Ready to hit the beach? This guide will cover the 21 best beaches in the world. These are the best places to enjoy around the globe, from Hawaii to Greece.
1. Nungwi Beach, Tanzania
Nungwi Beach is gorgeous, with soft white sand and beautiful clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Backed by palm trees and lined with traditional fishing boats, Nungwi Beach is a lovely place to visit. It also has plenty of culture, with vendors selling handicraft goods and fresh catch for sale straight off the boat. You can relax on the soft sand, get involved in laidback beach activities, or enjoy the water. There are plenty of colorful fish to spot.
This beach is located on Zanzibar, a highly sought-after island off the coast of mainland Tanzania. Nungwi Beach is on the island’s northern tip and is surrounded by a selection of luxury resorts.
Read more about Zanzibar’s beaches
2. Eagle Beach, Aruba
Eagle Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and is situated on the northeastern coast of Aruba. While surrounded by many other beaches, this beach stands out for its bright white sand and crystal-clear blue water. As a protected marine zone, it is a haven for animals like sea turtles, who sometimes nest in the sand. It has a paradisical vibe yet also caters to the more adventurous with watersports like jet skiing.
The postcard image of Eagle Beach is a gnarled tree growing out of the sand. While it is relatively touristy, the beach retains that sense of natural identity. It is a must-visit when visiting Aruba.
Read more about Aruba and its surrounding areas
3. Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda
Ready to spice things up? Forget about white sand beaches and visit a pink sand beach. Bermuda has many tropical beaches, but Horseshoe Bay Beach is extra special. The beach is a bright pink, backed by limestone cliffs, and spread out in a unique horse shape. The sand is turned pink by a tiny invertebrate called homotrema rubrum, which extracts calcium carbonate from the seawater and uses it to form red skeletons. These invertebrates are then crushed up over time and have created the distinctive sands of Horseshoe Bay Beach.
The beach is located on the south coast of Bermuda and is scenically backed by South Shore Park. Horseshoe Bay Beach is a beautiful beach to visit and definitely one for your bucket list.
Read more about Bermuda
4. Grace Bay Beach, Turks And Caicos Islands
Grace Bay Beach is where to visit for that tropical paradise aesthetic in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The beach is not only one of the best in the world but is also frequently hailed as one the best beaches in the world – a weighty claim and big enough to earn it a spot on our list. Grace Bay Beach has that classic white sandy beach and turquoise bay allure. It is also backed by luxury resorts like the Royal West Indies Resort.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are situated north of Haiti and west of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Grace Bay Beach is located in Grace Bay, part of one of the smaller islands in the archipelago. The ocean surrounding Grace Bay Beach is part of the Princess Alexandra National Park (aka Princess Alexandra Marine Park). Thanks to its protected status, you’ll find colorful fishes and beautiful marine life like sea turtles thriving offshore.
5. Playa Punta Uva, Costa Rica
Playa Punta Uva is one of the best beaches in the world if you want to adventure away from the main beaches. The beach is set in a secluded cove and offers a ‘hidden beach’ experience in the quiet fishing village of Punta Uva. Its shallow waters have many coral reefs – perfect for snorkeling or scuba diving. Its waters are also extremely calm, given its location in a sheltered bay. We rank Playa Punta Uva as an idyllic place to spend a few hours and a calming spot to interact with Costa Rican marine life. Full of nature and a peaceful atmosphere, you should definitely add Punta Uva to your bucket list.
Playa Punta Uva is located on the southern coast of Costa Rica, near the Panama border. It opens onto the Caribbean Sea and is surrounded by serene nature areas like the Gandoca-Manzanillo wildlife refuge.
Read more about Costa Rica
- Costa Rica Travel Guide
- Facts About Costa Rica
- Best Things to do in Puerto Viejo
- Best Things to do in San Jose
6. Rialto Beach, USA
Rialto Beach is one of the most dramatic-looking beaches in the world. The beach has quite a gothic appeal, with characteristically overcast and drizzly weather, dense pine forests, and black sand combining to create a dark effect. Rialto Beach is famed for its sea stacks, which jut out from the sea at high tide like tiny island towers. It is also known for its driftwood, which often washes up intact as colossal tree trunks.
Rialto Beach is located right near the USA/Canada border, below Vancouver Island. It is well-combined with a hike to Hole-In-The-Wall – a rock with a huge hole sculpted by a volcanic eruption. Of course, you will also want to visit the nearby Olympic National Park.
Read more about Rialto Beach and its surrounding area
7. Clearwater Beach, USA
Clearwater Beach is one of the best beaches in the world and we had to include it in this guide. Florida beach lovers flock to this calm-watered spot for almost year-round watersports and sunbathing. A little quieter than the iconic Miami Beach, Clearwater Beach still offers some Florida buzz and is lined by beach bars and leading hospitality venues. If you want watersports and a step down from the Miami Beach intensity, Clearwater Beach is our top recommendation in Florida.
Clearwater Beach is located just outside of Tampa on Florida’s west coast. The beach is situated on a long barrier island connected to the mainland by a scenic causeway. On the island’s north, there is also Caladesi Island State Park, where you can head for a more rural experience.
Read more about Clearwater Beach
8. Miami Beach, USA
We can’t talk about Florida without giving Miami Beach its well-earned appreciation. Miami Beach is the bread and butter of the city beach experience in the USA. It is mainly known for its skyscraper backdrop and artistic surroundings. The city’s art deco influence spills out onto its white sand beach with brightly painted beach architecture like lifeguard huts. Miami Beach (especially the South Beach section) is famed as a cultural beach getaway destination.
Miami Beach is great for surfers and those wanting to combine a city break with a beach holiday. Another winning factor of this beach is that it is just a short walk away from fantastic attractions like ARTECHOUSE Miami and The Bass.
Read more about Miami Beach and Florida
9. Praia De Copacabana, Brazil
Praia de Copacabana is a golden sand hotspot outside Rio de Janeiro. It is a 2.2-mile beach lined with action – be it food stalls, beach bars, or hotels – and a constantly busy promenade. It is well-suited to those who want to experience a cultural beach with plenty going on and a slightly hectic vibe. If you get bored on your average beach day, Praia de Copacabana is for you.
While Praia de Copacabana is situated outside Rio de Janeiro, it is still lined by skyscrapers and has that city beach appeal. However, there are also distinctive mountains surrounding the beach that give it a natural atmosphere as well. And when you’ve had enough time at the beach, you can head to the nearby Christ the Redeemer statue or Tijuca National Park.
Read more about Brazil
10. Whitehaven Beach, Australia
Whitehaven Beach is another one of our best beaches in the world for you to explore. It might also be one of the most photographed beaches in the world, thanks to its unique swirled pattern of sand and turquoise water offshore. The pristine sand and offshore view make it one of Australia’s most spectacular beaches and caught our attention while preparing this list. You can relax on Whitehaven Beach, take a helicopter ride over the phenomenon, or visit Hill Inlet Lookout for a vantage point over gorgeous beaches.
Whitehaven Beach is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Area. It is located on Whitsunday Island, off the coast of Queensland. Whitehaven Beach is the place to go if you want something more impressive than powdery white sand.
Read more about Australia
11. Skeleton Beach, Australia
Skeleton Beach is stunning, with bright turquoise water and chalky white sand. It is on an eye-catching outlet, jutting out from the mainland as its own little headland. Its remote location is its biggest draw, surrounded by nothing except sand until you reach the small town of Coral Bay. Skeleton Beach is fantastic for snorkeling and is home to plenty of baby reef sharks in spring and summer and tropical fish all year round.
Skeleton Beach is located on the north coast of Western Australia. It is easily combined with a visit to the nearby Ningaloo Reef, which is famous for whale sharks. And, while Skeleton Beach takes the title, there are numerous nearby beaches to add to your itinerary – including Five Fingers Reef, where you can go 4WDing on the beach.
12. Camps Bay Beach, South Africa
Camps Bay Beach is another popularly photographed beach. It is the beach in Cape Town and is dramatically backed by lush mountains. The beautiful beach is easily one of the best white sand city beaches in the world. Iconic and deservedly so, Camps Bay Beach is a brilliant place to appreciate Cape Town’s beautiful geographical layout. Hire a deck chair and enjoy the views.
After you’ve experienced Camps Bay Beach, head to Table Top National Park for some hiking and more incredible views. Alternatively, spend a day in the city center, which is full of attractions and museums, if you want to get indoors and out of the sun.
By: ThePlanetD Team
