The Most Beautiful Beaches in the World
There’s nothing in this world like a beautiful beach (put your mountainous hiking biases aside just for a moment). Whether it’s your nearest, personal beach or a remote, unique spot on the other side of the globe - beaches are well-equipped to provide visitors with the ultimate relaxation experience.
For this article, we focused on some insanely stunning beaches (most are located across the globe). Feel free to repurpose this curated list for your travel bucket list. Without further ado, here are some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece
Have you ever seen those popular photos of pink sand beaches circulating across Pinterest and Instagram? Well, Elafonissi Beach has that sand. Picture: turquoise, lagoon-like waters paired with light pink sand.
The beach is considered to be a part of Crete (one of the Greek islands), but Elafonissi is actually its own little island. It’s separated from the mainland by multiple sandbars that disappear under 3-feet of water during high tide.
Would this list be complete without mentioning a Hawaiian beach? Welcome to Hanalei Bay in Kauai. Essentially, it’s a string of beaches, with scattered shorelines, framed by mountains that soar over 4,000 feet high. This is a very popular destination for surfers in the wintertime. The waves are big and fast. Every surfer dude’s dream.
This spot was first put on the map with the 1958 film South Pacific and then again with The Descendants in 2011. With its mystical beauty, Hanalei Bay is a must-visit for tourists and locals alike.
We already know boaters are familiar with Clearwater. With its 1,350 miles of coastline, this beach is one of the most beautiful in all of Florida (and possibly the world). It has powdery, fine-grain sand and extremely clear water, just as the name suggests.
The Clearwater sunset skies are typically flame-colored and the weather is fantastic year-round. You could even spot dolphins popping in and out of the water, or pelicans relaxing beside all the fisherman on the local pier.
» RELATED: The Best Florida Fishing Spots
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays Island, Australia
From Florida to the other side of the world. Welcome to Australia’s Whitehaven Beach. The sand is a pure white and the water is a brilliant blue. In fact, the sand is made of extremely fine, silica-rich quartz. It’s some of the smoothest sand of any beach in the world.
You can choose to relax or hike to the Hill Inlet Lookout for some amazing, panoramic views. Whitehaven Beach is an Australian must-visit, along with Noosa National Park and the Sydney Opera House.
Praia de Marinha, The Algarve, Portugal
Golden sand and limestone cliffs outline Portugal’s southern Algarve region and Praia de Marinha is no expectation.
This beach is unique to the others on this list. There’s no touristy hype or commercial build-up at this rustic, remote spot. It almost offers an end-of-the-world appeal while allowing you to feel far from home.
Some other Algarve must-see beaches include Praia dos Três Irmãos, Praia de Benagil, Praia da Falésia, and Carvalho Beach.
Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Oh, the remote, tropical feeling of French Polynesia. It’s difficult to pick one beach here because all are quite magnificent.
However, Matira Beach gets an honorable mention for being easily accessible, clean, big, and truly beautiful. The fluffy white sand, calm turquoise water, and lush volcanic backdrops are an experience you have to see to believe. It’s just that beautiful.
Scala dei Turchi isn’t your typical sandy beach. Located on the west coast of Sicily, there is a breathtaking combination of glassy water and white marlstone that outlines the sea almost like a staircase. Let’s just say that staircase leads to an isolated, Mediterranean beach.
Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos
Grace Bay Beach is constantly being talked about among travel enthusiasts and for good reason. The white sand and serene turquoise water are a must-see. Plus, Princess Alexandra Marine Park is just offshore. It’s a great spot for snorkeling, with tons of majestic rays, green and hawksbill turtles, and fish of various colors.
Keep in mind - this beach is pretty popular and could fill up quickly. For proximity to the water, claim your spot in the sand early.
Picture this: coral sand, clear water, craggy rocks, and sunset skies. Nungwi Beach on Zanzibar Island is one of Tanzania’s most visited attractions, which makes sense because the beach is insanely gorgeous.
Plus, the area is packed with delicious restaurants, bars, resorts, and tons of places to book an excursion. Some of the most popular ones include snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, sunset cruises, and day trips to the Nakupenda Beach sandbank.
Swim in the peaceful waves, under the palms at Saud Beach.
If a southeast Asian beach is on your bucket list, you have to check out Saud Beach on the island of Luzon. The white, sandy beaches gradually lead their way into the clear blue water. There are a ton of palm trees, though they’re oddly growing on an angle. It’s an interesting view.
