organised trip. Some of the dive companies on Ustica take snorkellers as well as divers.

Lampedusa Island

The Italian island of Lampedusa is where I first discovered the joys of swimming under water in the sea. It has some fantastic beaches and a fun atmosphere.

Much of the southern coast of Lampedusa is a protected marine area including Spiaggia dei Conigli (rabbit beach) which is joined by a ribbon of sand to the islet Isola dei Conigli. This is the most well known area of Lampedusa for snorkelling.

Best snorkeling in Croatia

There are plenty of great places to snorkel in Croatia – as usual, the key is to head for the rocky islands where the waters are particularly clear. As with Greece, you’ll often find that boat trips are the best way to find good snorkeling spots in Croatia, taking visitors to the harder to reach coves and caves along the coastline.

Brijuni National Park

When I was researching snorkelling spots in Croatia, one of the places which sounded most interesting was the Brijuni National Park, an archipelago a mile from the south western side of the Istrian Peninsula. Although this collection of islands is more well known as the summer residence of former Yugoslav ruler Tito, the seas hide the remains of a Roman villa which can be viewed on a guided snorkelling trip.

Mljet, near Dubrovnik

I also like the sound of Mljet National Park – the island of Mljet is a popular destination for hiking, cycling and swimming. It has two saltwater lakes linked by a narrow channel and the clear water is good for snorkelling.

Zavratnica Bay, near Rab island

Croatia is famous for the many shipwrecks which can be found in this part of the Adriatic. Some are more suited to divers but there are a few sitting only a few metres below the surface making them ideal for snorkelers. If you fancy heading off the beaten track, an accessible wreck for snorkelers on the mainland coast can be found at Zavratnica, a couple of hours drive north of Zadar. The wreck – a German cargo ship from WWII – can be reached from the little town of Jablanac, around 30 minutes’ scenic walk away.

Best snorkeling in Greece

There’s a great selection of snorkelling spots in Greece, both on the mainland and across the many Greek islands. What follows is some of the reports I’ve come across but there are of course many, many more.

Considering a family trip to Greece? Read my guide to Greece with kids if you’re not sure where to start.

Zakynthos

The island of Zakynthos, or Zante, is well known for the loggerhead turtles (also known as caretta caretta) who come to lay their eggs on some of the protected beaches in the south of the island. There are plenty of boat trips taking visitors out to some of the islets and caves around the south coast. Snorkellers sometimes get lucky and swim with turtles in this part of Zakynthos.

Rocky coastline of Zakynthos in Greece with white cliffs and blue sea. best places for snorkelling in Europe
Zakynthos, Image by David Wimmer from Pixabay

The north of Zakynthos is also popular for snorkelling with the Blue Caves on the northern tip a real magnet for tourists. Boat trips to the caves tend to include a visit to the famous Navagio Shipwreck beach in the north west of the island.

Kefalonia

I love the look of Foki beach, surrounded by woodland. On Kefalonia’s north west coast, Foki is about a half hour walk from Fiscardo but also popular with boat trippers who come to explore the rocky coastline. It sounds like there are plenty of other snorkelling spots close to Fiscardo – a good base for snorkellers.

If you fancy a full day out, boat trips from Fiscardo to neighbouring Ithaca sound fun – plenty of snorkelling plus the chance to hone your Greek mythology knowledge – Ithaca was the home of Odysseus.

Sea cave in Kefalonia, best places for snorkeling in Europe
Sea cave in Kefalonia, Image by userator_www0 from Pixabay

In the south of Kefalonia, boat trips take visitors to the Kakava reef, close to Skala. Here, snorkellers can see sunken cargo from ships which were wrecked on the reef.

There are various places around the coast of Kefalonia where you may be lucky enough to see turtles.

Crete

Crete is a big island so if you’re considering a holiday there and you’re keen to include some snorkelling, it’s worth staying in more than one location.

For more on Crete, read about our road trip.

The north coast is well known for its sandy beaches, making it a great location for families with young children but this does mean snorkeling is quite limited. I have heard Bali beach between Rethymno and Heraklion is worth a try. Otherwise, there are various boat trips along the north coast which give visitors the opportunity to go snorkelling. Dia island reached from Heraklion is a popular diving and snorkelling day trip in northern Crete. In the north west of the island, kayaking and snorkelling trips can be arranged from Kissamos and Falasarna.

In the south, the beaches west of Plakias get good reports – Souda and Frangocastello – and Skinaria to the east. Again, it’s worth considering an organised boat trip so you can reach the most interesting areas of coastline which might not be accessible by car.

Snorkelling in Cyprus

The rocky coast around Akamas peninsula national park has beautiful clear waters and its protected status means that there is no development in this part of Cyprus. Boatloads of visitors do visit the area however so you won’t have it to yourself. The Blue Lagoon area on the north eastern side of the peninsula, and the island of Khamilis are particularly good snorkelling spots. You can either reach this area by boat (on a tour or by hiring one yourself) or you can rent an ATV from Latchi.

Underwater tree sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor
MUSAN, credit Jason deCaires Taylor

One place I regret not visiting during our trip to Cyprus is the incredible underwater sculpture park of artist Jason deCaires Taylor. Located off the south east coast of Cyprus, the Museum of Underwater Sculpture Aiya Napa has been created using environmentally friendly materials and is designed to encourage coral growth. It looks incredible.

Read more about things to see and do in Cyprus

****

Where is your favourite spot to snorkel in Europe? Let me know in the comments below if you have any suggestions for good snorkeling in Europe.

smudgedpostcard

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.