From frozen sands to idyllic coves, these are the world's best beaches— where you can cavort with penguins, swim with turtles... or just do nothing at all. How do you define the best beaches in the world? There's plenty of choice— with the world being two-thirds water, that's a lot of coastline to choose from. The icing sugar-white sands of the Maldives would rank highly; the same goes for any of the family-friendly beaches of the Caribbean. The most visited beaches, such as Whitehaven Beach on Australia's Whitsunday Islands, are Instagram mainstays; the same goes for Hawaii's rough-and-ready types. But let's not forget the bucket-and-spade beaches of Europe either.
1.Cala Mitjana, Menorca, Spain
Cala Mitjana’s beauty is all the more pristine for the effort it takes to get there — half an hour from Ciutadella on the south coast of Menorca, it’s accessible only by boat or a 20-minute hike through pine trees. The reward: white, sugar-soft sand, transparent turquoise water (bring your snorkel) and the chance to dive off the low, white cliffs that hug the cove. Bring supplies, although cocktail and fruit sellers are on hand in summer. And if the beach gets too busy, swim over to its little sister, Cala Mitjaneta.
2.Cala Llombards, Mallorca, Spain
The gods couldn’t have made this a more ideal cliff-jumping spot. They carved the Mallorca rockface to perfect leaping height, then dredged the sea to the purest turquoise. Mortals made it even easier by notching steps to the clifftop from the ashy beach. Drive down to this Brit-free south-coast spot at 10 am and you’ll have space to spread out, or come at 5 pm for the last rays. But pack your sundowners: drinks at the cafe are exorbitantly priced.
3.La Concha, San Sebastian, Spain
Nowhere else has such an exuberant holiday spirit so close to the city action (world-class eating, in the case of San Sebastian). Yes, the golden sands get crowded, but somehow everyone slots in — partly because at low tide the 1.5km horseshoe bay is vast, partly because so many are playing frisbee, strolling the shallows, paddleboarding or swimming out to diving platforms. Don’t fancy sunbathing? People-watch and soak up headland-hugged views from La Concha cafe, up on the prom.
4. Bogatell Beach, Barcelona, Spain
Mainland Spain is Europe’s best bet for palatable city beaches, spicing up urban breaks with some seaside. More than palatable, in fact. San Sebastian, Valencia and Cadiz all score well in this regard, but the standout is Barcelona. The masses go to Barceloneta beach, but the savvy head further north to man-made Bogatell, which was dug out to serve attendees of the 1992 Olympics. We’re still only talking a 30-minute walk or ten-minute taxi ride, though; well worth it for the yellow sand, clean water, additional space, good facilities and sparser crowds. Inland, the fast-emerging Poble Nou barrio has lots of award-winning eats.
5.Voidokilia, Greece
Voidokilia translates as “cow’s belly” – an unlovely name, for sure, but one which aptly describes its crescent shape on the mainland’s Peloponnese peninsula. Aquamarine waters lap the white sand, sheltered by headlands at either end of the crescent, and dunes behind. There’s also a ruined castle and a cave to enjoy. Just don’t expect facilities in this lovely corner of Greece: directly behind Voidokilia stands a lagoon popular with flamingos in spring and autumn, which helps explain why the beach is part of a nature reserve and thus, happily, free from development. Tavernas await in villages on either side, about half an hour’s walk away.
6. Agios Ioannis, Mykonos, Greece
It’s a sedative stretch of silver sand, with a ravishing backdrop of white-cube dwellings and mineral-green shallows. It’s more built up than in 1989 when Pauline Collins was filmed sitting here solo in Shirley Valentine — but Hippie Fish is still one of the small island’s most underrated spots for a woozy ouzo moment at the pink end of the day.
7.Praia de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
It’s a natural winner on the otherwise manicured Algarve. Twice hourly 20-minute ferries from the ancient Moorish town of Tavira take you to this, the first of three beaches along the 11km Ilha de Tavira sandbar — alight through pines to golden sand studded with sun loungers and small cafes. The human footprint thins out the further you walk; some beach sections are nudist, so clasp your towel, or shed it, as you stroll. Miss the 5 pm ferry back, and you can grab a water taxi — or stay at the campsite behind the dunes.
8.Praia da Amalia, Portugal
Praia da Amalia used to be called Praia do Brejao, after a local village. But then Portugal’s most famous fado singer, former orange-seller Amalia Rodrigues, learnt to swim here, and a new name took hold — and, happily, things haven’t changed much since Rodrigues’ day. On southern Portugal’s wild Costa Vicentina between monasteries and Moorish ruins, the still-quiet beach is accessed by a two-mile footpath from the Herdade Amalia guesthouse through trees and down makeshift rock steps. Dark, jagged cliffs border each end, with a cascade on one providing a natural shower. Time your visit for low tide, otherwise there may be no beach visible at all.
9. Zlatni Rat, Croatia
Behold the Golden Horn! That’s the translation of Zlatni Rat, a brochure-cover shoreline if ever there was one. Few seasides in the world have a more distinctive shape than Zlatni Rat’s chevron, formed as a spit extends out into the Adriatic. Alas, its Instagrammability, allied with the growing profile of Hvar island, means that the crowds are many — so do try to come early to its white-pebble shingle. It helps if you stay in the town of Bol, just an amble away along the promenade. History lovers are advised that the pine trees behind hide a ruined Roman villa; decorum lovers are warned that Zlatni Rat’s western end is, er, clothing-optional.
10. Sunj Beach, Lopud, Croatia
You get two for one in the loveliest pine-scrubbed bay near Dubrovnik. First, there’s sand (the exception in pebbly Croatia) that’s fine enough for castles. Second, there’s the dreamy day trip to Lopud: relaxed, car and crowd-free. The opposite of summertime Dubrovnik. Access is via vintage ferry from Dubrovnik’s Gruz port; golf buggy taxis whisk you from the harbour to the beach. Come for a long, lazy day, punctuated with lunch at the palm-thatched cafe.
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