• Barcelona dominates as Europe’s most photographed coastal destination with 77 million Instagram posts and 1.1 million monthly Google searches. 
• Spanish coastal towns claim four of the top 10 spots in the rankings of most Instagrammable destinations. 
• Skiathos Town in Greece ranks as Europe’s least visible coastal town with only 27,237 Instagram posts and 50 monthly searches. 

A new study by Elxis, a real estate agency and property law firm, has revealed that Barcelona is Europe’s most Instagrammable coastal town. 

The statistics released today show that Barcelona accumulated over 77 million Instagram posts and monthly searches exceeding 1.1 million – far more social media engagement than any other coastal spot in Europe.  

The study examined 47 coastal towns across Europe, measuring popularity based on Instagram posts and monthly Google searches. Each location was scored out of 10. 

Barcelona stands out as Europe’s undisputed coastal social media champion, scoring a perfect 10 out of 10 in the study. The Catalan capital’s Mediterranean beaches, distinctive architecture, and culture generated 77,296,877 Instagram posts and 1,149,008 average monthly searches. 

Valencia, another Spanish gem, secured second with a score of 3.69 out of 10. The city appeared in 32,509,672 Instagram posts and attracted 365,575 average monthly searches. One common thread between the top two is their Spanish location. 

The Portuguese archipelago of Madeira ranked third with a score of two out of 10, generating 7,841,214 Instagram posts and 343,614 average monthly Google searches. 

Split in Croatia came in fourth, scoring 1.99 out of 10 with 5,865,790 Instagram posts and 370,730 average monthly searches. This ancient coastal city on the Adriatic has seen its popularity surge in recent years. 

In fifth place, Sorrento, Italy scored 1.34 out of 10, featuring in 2,866,588 Instagram posts with 265,951 average monthly searches. 

Cascais in Portugal ranked sixth with a score of 0.8 out of 10. This former fishing village near Lisbon generated 2,405,846 Instagram posts and 149,463 average monthly searches. 

The heart-shaped peninsula of Istria in Croatia placed seventh, scoring 0.79 out of 10. With 1,269,701 Instagram posts and 162,487 average monthly searches, this Adriatic gem maintains a solid online profile. 

Cap Ferret in France secured eighth position with a score of 0.65 out of 10. This upscale peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and Arcachon Bay attracted 718,036 Instagram posts and 139,397 average monthly searches. 

Fuerteventura in Spain’s Canary Islands ranked ninth, scoring 0.61/10. The island generated 4,496,785 Instagram posts despite lower monthly searches of 73,083. This discrepancy suggests the island’s visual appeal translates exceptionally well to Instagram, even with more modest search interest.

Completing the top ten, L’Escala in Spain scored 0.55 out of 10 with 251,750 Instagram posts and 123,915 average monthly searches. This traditional fishing town on the Costa Brava offers authentic coastal charm that clearly resonates online. 

Top 10 Most Instagrammable European Coastal Towns

Rank	Coastal Town	Country	Instagram Posts	Monthly Google Searches	Score  Out of 10
1	Barcelona	Spain	77,296,877	1,149,008	10.00
2	Valencia	Spain	32,509,672	365,575	3.69
3	Madeira	Portugal	7,841,214	343,614	2.00
4	Split	Croatia	5,865,790	370,730	1.99
5	Sorrento	Italy	2,866,588	265,951	1.34
6	Cascais	Portugal	2,405,846	149,463	0.80
7	Istria	Croatia	1,269,701	162,487	0.79
8	Cap Ferret	France	718,036	139,397	0.65
9	Fuerteventura	Spain	4,496,785	73,083	0.61
10	L’Escala	Spain	251,750	123,915	0.55

At the other end of the scale, Stari Grad in Croatia received a score of just 0.03 out of 10. Despite being one of Europe’s oldest towns, located on Hvar Island, it generated only 259,690 Instagram posts and 3,293 average monthly searches.

The picturesque cliffside village of Azenhas do Mar in Portugal scored 0.03 out of 10. With just 53,305 Instagram posts and 5,457 average monthly searches, this Atlantic gem north of Lisbon has a modest digital footprint despite its stunning coastal views.

Cudillero in northern Spain ranked 40th with a score of 0.02 out of 10. This colorful fishing village in Asturias appeared in 130,856 Instagram posts but generated only 3,445 average monthly Google searches.

The residential quarter of Posillipo in Italy scored 0.02 out of 10. While featured in 323,477 Instagram posts, it attracted just 311 average monthly searches. 

Porquerolles in France received a score of 0.02 out of 10. The largest of the Hyères Islands in the Mediterranean appeared in 233,877 Instagram posts but generated only 846 average monthly searches. 

10 Least Instagrammable European Coastal Towns

Rank	Coastal Town	Country	Instagram Posts	Monthly Google Searches	Score  Out of 10
1	Skiathos Town	Greece	27,237	50	0.00
2	Lancieux	France	30,340	213	0.00
3	Bozburun	Turkey	160,844	167	0.01
4	Costa da Morte	Spain	254,643	197	0.02
5	Marstrand	Sweden	107,854	2,608	0.02
6	Porquerolles	France	233,877	846	0.02
7	Posillipo	Italy	323,477	311	0.02
8	Cudillero	Spain	130,856	3,445	0.02
9	Azenhas do Mar	Portugal	53,305	5,457	0.03
10	Stari Grad	Croatia	259,690	3,293	0.03

“These findings show a striking divide between the social media giants and hidden coastal gems across Europe,” said Giorgos Gavriilidis, Co-Founder and CEO of Elxis. “For people looking for authentic coastal experiences away from the Instagram crowds, the destinations at the bottom of our list offer tremendous potential.”

“What’s particularly interesting is how a town’s visual appeal doesn’t always translate to active travel interest. Several destinations with substantial Instagram presence generate surprisingly few monthly searches, suggesting people admire the photos but aren’t necessarily planning visits in the same numbers.’