Our number one beach in the world for 2026 is Whitehaven Beach in Australia’s Whitsundays, followed by Baía do Sancho in Brazil and Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos. This is our own ranking of 10 beaches, scored on sand, water colour, scenery and how well the place copes with visitors. We kept the beaches from our original list because they still stand up, and re-ranked them on those criteria.
| Rank | Beach | Where | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitehaven Beach | Whitsunday Island, Australia | 7 km of 98% pure silica sand |
| 2 | Baía do Sancho | Fernando de Noronha, Brazil | Volcanic archipelago bay |
| 3 | Grace Bay | Providenciales, Turks and Caicos | 5 miles of resort beach |
| 4 | Anse Lazio | Praslin, Seychelles | Granite boulders, non-motorised since 2024 |
| 5 | Spiaggia dei Conigli (Rabbit Beach) | Lampedusa, Italy | Turtle nesting site, boat or footpath access |
| 6 | Playa de ses Illetes | Formentera, Spain | Seagrass meadows and clear water |
| 7 | Flamenco Beach | Culebra, Puerto Rico | Mile-long horseshoe bay |
| 8 | Rhossili Bay | Gower, Wales | 2.8-mile bay with Worm’s Head |
| 9 | Lanikai Beach | Oahu, Hawaii | View of the Mokulua Islands |
| 10 | Playa Norte | Isla Mujeres, Mexico | Shallow, calm water |
How we ranked: we scored each beach on sand quality, water colour, scenery and how the place handles crowds. We did not copy anyone else’s list, and the order is our opinion, not a visitor poll. Many famous beaches now limit numbers or require booking, so check the local rules before you plan a trip.
1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia
Whitehaven is seven kilometres long and made of bright white sand that is 98% pure silica. The sand holds far less heat than regular sand, so you can walk on it barefoot on a hot day, and it is so fine that it can harm phones and cameras.
You reach it by boat, seaplane or helicopter from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island. Cyclone Debbie caused severe erosion in 2017, and repair work was needed at the southern end.
2. Baía do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Baía do Sancho sits on a volcanic archipelago off Brazil’s coast and is one of the most popular beaches on Fernando de Noronha. Clear turquoise water, steep cliffs and the surrounding marine park make it a hard one to beat.
The archipelago limits tourism to protect its ecosystem, so plan ahead for permits and fees. In November 2025 it also inaugurated its first floating solar plant, part of a shift away from biodiesel power.
3. Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Grace Bay runs for about five miles along the north shore of Providenciales, the most developed island in the Turks and Caicos. It is lined with resorts and luxury condos, so you are never far from a restaurant, but the sand stays soft and the water calm.
It is the easiest top-ranked beach to combine with a comfortable stay.
4. Anse Lazio, Praslin, Seychelles
Anse Lazio lies in the northwest of Praslin Island, with clear water, shade from takamaka trees and palms, and large granite boulders at its edges. Unlike many Seychelles beaches, it has no protecting coral reef, so waves can be stronger. As of 2024 it is a non-motorised beach.
You can combine it with the rest of the islands on our Seychelles luxury trip for millionaires.
5. Spiaggia dei Conigli (Rabbit Beach), Lampedusa, Italy
Rabbit Beach is on the south coast of Lampedusa, beside Rabbit Island, one of the last egg-laying sites for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle in Italy. It was voted the world’s best beach in 2013.
Access is on foot along a path or by boat, and the beach has used visitor limits and booking in recent seasons, so check the latest rules with the local authorities before you go.
6. Playa de ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain
Ses Illetes is a smallish beach of fine white sand with a gentle slope, facing west. Part of the appeal is the Posidonia seagrass meadow offshore, which has UNESCO World Heritage protection, and the clear water attracts divers and snorkellers.
In summer a bus connects it to the port. Cars are easy to rent on the island, but plenty of visitors choose bikes or mopeds. The area is a protected natural park, and access can be controlled to limit damage.
7. Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Flamenco Beach stretches for about a mile around a reef-sheltered, horseshoe-shaped bay, with shallow turquoise water and white sand. It borders the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, one of the oldest wildlife preserves in the United States.
Two rusting Sherman tanks left by the US Navy in 1975 remain on the beach and have become part of the attraction. You can reach it by plane or boat from Puerto Rico. There are very few places to stay on the beach itself, so book early.
8. Rhossili Bay, Gower, Wales
Rhossili Bay is a 2.8-mile curve of sand backed by dunes in the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK. At the southern end, Worm’s Head is made of two tidal islands you can only reach at low tide.
It appeared in the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony and served as the setting of New Earth in Doctor Who.
9. Lanikai Beach, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii
Lanikai, also known as Ka??hao, is a half-mile strip of white sand with calm water and a view of the Mokulua Islands, which are popular with kayakers. The name is often translated as heavenly sea, but this is actually a misconception, and the developer invented the name in the 1920s.
Parking near the public accesses is hard to find, and the beach is very crowded on weekends and in holiday seasons. Weekdays are calmer.
10. Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Playa Norte is on the north tip of Isla Mujeres, off the coast near Cancun. It has shallow, calm water and soft white sand, plus dozens of restaurants and bars just behind it. The trade-off is crowds, and it is not the best place to watch a sunrise or sunset.
The island is known for its fresh seafood, which makes it easy to build a full day around the beach.
Keep reading
- Seychelles luxury trip for millionaires: how to pair Anse Lazio with a full island holiday
- 15 mindsets that travel gives you: what a trip can change in you
FAQ
What is the best beach in the world in 2026?
In our ranking, Whitehaven Beach in Australia’s Whitsundays, thanks to its seven kilometres of 98% silica sand and turquoise water.
How did you choose the best beaches?
We scored each beach on sand, water colour, scenery and how well the place copes with visitors. It is our own opinion, not a visitor vote.
Which beach is best for families?
Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos and Playa Norte in Mexico both have calm, shallow water and plenty of restaurants nearby.
Which beaches have restricted access?
Fernando de Noronha limits tourism to protect its ecosystem, Rabbit Beach on Lampedusa has used visitor limits, and ses Illetes is in a protected natural park. Check local rules before you travel.
Do I need a boat to reach any of these beaches?
Whitehaven Beach is reached by boat, seaplane or helicopter from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island, and Rabbit Beach is reachable by boat or on foot.
Which beach is best for scenery?
Rhossili Bay in Wales for dramatic headlands and Worm’s Head, and Lanikai for the Mokulua Islands view.
Last updated: October 2026.
