The Most-Visited Beaches in the World
Travel the World
Ready for paradise? Plan a visit to one of these destinations—there’s a reason they’re the most popular beaches on the globe.
Finding the most popular beaches
Thanks to Instagram and Travel Supermarket, a UK-based price comparison site, it’s easy to track some of the planet’s most popular. After cross-referencing TripAdvisor ratings with a thorough review of #beach hashtags on Instagram, the following 12 most-visited beaches emerged supreme. Take a peek at the dozen most popular stretches of shoreline in the world and start adding favourites to your beach bucket list.
Here’s a shock: When people voted for the best beach in the United States, this place beat out Hawaii.
Whitehaven Beach, Australia
Accessible only by boat, helicopter, or seaplane, this four-mile stretch of sand on Whitsunday Island is the most Instagrammed beach in the world. Quartz-like and bright white, the sand here doesn’t retain heat the way most other types of sand do, making it easy to walk barefoot comfortably all day. Camp facilities are provided for overnight visitors, but plan ahead for reservations as this slice of paradise is in high demand. Fun fact: Some say the sand here was used to make the glass used in the Hubble Space Telescope in the 1970s, but NASA has never verified this claim.
Here are 15 more of the most Instagrammed destinations in the world.
Lanikai Beach, Hawaii
Its name means heavenly sea, and one look at this beach on the eastern shores of Oahu and it’s clear its moniker is a perfect fit. A bit tricky to find, the access point is tucked between residential homes in a neighbourhood called Lanikai in Kailua. Once there, the powdery white sand and turquoise waters are some of Hawaii’s best. Perfectly situated for sunrise watching, erosion has taken Lanikai Beach from one mile long to about half that, but its beauty is still unparalleled, with picture-perfect views of two tropical islands just offshore. The calm water is perfect for kayaking, but snorkellers love it for its reefs and the stillness of the water. The closest bathrooms, picnic tables, and outdoor showers are nearby at Kailua Beach Park.
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