For beach-goers around the world, TripAdvisor.com has released a list of the top 10 beaches in the world as part of its annual Travelers’ Choice Awards. These stunning stretches of sand have been given high ratings by its visitors. Tripadvisor reviewed tens of millions of reviews given by millions of global tourists to determine tourists’ ultimate favorite beaches of the year.
The list spans beaches located in the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific, making it truly global and diversified. Approximately three-quarters of the world’s top 10 destinations are located in distant, offshore locations. The most popular beaches according to Tripadvisor reviews provide something for every type of beachgoer, from sun worshipers to adventurers and wildlife enthusiasts.
Methodology
The top 10 list is based on the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings gathered from Tripadvisor travelers’ over the 12-month period from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022.
2023’s Top 10 Beaches in the World
1. Baia do Sancho – Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Baia do Sancho climbed six positions from last year to claim the top spot. This location is not only renowned for its picture-perfect blue seas and white sand beach, but also for its diverse fauna. Those who venture into the warm, clear waters may be fortunate enough to see sea turtles, rays, dolphins, and even reef sharks. This untamed, undeveloped area is renowned for the friendly crabs that creep down the shoreline.
2. Eagle Beach, Aruba, Caribbean
Eagle Beach is located in Oranjestad, Aruba. The area is renowned for its numerous low-rise resorts. It is the widest beach in Aruba and is famous for its smooth and white sand. It is home to two of the most photographed and known fofoti trees on the island of Aruba, with their distinctive profile pointing toward the Caribbean.
The waters are also relatively calm in the designated swimming zones. Boat tours and water activities like snorkeling and jet skiing are popular here as well. If you’re lucky, you may even spot turtles nesting or hatching on the shore between March and September.
3. Cable Beach – Broome, Australia
Cable Beach is a 22-kilometer strip of white sand beach on the eastern Indian Ocean in Broome, Western Australia. The beach was named after the telegraph cable that was constructed in 1889 between Broome and Java. It features azure waters, red soil, and white sand. The beach is the most famous in Western Australia.
4. Reynisfjara Beach – Vik, Iceland
The stunning Reynisfjara Beach in Vik, Iceland, is a new and intriguing addition to the world list for 2023; it is unlike any other beach. With its world-famous black sands and huge rock formations rising over the coast, some viewers of Game of Thrones may recognize this breathtaking setting.
Reynisfjara Beach is popular with birdwatchers due to the numerous species of seabirds sighted in the area, puffins in particular. With waves as high as 40 meters (131 feet) and icy waters, this beach is best viewed from a safe distance.
5. Grace Bay Beach – Turks & Caicos, Caribbean
Named after the wife of Hugh Houston Hutchings, a former Commissioner of the Turks and Caicos from 1933-1934. This gorgeous and easily accessible beach is renowned for its powdery sands, mild Caribbean waters, and barrier reef off the coast that protects it from Atlantic swells. This pristine beach is part of the protected region of Princess Alexandra National Park, where you won’t find much seaweed, rocks, or pollution.
6. Praia da Falésia – Olhos de Agua, Portugal
Praia da Falésia (translates as Cliff Beach) is a beach in Albufeira, Algarve, southern Portugal. It features a cliff that extends from Barranco das Belharucas Beach to Vilamoura. The beach is part of a nearly 6-kilometer-long strip of uninterrupted sand. It is bordered by a line of steep cliffs in hues varying from reddish to pale, in contrast to the verdant pine forests above.
The beach features smooth sand, and the water is crystal clear and delightful. Falesia beach is perfect for a day of sunbathing, swimming in the Atlantic, and partaking in a variety of water sports and activities. Paragliding, diving, snorkeling, jet-skiing, and some of the best surfing in the Algarve can be found at the beach’s eastern end.
7. Radhanagar Beach – Havelock Island, India
Radhanagar Beach, located on Havelock Island, is considered by some as the best beach in India. It is a stretch of pure sand bordered by a turquoise sea and a dense forest. The beach, dotted with palm trees, gives visitors a calm environment to relax and unwind. It is one of the Andaman Islands’ many attractions. The best month to visit are from November to February, as the weather is mostly clear.
8. Spiaggia dei Conigli – Sicily, Italy
Spiaggia dei Conigli (translated Rabbit Beach) is a beach on the southern coast of Lampedusa, one of the Pelagie Islands, in Sicily. It features a long stretch of pristine white sand lapped by shallow, turquoise waters. The beach is only accessible by boat or a 15-minute footpath off the main road and is the centerpiece of the Riserva Naturale Isola di Lampedusa.
It is one of the few locations in Italy where loggerhead sea turtles lay their eggs. The beach is off-limits at night during peak nesting season (typically between May and August).
9. Varadero Beach – Cuba
With a length of around 30 kilometers, of which 22 kilometers are beaches, Varadero is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cuba. One of the most stunning beaches you can find there is Playa de Varadero (Varadero Beach), a beautiful enclave of pink and white sand and crystal-clear water. Many visitors consider Playa de Varadero as the most beautiful beach in Cuba.
10. Ka’anapali Beach – Maui, Hawaii
This breathtaking three-mile expanse of sand is considered one of the best beaches in North America, and it’s simple to understand why. This historic Hawaiian royal retreat features snorkeling- and surfing-friendly seas surrounded by verdant mountains. Take a scenic flight around sunset for the greatest views of the beach.
Visit the beach early in the morning to avoid the throng and secure a prime location on the sand. Head to Black Rock, at the north end of the beach, for a boat tour of the marine life in this area.