Formentera beach named best in Europe

Ses Illetes beach, on the island of Formentera, the smallest of the Balearics, has been named Europe's best beach by users of TripAdvisor

I can understand why. When people first clap eyes on Ses Illetes, their default reaction is full-on gawping with their jaws well and truly dropped. Formentera is often compared with the Caribbean due to its fine, white sand and transparent, pale turquoise water. The only problem is that Ses Illetes is just a narrow strip of sand which gets absolutely crammed in summer, which rather ruins the Mediterranean idyll thing – unless you find crowds entertaining rather than annoying.

Sheltered by dunes, Ses Illetes is on the western flank of a spindly peninsula that stretches towards Ibiza from the north coast of the island of Formentera. It is only three miles (5 km) from the port of La Savina, where the ferries from Ibiza dock, which on the plus side is very handy but on the minus side means it is rather too easy to access.

The shallow, safe water makes it popular with families with young children as well as day visitors from Ibiza in varying stages of stupor depending on the excesses of the night before. In high season there is usually a good percentage of the population of Italy, a smattering of the international glitterati and the odd cluster of hippies.

Apart from standing up to your thighs in the sea and taking selfies, you mean? Just float in that gently rippling water and lie on the glistening sand. But remember to slap on the sunscreen and take a floppy hat and something white and floaty to pop on as sunburn is so not a good look. Discussing what others on the beach are wearing - or not wearing - could keep you amused all day. As Ses Illetes faces west, it is also a top spot for watching the sun go down.