The world’s best beaches have been crowned for 2024

There’s a lot of variety when it comes to beaches. Sure, the palm-tree-lined shores of Thailand are great and all, but what about the windy bays of Wales or the secluded sands of Japan’s outlying islands?

One thing’s for sure – whether you’re partial to hikes along a rugged coast or sunbathing on powder-white sands next to some lovely lapping waves, pretty much all of us can appreciate a beach in one form or another. So it’s no wonder Lonely Planet’s new book contains such a huge mixture of beaches from all over the world. 

In Africa, you have the likes of Cape Town’s Camps Bay beach, a renowned party destination set against the city’s mountainous backdrop, and from Asia, there’s the dazzlingly postcard-worthy Maremegmeg Beach in the Philippines. 

In Europe there’s plenty of recognition for the Mediterranean coast, but Rhossili Bay in Wales was included, too – read more about the UK beaches that made the list right here. 

Qalansiyah Beach in Yemen is one entry for the Middle East, which is populated by small, warm natural pools, while Red Frog Beach in Panama and Blue Lagoon Beach in Fiji are another two paradise-like destinations to make the list, representing the Americas and Oceania respectively. But there’s plenty more what they came from. Shall we have a look at them all?

Here are the 100 best beaches in the world for 2024, according to Lonely Planet. 

Africa

• Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
• Mnemba Island, Zanzibar
• Le Morne Beach, Black River, Mauritius
• Nosy Iranja, Madagascar
• Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue, Seychelles

Asia

• Radhanagar, Swaraj Deep, Andaman Islands, India
• Palolem Beach, Goa, India
• Papanasham Beach, Varkala, Kerala, India
• White Sandy Beach, Fulhadoo Island, Northern Atolls, Maldives
• Pink Beach, Padar Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia
• Diamond Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
• Titop Beach, Halong Bay, Quang Ninh, Vietnam
• Pacifico Beach, Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines
• Maremegmeg Beach, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
• Secret Beach, Mirissa, Matara District, Sri Lanka
• Hat Tham Phra Nang, Railay, Krabi, Thailand
• Ao Maya, Ko Phi-Phi Leh, Krabi, Thailand
• Secret Beach, Ko Kradan, Trang Islands, Trang, Thailand
• Sunayama Beach, Miyakojima Island, Okinawa, Japan

Europe

• Zlatni Rat Beach, Bol, Brač, Croatia
• Punta Rata Beach, Brela, Makarska Riviera, Croatia
• Rhossili Bay, Gower, Wales
• Rauðasandur, Westfjords, Iceland
• Calanque d’En-Vau, Cassis, Provence, France
• Plage des Poulains, Belle-Île-en-Mer, Brittany, France
• Plage de Palombaggia, Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France
• Playa de Torimbia, Llanes, Asturias, Spain
• Platja Illetes, Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain
• Playa de Famara, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain 
• Paralia Tis Grias to Pidima, Andros, Cyclades, Greece
• Cala Estreta, Costa Brava, Catalonia, Spain
• Punta Paloma, Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain
• Sylt, North Frisian Islands, Germany
• Kokkinokastro, Alonnisos, Sporades, Greece
• Elafonisi, Hania, Crete, Greece
• Myrtos Beach, Kefallonia, 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
• Haukland Beach, 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, Türkiye

The Middle East 

• Fuwairit Kite Beach, Al Shamal, Qatar
• Mahmya Island, Giftun Islands, Red Sea Governate, Egypt
• Qalansiyah Beach, Qalansiyah, Socotra, Yemen

North and South 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, Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, 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, Soufrière, 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 & 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

Oceania

• Blue Lagoon Beach, Nanuya Lailai, Yasawa Islands, Fiji
• Lalomanu Beach, Upolu, Samoa
• Tapuaeta’i/One Foot Island Beach, Aitutaki, Cook Islands
• Ta’ahiamanu Beach, Mo’orea, French Polynesia
• Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula, North Island, New Zealand
• Awaroa Beach, Abel Tasman National Park, South Island, New Zealand
• The Pass, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
• Bells Beach, Surf Coast, Victoria, Australia
• Cable Beach/Walmanyjun, Broome, Western Australia, Australia
• Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania, Australia
• Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• Lucky Bay/Kepa Kurl, Cape Le Grand National Park/Mandoowernup, Western Australia, Australia
• Squeaky Beach, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia
• Tangalooma Beach, Moreton Island/ Moorgumpin, Queensland, Australia
• Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia

If you’d like to find out more about the world’s best beaches, read our guides to very best beaches in Europe and across the world right here. 

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