The best beaches in the world for 2023 named by Tripadvisor

The best beaches in the world for 2023 ranked by Tripadvisor – with South America fielding the winner, Australia and Hawaii making the top 10 and a Norfolk beach No.1 in the UK

• Tripadvisor has unveiled the winners of its 2023 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for Beaches 
• It’s a ranking drawn up from the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings from Tripadvisor travellers 
• MORE: The reality behind the Instagram snaps – cabin crew reveal the things they hate most about their job

You’re shore to have a good time if you sunbathe on one of Tripadvisor’s top-ranked stretches of sand for 2023. 

According to the travel site, the number one beach to add to your bucket (and spade) list is Baia do Sancho on the volcanic island of Fernando de Noronha off the coast of Brazil, as it has been awarded first place in its 2023 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for Beaches.

It takes the top spot – for the sixth time – in a ranking drawn up from the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings from Tripadvisor travellers for beaches worldwide, gathered from January 1 through to December 31, 2022.

Eagle Beach in Aruba claims the global silver medal, the bronze goes to Cable Beach in Western Australia and Kaanapali Beach in Hawaii is the top-ranking beach in the U.S, landing 10th in the 25-strong global table.

Gorleston-on-Sea on the Norfolk coast, meanwhile, is the UK’s top-ranking beach and comes 12th on the European list, which features 25 beaches.

Baia do Sancho on the volcanic island of Fernando de Noronha off the coast of Brazil has been named the world’s best beach in Tripadvisor’s 2023 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for Beaches

Eagle Beach in Aruba – praised by one visitor for its ‘clear turquoise waters and white sands’ – claims the global silver medal

First-place Baia do Sancho, set over 200 miles (321km) from mainland Brazil, has racked up more than 8,500 reviews to date – over 90 per cent of which award a coveted ‘five-bubble’ rating.

Tripadvisor says: ‘With a timezone just two hours behind the UK, this is the perfect spot for British travellers looking to extend their holiday and take advantage of remote working in 2023, moving their office to the beach.’

Silver-medal-winner Eagle Beach, meanwhile, was praised by one visitor for its ‘clear turquoise waters and white sands’, and third-place Cable Beach, which lies outside the Australian resort town of Broome, was praised by one visitor as ‘just magical’.

Fourth place is taken by striking Reynisfjara Beach near the village of Vik in Iceland, which has black sands and imposing rock formations. You may recognise it from Game of Thrones.

Tripadvisor describes it as ‘a beach like no other’, but if you visit and fancy a dip, be warned – waves there can reach 130ft (40m) and the water is frigid.

The remainder of the worldwide top 10 list includes Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos (fifth), and Praia da Falesia in Portugal’s Algarve region (sixth) – ‘a beautiful, clean, sandy beach with red cliffs that seem to go on forever’.

Cable Beach, which lies outside the Australian resort town of Broome, was praised by one visitor as ‘just magical’. It ranks third overall 

Kaanapali Beach in Hawaii is the top-ranking beach in the U.S, landing 10th on the global table

Gorleston-on-Sea on the Norfolk coast is the UK’s top-ranking beach – it comes 12th on the European list

Fourth in the global ranking and first on the European list is Reynisfjara Beach near the village of Vik, Iceland

Landing in fifth place in the global ranking is Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos 

Boasting ‘red cliffs that seem to go on forever’, Praia da Falesia in Portugal’s Algarve region ranks sixth overall and second on the European list 

Radhanagar Beach on India’s Havelock Island ranks seventh, with one traveller recommending that travellers ‘stay for the sunset for an unforgettable experience’. It’s followed by the ‘extremely lovely’ Spiaggia dei Conigli on the Italian island of Lampedusa (eighth) and Varadero Beach in Cuba (ninth).

Regarding 10th-place Kaanapali Beach, set on the island of Maui, one visitor remarked: ‘When you think of a Hawaiian paradise… this is it.’

Other U.S beaches to make the global ranking are Florida’s Siesta Beach (11th, second in the U.S) and the ‘Instagrammable’ Driftwood Beach on Georgia’s Jekyll Island (12th, third in the U.S).

Radhanagar Beach on India’s Havelock Island ranks seventh, with one traveller recommending that travellers ‘stay for the sunset for an unforgettable experience’

The ‘extremely lovely’ beach of Spiaggia dei Conigli on the Italian island of Lampedusa ranks eighth in the global ranking and third in the European ranking

Pictured above is Varadero Beach in Cuba, which places ninth in the global ranking

In the Europe ranking, first-place Reynisfjara Beach, second-place Praia da Falesia and third-place Spiaggia dei Conigli are followed by the ‘breathtaking’ La Concha Beach in San Sebastian, Spain, in fourth place.

It’s one of three Spanish beaches to make it into the European top 10 – Playa de Muro in Majorca ranks fifth and Sotavento beach on Fuerteventura in the Canaries is ninth.

The rest of the European top 10 comprises Falassarna Beach on the Greek isle of Crete (sixth), Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus (seventh), the ‘gorgeous’ Balos Lagoon on Crete (eighth) and ‘absolutely stunning’ Plage du Sillon in Brittany, France (tenth).

TRIPADVISOR’S BEST BEACHES OF 2023 – GLOBAL, USA AND EUROPE 

TOP BEACHES IN THE WORLD

1. Baia do Sancho, Brazil

2. Eagle Beach, Aruba

3. Cable Beach, Australia

4. Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland

5. Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos

6. Praia da Falesia, Portugal

7. Radhanagar Beach, India

8. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Italy

9. Varadero Beach, Cuba

10. Kaanapali Beach, Hawaii

11. Siesta Beach, Florida

12. Driftwood Beach, Georgia

13. Manly Beach, Australia

14. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

15. La Concha Beach, Spain

16. Kelingking Beach, Indonesia

17. Playa de Muro Beach, Spain

18. Playa Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

19. Ipanema Beach, Brazil

20. Nungwi Beach, Tanzania

21. Falassarna Beach, Greece

22. Nissi Beach, Cyprus

23. Playa Norte, Mexico

24. Magens Bay, Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands

25. Balos Lagoon, Greece

TOP BEACHES IN EUROPE

1. Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland

2. Praia da Falesia, Portugal

3. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Italy

4. La Concha Beach, Spain

5. Playa de Muro Beach, Spain

6. Falassarna Beach, Greece

7. Nissi Beach, Cyprus

8. Balos Lagoon, Greece

9. Sotavento Beach, Spain

10. Plage du Sillon, France

11. Iztuzu Beach, Turkey

12. Gorleston-on-Sea Beach, England

13. Praia dos Tres Irmaos, Portugal

14. Weymouth Beach, England

15. Playa de Ses Illetes, Spain

16. Tropea Beach, Italy

17. Sarakiniko Beach, Greece

18. Kalamaki Beach, Greece

19. Praia Sao Rafael, Portugal

20. Fig Tree Bay, Cyprus

21. Praia Da Rocha, Portugal

22. Fistral Beach, England

23. Plage de Palombaggia, France

24. Bournemouth Beach, England

25. Kleopatra Beach, Turkey

TOP BEACHES IN THE U.S

1. Kaanapali Beach, Hawaii

2. Siesta Beach, Florida

3. Driftwood Beach, Georgia

4. Hanalei Beach, Hawaii

5. Ho’okipa Beach Park, Hawaii

6. Henderson Beach State Park, Florida

7. Cannon Beach, Oregon

8. Coronado Beach, California

9. Ogunquit Beach, Maine

10. La Jolla Cove, California

11. Cape May Beach, New Jersey

12. Coligny Beach, South Carolina

13. St. Augustine Beach, Florida

14. St. Pete Beach, Florida

15. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

16. Poipu Beach Park, Hawaii

17. Napili Beach, Hawaii

18. Panama City Beach, Florida

19. Ocean City Beach, Maryland

20. Pensacola Beach, Florida

21. Kailua Beach Park, Hawaii

22. Sombrero Beach, Florida

23. Clearwater Beach, Florida

24. Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, Hawaii

25. Santa Monica State Beach, California

Source: Tripadvisor 

The ‘breathtaking’ La Concha Beach in San Sebastian, Spain, is fourth in the European ranking

Above is the picturesque Playa de Muro in Majorca, which takes fifth place on the European list

Sliding into sixth place on the European list is Falassarna Beach on the Greek isle of Crete (above) 

Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, is the seventh-best beach in Europe, as per the Tripadvisor ranking

The ‘gorgeous’ beach of Balos Lagoon in Crete (pictured) finishes eighth in the European ranking 

Sotavento beach on the Spanish isle of Fuerteventura (above) is ninth in the European ranking

The ‘absolutely stunning’ beach of Plage du Sillon in Brittany, France, takes tenth place on the European list 

UK No.1 Gorleston-on-Sea is described as a ‘lesser known’ neighbouring beach of Great Yarmouth and is new to the list for 2023.

Tripadvisor says: ‘The three-mile sandy stretch was the backdrop to the Richard Curtis film, Yesterday, and has hosted famous faces such as Ed Sheeran and Danny Boyle. Located along the picturesque Norfolk coastal path, this Victorian seaside town is a hidden gem, popular with families and surfers alike.’

One visitor remarked that ‘this has to be one of the finest beaches in the UK – and I have visited most’.

Weymouth, located on the heart of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, has climbed five spots this year to secure 14th place in Europe, followed by surf hot spot Fistral Beach, Cornwall, which has re-entered the list this year in 22nd place after missing out on a spot in 2022. Bournemouth Beach, meanwhile, ranks 24th in Europe.

TRIPADVISOR’S BEST BEACHES OF 2023 – ASIA, AFRICA, THE SOUTH PACIFIC, SOUTH AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN AND MEXICO 

TOP BEACHES IN ASIA

1. Radhanagar Beach, India

2. Kelingking Beach, Indonesia

3. Benaulim Beach, India

4. Mirissa Beach, Sri Lanka

5. Nai Harn Beach, Thailand

6. Kata Noi Beach, Thailand

7. Yonaha Maehama Beach, Japan

8. My Khe Beach, Vietnam

9. Chaweng Beach, Thailand

10. Haeundae Beach, South Korea

TOP BEACHES IN AFRICA

1. Nungwi Beach, Tanzania

2. Santa Monica Beach, Cape Verde

3. Praia de Santa Maria, Cape Verde

4. Plage de l’Ermitage, Reunion Island

5. Mont Choisy Beach, Mauritius

6. Anse Lazio, Seychelles

7. Le Morne Beach, Mauritius

8. Diani Beach, Kenya

9. Paje Beach, Tanzania

10. Anse Source D’Argent, Seychelles

TOP BEACHES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

1. Cable Beach, Australia

2. Manly Beach, Australia

3. Emily Bay, Australia

4. Mooloolaba Beach, Australia

5. Matira Beach, French Polynesia

6. Four Mile Beach, Australia

7. Whitehaven Beach, Australia

8. Tahunanui Beach, New Zealand

9. Turquoise Bay, Australia

10. Natadola Beach, Fiji

TOP BEACHES IN SOUTH AMERICA

1. Baia do Sancho, Brazil

2. Ipanema Beach, Brazil

3. Quarta Praia, Brazil

4. Baia dos Golfinhos, Brazil

5. Pitinga Beach, Brazil

6. Playa El Doradillo, Argentina

7. Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay, Ecuador

8. Genipabu Beach, Brazil 

9. Geriba Beach, Brazil

10. Playa de San Luis, Colombia

TOP BEACHES IN THE CARIBBEAN

1. Eagle Beach, Aruba

2. Grace Bay Beach, Turks & Caicos

3. Varadero Beach, Cuba

4. Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands

5. Magens Bay, U.S Virgin Islands

6. Cinnamon Bay, U.S Virgin Islands

7. Hansen Bay Beach, U.S Virgin Islands

8. Coco Plum Beach, Bahamas

9. Santa Maria Beach, Cuba

10. The Baths, British Virgin Islands

11. Maho Bay Beach, St. John

12. Playa Pilar, Cuba

13. Taylor Bay Beach, Turks & Caicos

14. Plage de Grande Anse, Guadeloupe

15. St. Anne Beach, Guadeloupe

16. Mullet Bay, St Martin

17. Carlisle Bay, Barbados

18. Seven Mile Beach, Jamaica

19. Baby Beach, Aruba

20. Kleine Knip, Curacao

21. Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda

22. Plage des Salines, Martinique

23. Arashi Beach, Aruba

24. Maho Beach, St Martin

25. Playa Publica Dominicus, Dominican Republic

TOP BEACHES IN MEXICO

1. Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres

2. Playa La Ropa, Guerrero

3. Balandra Beach, Baja California Sur

4. Playa El Cielo, Quintana Roo

5. Playa La Entrega, Oaxaca

6. Chileno Beach, Baja California Sur

7. Nuevo Vallarta Beach, Nayarit

8. Playa de Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo

9. Playa Delfines, Quintana Roo

10. Medano Beach, Baja California Sur

Source: Tripadvisor 

Weymouth, located in the heart of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, climbs five spots this year to secure 14th place in the European ranking

Surf hot spot Fistral Beach in Cornwall snaps up 22nd place on the European list 

Pictured above is Bournemouth Beach, which ranks 24th in Europe

Tripadvisor notes that island getaways are particularly popular this year, with almost three-quarters of the world’s top 10 situated in remote, offshore locations, from the popular beaches of Hawaii and the Caribbean to the more secluded coastlines of Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha island and India’s Havelock Island.

Commenting on the awards, Sarah Firshein, the Head of Editorial at Tripadvisor, said: ‘As a huge beach fan myself, I know the impossible-to-resist allure of sunshine and turquoise water — and certainly, there’s plenty of that on this year’s list.

‘But there are some delightful surprises as well. In addition to the much-loved beaches of the Caribbean and Hawaii, our community is really looking to kick up their experiences, even exploring cooler destinations like Reynisfjara Beach in Iceland. So whether you’re looking to pack a windbreaker or a swimsuit, our list has something for a wide range of travellers—and it might even convince the most ardent beach sceptics to embrace some time on the sand.’

For the complete list of Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award-winning beaches for 2023, visit: tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice-Beaches.

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