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With its islands and long fjords, Norway has the longest coastline in Europe, totaling 25,148 km. In other counts, there are even more.
1. Norway
With its islands and long fjords, Norway has the longest coastline in Europe. A total of 58,000 kilometers – that’s almost around the world. However, evaluating the many fjords and islands is not easy. Some researchers come to different results, which are between 25,000 and 100,000 kilometers. Norway is particularly known for the beauty of the coast with its high mountains and deep-cut fjords, which look something like Lake Lucerne in XXL. The ideal terrain, especially for campers with a mobile home, to go on a road trip for hours on winding coastal roads. With a bit of luck, you can even see the Northern Lights in the northern part of Norway, especially in the period from autumn to spring when the nights are long.
2. Greenland
Greenland especially fascinates outdoor enthusiasts and arctic fans. Anyone vacationing here (usually on a cruise expedition) is looking for adventure in often unreal areas: a large part of the country is covered with ice, even if agriculture is even possible in the south, where the settlements are located. The 44,000 km long coast, where glaciers are partially calving, is also impressive. Greenland lies partly in the North Atlantic and partly in the Arctic Ocean. Legally, however, the autonomous country belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark.
3. Greece
With its 13.676 kilometers of coastline, Greece takes first place in the Mediterranean, which undoubtedly makes the country one of the most popular holiday destinations around the “Mare Nostrum”. From pristine, pretty islands like Corfu to elegant luxury destinations like Santorini, there is everything a sun worshiper’s heart desires. And when you need a break from the beach, you can go on excursions into the past: excavations from yesteryear are never far away in Greece.
4. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Taken together, the four (former) countries manage 12,492 kilometers of coastline. If you want to explore most of these kilometers on foot, there is the England Coast Path, which takes you around England. Not all sections are signposted yet. But the project should be finished soon. The existing section in Cornwall in the southwest is very nice. Otherwise, “Great Britain” offers enough variety for a lifetime of travel, from the Highlands of Scotland and the green hills of Northern Ireland to the beaches and large bays of Wales and the many vibrant metropolises.
5. Italy
With its coastline of around 7600 kilometers, Italy is well behind Greece – the beaches of Liguria, the Adriatic Sea or Tuscany are still enchanting. While the north tends to be a mass tourism destination, the bathing resorts in Calabria or Apulia on heels are still spared from international visitors. If you want to enjoy an authentic Italian beach holiday, you should head south. An insider tip (not only for bathing) is the island of Sicily – compared to the north, only a few international tourists get lost here.
6. Croatia
Croatia is the country with the most islands in the western Mediterranean. The mainland and the coastline of the entire island add up to 7368 kilometers. The approximately 1200 islands and small, uninhabited rocks are best explored on board a boat. In addition to the island world of Greece, the Croatian Adriatic is the most popular spot in the Mediterranean for sailing holidays – either on a luxury yacht or on a small boat that you help yourself.
7. Denmark
Nordic Denmark with its more than 1400 islets has 7300 kilometers of coastline. Because Denmark stretches narrow and long to the north, no place here is more than 52 kilometers from the coast. The landscape is shaped by the tides of the North and Baltic Seas. If you want to go for a walk on one of the miles of beaches, you should be prepared for any weather condition.
8. Iceland
Iceland has been experiencing a tourism boom for several years. The reason for this is the impressive landscape with its volcanoes, glaciers and hot springs. Iceland lies on a geological fracture zone and is therefore particularly dramatic due to volcanism. Also dramatic is the 4900 km long coastline, which is partly bordered by glaciers (a boat trip to one of these ice walls is particularly impressive). The most popular form of tourism is a camper tour on the so-called ring road, which goes around the entire island.