Let’s start with ‘tastes differ.’ Some people need a secluded beach with more palm trees than people. Others love a good infrastructure, including a stylish bar with a cool DJ for a long nightcap in the evening. We looked around the world for the most beautiful beaches for you and made some great discoveries.
Dreamlike bays in idyllic locations for those seeking peace and quiet and nature lovers are just as much a part of well-known beaches for sports, fun, and partying or for families with small children. Our recommendations are on different continents, and of course, the selection is purely subjective. The listing of the top 10 does not mean any ranking, each beach is a dream in its own way. Decide for yourself which could be your personal “most beautiful beach
Thailand: Coral Cove Beach, Koh Samui
This relatively hidden beach on the east coast of Koh Samui is a rather quiet representative of the Thai dream beaches. Large rocks limit the small bay located between Chaweng and Lamai. Nevertheless, Coral Cove has retained some of the island’s original charm. Coconut palms line the beach, there are a few restaurants, and early risers are treated to a fantastic sunrise.
Here you will also find the probably best snorkeling areas on Koh Samui; the water is very clear and warm. Another small bay is at the southern end of the beach, again well hidden behind some rocks. At least outside of the high season, this is a perfect place for a relaxing day on the beach with a good book and a cool drink.
Italy: La Pelosa, Stintino, Sardinia Island
Many beaches on the Italian Mediterranean island of Sardinia are simply magical. Still, La Pelosa, near the fishing village of Stintino in the northwest, deserves the crown as a beauty queen. Wide and snow-white, with powder-sugar-fine sand and gently sloping into the bright, turquoise-blue Mediterranean Sea, looking at this almost tropical-looking scenario, you quickly feel transported to the South Seas.
Since the beach is in front of a small island, large waves coming from the open sea are broken – this beach, with its shallow water, is also ideal for a stress-free bathing holiday with children. Pedal boating is just as possible there as kitesurfing and windsurfing.
Spain: Playa de Cofete, Fuerteventura
Near the village of Cofete on the Jandia peninsula on the southwest coast of the Canary Island of Fuerteventura is perhaps the loneliest and at the same time most impressive beach in all of Spain. The beach is around 12 kilometers long – you can walk here for hours without meeting other holidaymakers or locals. Above the beach lies the mysterious ‘Villa Winter,’ built in 1936 and once owned by engineer Gustav Winter, who was fond of Nazi Germany. Its importance and ownership are still disputed today.
There is no tourist infrastructure directly on the beach. The nearest café is in the hamlet of Cofete, accessed via a long bumpy road. Great restaurants and hotels can be found in Morro Jable, about 20 kilometers away. Unfortunately, swimming at this Playa is not recommended due to dangerous undercurrents and strong surf. The walk along the beach along the great backdrop of the Jandia mountain massif offers so many charms that it will remain an unforgettable experience.
The starting point for the trip to Cofete is the former fishing village of Morro Jable. The beach of Morro is also one of the most beautiful in the world – just easier to reach and ideal for swimming.
Australia: Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island
Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island off Australia’s east coast is a natural wonder. The eight-kilometer-long dream beach consists of around 99 percent pure, sparkling quartz and is considered the whitest beach on earth. In addition, environmental experts attest that Whitehaven Beach has one of the best eco-balances in the world, and the beach is almost completely protected.
Accordingly, there are no hotels or tourist offers; holidaymakers usually book day trips with boat trips and catering here. You can spend the night on neighboring Hamilton Island (journey time by boat, around 45 minutes), Hayman Island, or in the small harbor town of Airlie Beach on the mainland. This Australian dream beach is a revelation for environmentally conscious explorers and nature lovers.
Mexico: Playa Pescadores, Tulum
A must on any Mexico to-do list are the Mayan ruins of Tulum. And while many tourists crowd around a small stretch of beach for the best selfies in mostly hot temperatures, there is a really wonderful and less crowded Caribbean beach, Playa Pescadores, only about two kilometers away.
Our tip: first visit the Mayan ruins, then cool off at Playa Pescadores. There are also a few beach bars here. And those who feel like snorkeling will also get their money’s worth: the numerous small boats will take you to the reef, which is only 200 meters away, in no time at all.
Africa: Anse Lazio, Seychelles
In the north of the Seychelles island of Praslin lies the tropical beach of Anse Lazio, an immaculate idyll like on a holiday postcard. The fine powder sand is lined with palm trees and imposing granite rocks, which are among the most popular photo motifs in the Seychelles archipelago.
You can bathe in the turquoise, wonderfully warm water of the Indian Ocean all year round. The sea in front of Anse Lazio is also great for snorkeling – no wonder that this beach is regularly voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by globetrotters. You can find accommodation in the nearby town of Grand Anse.
Germany: Kniepsand, Amrum Island
The most beautiful beach on the North Frisian island of Amrum, and probably one of the most impressive beaches in Europe, is the so-called Kniepsand. Even in the USA, a travel magazine voted the wide strip of sand on the North Sea, which is not overcrowded even in the high season, a top favorite.
Indeed, this beach, which is actually a rarely washed crest of a shifting sandbar, is unrivaled in Northern Europe for its vastness, unadulterated aura, and natural beauty. The Kniepsand stretches along the entire west coast of Amrum. In summer, you can swim wonderfully here, and in winter, you can go for endless walks by sea.
Greece: Balos Beach, Crete
Is this lagoon really in the Mediterranean Sea? In fact, in the very west of the Greek island of Crete, near the towns of Kaliviai and Kissamos. However, the way to this beach is difficult – if you arrive by rental car, you have to struggle on an unpaved road, and the last part is only at a walking pace. Then there is another 20-minute hike waiting for you to reach Bálos Beach.
Those who take the arduous path will be rewarded with a unique sight. That makes the hearts of romantics and photographers smile. And then you can enjoy it. Crystal-clear water and soft, very light sand – who needs the Caribbean?
United States: Siesta Key Beach, Florida
This powdery white beach is located on the island of Siesta Key, which stretches 12 kilometers in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida’s southwest coast. Because of its warm, soft sand, the sheer endless expanse, and the breathtaking sunsets, the beach is considered one of the most beautiful in the entire USA.
The popular beach is lively in a laid-back way and has an active sports and party scene, but is also long and wide enough for you to be able to retreat to tranquility if you need to. You can also spot dolphins from the beach!
Spain: Cala Mesquida, Majorca
On the favorite island of many US holidaymakers, there are really a lot of great sandy beaches. But this one has an extraordinary character – Cala Mesquida is Mallorca’s sea of dunes. There you will really find enough sand, a walk through the dunes has something very special.
The sand-soft feeling on your feet is only topped by the view of the bay from the two higher sides. Enchantingly embedded in the landscape, the bright beach shines in front of the turquoise and crystal-clear sea. A perfect day at the beach awaits you here.
Read also:
