v2.webp){kind=logo}
Ambergris Caye [Belize]
Board a short boat ride to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley, then return to calm pier shallows and sunrise walks along an east-facing shore.
Best time to go: November - April
The top most stunning beaches in the world
These famous beaches from around the world are renowned for their turqoise waters, palm trees, surfing, sunbathing, diving, night life or all of the above. Let them serve as inspiration for your next backpacking trip.
Loading the map 🌍
Anse de Grande Saline [Saint Barthélemy]
Walk a wide, undeveloped bay beside former salt flats, then follow the short headland path over to the neighboring beach at Gouverneur.
Best time to go: October - May
Anse Dufour [Martinique]
Slip into calm water at first light to watch turtles graze seagrass beside painted wooden fishing boats pulled up on the sand.
Best time to go: November - April
Anse Lazio [Seychelles]
Arrive early to swim clear water and snorkel the northern boulders before lunch at open-air grills just behind the sand.
Best time to go: April - November
Anse Mamin [St. Lucia]
Swim in a small dark-sand cove, then ride shaded hillside tracks or follow the headland path over to the neighboring bay.
Best time to go: November - May
Anse Vata [New Caledonia]
Swim the calm lagoon, watch kites cross the trade winds, then stroll the paved shoreline to the aquarium or catch the sunset with locals.
Best time to go: March - November
Bacuit Bay [Philippines]
Paddle or boat between dramatic rock formations and small islands, with clear water and endless options for exploration.
Best time to go: November - May
Balos Lagoon [Greece]
Reach a remote lagoon where shallow waters shift in color, and the landscape feels untouched except for the occasional wandering goat.
Best time to go: April - October
Belle Mare [Mauritius]
Walk the long public strip at dawn as the sun rises out of the sea, then picnic under the casuarinas on fried snacks.
Best time to go: May - December
Bondi Beach [Australia]
Swim between the flags, try a two-hour surf lesson, then follow the sandstone cliff path south past a string of small bays.
Best time to go: September - May
Camps Bay [South Africa]
Watch the sun drop into the Atlantic from wide, raked sand below the Twelve Apostles, then walk the palm-lined Victoria Road after dark.
Best time to go: September - April
Canggu Beach [Indonesia]
Rent a board for a first lesson on mellow rolling waves, then settle into a beachfront bar as the dark sand cools.
Best time to go: March - October
Chaweng Beach [Thailand]
Swim in shallow turquoise water by day, then experience a dense cluster of bars, restaurants, and shops that stay active well into the night.
Best time to go: November - April
Clearwater Beach [the USA]
Wade the calm, shallow Gulf over fine white sand, then join the nightly sunset gathering at the 1,080-foot pier.
Best time to go: September - May
Diani Beach [Kenya]
Walk a long, flat sweep of sand, learn to kitesurf in waist-deep water, then take a boat from Shimoni to the coral gardens of Kisite-Mpunguti.
Best time to go: June - October, December - February
Eagle Beach [Aruba]
Lie on a broad, clean shore beneath wind-bent trees, with roped-off turtle nests and a bird sanctuary a short walk inland.
Best time to go: all year round
El Cotillo Beaches [Spain]
Watch Atlantic waves break on rugged shores, then move between calm lagoons and open surf favored by experienced wind and kite surfers.
Best time to go: March - October
Elia Beach [Greece]
Find space to stretch out on a wide beach, with clear water and distant views, plus plenty of facilities for a comfortable day.
Best time to go: April - October
Flamenco Beach [Puerto Rico]
Claim a shaded spot early on this shallow bay, snorkel the rocky ends, then climb the graffiti-covered tanks before afternoon crowds arrive.
Best time to go: November - August
Grace Bay Beach [Turks and Caicos Islands]
Walk the full length of the pale, calm shoreline, snorkel the reef near Coral Gardens, and finish with conch fritters at casual evening spots.
Best time to go: October - May
Ipanema [Brazil]
Claim a rock ledge at Arpoador before sunset, then watch footvolley at Posto 9 and browse the Sunday crafts market.
Best time to go: April - November
Kalapathar Beach [India]
Stroll beneath overhanging trees and volcanic stones, where gentle waves and solitude define this remote Andaman shoreline.
Best time to go: October - April
Long Beach [Canada]
Walk the open low-tide stretch past kelp and sandpipers, book a beginner surf lesson, or return in winter to watch big Pacific swells.
Best time to go: March - October
Maracas Bay [Trinidad and Tobago]
Order bake and shark with your toes in the sand, then climb to the lookout or hike inland to the island’s tallest waterfall.
Best time to go: January - May, November
Matira Beach [French Polynesia]
Walk the full length of a free public beach, snorkel off the shore, and finish at the point as the sky behind Otemanu turns orange.
Best time to go: May - October
Maya Bay [Thailand]
Visit a sheltered cove surrounded by vertical limestone walls, where visitor numbers are limited to protect the marine environment.
Best time to go: November - April
Muri Beach [Cook Islands]
Wade across the sand flats to the lagoon islets at low tide, then paddle, snorkel or join a glass-bottom boat trip with a motu barbecue.
Best time to go: April - October
Myrtle Beach [the USA]
Walk the oceanfront promenade at sunrise, ride the 187-foot wheel at night, and find quieter dunes and maritime forest to the south.
Best time to go: March - November
Nacpan Beach [Philippines]
Walk between two parallel beaches lined with palms, where the sand stretches far and the crowds are thin.
Best time to go: November - May
Natadola Beach [Fiji]
Swim in calm shallow water, ride a horse into the shallows, and walk past the resort frontage to empty sand at the quieter ends.
Best time to go: May - October
Navagio Beach [Greece]
Arrive by boat to a cove enclosed by cliffs, where a rusted wreck sits on white pebbles and the sea glows electric blue.
Best time to go: April - October
Nungwi Beach [Tanzania]
Watch craftsmen shape wooden hulls by hand, swim with rescued green turtles, and join boats heading to Mnemba’s reefs.
Best time to go: June - February
Ölüdeniz Beach [Türkiye]
Swim in calm, sheltered water or launch a tandem paraglide from nearby cliffs for aerial views of the lagoon’s shifting blues.
Best time to go: April - October
Pantai Cenang [Malaysia]
Unwind on soft sand, sample fresh seafood, and watch the sky change color before joining the evening crowd along the main strip.
Best time to go: November - March
Paradise Beach Tulum [Mexico]
Approach the clifftop Castillo from the shoreline, swim in the cove below it, and cycle the jungle road toward Sian Ka’an.
Best time to go: November - April
Pink Sands Beach [The Bahamas]
Kneel at the waterline to spot the pink shell flecks, then walk the full length to reach the emptier ends.
Best time to go: November - April
Playa Conchal [Costa Rica]
Cross the crackling shell shoreline on foot from Brasilito, then wade out through gentle shallows or snorkel the rocks at the north end.
Best time to go: November - May
Playa d’en Bossa [Spain]
Experience a lively atmosphere where music spills onto the sand, with easy options for jet skiing, paddleboarding, and late-night parties.
Best time to go: April - October
Playa de Ses Illetes [Spain]
Walk along a slender spit of sand surrounded by shallow water, with anchored boats and distant views of Ibiza on the horizon.
Best time to go: March - October
Playa Matapalo (Guanacaste) [Costa Rica]
Walk the dark sand at low tide, swim in the calm Papagayo water, then head inland to Sardinal for cheap soda meals.
Best time to go: November - May
Playa Uva [Colombia]
Float in calm water, share a plastic table over whole fried fish and patacones, and stroll the waterline past local fishing boats.
Best time to go: November - April
Playa Zipolite [Mexico]
Settle into a relaxed, clothing-optional strip, swim only in the sheltered eastern cove, and watch the surf glow on dark nights.
Best time to go: November - May
Praia do Sancho [Brazil]
Squeeze down a cliff stairway and ladder to a crescent of pale sand, then snorkel the rocky edges among turtles and reef sharks.
Best time to go: March, August - December
Punta Uva [Costa Rica]
Cycle the coast road from Puerto Viejo through howler monkey territory, then snorkel the cove or settle into the sheltered reef pool.
Best time to go: July - August, November - May
Radhanagar Beach [India]
Swim in clear shallows and rest under dense greenery, where the natural setting feels untouched and the pace remains unhurried.
Best time to go: November - March
Rasfari Beach [Jamaica]
Sleep in simple huts, swing in hammocks, and enjoy a low-impact stay with minimal crowds and basic comforts.
Best time to go: November - May
Seven Mile Beach [Cayman Islands and Jamaica]
Walk warm shallows along a curving shore, catch the sun dropping into the sea, and stay for live reggae after dark.
Best time to go: July, November - April
Shark Bay [Australia]
Visit a unique marine environment where ancient life forms thrive and rare wildlife, including dugongs, can be seen in shallow waters.
Best time to go: March - November
South Beach [the USA]
Photograph the colorful lifeguard huts, stroll Ocean Drive’s pastel hotels, and watch cruise ships slide out from the southern pier.
Best time to go: September - April
Starfish Beach [Panama]
Wade through calm shallows on Isla Colón to look for starfish, then snorkel the seagrass or kayak the mangrove channels.
Best time to go: November - May
Tamarindo Beach [Costa Rica]
Take a surf lesson on gentle breaks, paddle the mangrove estuary at dawn, and join the town on the sand at sunset.
Best time to go: November - August
Tofo Beach [Mozambique]
Book a dive or snorkel outing to meet mantas and whale sharks, then surf Tofinho or eat grilled fish on the sand.
Best time to go: January - March, May - October
Varkala Beach [India]
Descend from dramatic cliffs to a narrow strip of sand, where wellness seekers and travelers gather for sunsets and sea breezes.
Best time to go: October - March
Venice Beach [the USA]
Drift along the boardwalk’s street acts, watch skaters in the sand-side bowls, then escape inland to the quiet footbridges of the canals.
Best time to go: September - June
Waikiki Beach [the USA]
Take a beginner surf lesson on forgiving waves, paddle out in an outrigger canoe, and walk east toward the crater at Kapiolani Park.
Best time to go: April - October
White Beach [Philippines]
Swim in clear, shallow water and stroll a lively beachfront lined with shops and restaurants, especially popular at sunset.
Best time to go: November - April
White Sand Beach [Vietnam]
Relax on soft, pale sand with gentle shallows, ideal for those seeking a peaceful spot away from busier stretches.
Best time to go: November - April
Whitehaven Beach [Australia]
Time the Hill Inlet lookout for low tide, then walk well past the landing spot where cool, squeaky sand holds few footprints.
Best time to go: May - October