The world's best beaches – and what to see and do there

Bold coastal adventures

The world is full of gorgeous ribbons of golden coastline lapped by crystal clear waters. But what if you want something more from a beach than a place to flop and soak up the sun?

Read on for a selection of the world’s best beaches and the best things to see and do there... 

Hot Water Beach, North Island, New Zealand

For a hot tub with a difference, pack your spade and head to Hot Water Beach, on North Island’s Coromandel Peninsula. Dig yourself a hole as the tide turns in, lie back and let the hot springs bubble up through the sand. The water is surprisingly hot, but the lapping waves of the incoming tide will cool it.

Pig Beach, Big Major Cay, Bahamas

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and nowhere is that truism more apparent than at Pig Beach in the Bahamas. With so many gorgeous beaches in the Caribbean, it can be difficult to stand out. This stunning stretch of sand on Big Major Cay is a magical place where wild pigs swim, and tourists come from all over the world to feed them and watch them swim. More adventurous visitors actually jump in the water and paddle with them.

Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Visiting Rio’s famous Ipanema Beach is like walking onto the set of a Brazilian reality TV programme. Women – and men – stroll by in barely-there swimsuits. Persistent beach hawkers tout everything from sarongs to coconuts. And fiercely-fought games of beach volleyball or football are the order of the day. Along with nearby Copacabana Beach, Ipanema is Rio’s playground. You can join in or simply sit back and enjoy the show.

Chichibugahama Beach, Mitoyo, Japan

This incredible beach, located just outside of Mitoyo, has become a new favourite among Instagrammers, thanks to its 'mirror' effect. Providing the perfect photo op, Chichibugahama Beach has its own Instagram account, where you can see some of the best shots taken in front of the mirroring tide pools. After a fun photoshoot, don't forget to take a dip into the waters – the sandy beach is a popular spot for swimming too.

Clearwater Beach, Florida, USA

The USA's Sunshine State is blessed with beautiful beaches galore – but even with such fierce competition, Clearwater, on the Gulf of Mexico, is consistently ranked among the best. That's no wonder, when you consider its gleaming white sands, sky-blue waters and pretty fishing pier. Its laid-back beach restaurants and gentle waters mean Clearwater is a hit with families – but there are plenty of activities for adrenaline junkies too. If you've a head for heights, try parasailing (an extra-special experience at the golden hour), or make a splash and rent some jet-skis.

Paradise Beach Resort, Mui Ne, Vietnam

Mui Ne is a beach lover's dream, offering the perfect blend of activity and relaxation. This southeastern Vietnamese hotspot is home to a strip of luxury (but still affordable) resorts with private beach access. The most unique thing you'll come across in Mui Ne, however, is its bowl-shaped fishing boats which bob along in shallow sea. Head over to the fishing village to see them in action or keep your eye out for these colourful blobs dotted across the beaches. If you're feeling brave, go for a ride.

Koekohe Beach, South Island, New Zealand

The giant boulders at Koekohe Beach on New Zealand’s South Island are a staggering 56 million years old. Over time the powerful ocean has eroded them into weird and wonderful spherical shapes ­– if dragons were real, you might imagine their eggs looked like this. Visit at low tide, when you’ll get the best view of the boulders, some of which are up to 10 feet (3m) in diameter. If that coincides with sunset or sunrise, even better.

Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland, England, UK

Enjoy a dip – and a history lesson – at beautiful Bamburgh Beach in northern England. The gorgeous windswept beach here stretches for 1.5 miles (2.5km) and is crowned by a royal fortress that started life as a Norman stronghold in the 12th century. Wander the ramparts, peruse the extensive collection of medieval weaponry and armour, then join the locals walking their dogs in a brisk North Sea breeze.

San Josef Bay, British Columbia, Canada

If it's a proper boots-on-the-ground adventure that you're after, San Josef Bay delivers. It's located on wild Vancouver Island and it's reached via a mellow hike of about 1.6 miles (2.6km). You'll be met with a sweep of champagne-coloured sand, craggy rocks, sprouting trees and panoramas over the blue bay. It's the perfect spot for a picnic with a view.

Angaga Island, the Maldives

No beach bucket list would be complete without the Maldives. And with its reef-ringed islands and turquoise, bath-like waters. Angaga Island fits the bill. Just a short 25-minute seaplane ride from capital Male, the sea here is so warm you can dive as deep as 65 feet (20m) without needing a wetsuit. But what really sets the beaches on Angaga apart happens after dark. From June to December, you’ll be treated to a luminescent light show where the sand appears to glow like the starry night sky. The tiny pinpoints of electric blue light are emitted by miniscule crustaceans.

Flamingo Beach, Renaissance Island, Aruba

Lying on your sun lounger on the sugar-white sands of this private beach in Aruba you could be forgiven for thinking that you’re in the middle of a Wes Anderson Caribbean fever dream. Then, between the palm trees and the sparkling blue sea, you spot an iridescent coral-pink flamingo. And another, and another. There’s a reason this part of the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort is called Flamingo Beach. And why you need to book your day pass well in advance.

Ras al Jinz, Ash Sharqiyah South, Oman

Ras al Jinz, on the easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula, is renowned for various species of nesting turtles. Every year, thousands of these endangered sea giants migrate from the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and Somalia to lay their eggs on Oman’s shores. Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve runs dawn and evening turtle nesting tours. The best time to visit is between May and September, when you’ll see turtles digging their sandy nests and laying eggs. If you’re lucky, you might even spot some hatchlings.

Sirena Beach, Cuba

This Cuban bolthole is popular with tourists on excursions from Havana, and it's very easy to see the appeal. The crystal-white sand is plugged with palms and dotted with goal posts for beach football. Sunbathing is the favoured activity here, but you can also take to the gentle waters on a kayak. There's a chilled-out restaurant for refreshments, too.

Datai Bay, Langkawi, Malaysia

Two spectacular worlds merge at Langkawi’s Datai Bay. To the fore, there’s a mile-long (1.6km), half-moon-shaped stretch of white-sand beach, perched on the Andaman Sea. Behind lies a vast, 10-million-year-old rainforest, so unique it’s been designated a UNESCO Geopark. When you get tired of gazing out to sea and snorkelling around the coral reefs, take a guided hike into the rainforest. It’s home to dusky leaf monkeys, flying lemurs, macaques and squirrels.

Rabbit Beach, Sicily, Italy

Ranking among Italy's most popular strands, Rabbit Beach, or Spiaggia dei Conigli, is a delicate arch of sand hemmed in by rugged rock formations. It's accessible by boat, or a laid-back hike, and most beachgoers choose to take a dip, or bask beneath a colourful parasol. Despite the name, you'll not find rabbits here, though there are some other special residents: loggerhead sea turtles nest on these shores, with peak season during the summer.

Red Beach, China

China’s Red Beach, in the Liaohe River Delta, provides an eye popping feast of crimson colour. The fiery red display is in fact a blanket of seepweed, which envelopes this coastal wetland and turns a fiery red between August and October. Explore it via the 6,500-foot (1,981m) jetty that meanders through the marsh.

Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece

With its pink-tinged sand, Crete’s Elafonissi Beach is the stuff of fairy tales. The Barbie-hued particles are in fact coral, which has been smashed into miniscule pieces by the power of the sea. Don’t leave before visiting the Monastery of Panagia Chrisoskalitissa, an imposing fort that sits atop a white cliff looking back towards the beach. It dates back to the 17th century and houses a small museum celebrating traditional Cretan life.

Qolora Beach, South Africa

Backpackers flock to South Africa’s Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape. And anyone hiking on Qolora Beach is likely to find themselves in the company of herds of Xhosa cattle, which have grazed the area for centuries. Their sheer size and great horns may make them look menacing, but they’re docile, dignified beasts.

Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Glinting in the Atlantic ocean, some 211 miles (340km) off the Brazilian coast, is Fernando de Noronha and the famed Baia do Sancho. With its silky sands, dolphin-filled water and azure sea, it has been voted the best beach in the world on several occasions. Better still, it's part of a 21-island archipelago, where the waters teem with lemon and reef sharks, anemones, parrotfish, turtles and ghostly wrecks. The word unspoiled is overused, but these islands really are just that. Visitors numbers per day are limited and only Fernando de Noronha has accommodation.

Jokulsarlon, Iceland

For a beach with a difference, head to otherworldly Jokulsarlon, a vast glacial lagoon in Iceland’s Vatnajokull National Park. Here black volcanic sand descends into blue-green water, dotted with glassy icebergs. What to do? Head out at night to watch the mesmerising Northern Lights dance over the lagoon. The best time to see them is between September and mid-April, when it’s darkest.

Benagil Cave, the Algarve, Portugal

With its domed ceiling, natural skylight and pocket of sand, Benagil Cave, in Portugal’s Algarve, is truly spectacular. A few brave bathers swim round from Benagil Beach next door, but for a safer option take one of the organised tours operating from nearby Carvoeiro. They’ll also take you inside several other caves dotted along the coast.

The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

The fun in visiting The Baths in Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Island is actually in getting to the azure waters here. The giant granite boulders along the shore create a labyrinth of caves, passageways and pools that are a delight to explore and a fun way to reach the white sands of Devil’s Bay on the other side. The ethereal Cathedral Room, a pool of crystal clear water in a cavernous space illuminated by light that seeps between the cracks, is truly heavenly.

Punalu'u Beach, Hawaii, USA

With its jet-black volcanic sand, moss-covered rocks and crystal waters, Punalu'u Beach on Hawaii’s Big Island certainly packs a visual punch. The volcanic sand gets fiery hot under the baking sun, so seek shade under the coconut palms lining the shore. Hawaiian Green Sea turtles and endangered Hawksbill turtles bask along the water’s edge, whilst spinner dolphins and humpback whales can be spotted at sea.

Shell Beach, Western Australia, Australia

This 37-mile (60km) stretch of coast in Western Australia's Shark Bay is made up of billions of tiny cockle shells, shimmering in the sunlight. Incredibly, they’re heaped up to 32 feet (10m) deep. The crystalline water is shallow, but salty. Make sure you take shoes for wearing on the beach ­– they may look pretty, but these pearly little numbers can be sharp.

Porthcurno Bay, Cornwall, England

Porthcurno's calm, shallow waters are a favoured family destination. After a day at the beach, you can wend your way up the steps to the Minack, an open-air theatre carved high into the granite cliffs. Plays, musicals and opera run throughout the summer.

Glass Beach, California, USA

One of the most unique strands in the USA, Glass Beach is a stone's throw from California's Fort Bragg. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, it was common for rubbish to be dumped in the sea – but the ocean turned this trash into treasure, spitting out perfect glass pebbles onto the shore. Now the top pastime here is to hunt for glittering stones in shades from crimson to sapphire – just be sure to replace your finds and leave no trace behind.

Phra Nang Beach, Krabi, Thailand

With its limestone cliffs plunging into an emerald sea, Phra Nang Beach in Krabi is truly awe-inspiring. The fact it’s only accessible by boat makes it all the more special. Rent a kayak from nearby Railay Beach West, then take a 30-minute paddle through cave tunnels to reach this alluring cove. The beach's Princess Cave is also a must-see. You might be surprised to find it full of phallic-shaped carvings, regularly left by fishermen as offerings to a goddess in the hope she’d give them safe passage.

Luskentyre Beach, Outer Hebrides, Scotland

The turquoise waters look positively Caribbean, but would-be bathers will get a chilly shock at Luskentyre Beach, on Scotland's Isle of Harris – the water temperature here drops as low as 6°C (43°F). This is the beach for crowd dodgers, though: your only company is likely to be the fabulous bird life, including velvet scoters, eider ducks and the Slavonian grebe. When you tire of ogling the beach, hike into the heather-clad hills of Harris inland, where eagles fly.

Cable Beach, Western Australia, Australia

Cable Beach, in Western Australia’s remote North West is all about the sunsets. Here the sun drops like a fiery ball over the still crystal waters of the Indian Ocean, putting on a spectacular show nearly every night. It is best experienced atop a camel, on one of the beach’s famous sunset camel rides, with the slow lope of these gentle creatures in perfect harmony with the rhythm of the gentle waves and the setting sun.

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Stunning Tulum Beach on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is overlooked by one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya. Looking out across the turquoise waters here, the sugar white sand squeaking between your toes, it’s easy to imagine the founders standing in the exact same spot around AD 1200 and thinking “Yes, this will do nicely!” Tulum remains one of the few ancient ruins on the planet where bringing your swimsuit is an absolute must.

Now check out these stunning images of the world's beautiful beaches from above...