The 10 best beaches in the world, according to Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor has released its annual Travelers’ Choice Awards, ranking the top 10 beaches in the world.
The list includes beaches from various countries, including Greece, Cuba, Portugal, and Thailand.
Elafonissi Beach in Crete, Greece, claimed the top spot for its pink sands and shallow lagoons.

A beach vacation is one of the best ways to relax and recharge.

From feeling the sunshine on your skin to swimming in crystal-clear waters, spending time at the beach can have a healing impact on your wellbeing. Just hearing the waves rhythmically lap against the sand has been found to be soothing. It’s no wonder beaches remain the most popular travel destinations for Americans.

What better place to reap these benefits than at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world? Tripadvisor released its annual Travelers’ Choice Awards 2025 on Monday, sharing the top 10 global beaches.

“Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards uniquely reflect the voices of millions of global travelers and help guide people to plan their best trip yet. In my family, beaches aren’t just for sunbathing – we like to get out and explore!” said Tripadvisor President Kristen Dalton in a press release. “The diversity of this year’s winners really showcases everything that a beach trip can have to offer.”

Spanning Greece, Cuba and Portugal, these stunning beaches are the perfect travel inspiration for your next trip.

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Here are the best beaches in the world.

Table of Contents

10. Myrtos Beach – Kefalonia Island, Greece

Nestled below a mountain range, Myrtos Beach is at the end of a steep and curvaceous road. It’s an incredibly scenic beach, with cerulean blue waters of the Ionian Sea and a beach made of white pebbles and sand.

9. Kelingking Beach – Nusa Penida, Indonesia

Getting to Kelingking Beach beach requires some leg work, including a ferry from Bali to Nusa Penida, a drive down a winding road, and then a steep hour-long hike. At the end, beachgoers reach the pristine cove tucked into dramatic limestone cliffs with white sands and electric blue waters.

8. Playa de Muro Beach – Mallorca, Spain

Located on the northern coast of the Spanish island of Mallorca, Playa de Muro Beach is a white sand dune beach with calm, shallow waters. Beachgoers who seek out an adrenaline rush can spend their day paddleboarding, windsurfing and sailing.

7. Bavaro Beach – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Clear Caribbean waters and white sand lined with palm trees make Punta Cana’s Bavaro Beach an idyllic beach vacation locale. An offshore barrier reef helps keep the beach’s water gentle and calm and also makes for an exciting snorkeling spot.

6. Playa Varadero – Varadero, Cuba

Stretching for 13 long miles, Playa Varadero looks as if it came right off of a postcard. Beachgoers can enjoy the calm turquoise waters and white sand, or jump on a catamaran for an adventurous day at sea.

5. Praia da Falesia – Algarve, Portugal

Situated along the Algarve coastline, Praia da Falesia is a visual treat, with 130-foot-tall red cliffs, golden sand and azure waters. It’s no wonder this Portuguese shoreline was named the best beach by Tripadvisor last year.

4. Siesta Beach – Siesta Key, Florida

Tiny quartz crystals comprise the fine, powdery white sands of Siesta Beach, earning this Florida beach the title of the fourth best in the world. As Siesta Key’s biggest beach, there’s plenty of space to camp out for the day.

3. Eagle Beach – Oranjestad, Aruba

Aruba has an abundance of gorgeous shorelines to enjoy, but Eagle Beach is one of the island’s best. The four-mile-long stretch of sand is often uncrowded, boasting a quiet atmosphere for ultimate relaxation.

2. Banana Beach – Phuket, Thailand

HBO’s “The White Lotus” may be bringing attention to Thailand, but its beaches truly deserve the recognition. Located on Coral Island off Phuket, Banana Beach makes for an idyllic daytime trip, offering vibrant coral reefs – after all, it’s part of a national park and marine preservation – and soft white sand.

1. Elafonissi Beach – Crete, Greece

Climbing 23 ranks to score the top spot, Elafonissi Beach on the Greek island of Crete is the best beach of 2025. Travelers are drawn to its gentle turquoise waters and uniquely pink sands created by eroded shells. The protected nature reserve offers not only shallow lagoons perfect for wading and frolicking but also hiking trails for when you need to stretch your legs.

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