Special Report

The World's Best Beaches, According to Tripadvisor

FotoMaximum / iStock via Getty Images

When many of us think of our “happy place,” we think of the beach. Just close your eyes and picture it: the sound of the waves crashing, the warm sun, the gentle breeze, the swaying palm trees…. It may sound like a fantasy, but perfect beaches really do exist.

There are plenty of reasons why millions of people dream of going to the beach when they plan their getaways: Beaches are synonymous with relaxation, are ideal kid-friendly destinations, and are the perfect antidote to the mid-winter doldrums. If it’s the middle of February and you’re relaxing on the beach with a tropical drink melting in your hand…falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band (to quote the Beach Boys), then you’re obviously doing something right. (Speaking of the Beach Boys, here’s the song of the summer the year you were born.) 

To compile a list of the 25 best beaches in the world, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a ranking developed by travel booking and review site TripAdvisor as part of their Traveler’s Choice 2022 Best of the Best. They describe the sites they selected as “the beaches that travelers dream of all year long.” (In America, these are the cities with the most miles of beach per person.)

Click here to see the world’s best beaches, according to TripAdvisor

Sure, the Jersey Shore and Daytona Beach may be fun destinations, but they’ve got nothing on the jaw-dropping, idyllic seafront sites to be found in such far-flung locales as Kissamos in Greece, Playa de Muro in Spain, and Cruz Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

okimo / iStock via Getty Images

25. Yonaha Maehama Beach
> Location: Miyakojima, Japan
> Known for being: Fine powdered and ‘the most beautiful white sand beach of the East’

[in-text-ad]

tupungato / iStock via Getty Images

24. Balos Lagoon
> Location: Kissamos, Greece
> Known for being: Accessible by boat or hike

valio84sl / iStock via Getty Images

23. Bavaro Beach
> Location: Bavaro, Dominican Republic
> Known for being: Turquoise and emerald green waters

Oleg_P / iStock via Getty Images

22. Nissi Beach
> Location: Ayia Napa, Cyprus
> Known for being: Fun, great atmosphere, and full of life

[in-text-ad-2]

cdwheatley / E+ via Getty Images

21. Magens Bay
> Location: Magens Bay, St. Thomas
> Known for being: White sands, pristine waters, spectacular views

OlyaSolodenko / iStock via Getty Images

20. Nungwi Beach
> Location: Nungwi, Tanzania
> Known for being: White coral sand that glows even in the dark

[in-text-ad]

YinYang / iStock via Getty Images

19. Playa Norte
> Location: Isla Mujeres, Mexico
> Known for being: Crystal clear waters with a unique landscape

swissmediavision / E+ via Getty Images

18. Playa Manuel Antonio
> Location: Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
> Known for being: Frequent parties and festivals

aero-pictures.de / iStock via Getty Images

17. Playa de Muro Beach
> Location: Playa de Muro, Spain
> Known for being: Turquoise waters, fine sand, and dreamy sunsets

[in-text-ad-2]

ALEAIMAGE / iStock via Getty Images

16. Poipu Beach Park
> Location: Poipu, Hawaii
> Known for being: A series of golden sand crescents

cdwheatley / E+ via Getty Images

15. Maho Bay Beach
> Location: Cruz Bay, St. John
> Known for being: Coconut palm fringed white sand beach

[in-text-ad]

Marina113 / iStock via Getty Images

14. Siesta Beach
> Location: Siesta Key, Florida
> Known for being: Clean, hard-packed sand

Cha_DZ / iStock via Getty Images

13. Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
> Location: Puako, Hawaii
> Known for being: Landscaped beach and one of few white sand beaches in the area

mkos83 / iStock via Getty Images

12. Praia da Falesia
> Location: Olhos de Agua, Portugal
> Known for being: Big waves and golden sand

[in-text-ad-2]

Aerometrex / iStock via Getty Images

11. Cable Beach
> Location: Broome, Australia
> Known for being: Turquoise waters and impeccable white sand

Roger De Marfà / iStock via Getty Images

10. Spiaggia dei Conigli
> Location: Lampedusa, Islands of Sicily
> Known for being: Shallow, crystalline waters and golden sand

[in-text-ad]

Sidney de Almeida / iStock via Getty Images

9. Baía dos Golfinhos
> Location: Praia da Pipa, Brazil
> Known for being: You can see dolphins near the shore

cdwheatley / iStock via Getty Images

8. Trunk Bay Beach
> Location: Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
> Known for being: Being St. John’s most photographed beach

Reuber Duarte / iStock via Getty Images

7. Baia do Sancho
> Location: Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
> Known for being: You have to pay a fee to visit, difficult to get to

[in-text-ad-2]

Mrinal Pal / iStock via Getty Images

6. Radhanagar Beach
> Location: Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
> Known for being: Pristine stretch of sand and lush forest

Nisangha / iStock via Getty Images

5. Eagle Beach
> Location: Palm-Eagle Beach, Aruba
> Known for being: White sand and turquoise waters

[in-text-ad]

Flavio Sol / iStock via Getty Images

4. Quarta Praia
> Location: Morro de São Paulo, Brazil
> Known for being: Being quiet, relaxed, and less crowded

JohnCrux / iStock via Getty Images

3. Turquoise Bay
> Location: Exmouth, Australia
> Known for being: Snorkeling and abundance of marine life

Diy13 / iStock via Getty Images

2. Varadero Beach
> Location: Varadero, Cuba
> Known for being: Miles of white sand and being able to walk far out

[in-text-ad-2]

JoaoBarcelos / iStock via Getty Images

1. Grace Bay Beach
> Location: Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
> Known for being: Long stretch of soft white sand

 

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.