Soaking up the sun with a frozen fruity cocktail in one hand, a good book in the other and feet firmly submerged in powder soft sand is the quintessential day of bliss for many travelers.
There are tens of thousands of beaches in all colors (from white to pink to black sand and azure, turquoise and emerald water), sizes (from a few yards to many miles) and shapes (the beach’s shape depends on how the waves move) worldwide. So, we’ve compiled 40 phenomenal photos of beautiful beaches from around the world to wash away the wintertime blues.
Whether your beach activities of choice are jet-skiing, kayaking, snorkeling, swimming or sunbathing, or all of the above, these beautiful beaches will please even the most discerning beach bum.
Life’s a beach, and we can’t wait to swap our next snow day for a beach day.
Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands
Providenciales, the most developed island on the Turks & Caicos Islands features pristine white beaches and panoramic views of its famous turquoise water. The north shore of “Provo” has the best beaches including the 12-mile Grace Bay beach.
Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Little Dix Bay is a long, crescent-shaped beach; a secluded paradise dotted with sea grape trees. Accessible only by boat, Virgin Gorda is a welcome respite for yachters who began arriving to the sparsely populated island in the 1960s.
Smith Cove, Grand Cayman
Located in South Sound near Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Smith Cove’s turquoise waters are known for excellent snorkeling. The white sand beach, which is protected by limestone formations and coral, is the perfect spot for soaking up the sun.
Boracay, Philippines
There are many reasons to check out the Philippines island of Boracay, including the gorgeous sunsets on White Beach.
Île-à-Vache, Haiti
An island 6.5 miles off the southwestern coast of Haiti, Île-à-Vache offers some of the Caribbean’s most stunning views. The small island, roughly 20-square miles, has only two tourist resorts, Port Morgan and Abaka Bay.
Belize
Belize’s beaches are “un-belize-ably” beautiful. Hugging the Caribbean Sea, many of Belize’s golden sand beaches are often quiet and desolate. With more than 200 offshore islands – called cays – you might be the only person on the beach!
St. Maarten
Since 1648, the 34-square-mile island has been divided between France in the north (Saint Martin) and the Netherlands in the south (Sint Maarten). Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, St. Maarten has 37 beaches – all with enviable views.
Mismaloya Beach, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
What was once a sleepy fishing village, Puerto Vallarta has been transformed into one of Mexico’s top beaches after its starring role in “The Night of the Iguana,” a 1964 John Huston movie starring Richard Burton, Ava Gardner and Deborah Kerr.
Cannes, France
The Cannes Film Festival isn’t the only popular pastime in Cannes, France. The Croisette is a 1.2-mile-long promenade that affords majestic views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Discovery Bay, Jamaica
Puerto Seco Beach in Discovery Bay, Jamaica, offers the perfect backdrop for a relaxing day in the sun. With white sand and shallow turquoise water, whiling the day away is easy and enjoyable.
Platges de Comte, Ibiza, Spain
This cluster of coves in northwest Ibiza, an island off eastern Spain, is the perfect spot for gazing at the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea that ebb and flow on the dark brown sand.
Anse Intendance, Mahé, Seychelles
The largest island of the archipelago in the Indian Ocean, Mahé, is home to stunning beaches including Anse Intendance. Located on the southern coast, the half-mile beach features swaying palm trees and is a surfer’s paradise.
Mu Ko Hong, Krabi, Thailand
Hong Archipelago (Mu Ko Hong) has 12 islets in the Krabi Sea, near Phang Nga province in southern Thailand. These impressive rock formations feature a few beaches worthy of day trips (overnight stays are not permitted).
Sabah, Borneo
Idyllic beach options abound in Sabah in northern Borneo, the largest island in Asia and the third largest island in the world. The azure waters of the South China Sea beckon sun worshippers from all around the world.
Qamea, Fiji
The archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean comprises 322 islands, many uninhabited. The beach at Qamea Resort and Spa is one of the best stretches of beach in Fiji. Located on the northern island of Qamea, the white sand beach is the ultimate in secluded sunbathing.
Makena Beach State Park, Oahu, Hawaii, United States
South of Wailea, Hawaii, Maken Beach State Park is a sanctuary for surfers. The 164-acre park includes golden sand beaches and azure waters.
Mauritius
Located 1,200 miles southeast of the African continent, Mauritius has nearly 100 miles of beaches – all public. From small coves shaded by casuarina trees in the north to secluded surfing spots in the south, there’s a beach for everyone.
Holywell Bay, Cornwall, England
The peninsula of Cornwall in Southern England has more than 400 beaches. The northern coast’s deep blue waters of the Celtic Sea have mesmerized beach bums for years while the southern coast’s secluded coves and cobalt blue waters of the English Channel are home to fishing harbors and estuaries.
Coast Guard Beach, Eastham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United States
One of six protected Cape Cod National Seashore beaches, Coast Guard Beach is arguably the best beach on the Cape. The dune-backed beach is perfect for boogie boarding and is less crowded than other beaches.
Cannon Beach, Key Largo, Florida, United States
Nestled inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Cannon Beach is one of two beaches within the park. There’s a 17th century cannon on the beach and a replica of a Spanish shipwreck 100 feet offshore. It’s a popular beach in The Keys for snorkeling, too.
Baby Beach, Aruba
Families flock to this gorgeous half-moon lagoon on the southeastern end of Aruba. The water remains shallow for a long distance and snorkelers appreciate the designated snorkeling area.
Honeymoon Bay, Toucheng, Taiwan
The crescent-shaped bay on Taiwan’s northern coast is a quiet spot for surfers and lovers. The black sand beach faces the Pacific Ocean and is near Guishan Island (Turtle Island), a popular tourist attraction.
Monte Carlo, Monaco
The French Riviera has an abundance of pebbled beaches and Monte Carlo is no exception.
Playa Kenepa, Curaçao
Located on the western side of Curaçao, Playa Kenepa is a small beach flanked by rocks. It is the perfect spot for snorkeling and spotting sea turtles and manta rays.
Boquerón Beach, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Located in southwestern Puerto Rico, the government-run, public Boquerón Beach is one of the best beaches on the main island.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Punta Cana, the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic, has 10 beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear water – pure bliss.
Search for flights to the Dominican Republic
Awaroa Inlet, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Located within Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand’s South Island, Awaroa Inlet, is a fantastic spot for a dip. Established in 1942, the park is known for its granite cliffs and golden beaches.
Bahamas
With more than 2,000 islands and cays, there are plenty of beach options in the Bahamas. Pink and white sand beaches line the shores making picking where to sunbathe the toughest decision travelers have to make during their visits here.
Pointe du Marin, Martinique
On the southeast coast of Martinique is Pointe du Marin, a small beach on the Bay of Marin. Though the beach is better suited to sunbathers rather than swimmers due to the rough surf, kayakers also find this to be a fun spot.
Barbuda, Antigua
Antigua has 365 strands of beaches, making it difficult to choose which ones to visit. Barbuda, a flat, coral island 30 miles north of Antigua in the Leeward Islands, has a plethora of remote and secluded options.
Grand Anse, Grenada
Grand Anse is the best of Grenada’s 45 beaches. The two-mile, white sand beach and azure Caribbean Sea is on the southwestern coast of this Caribbean island known as the “island of spice.”
Anguilla
Anguilla, a British territory in the Caribbean, is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands. Around 16 miles long and three miles wide, the powder fine sand of the public beaches seems endless.
Whale Bay, St. David’s, Bermuda
Once a separate island from Bermuda, St. David’s is now part of the British territory’s island mainland. It’s not uncommon for beach-goers to spot whales in aptly titled Whale Bay.
Cuba
Miles of beaches stretch along the Atlantic Ocean in northern Cuba and the Caribbean Sea in southern Cuba. With 300 beaches and subtropical weather, nearly every day is the perfect day for a beach outing.
Raisins Clairs, Saint-François, Guadeloupe
The seaside resort town of Saint-François, Guadeloupe offers a variety of picturesque vistas including Raisins Clairs. Shallow water, shade and stunning scenery beckon sun-seekers worldwide.
Rendezvous Bay, Montserrat
Looking for a sparsely populated, crowd-free Caribbean island? There are mountains, a volcano, a small island population and a pristine beach waiting for you in Montserrat. Rendezvous Bay is the only white sand beach on the island and is only accessible via a short hike or boat.
St. Eustatius
The northeastern Caribbean Dutch island has three beaches: the barren Oranje Bay; the black- and tan-sand Zeelandis Beach, whose heavy surf makes this a better option for sunbathing; and beige sand Lynch Beach, with shallow water ideal for wading and swimming.
Los Roques, Venezuela
On the archipelago of Los Roques, a cluster of 50 islands north of Venezuela, there are endless miles of powdery white sand beaches and crystal clear blue waters of every hue, from nearly clear to cobalt. No matter which patch of sand you pitch your beach umbrella on, you’re almost guaranteed a picture-perfect beach day.
Barbados
From the windswept east coast beaches perfect for surfers along the Atlantic Ocean to serene seascapes with gently swaying palm trees on the west coast (ideal for swimmers and sunbathers) to sandy beaches and coves in between, Barbados has an abundance of beautiful beaches.
Emerald Beach, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
St. Thomas has more than 40 beaches that front crystal blue water. All beaches, including resort beaches like the petit Emerald Beach, are open to the public. Many include water sports like kayaking and windsurfing.
If you still can’t decide which beach is for you, discover your beach personality with our quiz.
Editor’s note: Hello, travelers. We revised this post for you to make sure it’s up-to-date, comprehensive and even more awesome.
Main Image: istockphoto.com/AleksandarNakic
