These are the 25 best beaches in the world that you should definitely visit.

Want turquoise water, long stretches of sand, and palm trees that swing in the wind? You’re in the right place. These are the world’s best beaches for fun, surf, and sun.

The best beaches in the world

Picture this: the water is a clear blue colour, the sand is soft like silk, and the palm trees are swaying slowly. You are happy because you know you are at one of the best beaches in the world because you can see beautiful waves in every direction.

How can you find a place like that? TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards came out in 2023. They looked at millions of reviews that travellers around the world had written in the previous year. They looked at both the number and quality of reviews for beach experiences to make this list of the world’s best beaches that can’t be wrong. We can also tell you more about the best beach in each state.

These beaches around the world have something for everyone, from the warm water of Hawaii to the black sand of Iceland, and don’t forget the best beaches in Florida and California. Just pick the one you like best, whether you want to stay in cheap beachfront hotels, the best all-inclusive resorts, or look for cheap beach holidays.

Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

TripAdvisor said this beautiful beach was the best in the world, but it’s not easy to get there. It is on a rocky island more than 200 miles from the northeast coast of Brazil. The beach can only be reached by ladder. After that, it’s easygoing life at the beach, where you can enjoy the beautiful turquoise water, white sand, and green rocks with trees growing out of them. Wildlife of all kinds can be found at this beach.

What to do: Dive or swim in the warm, clear water to see reef sharks, sea turtles, rays, and dolphins.

10 Clearest Water Beaches in the World.. 👇

Eagle Beach, Aruba

The weather in Aruba is always 82 degrees and warm, and the sand and surf are great. Eagle Beach is the second best beach in the world because of all of these factors. The beach is also famous for the divi-divi trees. These trees have twisted roots that tilt their leaves into a low swoop that makes a great canopy for shade on the beach. Did you know that some beaches don’t have sand?

What to do: You can try a lot of different water sports here, like sailing, snorkelling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

Cable Beach, Broome, Australia

 

About this sunny place in Western Australia, TripAdvisor says, “Cable Beach is an iconic place in Broome with pristine white sand that stretches for many miles.” Both locals and tourists like to go there and do things like swim, lay out in the sun, walk, and run. It’s also a great spot to unwind.

What to do:The beach is famous for its beautiful sunsets, so plan to stay there or go back when the sun goes down.

Reynisfjara Beach, Vik, Iceland

If the dramatic rock shapes that rise above the black sand beach look familiar, it’s likely because the cast of Game of Thrones also thought this stretch of beach was interesting. That being said, the water is very cold and waves can reach up to 131 feet high, so this is not a beach for swimming. You can also visit one of the strangest food museums in the world while you’re in Iceland.

What to do: Birdwatchers like Reynisfjara Beach because they can see many kinds of seabirds there, but puffins are the most famous.

Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

This beautiful 13-mile stretch of Caribbean shoreline has warm, shallow water that goes out into the sea, so people can walk out quite far without getting wet. All along Grace Bay Beach, there are fancy resorts that offer everything from parasailing to catamaran trips. But with such a beautiful beach, maybe the best thing to do is just chill out under a casuarina tree.

What to do: A lot of people come here to swim and fish, and scuba divers love the huge coral wall under the water off of Grand Turk.

Praia da Falesia, Olhos de Agua, Portugal

 

People on TripAdvisor often use the word “stunning” to describe the golden beaches at the base of the ocher rocks in the Algarve’s most beautiful beach area—and one of the best beaches in the world. If you want to spend a day sitting on the beach, you can rent loungers. The water is calm and warm.

What to do: Hikers can walk along the shore to see the beautiful caves and orange rocks that have been shaped into tall columns by the wind and waves over thousands of years.

Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Radhanagar Beach is one of the best beaches in Asia. It is between Vijaynagar Beach and Dolphin Yatri Niwas and has just the right amount of sun and shade. One side of the beach is lined with thick trees, making this a great place for families who want to keep the kids cool. Not able to go that far? Here are some other great places you can visit with your family this summer.

What to do: The turquoise waters off of this coral-ringed island are great for swimming.

Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Islands of Sicily, Italy

 

Some people think this beach in southern Italy looks like it’s in the Caribbean because of its clear blue water and soft sand. “For a beautiful, small beach with no waves, warm, clear water, fish, soft white sand, and a lot of sun on a small, friendly Italian island, this is the place!” says TripAdvisor.A 15-minute walk down a dirt road to get to the sand is the only bad thing about it.

What to do: In the evening, rent a speedboat and go for a ride along the coast of the island.

10 Clearest Water Beaches in the World.. 👇

Varadero Beach, Varadero, Cub

 

This beach is thought to be one of the best in the world and the best in Cuba. People love it for its clear blue water and wide, sandy beaches, as well as the many great hotels and restaurants nearby. Plus, there are lots of palapas (banana leaf covers) for shade where you can relax with a rum-based drink.

What to do: This beach has soft white sand and some of the cleanest water in the world, so it’s a great place to swim and float in the warm, calm water.

Ka’anapali Beach, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

In the United States, Ka’anapali Beach is the best beach, but around the world it’s only ranked 10th. The three miles of powder white sand and clear water on this island paradise lined with palm trees are about as good as it gets.

What to do:The clear water at Black Rock is great for snorkelling, the breaks further south are great for surfing, and the most famous parts of the beach between the two are great for swimming in calm water. (Find out more about why Maui is thought to be the best Hawaiian island.)

Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida

This grassy stretch is on a barrier island in southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast and is the only Florida beach on this year’s list. The smooth, white sand that feels like talcum powder makes it a family favourite beach holiday spot. Also, it’s not the sand you’re used to—it’s 99% pure quartz that came down from the Appalachians and is always cool to the touch. The beach is in a county park and has a lot of space so you can make sandcastles or relax with a good book without running into someone. Dolphins are often seen playing just off the coast.

What to do: The beach is beautiful during the day, but you should also see it at night. There is a Siesta Key Drum Circle every Sunday, an hour before the sun goes down. You can book a sunset sail with a local guide.

Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia

It might be hard to find the road that leads to this quiet beach on Georgia’s Golden Isles, Jekyll Island. This is the only other U.S. beach in the top 25. People who go there, though, are in for a treat. The strange, sun-bleached trees look like they’re rising out of the sand, and their branches look like they would be great for a swing. At low tide, young hikers have a lot of time to look for shells and sea life.

What to do: You can rent a bike and ride along the 25 miles of tracks, or you can go to The Georgia Sea Turtle Centre to see turtles being put back together again.

Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia

Getting to this city beach is half the fun. From Sydney’s Circular Quay, you can take a 30-minute boat ride to beautiful Manly Beach. What a great place to visit! It has white sand, blue water, waves that range from gentle to surfer-friendly, and a lot of places to eat and drink. You can also shop until you drop at shops just past the beautiful trees that surround this unique beach.

What to do:Get ready to hang 10 at the Australian beach that is known as the home of surfing. Not surf? Instead, try snorkelling or swimming—this water is great for all kinds of busy things.

Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

Of course, you come for the seven miles of beautiful Caribbean beach with soft white sand and clear blue water. But you’ll want to stay at Stingray City to feed, play with, and even pet stingrays in the clear water.

What to do:The best way to see bioluminescence is to take a boat ride in the evening. The water will shine bright shades of green and blue because of a natural algae bloom. You can also swim with young green sea turtles at the Cayman Turtle Farm.

La Concha Beach, San Sebastian, Donostia, Spain

TripAdvisor reviewers love this crescent-shaped beach on the northern coast of Spain. It is right in the middle of the busy and beautiful city of San Sebastian. You can quickly get to San Sebastian, but the beach has a marine walk that goes all the way around it on both sides of the bay’s entrance. Check out the best time to buy plane tickets if you want to book a flight soon.

After spending some time resting on the beach, San Sebastian is known for its great food scene. Try some pintxos, which are traditional tapas from northern Spain.You can find cafés that serve these tasty little treats as you walk through the Old Town, or Parte Vieja.

Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali

Kelingking Beach, which is off the southeast coast of Bali, has water that is different shades of turquoise, aqua, and sapphire. It is surrounded by granite cliffs and lush rainforest, making it look like it belongs in a movie about secret, magical beaches.

What to do: Snorkel along the clean coral reefs and see many kinds of fish and maybe even a big ray move by.

Playa de Muro Beach, Mallorca, Spain

The calm, shallow water on this almost four-mile-long beach makes it a great place for kids. A long pier goes out into the water from the beach, and there are shops, bars, and play areas all around the beach. There are sun beds, umbrellas, and boxes for rent, and the showers are free use. TripAdvisor says it’s one of the best beaches in the world because there are so many lifeguards on duty and a good system in place for getting people out of trouble.

What to do:People like to parasail and jet ski on these calm seas.

Playa Manuel Antonio, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

People think of Manuel Antonio National Park as Costa Rica’s crown prize. It has this beautiful white sand beach, as well as three-toed sloths and white-faced Capuchin monkeys. People have said that the snow-white coastline is one of the most peaceful places on earth. The sounds of the sea and the local animals in the rainforest mix together.

What to do:Take a guide through the national park to see birds, monkeys, sloths, and more up close.

Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio is known for being a busy city, but this beautiful beach in the middle of it is like a world of its own. From the beach, you can see people relaxing, playing volleyball, and even dancing to samba music. In the background, you can see the dark blue sea.

Take a cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain if you’re not afraid of heights. From there, you can see downtown Rio, the famous Ipanema beach, and the Rio-Niterói Bridge crossing Guanabara Bay.

Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Nungwi Beach is like a tropical paradise. It has soft white sand, clear water, palm trees, and waves that are calm at both low and high tide. You can drink a tropical cocktail and watch the Indian Ocean or the colourful sunset while your toes are in the sand. There are bars and restaurants right on the beach.

What to do:Take a ride on a dhow, a traditional wooden boat, to enjoy the calm waves and look for dolphins and sea turtles.

Falassarna Beach, Crete, Greece

In the western part of Crete, not far from Kissamos, there is a beach called Falassarna. It is famous for having powdery white and beautiful pink sand beaches, as well as clear aqua water shielded by a jet-black cove. The beach is also a wildlife reserve that is protected and home to many different kinds of plants.

What to do:Stay until evening to see the pink sand reflect the sunset. It’s a beautiful way to end a beach day.

Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus

The seas around Ayia Napa in Cyprus, which is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, are very clear, making it a great place for snorkelers and swimmers to go to the beach. A walk along the coast leads from the soft, golden sand to beautiful caves. Families like the beach because of the calm waves, and groups of people come for the music, food, and drinks that make it feel like a party.

What to do: If you want to see beautiful sea caves, you should go to Ayia Napa. At low tide, you can walk through secret caverns, tunnels, and rock bridges. People also love to jump off the rocks of the caves into the clear blue water.

Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Isla Mujeres is a relaxing island just a few miles north of the city centre of Cancun. This sugar-white beach runs for five miles along the northern side of the island. It’s a popular place to relax and have fun, like snorkelling in the warm blue water.

What to do: A kayak tour of Isla Mujeres is a lovely way to see the calm island.

Magens Bay, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

National Geographic also named Magens Bay beach one of the top ten beaches in the world. The horseshoe-shaped beach is safe from the wind and waves. People like to boat, do water sports, swim, and lay out in the calm, sapphire water. People from cruise ships like to stop at the beach. The main beach costs money to enter, but the “fringe” areas along the edges of the sand are less busy.

What to do: Take a break from the beach to see some of the island’s cultural highlights, such as Fort Christian, which was built in 1680, the second-oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, and the childhood home of Danish-French Impressionist painter Camille Pissaro.

Balos Lagoon, Kissamos, Crete, Greece

To find the perfect blue lagoon, this is the place you’ve been thinking of. There is some work that needs to be done to get to the Kool-Aid blue water, though. You can take a bus, boat, or car ride that goes along the edge of a cliff. Then there’s a walk of almost a mile. But the views are so beautiful that the trip is well worth it.