2023 Best Beaches in the World (Updated)

best beaches in the world
Credit: TheGuardian

Are you dreaming of a tropical getaway? Look no further than the best beaches in the world. From white-sand shores to crystal-clear waters, these beaches offer everything you need for a relaxing and unforgettable vacation.

In this article, we will explore some of the most popular and beautiful beaches in the world.

So whether you are looking for a secluded spot to relax or a lively beach with plenty of activities, we have you covered. Read on to discover the best beaches in the world!

25 Best Beaches in the World 2023

Here are the best, most amazing, and most relaxing beaches in the world.

Saud Beach, Philippines

For those in search of tranquility on a Southeast Asian beach, You can count on finding Saud Beach on Luzon. The beach’s white sand slopes gently into the water, creating a zero-entry pool. You can go surfing on an outrigger canoe, snorkeling in the calm waters, or just swimming in the waves.

Elafonissi Beach, Greece

Elafonissi Beach on Crete is renowned for its wild atmosphere, pinkish sand, and warm lagoon-like waters. It is technically an island due to the shallow water and sandbars that are submerged only about three feet during high tide. There are only a few tavernas serving fresh seafood and sun loungers under palapa trees. Try the northern Balos Lagoon if Elafonissi is too crowded.

Nungwi Beach, Tanzania

Nungwi Beach, on the island of Zanzibar, is one of the most talked-about destinations in all of Tanzania. The beach is named after the lively fishing village of the same name. Nungwi’s fantastic coral sand, which seems to emit a pale, otherworldly glow, is a big part of the attraction. The picture is complete with clear, calm water, jagged rocks, and beautiful sunsets against the silhouettes of traditional dhow boats. There is a high concentration of businesses catering to tourists, including restaurants, beach vendors, bars, resorts, and tour operators offering scuba diving, snorkeling, and other aquatic activities. The sandbank of Nakupenda Beach, located just off of Stone Town, is a popular destination for deep-sea fishing excursions, sunset cruises, and day trips.

Hanalei Bay, Hawaii

Hanalei Bay on Kauai has been popular with locals for its otherworldly beauty for a very long time, even before it became famous as a tourist destination thanks to Hollywood films like “South Pacific” in 1958 and “The Descendants” fifty years later. Wai’oli, Hanalei Pavilion, and Black Pot beaches are surrounded by jade-colored mountains that reach heights of over four thousand feet. Surfers flock to the area every winter when the waves get bigger and faster.

Copacabana, Brazil

Three miles of glorious golden sand, a party atmosphere, and a dazzling skyline of jagged mountains and Art Deco and modernist architecture make glitzy Copacabana Beach possibly one of the most famous beaches in the world. The beach boulevard, too, is a work of art thanks to landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx’s black-and-white mosaic design, which takes its inspiration from the tiles of Portugal. Sunbathers, strollers, and volleyball players mingle with vendors peddling everything from popsicles and shrimp skewers to caipirinhas and ice-cold beer on the beach, which serves as Rio de Janeiro’s unofficial social epicenter (especially on weekends). Although the trendy “it spots” of Leblon and Ipanema have eclipsed Copa in recent years, the area’s retro cool is still appealing.

Cape Le Grand National Park, Australia

Cape Le Grand National Park is located on the southern coast of Western Australia, 39 miles from the nearest city of Esperance. The Coastal Trail passes by some of the world’s whitest sand at Lucky Bay and the granite boulders and clear blue waters of Hellfire Bay. The 1.5-mile Frenchman Peak Trail offers stunning views of the surrounding area.

Grayton Beach, Florida

Florida, a peninsula state surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea, has no shortage of stunning beaches. Grayton Beach in South Walton, between Pensacola and Panama City, is a great alternative to the crowded beaches along the Florida coast. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, this beach is less crowded than others in Florida and features fine white sand and a unique lake within the sand dunes, making it ideal for kayakers. The adjacent town also stands out for its eccentric character.

Sotavento Beach, Spain

Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands, has been grossly overdeveloped in some areas, but the quiet, unspoiled beach town of Sotavento is the perfect antidote. Over its entire length of 17 miles, you’ll find nothing but golden sand dunes, a vast beach, and waves the color of teal. The desert meets the sea in a landscape punctuated by vast tidepools and low-tide lagoons created by the consistent trade winds. Sotavento is a paradise for windsurfing, kitesurfing, and Hobie Cat sailing due to the constant wind and warm water.

Camps Bay Beach, South Africa

The best beaches, in my experience, are on islands far from any major metropolitan area. However, Camps Bay Beach, which is actually in the heart of exciting Cape Town, is a notable exception. The beach is a vast expanse of soft sand and gorgeous blue water, and in the distance, you can see the famous Table Mountain. A strong current exists at times, so swimmers should exercise caution or stick to the tidal pool.

Beyond the beaches and waves, visitors to Cape Town can hike up the city’s famous flat-topped mountain or take a cable car, explore the colorful facades of the Bo-Kaap district, or take a terrifying drive along the ocean’s edge on Chapman’s Peak. It’s simple to take a day trip to go on a safari, visit a famous winery, see whales, or go shark diving.

Anse Source D’Argent, Seychelles

The name “Seychelles” evokes visions of an exotic paradise. As luck would have it, the Seychelles live up to every expectation, complete with picture-perfect beaches, lush national parks, and majestic wildlife. Anse Source D’Argent is a prime example of the distinctive Seychellois beach formula, with its clear lagoon ideal for snorkeling and its wavy granite boulders that look like they were thrown there by ancient giants.

Praia de Santa Monica, Cape Verde

Boa Vista, an island in Cape Verde, is a fantastic vacation spot for those who enjoy both relaxing on the beach and experiencing new things. Along the southwest coast of the island, Praia de Santa Monica stretches for nearly 14 miles, providing a serene backdrop of swaying dunes, cliffs, and a wild ocean flashing deep blue and green. The beach is not ideal for swimming due to the strong current, but it is wonderful for long, entrancing walks and whale watching.

Platja de Ses Illetes, Spain

Platja de Ses Illetes is located on a skinny spit of land in northern Formentera, and its shimmering gold shore is flanked by turquoise shallows on both ends. The area’s designation as a nature preserve discourages excessive crowding, and a stroll around the headland leads to even more secluded beaches. The northernmost point of the island, where you can see S’Espalmador across the channel, can be reached in half an hour by foot.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Even though the Pacific Northwest’s water is usually too cold for swimming, that doesn’t make it any less stunning to look at. Cannon Beach is just two hours from Portland, Oregon, and it is absolutely stunning. The town itself is quite picturesque, but what really sets this beach apart is the 235-foot-tall Haystack Rock and the other needle-shaped rocks that surround it. Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, this stretch of Oregon coastline is often deserted. You can have a picnic at Hug Point or Ecola State Park after you’ve explored Cannon Beach.

Whitehaven Beach, Australia

Whitehaven Beach is right up there, with the Sydney Opera House and Noosa National Park as one of Australia’s top attractions. Observed from above, the destination’s shifting pattern of pure white sand and crystal clear water evokes a priceless marbled jewel. The soft, white sand is some of the purest in the world, made of ultrafine, silica-rich quartz. The Hamilton Island Airport is your gateway to paradise, from which you can catch a ferry to the Whitsundays.

Le Morne, Mauritius

You can swim, kayak, and snorkel in the calm, clear water at any of Mauritius’ many reef-protected beaches. Two and a half miles of powdery-fine sand (beaches in Mauritius are usually rough with broken-up coral) and a dense forest of palm and pine-like filao trees characterize Le Morne. The lagoon’s protected waters extend far into the distance, making for some of the best kitesurfing in the world. Le Morne Mountain, which is not far away, serves as a dramatic backdrop.

Radhanagar Beach, India

Swaraj Dweep, one of India’s 500 or so islands in the Bay of Bengal, is the most popular destination due to its beautiful beaches and excellent diving. Despite the island’s justifiable popularity, Radhanagar Beach has all the trappings of a secluded hideaway. There are only a few thatched-roof buildings on the island, and instead of skyscraping resorts and water sports stands, you’ll find lush tropical mahua trees and other native flora snaking their way down to the water’s edge. The blazing sunsets at night are accentuated by the reflection they cast in the rippling, ebbing tide.

Baia do Sancho, Brazil

Located about 340 kilometers (220 miles) off the coast of Brazil, Baia do Sancho is frequently voted the best beach in the world. Because of its UNESCO status and strict government regulations, the entire archipelago of Fernando de Noronha has been preserved in pristine condition. Only by boat or via a set of slightly unsettling stone steps or steel ladders built into the cliffs can one reach Baia do Sancho. You can see fish, dolphins, sharks, and rays swimming around in the turquoise bay, and the beach is protected from the wind and waves.

Bai Dam Trau, Vietnam

It’s difficult to choose just one beach as the most beautiful in Vietnam, but Bai Dam Trau on the Con Dao islands is a strong contender. It’s the kind of place where you can spend the day lazily swinging in a hammock with a beach read or strolling in the surf with a freshly hacked coconut because of the distinct golden sand, soft swells, and shady groves of bamboo and evergreen trees. Due to the island’s proximity to the airport, commercial jets occasionally fly incredibly low over the island, creating a thrilling experience (or a brief disruption, depending on your perspective) for island visitors.

Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands

Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is world-famous for its powder-fine sand, turquoise water as calm as a lake, water sports, beach bars, and high-end resorts. Although it’s not quite seven miles long, this beach is still long enough to make everyone happy. Vacationers seeking excitement and company won’t have any trouble locating it, while those seeking peace and quiet can easily find a secluded spot to read a book under an umbrella.

La Pelosa Beach, Italy

Here’s a beach on Sardinia that’s both stunning and well aware of its own attractiveness. Visitors planning to visit the beach between June and September are required to make reservations and pay an entry fee in advance. Beach mats under towels are required, and guests are required to refrain from smoking and always wear their wristbands. These regulations ensure that everyone has a pleasant time at La Pelosa’s sugary white sands and crystal-clear shallows. On the neighboring island of Asinara stands a stone tower typical of Aragon. Porto Giunco, Spiaggia La Cinta, Cala Mariolu, and Spiaggia di Cala Coticcio are some of the other stunning beaches in Sardinia.

Matira Beach, French Polynesia

French Polynesia’s islands have long been a symbol of idyllic tropical beauty. Matira Beach is notable for being large, tidy, and stunningly beautiful; picture soft white sand, clear turquoise water stretching as far as the eye can see, and verdant volcanic hills rising in the distance. Although Matira is Bora Bora’s largest public beach, the atmosphere there is relaxed and quiet. People at the beach are typically either napping on towels, knee-deep in the water, or perusing the beach’s assortment of shops and eateries.

Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos

Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos is consistently ranked as one of the world’s best beaches, and it’s easy to see why. The white sand and warm water of this beach are a perfect match. Princess Alexandra Marine Park, located just offshore, is the icing on the cake, as it allows snorkelers to peer into a world inhabited by magnificent rays, green and hawksbill turtles, and fish of every imaginable color. Grace Bay, along with the adjacent Leeward and Bight beaches, stretches for seven continuous miles, making it one of the longest and widest stretches of beach in the world.

Scala dei Turchi, Italy

The stunning meeting of water and time is called Scala dei Turchi (Stair of the Turks). On the western coast of Sicily, there is a secluded beach at the bottom of a blindingly white marlstone cliff. A photographer’s dream, the snow-white stone cascades into the blue-green Mediterranean. Tourist traffic has caused further erosion at this fragile site, which led to its seizure by Italian authorities in 2020 and the subsequent prohibition of access to the steps. You can still admire them from a distance at a public vantage point.

Railay West, Thailand

The Railay peninsula can’t be reached from the rest of southern Thailand because of the towering cliffs that are completely covered in thick jungle. Railay is a stunning island that can only be reached by boat, adding to its unique charm. The emerald lagoon is a haven for kayaking and paddle boarding, and the curved beach is dotted with towering creviced karsts, the limestone formations that have made Railay a world-class destination for rock climbing. One of the caves near Phra Nang Beach houses a fertility shrine. If you’re looking for a lively bar scene, your best bet is to cross the isthmus to Railay East.

Praia de Marinha, Portugal

Beaches in Portugal’s southern Algarve region are known for their golden sand and striking limestone cliffs. It’s difficult to choose a favorite, but Praia de Marinha stands out for its untouched natural beauty and sense of isolation from the rest of the world. Carvalho Beach is one of the most protected beaches in the Algarve, but Praia dos Três Irmoos, Praia de Benagil, and Praia da Falésia are also must-sees.

What Is the Top 1 Beach in the World?

Grace Bay Beach on the Turks and Caicos Islands is consistently ranked as one of the best beaches in the world, and there’s really no mystery as to why this is the case. The powdery white sand and the soothing blue water make this beach one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Where Is the Most Famous Beach?

This Florida beach city has over 23 miles of pristine, white sand along its oceanfront, which helps to explain why it hosts millions of tourists every year. The phrase “World’s Most Famous Beach” is written on a sign that is prominently displayed in Daytona Beach, Florida, and it arches over the street that leads to the boardwalk.

Conclusion

Hope this article was able to make your decision-making easier when it comes to picking one of the best beaches in the world.

Best Beaches in the World: References

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like