The world’s best 100 beaches named by Lonely Planet, with FIVE in the British Isles making the cut alongside gems in the Caribbean, Australia and the U.S. Which one do YOU want to visit the most?
Paralia Tis Grias to Pidima, Andros, Cyclades, Greece
Cala Estreta, Costa Brava, Catalonia, Spain
Punta Paloma, Tarifa, Cadiz, Spain
Sylt, North Frisian Islands, Germany
Kokkinokastro, Alonissos, Sporades, Greece
Elafonisi, Hania, Crete, Greece
Myrtos Beach, Cephalonia, Ionians, Greece
Sarakiniko, Milos, Cyclades, Greece
Baia di Ieranto, Nerano, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Cala Goloritzé, Golfo di Orosei, Sardinia, Italy
Cala Capreria, Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, Sicily, Italy
Sveti Stefan beach, Budva, Montenegro
Hauklandstrand, Vestvågøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Durdle Door Beach, Lulworth, Dorset, England
Kynance Cove, Lizard, Cornwall, England
Keem Bay Beach, Keel, County Mayo, Ireland
Dueodde, Nexø, Bornholm, Denmark
Praia do Camilo, Lagos, Algarve, Portugal
West Beach, Berneray, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Kabak Beach, Muğla, Turkiye
AMERICA
Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Baía dos Porcos, Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil
Gardner Bay, Isla Española, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Playa Manuel Antonio, Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Bahía de las Águilas, Pedernales, Dominican Republic
Playa Holbox, Isla Holbox, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Tulum, Yucatán Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Playa Balandra, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Máncora Beach, Máncora, Piura, Peru
St Andrews Bay, South Georgia, Antarctica
Cabo San Juan del Guía, Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, Colombia
Frenchman’s Cove, Portland, Jamaica
Sugar Beach, Soufriere, St Lucia
Red Frog Beach, Isla Bastimentos, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Bottom Bay, Saint Philip, Barbados
Chesterman Beach, Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Stanhope Beach, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Driftwood Beach, Golden Isles, Georgia, USA
Grayton Beach, Grayton Beach State Park, Florida, USA
South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA
El Matador State Beach, Malibu, California, USA
Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, California, USA
Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA
Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA
Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia, USA
Hanalei Bay, Kaua’i, Hawaii, USA
Oneloa Beach / Big Beach, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Playa Tortuga/Turtle Beach, Isla Culebrita, Puerto Rico
Trunk Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands, USA
Source: Best Beaches – 100 of the World’s Most Incredible Beaches, by Lonely planet