The World’s 50 Best Beaches For 2025

The World’s 50 Best Beaches For 2025: Tropical Paradises That Deserve a Spot on Your Bucket List

Looking for the best beaches to visit in 2025? The World’s 50 Best Beaches has just released its annual list, and the results will make you want to travel.

Unlike other lists that are based on public votes, this one is created by over 1,000 travel professionals and influencers who know the world’s beaches best.

The beaches were rated on eight factors: unique features, wildlife, natural beauty, natural sounds, easy water entry, calm waters, low crowds, and consistency of the perfect setting.

“When choosing the best beaches, we always think about what makes a beach great,” said Tine Holst, cofounder of The World’s 50 Best Beaches. “For our team, it often comes down to natural beauty, peace, and places that make you feel something special.”

The top beach of 2025 is Cala Goloritzé in Sardinia, Italy, a beautiful beach surrounded by tall limestone cliffs. “Cala Goloritzé feels like more than just a beach—it’s so beautiful, it touches you emotionally as soon as you see it,” the report editors said.

Cala Goloritzé is well-preserved. It was made a natural monument in the 1990s, and it’s not easy to get there. You have to hike or swim from a boat 656 feet away. “Cala Goloritzé stands out because they limit the number of visitors and locals take pride in protecting its beauty,” Holst said.

Environmental conservation was a big factor in making the list. “With tourism growing worldwide, beaches that work hard to protect the environment stand out,” Holst added. “Efforts to avoid overcrowding and over-commercialization really make a difference, and that’s shown in our votes.”

In second place is Entalula Beach, a hidden paradise in Palawan, Philippines, that can only be reached by boat. “This beach is less crowded than others in the area, giving visitors a chance to escape the usual tourist spots and enjoy nature,” the editors said.

In third place is Bang Bao Beach on Koh Kood island in Thailand, which feels far from the busy islands like Phuket. One of its highlights is a nearby fishing village where visitors can walk on a wooden pier and eat fresh seafood. “Bang Bao Beach has everything for a perfect Thai beach, surrounded by lush jungle and clear, shallow waters perfect for swimming,” the report authors wrote.

Fteri Beach in Greece, on the island of Kefalonia, is in fourth place. It’s a quiet cove that can only be reached by boat or a steep hike.

PK9 Beach is in the Fakarava atoll in French Polynesia, a place protected by UNESCO. It made it into the top five beaches. The editors praised it for being peaceful and beautiful, with coral reefs full of colorful fish.

Only one beach in the U.S. made it to the list of the 50 best beaches this year: Siesta Beach on Siesta Key, which came in at number 42. The editors liked that it’s great for families, not crowded with big buildings, and has very soft, white sand. The sand is made of 99% pure quartz, so it stays cool even in hot weather. They also said Siesta Beach stands out because of its gentle slope, calm water, and clean, natural look.

Some beaches made the list because they have a special feel. Pink Beach in Indonesia’s Komodo National Park is number 13. The sand looks pink because tiny red coral pieces are mixed with white sand.

Beaches in the Caribbean did really well this year—almost 12 made the list. The top Caribbean beach was Canto de la Playa in the Dominican Republic, ranked number six overall. The report called it “one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets” and it’s on Saona Island.

Another popular beach, Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos, came in at number 10. The report said it’s a perfect example of Caribbean beauty. The beach has soft white sand, clear blue water, and a coral reef about a mile from the shore. It stretches for miles along the island of Providenciales.

Greece and Australia had the most beaches on the list this year, with three each.

Some new places were added to the list too. These include Madagascar, Yemen, Antigua & Barbuda, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Tanzania, France, Ireland, the Maldives, and some overseas territories like American Samoa, the British Virgin Islands, and Bonaire.

“We’re very excited to feature so many new and unique places this year,” said Holst. “This is the most new countries we’ve ever added at once.”

Holst says there were some surprises this year. “We were surprised that many unique and less famous beaches were chosen over some well-known ones we usually include—like Tulum in Mexico, beaches in Iceland, and even Hawaii, which didn’t have any beaches on the list this year,” she said.

If you want to see the all-time best beaches, you can check out the hall of fame. It includes past winners like Trunk Bay in St. John (US Virgin Islands), Cala Mariolu in Italy, Lucky Bay in Australia, Navagio Beach in Greece, Whitehaven Beach in Australia, Maya Bay in Thailand, Hidden Beach in the Philippines, and Honolu Beach in Hawaii.

Keep reading to see the full list—and don’t forget your swimsuit.