1. SOUTH BEACH // MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA

Shadow of airplane arriving in Miami

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Miami Beach, Florida’s South Beach is a major entertainment area, attracting tourists from all over the world to enjoy the city’s unique nightlife, shopping, and restaurants.

2. BONDI BEACH // SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Aerial view of Bondi Beach in Australia

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With its breathtaking views and vibrant beach culture, it’s no wonder that Bondi Beach is one of Australia’s most iconic destinations.

3. TULUM, MEXICO

Aerial view of a beach in Tulum, Mexico

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Tulum, Mexico’s crystalline beaches are just one part of what makes this seaside town the third most visited site in Mexico.

4. SURIN BEACH // PHUKET, THAILAND

Aerial view of Surin Beach in Phucket, Thailand

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Acting more like a coastal village than a beach resort, Thailand’s Surin Seach is also known as “Millionaire’s Row” because it’s lined with luxury resorts that are filled with A-list celebrities.

5. WAIKIKI BEACH // HONOLULU, HAWAII

Aerial view of Wakiki Beach in Hawaii

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Located in the Hawaiian capital of Honolulu, Waikiki Beach—which is 2 miles long—accounts for about 42 percent of the state’s annual tourist industry revenue.

6. DEAUVILLE BEACH // NORMANDY, FRANCE

Aerial view of Deauville beach in Normany, France

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Deauville Beach in Normandy, France is often referred to as the “queen of the Norman beaches.” In addition to being surrounded by a ton of history, it’s one of the most prestigious seaside resorts in all of France.

7. NAVAGIO BEACH // ZAKYNTHOS, GREECE

Aerial view of Navagio Beach in Zakynthos, Greece

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Located in the Ioanian Islands of Greece, Navagio Beach, a.k.a. Shipwreck Beach, is a secluded cove and is often cited as the most beautiful beach in Greece (which is pretty high praise when you consider the competition).

8. TRUNK BAY // ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Aerial view of Trunk Bay in St John in United States Virgin Islands

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St. John’s most famous beach, Trunk Bay, has a snorkeling trail for its visitors that includes information about coral formations and sea life.

9. MAYA BAY // PHI PHI ISLANDS, THAILAND

Aerial view of Maya Bay in Phi Phi Island in Thailand

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Danny Boyle’s 2000 film The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, may have been a box office dud—but it made a star out of its filming location in Thailand. So much so that the beach became a sort of victim of its own success; because of the amount of tourists it attracted (it was regularly called “the most famous beach in Thailand”), it closed to tourists in 2018. Earlier this year, officials announced a tentative reopening in the summer of 2021.

10. ANSE SOURCE D’ARGENT // SEYCHELLES

Aerial view of Anse Source D'argent in Seychelles

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Located in the Seychelles, an archipelago off the cost of East Africa, Anse Source d’Argent—with its pink sands and rows of beaches—is a great place to both relax and explore.

11. ISOLA BELLA // TAORMINA, SICILY

Aerial view of Isola Bella at Taormina in Sicily

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Isola Bella, one of Sicily’s most beautiful beaches, is located in Taormina, a small hilltop town that is also home to Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient theater that’s still in use today.

12. NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA

Aerial view of Newport Beach, California

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Whether it’s hiking or water activities, Newport Beach has plenty to do for both sunbathers and adventure-seekers.

13. RAILAY BEACH // THAILAND

Aerial view of Railay Beach in Thailand

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Getting to Thailand’s Railay Beach is part of the adventure: It’s a small peninsula that is only accessible by boat.

14. SURFER’S PARADISE // QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Aerial view of Surfers Paradise in Queensland, Australia

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This seaside resort in Eastern Australia offers great views and majestic waves, making it truly live up to its name.

15. KAMARI BEACH // SANTORINI, GREECE

Aerial view of Kamari Beach in Greece

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Kamari Beach resides on one of Greece’s most popular islands, Santorini, and is notable for its unique black sand