10 Famous Beaches Around the World

Reviewed 9 October 2026

A famous beach can be the centre of a holiday, a day out from the city or a scenic stop on a boat trip. Those are very different travel plans. This selection compares ten recognisable beach settings around the world so you can choose the experience that suits your time, budget and preferred pace.

Use the shortlist to compare urban waterfronts, tropical island stays and a national park cove. The numbers are for navigation; this is an editorial selection, rather than a measured ranking of worldwide visitor numbers. Where a destination contains many beaches, a named shore is identified below.

Which Famous Beach Fits Your Holiday?

The table summarises the choices explained in the beach sections below, with official destination sources beside each detailed entry. Select a beach name to jump to its photographs and planning advice.

1. Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Best fit: City sights and beach culture.

Copacabana brings Rio’s beach life into the city: a broad stretch of sand, the wave-patterned promenade and a skyline framed by green hills. Choose it when you want beach time to sit alongside sightseeing, cafés and an evening walk, with a hotel base that keeps the waterfront close.

The neighbouring Leme end belongs to the same sweep of coastline, while Copacabana Fort marks the other end. Pick one part of the shore for your beach session and leave time to explore the promenade; the setting rewards a slower visit more than a quick photograph.

Plan your visit: Check the precise hotel location and beach access on a map, and use the conditions and lifeguard guidance on the day to decide whether to enter the water. Continue with our Rio de Janeiro travel guide. For the waterfront’s landmarks, see RIOTUR’s Copacabana and Leme guide.

2. Waikīkī Beach, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA

Best fit: A beach base with lessons and city amenities.

Waikīkī suits travellers who want a convenient beach holiday with Honolulu close at hand. Its shoreline is made up of connected stretches, including the main Waikīkī beachfront, Kūhiō Beach and Queen’s Surf Beach. The familiar views towards Lēʻahi, also known as Diamond Head, give the area its distinctive setting.

Surfing and outrigger canoeing are part of the appeal. A lesson with an instructor can be a better introduction than hiring equipment and heading out alone; choose the activity and meeting point first, then work your beach day around them.

Plan your visit: Compare the actual walking route from your accommodation to the beach section you want. Check Hawaiʻi’s ocean conditions before swimming or booking a water activity. Our Hawaii travel guide puts Oʻahu in the wider island picture; GoHawaii’s Waikīkī guide explains the shoreline and facilities.

3. Playa Delfines, Cancún, Mexico

Best fit: Caribbean colour and a public beach day.

For a specific Cancún beach rather than a general resort recommendation, start with Playa Delfines. The public shore has wide sand, turquoise water and an elevated viewpoint, with the colourful Cancún sign nearby. It is a useful choice for a beach visit even when your accommodation is elsewhere in the city.

The beach is on Boulevard Kukulkán in the Hotel Zone. The municipal tourism guide identifies it at kilometre 18 and lists the R1 and R2 bus routes as ways to reach the area from downtown. Check the route and return stop before setting out, especially if you are unfamiliar with the Hotel Zone.

Plan your visit: Bring water and sun protection, and treat the lookout and sand as worthwhile destinations in their own right: the municipal guide warns of strong waves. Follow the flags and lifeguard instructions. Read our Mexico travel guide and Turismo Cancún’s Playa Delfines information for context and access details.

4. Surfers Paradise Beach, Gold Coast, Australia

Best fit: Ocean views with restaurants and nightlife nearby.

Surfers Paradise pairs a long ocean-facing shore with the Gold Coast’s high-rise skyline. It is a strong match for travellers who like a beach holiday to include restaurant choices, shopping and evenings around a busy centre. Cavill Avenue is part of that urban setting; this is a different experience from staying beside a remote Australian bay.

Use the beach for a morning walk, then keep the rest of the day flexible around the weather and surf. If learning to surf is a priority, arrange a lesson suited to your experience rather than letting the destination’s name determine where you enter the water.

Plan your visit: Check the currently patrolled swimming area and follow the red and yellow flags. A central base can simplify beach access; compare parking and transport arrangements before choosing accommodation. See our Australia travel guide and Queensland’s guide to Gold Coast beaches to compare Surfers Paradise with other coastal areas.

5. Seven Mile Beach, Negril, Jamaica

Best fit: Long beach days and sunset-focused stays.

Seven Mile Beach is the sandy side of Negril, on Jamaica’s western coast. Choose it for a holiday organised around walking along the shore, spending unhurried time beside the sea and staying near beachside restaurants. The west-coast sunsets make it particularly appealing if you want the day to wind down on the sand.

Negril also has a cliffside accommodation scene. Both settings can offer sea views, but a cliffside room does not necessarily put you beside a walk-in sandy beach. That distinction matters more than a resort photograph when the main purpose of your trip is daily beach time.

Plan your visit: Check whether the property is actually on Seven Mile Beach, what meals are included and how you will reach any evening venues you want to visit. Our Jamaica travel guide covers the wider destination; the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Negril guide describes its beach and cliffside settings.

6. South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Best fit: Beach time with architecture, dining and city walks.

South Beach is a good choice when a beach holiday should also feel like a city break. The sand runs alongside Miami Beach’s distinctive urban waterfront, with colourful lifeguard stands and the Ocean Drive area adding interest beyond the sea itself. Make room for a walk and a meal as well as time on the beach.

Choose a particular access area before you arrive. Lummus Park connects the beach with Ocean Drive, while South Pointe Park offers another way to combine the shoreline with walking paths and coastal views. A hotel labelled “South Beach” can still be some distance from the beach entrance you intend to use.

Plan your visit: Compare the walking route, room fees and parking arrangements when selecting your base, and check the local beach conditions on arrival. Explore our Miami travel guide and Florida guide; the Greater Miami tourism guide to South Beach beaches explains the main access areas.

7. Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi Leh, Thailand

Best fit: Dramatic limestone scenery on a boat excursion.

Maya Bay offers a different kind of beach experience: a cove on Ko Phi Phi Leh surrounded by steep limestone cliffs. Choose it for the scenery and the boat journey, rather than expecting a beach where you can arrive by road and spend an unrestricted day beside your hotel.

The bay is within Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, where conservation is central to visitor management. A 2026 government update describes shoreline restoration and mooring measures intended to reduce damage to marine habitats. Plan a visit that respects the place you are travelling to see.

Plan your visit: Before paying for a boat trip, confirm current park opening, beach access, swimming restrictions, the departure point and the weather cancellation policy. If swimming is important, ask which separate stops are included rather than assuming Maya Bay supplies that part of the day. Start with our Thailand travel guide and the Thai government’s Maya Bay conservation update.

8. White Beach, Boracay, Philippines

Best fit: A tropical island stay with a walkable beachfront.

White Beach is the shoreline to look for when the Boracay image you have in mind is pale sand, palm trees and turquoise water. It is a specific beach on the island, rather than a promise that every Boracay hotel offers the same setting. The Station 3 photograph shows one part of the beachfront; use the hotel’s map location to understand where your stay would be.

For a holiday centred on beach walks and sunsets, compare direct beachfront accommodation with rooms on streets behind the shore. Check where you will eat and how you will reach those places, rather than relying on the island name alone.

Plan your visit: Ask the accommodation provider about current arrival and island transfer arrangements before connecting flights are booked. Leave a sensible buffer for the final journey to your room. The Philippine Information Agency’s White Beach update identifies the beach and its role in Boracay’s tourism.

9. Las Teresitas, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Best fit: A beach day combined with Santa Cruz and San Andrés.

Tenerife has many different shores; Las Teresitas is a specific golden-sand choice near San Andrés and Santa Cruz. The palm-lined beach and mountain backdrop make it appealing for a day that combines coastal scenery with time in this part of the island. Its location matters when you compare hotels marketed broadly as “Tenerife”.

A breakwater shelters the beach, although that does not remove the need to check conditions. The official Tenerife guide also highlights San Andrés as a place to eat nearby, making a beach-and-lunch outing a natural way to structure the visit.

Plan your visit: Check the road journey or current public transport from your actual base before committing to a day trip. Staying elsewhere on Tenerife may suit a different itinerary, but it changes the effort required to reach this beach. See our Canary Islands travel guide and Tenerife Tourism’s Las Teresitas information.

10. Natadola Beach, Viti Levu, Fiji

Best fit: A Fiji beach holiday based on the main island.

Natadola belongs to Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island. That makes it a useful option when you want Fiji’s coastal scenery while choosing a mainland accommodation base. It is a different trip structure from staying on an offshore island and arranging a boat transfer for every arrival and departure.

Choose your accommodation around how you intend to spend the day: primarily on the beach, exploring the coast or taking organised excursions. A resort view of the bay and convenient access to the part of the beach you want are separate questions; check both on the map and with the property.

Plan your visit: Confirm airport transfer arrangements, the final access route and which food or activity services are available to day visitors. Decide about swimming and water activities using local advice, the tide and the day’s conditions. Tourism Fiji’s public beaches guide for Viti Levu provides official context for Natadola and other mainland beaches.

Before You Book Your Beach Holiday

Shortlist the setting first, then compare the full journey and stay. A headline room rate does not explain how easily you will reach the beach or what your days there will cost.

• Map the final journey. Include road, ferry or boat connections, and check whether the arrival time works with the transfer you need. For Maya Bay, distinguish the excursion departure point from the accommodation base.
• Compare the full accommodation total. Look at meals, taxes, resort fees, parking and airport transfers where applicable. Use our budget-friendly holiday planning guide to assess the whole trip.
• Check the beach conditions for your dates. Seasonal weather, tides and water conditions can alter the day’s options. Use local forecasts and lifeguard guidance; an attractive photograph does not establish whether swimming is suitable.
• Confirm what a tour includes. For boat excursions, check beach landing, park access, separate swimming stops and the operator’s weather cancellation terms before paying.
• Leave time for the place. A walk on Copacabana’s promenade, a beach-and-lunch outing at Las Teresitas or an evening beside Negril’s shore can be more satisfying than collecting several rushed beach stops.

Famous Beach Holiday FAQ

Which beaches work well with a city break?

Copacabana, Waikīkī, South Beach and Surfers Paradise are useful starting points if you want restaurants, sightseeing or city amenities near your beach base. Compare the specific hotel location and access route; sharing a city or neighbourhood name does not mean being directly beside the sand.

Which options suit a holiday centred on beach time?

Seven Mile Beach, White Beach and Natadola are worth comparing when the shore is the main purpose of the stay. Check the exact accommodation frontage, nearby food choices and transfer arrangements. These selections describe the style of trip, without guaranteeing quietness or swimming conditions.

Is there one best month for all ten beaches?

No. The destinations span different hemispheres and weather patterns. Choose your travel dates, then check the local climate, forecast and any park or excursion restrictions for the beaches on your shortlist. Keep an alternative plan for a day when the water or weather changes.

Should I plan Maya Bay like a normal resort beach?

Plan it as a managed national park excursion. Confirm current access and swimming restrictions before booking and ask about separate swimming stops if those are important to your day. Your boat itinerary and accommodation base matter as much as the beach itself.

Where can I find more beach holiday ideas?

Our beach vacation ideas hub helps you compare famous shores with quieter alternatives. Browse the travel guides for the wider destination, then use travel tips to prepare the journey.