The World's 15 Best Beaches

The World's 50 Best Beaches 2024, sponsored by Banana Boat, were chosen by a panel of over 1,000 travel professionals and influencers. From warm turquoise waters to tropical weather and stunning ocean vistas, the beaches on this lisst promise some of the most incredible beach experiences on the planet, and they're located across the globe, promising fun times and sunny escapes from Greece to Mauritius to Australia and Anguilla. Make sure to have your travel bucket list handy as you scroll through the list of the fifteen best beaches in the world.

Trunk Bay is the quintessential Caribbean beach, pristine and away from human development in the US Virgin Islands. It's rated the best beach in the world this year because it offers that incredible beach experience with beautiful turquoise waters, powdery sand and its lush, secluded location within the Virgin Islands National Park, ensuring it'll remain a sanctuary for decades to come. It's also home to a vibrant coral reef that entices travelers to put on their snorkeling gear and check out the world hidden below that gorgeous blue water.

The world's second best beach of the year is far to the east, in the Mediterranean sea. Cala Mariolu, located in a small, secluded cove along the coast of Sardinia, is a popular and unique beach that travelers can access only by boat or hiking trail. That being said, it offers a calm escape surrounded by rugged cliffsides that make perfect vantage points for photography. It's recommended to visit the beach during the off-season, as it can be crowded.

We head back to the Caribbean for the third best beach in the world: Meads Bay in Anguilla. It's beloved by travelers and residents alike for its quiet atmosphere and long coastline, which ensures very little crowding. The pristine water and powdery white sand promise a picture-perfect Caribbean beach escape you'll adore long after you've left.

The fourth best beach in the world is also the first beach in Asia on this list: Entalula Beach, located in Palawan, Philippines. This beach will make travelers wonder if they've been left on a deserted island, since it's accessible only by boat and is surrounded by lush jungle and jagged cliffs. If you're looking for a beach that feels all your own, without any development or many other travelers, Entalula Beach is the beach for you.

Voutoumi Beach is located on the Greek island of Antipaxos. It's rated the fifth best beach in the world for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, easy access and frequently calm waters, making it great for children, people who are frightened of ocean surf, or for those who simply want to relax. It's a scenic area surrounded by cypress trees and hills that provide hiking trails for great photo opportunities—or just a little exercise after a day laying in the sand all day.

The sixth best beach in the world is an undeveloped paradise on the coast of western Australia. Turquoise Bay certainly lives up to its name, offering beautiful waters that are perfect for diving and snorkeling, as the Ningaloo Reef is right offshore and offer plenty of incredible marine life to encounter. The beach is located within Cape Range National Park, so travelers can visit knowing they'll enjoy a natural beach experience with little development.

The seventh best beach in the world is a little different, compared to the previous beaches on this list. That's because it's pink! Located within Komodo National Park in Indonesia (yes, where you can encounter Komodo dragons), Pink Beach is a natural pink beach that receives its hue from coral insects, but we're not complaining. Travelers love to visit the beach for its incredible diving and snorkeling experiences, as well as to photograph the rare natural wonder of a pink beach.

Located off the coast of Africa in the Seychelles is the eighth best beach in the world: Anse Georgette. It's located on Praslin Island and is only accessible via hike or boat, offering greater privacy and less crowds than more easily accessible beaches. It's known as a calm beach, perfect for swimmers and children, and is surrounded by lush tropical greenery. You might just feel like you're the only person on the island during a visit to Anse Georgette.

The ninth best beach in the world is located in the UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve in Fakarava, an island which is part of French Polynesia's Tuamotu Archipelago. Called the Green Lagoon for its stunning water color variations that are a result of the coral atoll and shallow water depths, it's a stunning, remote beach that promises a day spent in a natural wonderland. It's accessible only by small boat and is also frequently studied by conservationists and biologists.

Myanmar's Horse Shoe Island is recognized as the world's tenth best beach. Away from the crowds, travelers can boat to the beach for a naturally stunning beach experience. The beach naturally wraps around like a horse shoe, creating a calm natural harbor perfect for swimming and other water activities, like snorkeling. The beach is surrounded by cliffs and lush jungle.

We head back to Europe for the world's eleventh best beach. This time, it's located on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Calo des Moro is a gorgeous Mediterranean beach surrounded by cliffs. It's only accessible by boat or steep cliff paths, making it a relatively quiet beach. The calm, cliff-ensconced waters provide great opportunities for swimming, while the scrubby landscape offers great photography opportunities.

The twelfth best beach in the world is located off the eastern coast of Africa, on Mauritius. Le Morne Beach is famous for having a stunning backdrop, and it's not the ocean: it's the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site of Le Morne Brabant mountain, which was once a refuge for runaway slaves. A favorite for windsurfers and kite surfers for its strong winds and waves, the beach is a stunning tropical paradise that also offers an area protected by coral reefs that is calmer for swimmers.

Located in the southernmost tip of the Japanese islands is Aharen Beach, on Tokashiki Island, Okinawa. The world's thirteenth best beach is accessible by a short ferry ride from Naha and is relatively quiet, offering a serene, picturesque beach escape that promises great swimming and photo opportunities. It's also known for its extremely soft, powdery sand and turquoise waters.

Oahu's Lanikai Beach is the second on this list to be located in the U.S., and it's the fourteenth on the list overall. Home to clear waters and powdery white sand, it's an idyllic location promising a perfect Hawaiian beach day. It's a calmer beach that offers great opportunities for kayaking or paddleboarding, and its east-facing view of the scenic Mokulua Islands makes it a great place to experience a gorgeous Hawaiian sunrise.

The fifteenth best beach in the world is in the remote Cook Islands. One Foot Island is a beachy paradise renowned for its shallow, turquoise lagoon and sandy, undeveloped coastline. The island is home to a small post office where travelers can send postcards or have their passports stamped with a unique One Foot Island stamp—an experience that's truly one-of-a-kind.