The 50 Best Beaches In The World

The best beaches aren't all necessarily just great places to swim. When curating this list, we considered which beaches stood out in terms of how pristine or distinctive their sand is, how clear the waters are, what kind of food and activities are available or even the kind of party scene they provide. Some of these beaches have been featured in movies, television shows and even hit songs. Others have won awards and recognition from travel publications and websites such as Travel + Leisure, National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler and TripAdvisor.

The sand of Whitehaven Beach in Australia is made up of 98% silica, which means it's both very soft and cool, making it perfect for walking through barefoot. A popular spot for yachts, ferries and motorboats, the beach stretches a little over 4 miles. While it doesn't have a reef and therefore much in the way of snorkeling or scuba-diving opportunities, its water is so clear that you can still see fish swimming by without any gear.

This beach's signature feature is its residents — African penguins. Boulders Beach in Cape Town, South Africa, has picturesque granite boulders that frame its boardwalks and serene rock pools.

Situated on the southwestern coast of the Greek island of Crete, Elafonisi Beach has pink-tinged sand that makes for a mesmerizing contrast against the greenish waters and clear, bright blue sky.

Located in the Filipino province of Palawan, El Nido is a destination known for its gorgeous beaches with a backdrop of impressive limestone cliffs and green forests. The coral reefs in its waters have a diverse array of marine creatures, making it as picturesque underwater as it is at shore.

The super-calm waters of Flamenco Beach make it an ideal spot for swimming, snorkeling and sandcastle-building.

Trunk Bay Beach is a snorkeler's paradise, with an underwater snorkeling trail that stretches 225 yards. On land, there is about a third of a mile to stroll past rental and beach shops and more.

Anse Lazio is situated in a bay framed by beautiful granite rock and is known for its powdery white sand and unbelievably clear water. A top destination for swimming and snorkeling enthusiasts, the Seychelles got a boost in fame back in 2011 when Prince William and Kate Middleton spent their honeymoon there.

Jekyll Island has 10 miles of eerily beautiful shoreline, most notably the iconic Driftwood Beach. Driftwood Beach is characterized by ancient driftwood that is especially photogenic at sunset.

Taking up 3 miles of Maui's western shore, Ka'anapali Beach was the first planned resort area in Hawaii and is today marked by five hotels and six condominium villages facing the shore. Every evening at sunset, a cliff-diving ceremony is held at the Puu Kekaa (Black Rock) cliffs, where a diver lights torches alongside the cliffs before diving off of them in a reenactment of a dive by a Hawaiian king.

Located on Fernando de Noronha, a Brazilian archipelago that limits visitors for the sake of preservation, Baía do Sancho (Sancho Bay) can only be reached via boat or by climbing 230 feet down three sets of stairs. The climb may get a bit dizzying — but so are the views once you're onshore or under the water.

Locals and visitors alike enjoy cooling off at Dubai's Jumeirah Open Beach, a public beach complete with lifeguards and bathroom facilities with showers. Beachgoers seeking drier recreation can check out the nearby running track or spend their time basking in the sun on the sand.

The second-largest atoll in French Polynesia, Fakarava looks like something out of a postcard. Its waters are so blue, it rivals the sky, making for a gorgeous picture next to the white sands.

One of the most famous beaches in the Bahamas, Cable Beach has world-class resorts all along its 2.5-mile stretch as well as a golf course and the island's largest casino. 

Once recognized as the best beach in America, Clearwater Beach is a paradise where beachgoers can take in beautiful sites of the shore or enjoy plenty of great live music and beachside restaurants. 

Like many other beaches on this list, West Bay Beach in Honduras has fine, white sand, palm trees and bright, blue-green waters.

One of the most famous beaches in the world, Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 2.5 miles long and is characterized by kiosks, concerts and restaurants on a bustling boardwalk.

In the winter, Oahu's Waimea Bay Beach Park should only be visited by surfing experts because of its 30-foot waves. In the summer, the waves are much calmer and appropriate for swimmers, snorkelers and divers of all levels.

A colorful beach you have to see to believe, Pink Sand Beach gets its pretty pale color from foraminifera, microscopic insects with bright pink or red shells. Their bodies are crushed and washed ashore by the ocean's waves after they die, mixing them in with sand and bits of coral. The sand is smooth and cool here, making it a popular place to explore barefoot and on horseback.

Named for the sea turtles that are known to lay their eggs there, Tortuga Bay is an excellent place to experience the biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands. Relax in the light blue waters and wait to come across species such as marine iguanas, white-tip sharks and, of course, Galápagos turtles. Tortuga Bay is also known to be a bird-watching destination, home to pelicans, ground finches and flamingos.

The 3 miles of undeveloped beach at Playa Rincón are lined with leaning coconut trees with water calm enough for swimming and snorkeling on one side and enough waves for bodysurfing and more activities on the other.

Nevis has appeal to American history buffs as the birthplace of founding father Alexander Hamilton, but it's also a wonderful Caribbean spot with unspoiled landscapes. One of the most famous beaches on the island, Pinney's Beach is located just outside the capital. It stretches for 3 miles and features vivid clean shores that meet bright blue seas.

Colorful bean bags and parasols provided by beach clubs line the shore at Seminyak Beach in Bali, Indonesia, a popular spot made even more beautiful by lights in the evening.

Situated on the western end of Portugal's Algarve coast, Praia do Camilo (Camilo Beach) lies at the bottom of a set of beautiful cliffs that beachgoers can reach by climbing down about 200 steps. The impressive rock formations along the shore divide it up into smaller beaches and have some lovely small caves hidden in them as well.

Santorini isn't typically associated with black sand beaches. However, Parissa Beach is striking due to the dark, volcanic sand that lays beneath its colorful beach umbrellas facing the Aegean Sea.

Stretching for about 2 miles along the southwestern coast of Grenada, Grand Anse Beach's soft white sand juts out of a lush green landscape, which is home to some of the best resorts in the Caribbean.