10 Amazing Snorkelling Destinations in Europe
If you’re an ocean lover looking for your next aquatic adventure, Europe is a prime snorkelling destination you won’t want to miss out on.
Beneath its warm and temperate seas, a world full of tropical fish, colourful coral reefs, magnificent seascapes, and other watery wonders awaits!
From the blue sea caves of Greece to the crystal clear glacial waters of Iceland and underwater flora and fauna in Italy, I’m sharing with you 10 of the best snorkelling spots in Europe for an unforgettable holiday under the sea.
So, put your swimsuits on and let’s dive in!
This post contains affiliate links.
1. Blue Lagoon in Malta
Best for: Safe, shallow snorkelling grounds, a myriad of fish species
Situated between the shores of the Comino and Cominotto Islands is the idyllic Blue Lagoon, a natural wide pool famous for its sparkling turquoise water and stunning rock formations.
Its calm, clear bay offers a gateway to Mediterranean sea life, making it a haven for snorkelers.
The shallow waters make fantastic snorkelling grounds, and it won’t take long for you to come across thriving reef scapes, schools of seabream, wide-eyed flounders, and magnificent flying gurnards, gliding over the seabed.
Along the rocky coastline, sponges and starfish abound!
2. Medes Islands in Spain
Best for: Underwater cavities and caves, diverse marine life
Sitting in the scenic region of Costa Brava are the Medes Islands, an archipelago made up of seven islets and home to some of the best dives in the Mediterranean!
The coast is lined with rugged cliffs and brilliant beaches, but that’s only part of the allure of this island paradise.
Snorkelling at the surface, you’ll get to see colourful algae, crabs, octopuses, and various fish.
Dive deeper into the underwater cavities and caves, and you’ll spot lobsters and huge wrasse.
On the ocean floor, you may get a glimpse of thornback rays and electric rays, if you’re lucky!
3. Silfra Fissure in Iceland
Best for: Crystal-clear waters, tectonic plate snorkelling
Nicknamed “the clearest waters on Earth,” the glacial meltwaters of Silfra Fissure are pure enough for you to drink while snorkelling!
It’s also the only place in the world where you can snorkel directly in a crack between two tectonic plates, truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Formed by a major earthquake in 1789, Silfra has become Iceland’s most famous snorkel site.
The underwater landscape of dramatic fissures, hardened lava rocks, and fascinating formations is so stunning that it draws around 20,000 divers each year!
4. Porto Santo in Madeira
Best for: Mild sea temperatures, sunken ships, and vast marine life
With golden stretches of sand bathed by warm waters all year round, sea adventures on the picturesque island of Porto Santo never stop – even in the winter!
Here you can spot seabirds and swim amongst treasured marine flora and fauna, including dolphins, whales, and turtles.
What makes Porto Santo an unforgettable snorkel spot is its two shipwrecks, the Madeirense and Corvette General Pereira d’Eça.
They were deliberately sunk to become artificial reefs, and are now home to vibrant fish species and other underwater inhabitants.
5. Zakynthos in Greece
Best for: Blue caves exploration, swimming with sea turtles
The largest of the Ionian Islands, Zakynthos is beautiful and bountiful, with lush pine trees, verdant olive groves, and majestic sea views.
Its beaches are lined with rugged caves, coves, and nesting grounds for loggerhead sea turtles, one of the island’s oceanic attractions.
The waters are teeming with life, from colourful parrotfish to tiny seahorses, jellyfish, and monk seals.
On the northern end of the island, snorkelers are drawn to the Blue Caves, a series of natural arches and water caves carved by the tides for thousands of years!
6. Elaphiti Islands in Croatia
Best for: Island-hopping adventure, cave and lagoon snorkelling
Northwest of Dubrovnik, you’ll find an archipelago of 13 untouched gems, called the Elaphites.
The islands are beautiful, serving as guardians of the turquoise seas and coast.
Ruins of medieval churches, historic buildings, and old architecture fill the towns with nostalgic charm.
Beneath the Elaphites’ spectacular blue waters, there’s lots of oceanic beauty to discover!
The islands of Lopud, Koločep and Šipan have countless hidden caves, remote lagoons, and underwater habitats for fantastic snorkelling.
My favourites are the Blue and Green Caves.
7. Sardinia in Italy
Best for: Granite coves, ancient nuraghi, Sardinian red corals
Sitting beautifully off the western coast of Italy, and second in size only to Sicily, the island of Sardinia draws visitors worldwide, hoping to enjoy ‘la dolce vita’ on its captivating coastline.
With thousands of nuraghi or ancient stone buildings, it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
The island’s pristine white-sand beaches are peppered with granite coves.
Snorkelers will be delighted to see dolphins and loggerhead turtles swimming in the sparkling waters, amongst Sardinia’s famous red corals, saddled seabream, sea urchins, and yellow cluster anemones.
8. Scandola Nature Reserve in Corsica
Best for: Expansive snorkelling grounds, exotic flora and fauna species
Dedicated to preserving Corsica’s terrestrial and marine heritage, the Scandola Nature Reserve spans 900 hectares of land and 1,000 hectares of sea.
Its cobalt-blue waters flow through jagged inlets, hidden beaches, and caves – an exceptional sight above and below ground!
This natural wonder hosts many fascinating inhabitants, from a school of bottlenose dolphins to European pond turtles, along with seals, cormorants, groupers, red mullets, and swordfish.
When snorkelling, look out for over 450 kinds of algae and 243 fish species that are present!
9. Île de Porquerolles in France
Best for: Shipwreck exploration, flourishing underwater life
Often described as a ‘floating forest,’ Porquerolles is a sanctuary of oak and pine trees, surrounded by sweeping white beaches and limestone cliffs.
This fairytale destination also features romantic rolling vineyards and a quaint 18th-century village, perfect for a holiday!
Considered the scuba diving gem of the French Riviera, snorkelling is one of my must-do activities on the island, due to the legendary Hyères shipwrecks, dense aquatic fauna and diversity of local fish.
You’ll also see plentiful moray eels, nudibranchs, and hermit crabs here.
10. Lampedusa in Italy
Best for: Clear waters, underwater statues, dolphin sightings
Welcome to Italy’s southernmost island, Lampedusa, where splendid coves greet the glistening seas, and shores are covered in whiter-than-white sands!
The clear and lively ocean floor thrills scuba divers and snorkelers, and surprises like dolphin sightings and underwater statues await.
One of your aquatic adventures may involve searching for the Madonna del Mare, a life-sized bronze statue of the Virgin Mary, which is surrounded by burrows for octopus, sargo fish, and groupers.
The nearby Rabbit Beach is another famous snorkel site, teeming with rare Mediterranean fish!
Map of the snorkelling destinations in Europe
Use the map below to see where the best snorkelling destinations in Europe are located.
Do you have any favourite snorkelling spots in Europe? Let me know in the comments below!
You may also like:
