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TRIPADVISOR announced this month the winners of the 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards for ‘Best of the Best Beaches’. The ranking of the world’s best beaches is determined by traveler reviews.
The Tripadvisor team considered the quality and quantity of global reviews and ratings of beaches around the world over a one-year period between November 30, 2023 and December 1, 2024.
This year’s Best Beach in the World is Elafonisi Beach in Greece. Here’s what Tripadvisor had to say about its readers’ choice of the world’s best beach: “Located on the southwest coast of Crete, this secluded beach is known for its pink sand and crystal-clear waters.”
Other best beaches in the world that made the Tripadvisor list range from Siesta Key in Florida, a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, to Playa de Muro Beach, a large, family-friendly beach with shallow waters in Mallorca, Spain.
Here are the 10 best beaches in the world according to Tripadvisor reviews:
1. Elafonissi Beach in Crete, Greece
Crushed seashells give Elafonissi Beach in Crete its beautiful pink hue. The shallow, calm waters make Elafonissi ideal for family beach days, and the strong southwesterly winds create ideal conditions for kite surfers.
This is a beach that Tripadvisor experts recommend during the off-season months of May and September, when the weather is warm but the beach is less crowded.
2. Banana Beach, Phuket, Thailand
Named for the banana-shaped bay in which it is located, this beach on the northwest coast of Phuket, Thailand has everything you could want in a beach day: swaying palm trees, calm waters, soft golden sand.
Tripadvisor recommends visiting Banana Beach between November and March, when you can expect clear skies and calm seas, ideal for popular activities like boating, parasailing, snorkeling, and watching fish scurry around colorful coral.
3. Eagle Beach in Oranjestad, Aruba
Shaped by Aruba’s trade winds, the Divi Divi (Watapana) trees add to the beauty of Eagle Beach, where visitors will find white sand beaches and relatively calm waters for swimming.
4. Siesta Beach at Siesta Key, Florida
Siesta Key is the only beach in the U.S. to make Tripadvisor’s 2025 list of the top 10 beaches in the world. The 8-mile-long island, which is a bridge over Sarasota, is beloved by beachgoers for its quartz sand beaches, colorful lifeguard towers, and Sunday night drum circles.
5. Praia da Falésia, Algarve, Portugal
With its beautiful red cliffs, Praia da Falésia is a must-see beach for travelers. Tripadvisor reviewers praise it for its golden sands and clifftop views.
6. Playa Varadero in Varadero, Cuba
A Caribbean favorite, Playa Varadero is a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The area is also home to another beautiful beach: Playa Azul (Blue Beach), which has pink and white sand.
7. Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, Bavaro Beach is picture perfect with white sand beaches and turquoise waters lapping the white sand. Book a stay at Melia Punta Cana Beach Resort, a luxury all-inclusive hotel located on this coveted stretch of sand. This wellness-focused resort is one of the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana.
8. Playa de Muro Beach in Majorca, Spain
Playa de Muro Beach in Mallorca, Spain is a family favorite for its gentle surf. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available for rent. The beach also attracts windsurfers and kite surfers. Here’s what you need to know before booking a trip to Spain this summer.
9. Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Indonesia
The surrounding cliffs and hiking trails make this Bali beach a favorite of Tripadvisor reviewers. The giant rock formations jutting into the water resemble dinosaurs, earning it the nickname T. Rex Bay.
10. Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia Island, Greece
A crescent of white pebbles backed by dramatic cliffs makes Myrtos Beach one of the most sought-after beaches in Greece’s Ionian Islands. In addition to the beautiful beaches, travelers to Kefalonia should rent a boat to see some of the island’s caves, such as the sapphire-blue Melissani Cave. [sources/photo special]
