Summer is coming, and the desire to go to the beach to sunbathe, to take a walk, to relax is increasing.
There are those who choose to go to the classic"VIP" beaches full of people, because they prefer the nightlife and entertainment, and there are those who choose instead to spend their holidays on beaches with breathtaking scenery, in constant search of the most beautiful sea in the world.
For those who prefer relaxation and nature, here is a ranking of the most beautiful beaches in the world, among which could be your dream holiday destination.
NB: The following list is the result of a survey that actively involved members of the Community. More than 100,000 users were asked to express their preferences, choosing the 25 most beautiful beaches out of more than 100 selected by our editorial team.
25 - Noosa Beach, Australia
If there is a perfect combination of pristine beaches, tropical paradises and luxury resorts, well, that is Noosa Beach. Golden beach that looks like it was painted by an artist, lush hinterland, national parks.
For diving enthusiasts, you can discover the remains of the wreck of the HMAS Brisbane, and if that's not enough... look around, there's the reef!
24 - Malibu Beach, California
We are in a super VIP area, on a par with Beverly Hills, in a city west of Los Angeles. Malibu's beaches are sandy and ideal both for those who like to sunbathe and relax between dips and for those looking for adrenaline-fuelled wave rides.
Just east of Malibu is Lagoon State Beach, also known as Surfrider Beach for its waves.
23 - Half Moon Bay, California
About 40 km from San Francisco, the bay has the same name as its host municipality. It is a marine protected area to preserve its marine ecosystem and ocean fauna.
Bordered by Pillar Point, it is a privileged area for surfers, especially in the northern border area called Mavericks, where the waves can reach 15 metres!
22 - Cala Goloritzè, Sardinia - Italy
Here we are in Italy, and Sardinia couldn't miss out on one of its brightest jewels. Cala Goloritzè is in fact a dreamy spot with white pebbles that lose themselves in a postcard-perfect sea, albeit... icy! The sea water is in fact very cold because of the currents.
Characteristic is the 150-metre spire, a sort of stacks taken by storm by climbing enthusiasts.
It was declared an Italian National Monument in 1995.
SEE ALSO: Cala Goloritzè - how to get there, what to see and where to sleep
21 - Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Photo by Patricia Edwards. Established as a port town in Jamaica, its natural beauty has led to a strong tourist development, including a cruise port.
The bay is home to an exceptional, busy beach with plenty of clubs and hotels all around. The contrast with the land behind is very strong, as you go from the beach to the cluster of clubs and hotels and finally to a rainforest with rivers and waterfalls that create swimming lagoons.
20 - St. Ives, Cornwall - England
Breathtaking sunsets and sunrises mark the days in the bay of St Ives, a wide sandy cove with a turquoise sea.
Ideal for surfers and windsurfers, all around the cliffs and trails also tickle hiking and climbing enthusiasts. There's something for everyone!
19 - Boracay White Beach, Philippines
The most beautiful island in the entire archipelago, so beautiful that it is taken by storm every year by thousands of tourists in search of paradise. Because that is what it is, a true paradise. White sand, transparent water in a thousand shades of green and turquoise. Yet what was practically an unknown and unspoilt destination in the 1980s has been plundered by the tourist industry. The result? It has been'closed for restoration'.
SEE ALSO: Boracay: where it is, when to go and what to see
18 - Mayan Beach, Tulum - Mexico
We are about 60 km from Playa del Carmen, on the Riviera Maya. Here we witness a truly unparalleled spectacle: the ruins of the temples of Tulum form the backdrop to one of the most beautiful beaches in Central America. It looks like a postcard, it is reality: a cove with white sand and palm trees all around, and even a coral reef offshore! More than that...
SEE ALSO: What to see in Tulum
17 - Playa Varadero, Cuba
Photo by Rojinegro81. Also known as Playa Azul, it is a 30 km strip of land of which 22 are beach. Mixed golden and pink sand, it is unanimously considered the most beautiful in the Cuban archipelago.
If we want to find a downside, one could say that it feels more like California than Cuba, due to the proliferation of big hotels and cocktail bars, more US-style than Cuba-style.
SEE ALSO: Varadero: where it is, when to go and what to see
16 - Clearwater Beach, Florida
4 km of white beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, and connected to a coastal cordon (Sand Key) by a bridge. And we are still in Florida, so away with shops, bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels, lifeguards and baywatch-style bathers, but above all activities ranging from surfing to paragliding to jet skiing to dolphin-viewing excursions!
It hasbeen included among the most beautiful beaches in Florida and the United States.
15 - Playa Bavaro, Punta Cana - Dominican Republic
A few kilometres from the airport, an expanse of 40 km of white sandy beach, a tourist centre of such impressive development that it is one of the most visited Atlantic coastlines in the world.
A kind of ecosystem in its own right, because by moving a few metres you can do anything: shopping, restaurants, hotels... practically without ever leaving the beach!
14 - Waikiki Beach, Honolulu - Hawaii
One of the most famous beaches in the world, it has gone from being a place of spiritual retreat to the centre of the Hawaiian tourist economy, with the biggest hotel chains competing for space. Today, practically half the beach is reserved for surfers, but what makes it famous and crowded is the entire nightlife circuit that revolves around it: clubs, bars, restaurants, discos and... prostitution.
13 - Bondi Beach, Sydney - Australia
One of Australia's most famous beaches, about 7 km from Sydney, it's a sort of 'gulf' with a 1 km strip of sand bordered on either side by two cliffs. A surfers' paradise, it is conventionally divided into two areas: northern and southern. The southern zone is the most 'dangerous', but also the most popular with surfers and lovers of... topless!
SEE ALSO: Sydney's most beautiful and famous beaches
12 - Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Photo by Joonasl. It has always contested the supremacy with its sister Copacabana, a great challenge... Ipanema is a huge expanse of golden sand, ideal for... everyone! Yes, because there is'Posto 8' which is the meeting point for the homosexual community,'Posto 9' for Rio's young (and young at heart), surfers and those obsessed with sunbathing and fitness, and'Posto 11' which is reserved for families and mothers with children.
SEE ALSO: The 10 most beautiful beaches in Rio de Janeiro
11 - Maya Bay, Thailand
Photo by User:Mikecleggphoto. It is the beach chosen as the setting for the film'The Beach' starring Leonardo di Caprio, and there must be a reason. An enchanting place of white sand with rocks, reefs and stacks here and there acting as a frame and 'decoration', making the scenery a true natural picture. Zero roads, zero cars, 100% unspoilt. Just a small snack bar for refreshments.
To visit, just take a boat or speedboat from Phi Phi.
SEE ALSO: When to go to Thailand - best times and months to avoid
10 - Rhossili bay, Swansea - UK
We are in Wales, where you will find this beautiful bay, 5 km long, which is a bit difficult to reach as you get there by following a path over the hills. Once there, however, the breathtaking scenery will not make you regret the effort: a wonderful panorama and unspoilt landscape will envelop your senses! Strolling along the coast, you can visit the remains of an ancient village dating back to the Iron Age; for the more sporty, part of the bay lends itself perfectly to activities such as surfing! Those who like to be kissed by the sun can lie back between the green hills and the blue sea and enjoy the scenery.
9 - Eagle Beach, Palm/Eagle Beach - Aruba
We are in the Caribbean Sea, on the island of Aruba, which is home to this magnificent beach with white sand and a sea of spectacular turquoise hues. There is also a rocky area where it is very nice to admire the small crabs that inhabit these rocks.
It is also fantastic to stretch out on the beach and enjoy a bit of relaxation in the shade of the'Divi Divi trees', typical of this island, which have the peculiarity of always being bent towards the southwest, due to the strong winds that blow on the island.
SEE ALSO: Eagle Beach and Palm Beach: the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean
8 - Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda
Photo by Captain-tucker. We fly to the Bermuda Islands to reach the eighth most beautiful beach in the world. We are in the middle of an absolutely fascinating landscape: blue sea, a beach with a reddish colour due to its composition of crushed corals and shells where limestone cliffs rise up, rocks that almost form small caves in which to sunbathe and have some privacy to lie down and admire the blue of the sky merging with that of the sea.
SEE ALSO: Bermuda Islands: where they are, when to go and what to see
7 - Lopes Mendes Beach, Brazil
Photo by Nathan Chor. Let's move on to Brazil to admire this marvellous beach, decidedly unspoilt as it can be reached either by a two-hour walk, or across the sea by water taxi. Once reached, the place leaves one speechless: animmense white beach with jungle behind, and a breathtaking sea. The island is entirely included in theIlha Grande State Park, a nature reserve that protects all the animal species found on the island, many of them endangered. The most fearless, therefore, will have the opportunity to go a few metres into the jungle and admire the howler monkeys and tree-dwelling sloths.
6 - Playa de las Catedrales, Ribadeo - Spain
Photo by Rojinegro81. Let's go to Europe, where Spain is home to this marvellous coastline of golden sand bordered by a wall of slate, a rock eroded by water that creates a landscape with arches more than thirty metres high resembling the buttresses of Gothic-style cathedrals, from which the name of the bay derives, and natural caves criss-crossed by sandy corridors that can be accessed at low tide. A very beautiful landscape, full of peculiarities all waiting to be discovered!
SEE ALSO: Summer holidays in Spain: Spanish cities by the sea you must visit
5 - Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico
We are in Puerto Rico, still in the Caribbean Sea, where you will find this wonderful bay, totally immersed in nature, with no buildings around, surrounded far and wide by lots of greenery. The beach has fine, white sand, and the turquoise sea is home to a wide variety of fish that can already be seen in the shallowest waters, where swimmers swim. A breathtaking landscape suitable for both relaxation and fun! The island is part of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, which protects several species of birds and turtles that reside on the island. The western part of the island has been the site of military exercises by the US Army and Navy, so military memorabilia can still be found there, and even a semi-buried tank on the beach.
SEE ALSO: Puerto Rico, Caribbean: where it is, when to go and what to see
4 - Baia do Sancho, Brazil
Photo by CCINTRA. We return to Brazil to enjoy the splendid panorama of this bay, accessible by sea or by descending a steep staircase created by the erosion of the rocks, where we immerse ourselves in an atmosphere of tranquillity that allows us to savour the landscape around us. Indigenous flora and fauna frame this coastline bordered by a high cliff, perfect for sunbathing in the midst of nature. A special natural event occurs from February to June on the cliff, where two rainwater waterfalls form - a little icing on the cake that attracts many tourists.
3 - Whiteheaven Beach, Australia
Photo by Damien Dempsey. We fly to the other side of the world, to Australia, to go and admire a'white paradise' as the name suggests, a beautiful beach with its 7 km of white sand coastline, thanks to thehigh percentage of silicon, almost 98%, which makes the sand a brilliant white colour.
This composition also means that the sand does not retain heat, so it is possible to take long walks barefoot and have physical and sensory contact with the beach. The turquoise and emerald-green sea offers a landscape that takes your breath away, warm, crystal-clear water allows you to admire the fish swimming near the shore, and an idyllic atmosphere allows you to spend your holiday in serenity.
2 - Grace Bay, Providenciales
Photo by Tim Sackton. Part of an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea, Providenciales is home to the second most beautiful beach in the world and belongs to the British Overseas Territories. Apart from the beaches, the island's charm lies in its jagged hills, carpeted with prickly pear plants. The trump card, however, remains its seascape: kilometres and kilometres of coral reefs lie close to the shore, easily accessible by boat, just waiting to be admired! The island with its fine, white sand is perfect for long walks by the blue sea. Once again we find ourselves in a paradise, an idyllic landscape with a peaceful atmosphere that will stimulate all our senses.
1 - Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa - Sicily
Photo by Pietro Crincoli. In defiance of the Caribbean islands, Polynesia and the world's most famous tropical landscapes, Italy has the most beautiful beach and sea in the world. We find in first place a beach located on a small island south of Sicily: the Spiaggia dei Conigli in Lampedusa.
It is a spectacular bay with crystal-clear waters entirely surrounded by a very low cliff that is home to the typical flora and fauna of the Mediterranean.
In particular, this bay is one of the few places where Caretta Caretta turtles go to lay their eggs. This is why the reef is part of the Oriented Nature Reserve of the Island of Lampedusa, which also protects this species of turtle, as well as all the rest of the Mediterranean fauna. The perfect destination for your summer holiday if you love nature, the sea and relaxation.
SEE ALSO: Rabbit Island: info, images and how to get there