When you're paying hard-earned cash for a beach holiday, you rightly want to be guaranteed a fantastic time. With so many on offer, though, choosing the right one can be difficult. Luckily, Tripadvisor has just released its list of the world’s best beaches. Pull up a sun lounger to find out more.
Tripadvisor is one of the biggest travel reviews-led platforms with millions of members. Every year, it releases its annual Travelers' Choice Awards 2025, sharing, among other things, the top 10 global beaches.
"Last year, Tripadvisor received millions of reviews for beaches and it's clear that our community absolutely loves them," said Sarah Firshein, Head of Editorial at Tripadvisor. "But as our Travellers' Choice lists reveal, there's no one-size-fits-all 'beach day'. Our top 25 winners alone encompass 18 countries across five continents.”
Tripadvisor President Kristen Dalton added: "The diversity of this year's winners really showcases everything that a beach trip can have to offer."
Here's their list of the best 10 beaches:
1. Elafonissi Beach – Crete, Greece
Good for: Crystal clear waters, hiking and dunes, sunbathing, warm water
Best time to visit: May and September offer warm, sunny weather with significantly fewer crowds than the peak summer months of June, July, and August.
2. Banana Beach – Phuket, Thailand
Good for: Boating, parasailing, day trips, colorful coral and fish
Best time to visit: Between November and March, Phuket enjoys clear skies, dry weather, and calm seas, making it the perfect time for beach activities and swimming.
3. Eagle Beach – Oranjestad, Aruba
Good for: White sand, watersports, calm waters
Best time to visit: From April to August, the weather is excellent, with fewer crowds than during peak season, making it ideal for swimming and sunbathing.
4. Siesta Beach – Siesta Key, Florida
Good for: Clear waters, powder sand, seashells, beachfront stays
Best time to visit: Between April and May or September and October, the weather is pleasant, crowds are smaller, and temperatures are more moderate than in peak summer months.
5. Praia da Falésia – Algarve, Portugal
Good for: Golden sand, walks, coastline and cliffs
Best time to visit: From April to October, the weather is warm and sunny with minimal rainfall. May-June and September-October shoulder seasons offer pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds.
6. Playa Varadero – Varadero, Cuba
Good for: Watersports, white sand, walks, catamarans
Best time to visit: December to March is the region's dry season when the weather is stable, with warm temperatures.
7. Bavaro Beach – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Good for: White sand, excursions, resorts
Best time to visit: December to April, the dry season offers minimal rainfall, comfortable temperatures, and perfect conditions for beach activities.
8. Playa de Muro Beach – Mallorca, Spain
Good for: Shallow water, watersports, sand dunes
Best time to visit: With a Mediterranean climate featuring hot, dry summers and mild winters, the best time to visit is between July and August.
9. Kelingking Beach – Nusa Penida, Indonesia
Good for: Cliffs, hiking, viewpoints, landscape
Best time to visit: During the dry season, from April to October, expect bright, sunny days.
10. Myrtos Beach – Kefalonia Island, Greece
Good for: White pebbles, crystal clear waters, cliffs
Best time to visit: Visit in the spring from May to June or early fall in September for pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
The Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Beaches honor travelers' favorite beaches worldwide, based on the quality and quantity of global reviews and ratings on Tripadvisor for beaches, gathered from November 30, 2023 to December 1, 2024.
Andy Probert is an independent PR writer and journalist who writes about travel experiences, airlines, airports, new tech and business. His work has appeared on the BBC, in The Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Daily Mirror, as well as many newspapers/magazines globally.
