These are the three ‘happiest’ beaches in Spain, according to bizarre ‘facial recognition’ study – CSN

Louise Brown March 18, 2025 Travel Leave a comment

NEW analysis of 100 beaches in the world has revealed that Spain’s beach is the happiest on the planet.

London-based travel agency CV Villas used AWS facial recognition technology to scan thousands of Instagram photos, determining which beaches had the most smiles – an unusual but intriguing method of ranking the world’s most joyful coastlines.

Spain dominates the podium with two of its top beaches.

READ MORE Five best beaches to visit in Mallorca by 2025

Sitges Beach is the best beach in Spain, and it’s only 40 km away from Barcelona.

With a near-perfect ‘beach happiness score’ of 98.42, it’s no surprise this vibrant coastal destination leads the ranking.

Sitges has a warmer climate and less rainfall than the rest of Spain’s Mediterranean Coast (credit: @lucydodsworth).

Sitges, a popular destination for both tourists and locals, is known for its golden beaches, palm-lined promenade and vibrant mix of bars and restaurants.

Its appeal extends beyond just the beach – Sitges is an ideal day-trip from Barcelona, just a 40-minute drive away, and boasts 300 days of sunshine a year.

The second ‘happiest’ beach in Spain is Port de Soller, located on the picturesque northwest coast of Mallorca.

This is the third best beach in world, after Praia Da Falesia (Albufeira, Portugal).

Cala Pregonda on Menorca’s north coast, a gem of a place, is currently ranked 11th in the world.

Cala Pregonda is a unique color due to the surrounding red rock and iron-rich ground (credit: unsplash.com).

This beach is known for its golden sand, crystal-clear water and reddish-golden sand. It’s the third most popular in Spain.

Portugal, which has five beaches in the Top 30, is also a standout, as it boasts two of Spain’s top three beaches.

Greece has eight entries on the list, which is the highest number of appearances.

Wales and Scotland also make a surprising impact in the Top 30.

Troon Beach, Scotland, came in 26th, behind Rhossili Bay (Wales) and Caswell Bay (Wales).

The Rhossili Bay, a 4.5 km long bay in the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (credit: Unsplash.com), is a 4.5 km long bay.

Europe’s overwhelming presence in the ranking – 24 out of the Top 30 – suggests that when it comes to beachside happiness, the continent has plenty to smile about.