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Updated on Mar. 11, 2025
Looking for turquoise water, golden sand and swaying palm trees? You've come to the right place. These are the best beaches around the world for surf, sun and fun.
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Location: Crete, Greece
Taking the crown as the No. 1 beach in the world, Elafonissi isn’t just popular for its warm, crystal-clear waters or the beautiful hiking trails and dunes that frame it. What really seals the deal of this Cretan beach is its mile-long pink sand beach, which makes it an even more exceptional stretch of paradise.
What to do: Obviously, sunbathing and swimming are top options here. But don’t miss out on a nature walk or hike. Elafonissi is surrounded by 110 different plant species, small coves, extraordinary shells and incredible rock formations you’ll want to check out.
Pro tip: To avoid the crowds, consider visiting in the shoulder season months of May and September, when you’ll still get warm, sunny weather but with significantly fewer visitors than in the high season of June, July and August.
Where to stay: Not only is Elafonisi Resort by Kalomirakis Family tucked into a scenic olive grove less than a five-minute walk to the beach, but the apartment studios also come with kitchenettes and start at only $69 a night, making this one of the most affordable ways to stay in paradise.
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Location: Koh Hey Island, Phuket Thailand
Although Thailand is known for having breathtaking tropical beaches, Banana Beach on Koh Hey Island, reached by boat on a day trip from Phuket, is truly a stand-out. Perhaps the vibrant green jungle that serves as the background for this beach makes the water look even bluer, but that doesn’t mean the crystal-clear waters aren’t spectacular in their own right. Bonus: You can live out some of your White Lotus Season Three set-jetting dreams, one of my favorite 2025 travel trends.
What to do: The name comes from the prevalent banana boat rides available here, so that’s an activity to add to the top of your “musts” list. The beach is also a great place to go swimming or try parasailing, snorkeling or sea kayaking.
Where to stay: There are no hotels on Koh Hey Island, so you’ll need to stay in Phuket and take a short boat ride to reach Banana Beach. Among the closest shore options (and rated a top option by Tripadvisor readers) is the Sr Panwa Phuket Luxury Pool Villa Hotel. Since it’s located at the end of the southeastern peninsula tip of Phuket, it’s as close as you can get to Banana Beach. Plus, there are multi-bedroom suites, an infinity swimming pool and a restaurant.
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Location: Oranjestad, Aruba
Eagle Beach is known for year-round temps of around 82 degrees, sunny skies and fabulous sand and surf—combined, these features land the stunning spot in the No. 3 slot. The beach is also famed for its divi-divi trees, which have twisted trunks that tilt their greenery into a low swoop that makes a perfect shady beach canopy.
What to do: There’s a plethora of water sports here to try out, including kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling and windsurfing.
Where to stay: With just 72 rooms and suites, each facing the ocean or lush gardens, Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa is among the most private all-inclusive resorts in Aruba. Just outside your room lies a quiet stretch of Eagle Beach, and the resort offers an optional all-inclusive package that includes all meals and an open bar.
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Location: Siesta Key, Florida
Siesta Beach took the crown on the domestic beaches list, and is the only U.S. destination to make the top 10—so needless to say, it’s a pretty special spot. This sandy expanse is located on a barrier island on southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, and it’s one of those Florida beaches that locals want to keep all to themselves. With smooth, white sand that’s as soft as talcum powder, it’s a favorite beach vacation for families. It’s not the regular sand you’re used to either—it’s 99% pure quartz, washed down from the Appalachian Mountains and always cool to the touch.
Part of a county park, the beach offers plenty of room for building sandcastles or kicking back with a good beach read without bumping into your neighbor. Keep your eye out for dolphins playing just offshore.
What to do: While daytime here is lovely, check out the beach when the sun goes down too. Book a sunset sail with a local guide or visit on a Sunday when the Siesta Key Drum Circle kicks off one hour before sunset.
Where to stay: The Siesta Key Palms Resort gives you everything you want from a Florida beach vacation: tropical gardens, kid and adult pools, tiki torches, fire pits and hammocks—all within half a mile of the beach.
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Location: Olhos de Agua, Portugal
“Stunning” is the word Tripadvisor commenters use over and over again to describe the ocher cliffs plunging down to golden beaches in the Algarve’s most picturesque beach area—and one of the best beaches in the world. You can rent loungers for a relaxing day on the sand before you dive into the calm and warm aqua waters.
What to do: Hiking lovers can walk along the shore to explore the picturesque caves and orange-hued cliffs, which have been molded into tall columns by the wind and surf over millennia.
Where to stay: The 3HB Clube Humbria is one of the best all-inclusive resorts in Portugal. It has large apartment-style accommodations and is especially popular with families who appreciate the in-unit kitchens, mini water park, separate kids and teens club, and playground on the property. It also has two large pools across the street from the soft sands of the beach.
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Location: Varadero, Cuba
This is considered the best beach in Cuba—and one of the best beaches in the world—as much for its crystalline water and wide, sandy beaches as for the fabulous array of hotels and restaurants nearby. Bonus: You’ll find plenty of shady palapas (banana leaf umbrellas) to relax under with a rum-enhanced beverage.
What to do: Soft white sand and some of the clearest water on Earth make this a prime beach for swimming and floating in the calm, warm waters.
Where to stay: Iberostar Selection Varadero, located right on Varadero Beach, offers five restaurants and bars, plus a Cuban cigar lounge and nighttime entertainment featuring a Cuban orchestra. There’s also an enormous pool complex for even more fun in the sun.
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Location: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The beaches here will fulfill all your warm-weather dreams with tranquil turquoise waters, pillowy sand and miles of uninterrupted coastline. Flanking the beach like a row of starfish are all-inclusive resorts, some especially for families and others catering just to adults and couples. The good news about the number of properties is that they provide competition both in amenities and pricing. The bad news is you’ll need to choose one from a large number of options. Bonus: Punta Cana has one of the biggest airports in the Caribbean, which means you can usually find an affordable flight.
Don’t miss: Feeling adventurous? My son and I tried parasailing on Bavaro Beach and had a great time floating above the turquoise water and getting a birds-eye view of the beach.
Where to stay: The Grand Palladium Bavaro Suites offers luxurious swim-up suites, 30 restaurants and bars, a full-service spa, a kids club, a teen lounge, pools and a Real Madrid soccer clinic just for kids, plus access to Blue Flag–rated Bavaro Beach.
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Location: Mallorca, Spain
This nearly 4-mile-long beach has calm, shallow waters, which makes it a perfect spot for families. There’s also a long pier that reaches out from the beach into the sea, and there are cafes, bars and play areas circling the beach. You can rent sun beds, umbrellas and personal lockers—and take advantage of the free showers. And according to Tripadvisor, it’s one of the safest beaches in the world, with plenty of lifeguards on duty and a thorough rescue system in place.
What to do: The placid waters here are popular for parasailing and jet skiing.
Where to stay: Grupotel Parc Natural & Spa hotel is in a prime location on Playa de Muro, directly across the street from the greenery of S’Albufera Natural Park, which offers shaded paths for strolling. The hotel has a large, beautifully landscaped pool and rooms that Tripadvisor reviewers say are modern, attractive and incredibly clean.
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Location: Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Head south, far south. In the Southern Hemisphere, summer is in full swing during North America’s chilly winter months. If tropical breezes, swaying palm trees, warm turquoise waters and unlimited sunshine are on your bucket list, then the tropical island paradise of Bali should be at the top of it. Kelingking Beach is surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs, and the view from up top is one that you won’t soon forget. However, note that you need to climb down (and then back up) to actually lay in the sand or swim in the surf, so bring good hiking shoes (or maybe just your camera to enjoy the views).
What to do: This is a perfect spot for hikers, who will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular views in Bali.
Where to stay: The stellar views continue at Adiwana Warnakali, which is perched 65 feet above the tropical sands of Nusa Penida. There’s a popular diving center with both scuba courses and underwater safaris. Of course, you could just choose to float in the ocean or the pool before heading back to your spacious, view-filled room.
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Location: Kefalonia Island, Greece
Think of the bluest blue water you’ve ever seen, then turn it up to 11, and you’ll start to get an idea of how Myrtos Beach captured the last spot in this global top 10 list. The white sand is soft, the azure waters are crystal clear and the surrounding cliffs make a perfect postcard background for photos. However, remember to bring water shoes if you head into the sea for a swim since the rocky bottom can be rough on feet.
What to do: This is a great beach to lay out and catch some sun. You can rent both chairs and umbrellas here too.
Where to stay: Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa is a relatively new spot on the idyllic island of Kefalonia and offers one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, each with its own private saltwater pool or hot tub, kitchen, outdoor dining area and terrace. If you want to swim but don’t want to deal with the rocky bottom of the ocean, the large saltwater swimming pools should be your first alternative. The hotel also has a restaurant and a spa.
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