The best beaches in the world revealed and four in the UK make the list
THE BEST beaches in the world have been revealed by TripAdvisor – and four destinations in the UK have made the cut.
The Travellers Choice Awards use both quality and quantity of the ratings to determine which beaches come out on top.
Unsurprisingly, several beaches in Europe dominated the top of the list, including Praia da Falésia, which was named the best in the world.
Located in the Algarve, Portugal, the beach topped the list thanks to its dramatic red cliffs, powdery soft sand, and sunbathing strolls.
Meanwhile, Spiaggia dei Conigli in Sicily came in second place and La Concha Beach in Basque Country, Spain, was ranked third.
Even though a UK beach wasn’t named among TripAdvisor‘s best in the world, two secluded spots in the UK were named in a brand-new category: the World’s Best Sustainable Beaches.
The sustainable beaches were ranked using information from the Blue Flag programme as well as reviews from holidaymakers.
A press release from TripAdvisor states: “[The] winners stand out for their commitments to sustainability including sustainable transport options, waste disposal and water quality.”
Sandbanks Beach in Poole, Dorset was named the world’s most sustainable beach, while Saundersfoot Beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales took third place.
Sandbanks Beach is a golden sandy beach with crystal-clear waters.
Located in Poole, the beach has held its Blue Flag status for the last 35 years.
Other facilities at the beach include toilets, showers, a beach cafe, a mini golf course and a beach volleyball net.
Barbeques are also allowed on the beach between 6pm and 10.30pm, as long as the beach guidelines are strictly followed.
Dogs are allowed on the western side of the beach all year round, but other restrictions on the main beach are in place from May 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024.
Sandbanks Beach has been routinely praised by holidaymakers on TripAdvisor.
One person wrote: “Just the best beach, very clean with stunning views.”
Another person added: “The beach is stunning!”
Located in the small seaside resort town of Saundersfoot, the sandy beach is already a popular spot among holidaymakers.
The beach is ideal for swimming, but it’s also a good spot for canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and fishing.
Saundersfoot Beach also has a busy harbour with several cafes, pubs, shops and restaurants.
Just like Sandbanks Beach, Saundersfoot Beach was been praised by holidaymakers on TripAdvisor.
One person said: “A clean expanse of beach with small shops, a few pubs and a fish and chip shop.”
While another added: “The main beach in Saundersfoot is spotlessly clean with clear shallow water.”
Meanwhile, two other beaches in Dorset were named among the top 20 beaches in Europe by TripAdvisor.
Weymouth Beach was named as the nineteenth best beach in Europe, while Bournemouth Beach came in at twentieth.
Sarah Firshein, Head of Editorial at TripAdvisor, said: “Last year, Tripadvisor received millions of reviews for beaches—it’s clear that our community absolutely loves them.
“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.
“The top three beaches are all in Europe, ousting the perennially popular Caribbean from those spots—a sign that some travellers are eager to swap typical resort vacations for the coastlines of Portugal, Italy, and beyond.”
If you don’t want to go abroad to enjoy a day at the beach, then a little-known beach has been named the best beach in the UK.
Here’s the UK seaside town which has been voted the cheapest in the country.
World's top 10 sustainable beaches for 2024
- Sandbanks Beach – Dorset, UK
- Radhanagar Beach – Havelock Island, India
- Saundersfoot Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales
- Corniche Beach – Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Galissas Beach – Syros, Greece
- Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus
- Mellieha Beach, Malta
- Myrtos Beach – Kefalonia, Greece
- Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, Spain
- Camp’s Bay Beach – Cape Town, South Africa
