Most beautiful beaches and coastal escapes
Most beautiful beaches and coastal escapes
Best coastal destinations for your next beach trip
For a lot of people, a beach is the whole point of a holiday, but what makes a beach day perfect really depends on personal taste.
Some travellers want isolation and the feeling that nobody else has found the place. Others prefer a lively beach town with cold drinks nearby and people to watch. Families need different things from solo travellers and the person who wants to snorkel a reef has different priorities from the one who prefers to read a book undisturbed for hours.
The world has enough coastline that everyone can find their perfect version of a beach, often within the same country or island group. The destinations on our list range from well-known spots that have earned their reputation to quieter gems that might be a bit harder to reach, but are definitely worth the extra mile.
Lists by region
Country
Sri Lanka
Ancient cities, tea hills and surf beaches
Mirissa's curved bay on the south coast doubles as a launch point for whale watching. Blue whales pass close to shore during the winter migration season. Visitors can swim at the beach by day and head out on boats at dawn. A rocky outcrop called Coconut Tree Hill overlooks the bay.
Country
Maldives
Coral atolls, lagoons and overwater villas
Many resorts here sit on private coral islands ringed by shallow house reefs. The water stays warm and clear across nearly every atoll. Snorkelers can step off overwater bungalows straight into reef fish and small sharks. Some lagoons glow blue at night from bioluminescent plankton.
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