The Top 10 Beaches In The World

There’s something magical about the sandy spots where the sea meets the land. Whether they’re palm-fringes or rough and wild, we are naturally drawn to beaches to contemoplate life or to work on our tan. In this post, I’ll share with you a snapshot of my personal best, the top beaches in the world.

Do you know those folks who “love to see the seasons change?” Well, I’m not one of those! Give me summer with all its humidity, any time and any day. As a traveler, nothing beats the feeling of visiting a special beach with its soft sand and perhaps remote location. Here’s a roundup of the top 10 beaches in the world from my early days of traveling. If you keep reading until the end of this list, I’ve linked to new sources with beaches that are seriously stunning beyond belief.

10. Achill Island – Ireland

You might wonder what the hell a beach in Ireland is doing on a roundup of the world’s best beaches. Well, if you haven’t visited this tiny island far up in Ireland’s northwest corner, put it on your wish list. Achill Island is blessed with several white-sand beaches. Yes, you read this right: white sand beaches in Ireland. In fact, the island has five Blue Flag beaches. There are two that are especially worthy of a visit. The first is Keem Bay, on the far west side of the Island. If you come here early enough in the day, you might have the beach all to yourself, along with a few sheep out for breakfast. The second is Trawmore Strand, a 3km stretch of pristine Atlantic Ocean beach. It’s best viewed from the Minuan, the highest point on the island, accessible by car.

9. Clifton Beach, Cape Town – South Africa

In a city blessed with so much natural beauty, it’s no surprise that Cape Town would also play host to a gorgeous beach. It’s not every day that you can find a white sand beach that feels low-key yet is just minutes away from the city center. Clifton, an affluent part of Cape Town, is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Table Mountain range on rocky cliffs. Its beaches are numbered 1-4, and no matter which one you choose, you’re bound to feel like you’re miles away from the big city (except maybe on weekends). The bravest amongst us will even attempt a dip in the frigid waters. After all, Antarctica is the next stop heading south.

8. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island – Australia

You’ll have to boat your way to this beach, known for its fine white sand made up of 98% pure silica. Whitehaven Beach in Australia’s Whitsunday Islands is a must for any visitor to the legendary east coast. The crystal clear blue waters and the fine white sand are what make this beach top-notch, even in Queensland, which is no stranger to beautiful beaches.

7. Yasawa Islands – Fiji

Fiji is synonymous with tropical beaches; if you’ve traveled this far, you won’t be disappointed. In an island nation scattered with many high-end and private island resorts, the Yasawa Islands make for an affordable getaway and a backpacker’s paradise. For a taste of local life, head to Waya Island, where if you get tired of relaxing on the beach, you can trek your way up the mountain in search of fine views while sipping on freshly chopped sugar cane. For those seeking a bit more remoteness, head to Tavewa Island in the northern part of the Yasawa Island chain. The waters are crystal clear, and you might have the beach all to yourself.

6. Cala Goloritze, Sardinia – Italy

It’s only fitting that such a beautiful beach is reached only by those who make a special effort… or own a boat. Cala Goloritze in Sardinia is a tiny sliver of golden sand tucked between massive limestone cliffs that pretty much make up this entire part of Sardinia. You can trek your way here by foot or charter a boat from one of the nearby marinas (not too expensive and totally worth it). If you do make it here, you’ll be treated to unbelievably clear waters with 30-meter visibility down to the white sand sea floor.

5. Es Trenc, Mallorca – Spain

Yes, these pictures were taken in Europe! This is in Mallorca in Spain, not somewhere in the Caribbean. Es Trenc is less than an hour’s drive from Palma de Mallorca, and there are lovely small towns around where you can base yourself. The beach is a super long stretch of fine white sand with crystal clear shallow waters. When the day gets too hot for you, just take a dip in this massive refreshing bath. You can even leave your clothes behind if you’re in the nudist section, which is also the nicest part of this unforgettable beach.

4. Half Moon Caye – Belize

Scuba Diving fanatics will surely know about the Blue Hole in Belize, one of the best dive sites in the world. Just over an hour by speedboat from Caye Caulker, this ain’t the easiest place to get to. However, divers are usually treated to a stopover at nearby Half Moon Caye, a tiny island with a rotting lighthouse and two lucky park rangers who get to live here. Apart from the Robinson Crusoe feel to it, the island is also home to the Red Footed Boobies, which call this paradise home for 10 months of the year. After you’ve calmed down from wandering around the pristine beach, you can wander your way through the palm trees to the observation deck and have a close look at this special bird.

3. Long Beach, Ko Phi Phi – Thailand

Ko Phi Phi’s Long Beach in Thailand is like a postcard, far enough from the mayhem of Ton Sai village yet close enough to all the action. In fact, it’s more than that. As its name suggests, beach lovers are treated to a relatively long patch of soft white sand and turquoise waters that look towards Phi Phi Leh (where the film ‘The Beach’ was filmed). The real highlight is the surprisingly rich marine life less than 10 meters off the beach. Just get in the water, and you’ll immediately see tropical fish swimming by your legs. Add to all of this the fact that Long Beach is only accessible by boat, so relative to its beauty, it’s quite low-key when compared to the packed beaches in the main village.

2. Matemwe, Zanzibar – Tanzania

The ‘Spice Island’ has its fair share of gorgeous beaches, but Matemwe Beach combines tropical beauty with the remote feeling that some of us look for. On the eastern side of Zanzibar, Matemwe boasts a super long stretch of unspoiled beach. The sand here is the whitest I’ve ever seen, and your eyes will feel the glare the moment you step onto the beach for the first time. Matemwe is very low-key without the overdevelopment that other Zanzibar beaches have witnessed. The beach’s beauty does not draw to a close when the sun goes down. At night, you’ll be treated to an infinite number of stars in the sky, so get your wishes ready for all those shooting stars.

1. Tulum, Mexico

Tulum Beach in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula was even recognized by the ancient Maya as a place to spend some time. This might be the reason why they built a massive temple on the hill nearby. Tulum is a paradise on earth, with miles of white sand and plenty of palm trees for those seeking shade. The last time I visited Tulum Beach, it was still undeveloped, with no steady electricity supply and pretty simple bungalows that attracted real beach lovers. I’m sure it has changed a bit by now, but I am also sure that the name of the game still remains pure relaxation.

What’s Next?

This wraps up my countdown of the top 10 beaches in the world. Since I last updated this list, I visited some truly paradise-like beaches in the remote South Pacific Islands and in Hawaii. I’ve also compiled a specific list of the best beaches in dreamy French Polynesia. Be sure to check out those top beaches as well.