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Best beach holiday destinations
Sun, sea and sand – get our top picks for beach holiday destinations.
Soft sands and blue waters… it’s no wonder millions of us pick a beach holiday each year. Whether you want to just relax or get stuck into some high-octane watersports, we’ve got a beach break with your name on it.
Forget over-crowded stretches of coastline and go somewhere quieter thanks to our handpicked selection. We’re talking everywhere from a pink-tinted spot in Sardinia to a coral-fringed stretch in Mauritius. Read on for our pick of the best beach holiday destinations.
Then, when you’re ready, check out our holiday deals to get there for less.
Mauritius
Mauritius has 330 kilometres of coastline, so you’re almost certain to find a secluded spot all to yourself. Best of all, the sand here is silvery white, flour soft and lapped by turquoise waters full of colourful fish. Belle Mare on the east coast is a strong contender for best beach on the island. It stretches over several miles and boasts white sand, bath-warm waters and some spectacular sunrises. Over on the west coast, Flic en Flac is another picturesque spot lined with trees and backed by mountains.
If you’re keen to get your adrenaline fix in Mauritius, you’ll love Le Morne, which is a haven for watersports like surfing, windsurfing and kiteboarding. Or, if you want to explore the island’s kaleidoscopic population of fish, Blue Bay Beach is where you can get stuck into some Finding Nemo-style snorkelling. More than 50 species of coral have been found here, and you can spot rare fish including the Blue Tang, commonly known as ‘Dory’.
Find out more about our Mauritius holidays.
If you’re keen to get your adrenaline fix in Mauritius, you’ll love Le Morne, which is a haven for watersports like surfing, windsurfing and kiteboarding. Or, if you want to explore the island’s kaleidoscopic population of fish, Blue Bay Beach is where you can get stuck into some Finding Nemo-style snorkelling. More than 50 species of coral have been found here, and you can spot rare fish including the Blue Tang, commonly known as ‘Dory’.
Find out more about our Mauritius holidays.
Turkey
Turkey’s beach scene scores top points and has the awards to prove it. More than 500 of the beaches here have been given Blue Flag status, with the best of the bunch sitting on the west and south-west coast. The Aegean Coast in the west’s home to familiar favourites like Bodrum and up-and coming Izmir, while a shuffle south takes you to the Turkish Riviera, where the likes of Marmaris and Fethiye draw in the crowds.
Thrill-seekers will be happy to know you’ll find plenty of watersports on the beaches, with everything from windsurfing to kiteboarding. There are plenty of popular spots for scuba diving, too, and hang gliding and paragliding adventures are easy to find.
Find out more about our Turkey holidays.
Thrill-seekers will be happy to know you’ll find plenty of watersports on the beaches, with everything from windsurfing to kiteboarding. There are plenty of popular spots for scuba diving, too, and hang gliding and paragliding adventures are easy to find.
Find out more about our Turkey holidays.
Thailand
Thailand flaunts plenty of white sandy beaches, but head to Krabi and you’ll find a 150-kilometre-long stretch of coastline, lined by impressive limestone cliffs. Peaceful spots here include Railay Beach, which is only accessible by boat, and Phra Nang Krabi, which you can kayak to from Railay Beach, stopping off at a cave shrine on the way.
Over on Khao Lak, the hotels are designed to blend into the landscape, so you can expect camouflaged pads surrounded by tropical greenery. You can opt for spots with beachfront settings, rainforest backdrops, and even a hotel that's home to the longest pool in South East Asia.
Find out more about our Thailand holidays.
Over on Khao Lak, the hotels are designed to blend into the landscape, so you can expect camouflaged pads surrounded by tropical greenery. You can opt for spots with beachfront settings, rainforest backdrops, and even a hotel that's home to the longest pool in South East Asia.
Find out more about our Thailand holidays.
Sardinia
This Italian island’s known for its stellar stretches of sand – so it's no wonder it’s a firm favourite with beach lovers. And, best of all, its Caribbean-esque coastline is just a couple of hours away by plane. Olbia’s Porto Cervo, also known as the Emerald Coast, is a winner with holiday-goers and famous faces alike. So, you can top up your tan on the coast’s soft sand and then go celeb-spotting at the glamorous Porto Cervo Marina, which is dotted with gigantic yachts.
There’s even a pink beach in Sardinia called the Spiaggia Rosa Beach, which can be found on Budelli, an island near Olbia. So, if you're picking your destination based on its Instagram credentials, this one should be a front runner.
Find out more about our Sardinia holidays.
There’s even a pink beach in Sardinia called the Spiaggia Rosa Beach, which can be found on Budelli, an island near Olbia. So, if you're picking your destination based on its Instagram credentials, this one should be a front runner.
Find out more about our Sardinia holidays.
St Lucia
St Lucia’s textbook Caribbean coastline is matched by soaring volcanic peaks, lush rainforests and epic waterfalls – so you can line up plenty of adventures alongside more relaxing beach days. Zip-line through the rainforest, hike the Piton Mountains or head out onto the water to try kayaking and windsurfing.
Resort-wise, Rodney Bay in the north comes with a mile-long stretch of sand – Reduit Beach – as well as a man-made lagoon and a glitzy marina full of shops, bars and fancy restaurants. In the south, Soufriere offers up a mix of white and black-sand beaches, but Sugar Beach is the most famous – thanks to its picture-perfect setting between the Pitons.
Find out more about our St Lucia holidays.
Resort-wise, Rodney Bay in the north comes with a mile-long stretch of sand – Reduit Beach – as well as a man-made lagoon and a glitzy marina full of shops, bars and fancy restaurants. In the south, Soufriere offers up a mix of white and black-sand beaches, but Sugar Beach is the most famous – thanks to its picture-perfect setting between the Pitons.
Find out more about our St Lucia holidays.
Florida
It might major in them, but there’s more to Florida has more to it than just theme parks. In fact, after you’ve spent several days whizzing around on rollercoasters, there’s no better way to unwind than by having some downtime on the beach. Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach are just an hour’s drive from Orlando.
Further afield, Clearwater Beach has racked up plenty of well-deserved awards for its silky shores and bath-warm waters. This family favourite has loads of activities going on, like wild dolphin spotting and speedboat rides. On the east coast, you’ve got the Space Coast – home to surfing hotspots at Melbourne Beach and super-soft sands at Cocoa Beach. Or, down in Miami, there’s the famous South Beach – an iconic party spot known for its buzzing nightlife, long stretches of sand and high-octane activities like jet-skiing. If you’re after a quick culture fix, you’ll find Art Deco architecture along the strip here, too.
Find out more about our Florida holidays.
Further afield, Clearwater Beach has racked up plenty of well-deserved awards for its silky shores and bath-warm waters. This family favourite has loads of activities going on, like wild dolphin spotting and speedboat rides. On the east coast, you’ve got the Space Coast – home to surfing hotspots at Melbourne Beach and super-soft sands at Cocoa Beach. Or, down in Miami, there’s the famous South Beach – an iconic party spot known for its buzzing nightlife, long stretches of sand and high-octane activities like jet-skiing. If you’re after a quick culture fix, you’ll find Art Deco architecture along the strip here, too.
Find out more about our Florida holidays.
Spain
There are so many beaches along Spain’s mainland coast, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, you're spoilt for choice. On the mainland, Costa de Almeria is home to untouched beaches and quiet, whitewashed villages, while Costa de la Luz is another sleepy, traditional Spanish resort with an easy-on-the-eye, six-kilometre beach. The Costa del Sol is one of the most famous Spanish resorts, and lines up luxury hotels, glitzy beach clubs, tapas bars and a lively vibe, along with golden stretches of sand. And the Costa Brava’s iconic Benidorm is still a firm favourite with Brits. Alongside nature reserves, sky-high waterfalls and a bustling town, it’s home to one of Spain’s best stretches of sand, the award-winning Levante Beach.
Over in the Balearics, Ibiza is where you’ll find one of the best sunset spots in the world – Cala Conta Beach. There’s also the famous Las Salinas Beach, a long stretch of sand where the Ibizan hipster crowd hang out. In the Canaries, Playa del Inglés in Gran Canaria boasts seven miles of honey-coloured sand, while Playa Blanca in Lanzarote is a low-key number in the south of the island that’s ideal for families.
Find out more about our Spain holidays.
Over in the Balearics, Ibiza is where you’ll find one of the best sunset spots in the world – Cala Conta Beach. There’s also the famous Las Salinas Beach, a long stretch of sand where the Ibizan hipster crowd hang out. In the Canaries, Playa del Inglés in Gran Canaria boasts seven miles of honey-coloured sand, while Playa Blanca in Lanzarote is a low-key number in the south of the island that’s ideal for families.
Find out more about our Spain holidays.
Mexico
Mexico’s east coast has front-row seats to the Caribbean Sea, and while the beaches come thick and fast in this neck of the woods, Cancun's the name on everyone’s lips. This holiday hub is home to a stretch of white sand that unravels for no less than 22 kilometres along the Hotel Zone, which – as the name suggests – is home to luxury All Inclusive properties plus shopping malls, restaurants and bars.
Further down the coast, Playa del Carmen takes things down a notch with sleepier stretches of sand, like laidback Coco Beach. And in Riviera Maya, the shoreline is backed by thick tropical jungle and ancient Mayan ruins – and fronted by coral-filled waters all set up for snorkelling and scuba diving.
Find out more about our Mexico holidays.
Further down the coast, Playa del Carmen takes things down a notch with sleepier stretches of sand, like laidback Coco Beach. And in Riviera Maya, the shoreline is backed by thick tropical jungle and ancient Mayan ruins – and fronted by coral-filled waters all set up for snorkelling and scuba diving.
Find out more about our Mexico holidays.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic and beach holidays go hand in hand thanks to the country’s stellar shoreline. Punta Cana, on its eastern tip, is home to Bavaro – where you’ll find one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after beaches. This 10-kilometre stretch of pristine white sand is speckled with brightly painted beach shacks, with a decidedly tropical backdrop of coconut palms and mangroves.
La Romana, meanwhile, is hidden away on the Dominican Republic’s southeast corner – and the locals claim the beaches here are the best-looking in the country. Head to Bayahibe beach, with its ice-clear water and white-sugar sand, and you’re very likely to agree with them.
Find out more about our Dominican Republic holidays.
La Romana, meanwhile, is hidden away on the Dominican Republic’s southeast corner – and the locals claim the beaches here are the best-looking in the country. Head to Bayahibe beach, with its ice-clear water and white-sugar sand, and you’re very likely to agree with them.
Find out more about our Dominican Republic holidays.
Tempted by a beach break?
Browse our full list of beach holidays and destinations.
Or, for more inspiration, read all about our favourite destinations for 2026, the sunniest places in the world, or the best family holiday destinations.
Psst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.
Author: Jessica Houtby and Katie Gregory
Last updated: 04.02.2026
Browse our full list of beach holidays and destinations.
Or, for more inspiration, read all about our favourite destinations for 2026, the sunniest places in the world, or the best family holiday destinations.
Psst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.
Author: Jessica Houtby and Katie Gregory
Last updated: 04.02.2026