Tripadvisor's best beaches for 2021: Australia's Whitehaven Beach No1

The best beaches for 2021 named by Tripadvisor: Australia’s Whitehaven Beach No1 overall, Bournemouth’s golden grains ranked 20th and a strip of sand in Florida tops the USA table

• The ranking has been drawn up from the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings on Tripadvisor
• Volume of ‘saves’ – beaches locked-down travellers lusted after – gathered in 2020 were also studied
• The worldwide silver medal goes to Santa Maria Beach on the island of Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba
• Two Cornish beaches made the European table and Saint Pete Beach in Florida shone brightest for the USA

Scratch your wanderlust itch with a look at this year’s stunning winners in the 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for Beaches – and it’s Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island in Australia that’s No1.

It takes the top spot in a ranking drawn up from the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings from Tripadvisor travellers for beaches worldwide, as well as volumes of ‘saves’ – beaches locked-down travellers lusted after – gathered between January 1 and December 31, 2020.

The worldwide silver medal goes to Santa Maria Beach on the island of Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba, bronze goes to Baia do Sancho in Brazil and the UK’s Bournemouth Beach snares 20th place on the global ranking and comes fifth on the European list. Saint Pete Beach in Florida is the USA’s top-ranking beach, claiming fifth on the global table.

Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island in Australia is the best beach in the world, according to the 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for Beaches. It has a perfect average of five stars from over 2,300 reviews

The worldwide silver medal goes to Santa Maria Beach on the island of Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba. Tripadvisor’s summary? ‘A pristine white sand beach offering spectacular snorkelling’

The UK’s Bournemouth Beach snares 20th place on the global ranking and comes fifth on the European list. It has an average score of 4.5 out of five from over 8,600 reviews, with one traveller lauding its ‘lovely golden sands’ and another its ‘lovely places to eat and drink’

Saint Pete Beach in Florida is the USA’s top-ranking beach, claiming fifth on the global table. It has an average of 4.5 out of five from over 5,100 reviews on Tripadvisor, with reviewer Fabiana Baad declaring it ‘safe and clean with fine white sand’

Australia’s Whitehaven Beach, which has a perfect average of five stars from over 2,300 reviews, is a veritable paradise located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s only accessible by boat, seaplane or helicopter and is lauded by travellers for its gorgeous soft white sand and postcard-perfect turquoise water. 

Truly, a worthy winner.

The rest of the worldwide top 10 list comprises Grace Bay Beach on the island of Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean (fourth); Turquoise Bay, Exmouth, Australia (sixth); Eagle Beach on the Caribbean island of Aruba (seventh); Spiaggia dei Conigli on the Italian island of Lampedusa (eighth); Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii (ninth), and Baía dos Golfinhos in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (10th).

TRIPADVISOR’S BEST 2021 BEACHES – GLOBAL, EUROPE, USA AND CARIBBEAN 

TOP BEACHES IN THE WORLD

1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia

2. Santa Maria Beach, Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba

3. Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

4. Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

5. Saint Pete Beach, Florida

6. Turquoise Bay, Exmouth, Western Australia

7. Eagle Beach, Aruba

8. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Italy

9. Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii

10. Baía dos Golfinhos, Brazil

11. Playa de Cofete, Fuerteventura

12. Varadero Beach, Cuba

13. Praia de Falésia, Albufeira, Portugal

14. Maho Bay Beach, St John, US Virgin Islands

15. Seven Mile Beach, Jamaica

16. La Concha Beach, San Sebastian, Spain

17. Playa Norte, Mexico

18. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

19. Bavaro Beach, Dominican Republic

20. Bournemouth Beach, Dorset

21. Balos Lagoon, Crete

22. Playa Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

23. Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar Island

24. Elafonissi Beach, Crete

25. Plage de Santa Giulia, Corsica

TOP BEACHES IN EUROPE

1. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Italy

2. Playa de Cofete, Fuerteventura

3. Praia da Falésia, Albufeira, Portugal

4. La Concha Beach, San Sebastian, Spain

5. Bournemouth Beach, Dorset

6. Balos Lagoon, Crete

7. Elafonissi Beach, Crete

8. Plage de Santa Giulia, Corsica

9. Kleftiko Beach, Milos, Greece

10. Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall

11. Diamond Beach, Iceland

12. Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain

13. Sarakiniko Beach, Milos, Greece

14. Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland

15. Sotavento Beach, Fuerteventura

16. Perranporth Beach, Cornwall

17. Fig Tree Bay, Protaras, Cyprus

18. Filey Beach, Yorkshire

19. Plage du Sillon, Saint-Malo, France

20. Spiaggia di Sansone, Elba Island, Italy

21. Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus

22. Kleopatra Beach, Alanya, Turkey

23. Tropea Beach, Italy

24. Plage de Palombaggia, Corsica

25. Spiaggia La Cinta, Sardinia

TOP BEACHES IN THE UNITED STATES

1. Saint Pete Beach, Florida

2. Ka’anapali Beach, Hawaii

3. Moonstone Beach, California

4. Wailea Beach, Hawaii

5. Cannon Beach, Oregon

6. Napili Beach, Hawaii

7. Ogunquit Beach, Maine

8. Wai’anapanapa State Park, Hawaii

9. Madeira Beach, Florida

10. Kailua Beach Park, Hawaii

11. Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia

12. Ormond Beach, Florida

13. Henderson Beach State Park, Florida

14. La Jolla Cove, San Diego, California

15. Pensacola Beach, Florida

16. Treasure Island Beach, Florida

17. Siesta Beach, Florida

18. Clearwater Beach, Florida

19. Coligny Beach, South Carolina

20. Coronado Beach, California

21. Virginia Beach, Virginia

22. Poipu Beach Park, Hawaii

23. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

24. Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

25. Santa Monica State Beach, California

TOP BEACHES IN THE CARIBBEAN

1. Santa Maria Beach, Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba

2. Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

3. Eagle Beach, Aruba

4. Varadero Beach, Cuba

5. Maho Bay Beach, St John, US Virgin Islands

6. Seven Mile Beach, Jamaica

7. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

8. Bavaro Beach, Dominican Republic

9. Half Moon Bay, Antigua

10. Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico

11. Bloody Bay, Jamaica

12. Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda

13. Trunk Bay Beach, St John, US Virgin Islands

14. Honeymoon Beach, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands

15. Playa Pilar, Cuba

16. Playa Paraiso, Cuba

17. Frenchman’s Cove, Jamaica

18. Mullet Bay, Sint Maarten/St Martin

19. The Baths, Virgin Goda, British Virgin Islands

20. Grande Anse des Salines, Martinique

21. Plage de Grande Anse, Guadeloupe 

22. Pigeon Point Beach, Tobago

23. Kenepa Beach, Curaçao

24. Playa Porto Mari, Curaçao

25. Arashi Beach, Aruba

 Source: 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for Beaches

The bronze medal on the worldwide list goes to 2020’s No1 – Baia do Sancho on the island of Fernando de Noronha in Brazil (pictured). Getting to it involves climbing down a couple of vertical ladders – but the effort is well worth it, according to the beachgoers’ grapevine

Grace Bay Beach on the island of Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean is the world’s fourth-best beach for 2021, according to Tripadvisor’s assessment of reviews and ratings from 2020 and the number of ‘saves’ made by locked-down travellers

Behold the No6 beach worldwide – Turquoise Bay, Exmouth, Western Australia. Tripadvisor says it’s No1 out of 31 things to do in Exmouth. This picture says it all

Eagle Beach on the Caribbean island of Aruba comes seventh in the global ranking. The bonsai-like Fofoti trees that grow on it make for a unique Instagram backdrop

Spiaggia dei Conigli beach – known for its colony of sea turtles and irresistible waters – on the Italian island of Lampedusa is top in Tripadvisor’s Europe list and eighth globally

Ka’anapali Beach in Maui, Hawaii, is the ninth-best beach in the world and the No2 in the USA, according to the Tripadvisor mainframe. Apparently, visitors here sometimes see whales breaching in the distance

Rounding out the top ten global ranking is this gem – Baía dos Golfinhos in Brazil. It has amassed over 4,600 ‘excellent’ reviews 

The European ranking is, of course, headed by Italy’s Spiaggia dei Conigli. In second place is Playa de Cofete on the Spanish island of Fuerteventura, followed by Praia da Falesia, Olhos de Agua, Portugal (third); La Concha Beach, San Sebastian, Spain (fourth), and then Bournemouth Beach, as mentioned, in fifth.

Bournemouth Beach has an average score of 4.5 out of five from over 8,600 reviews, with one traveller lauding its ‘lovely golden sands’ and another its ‘lovely places to eat and drink’. 

This year, four UK beaches make Europe’s top 25. In addition to Bournemouth’s success, Cornwall is home to two of Europe’s best, with Porthminster Beach and Perranporth Beach coming in 10th and 16th place, respectively. While Filey Beach near Scarborough ranks 18th.

TRIPADVISOR’S BEST 2021 BEACHES – ASIA, AFRICA, SOUTH PACIFIC, SOUTH AMERICA AND MEXICO

TOP BEACHES IN ASIA

1. Agonda Beach, India

2. Cavelossim Beach, India

3. Ngapali Beach, Myanmar

4. Kelingking Beach, Indonesia

5. Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, India

6. Yonaha Maehama Beach, Okinawa, Japan

7. Cox’s Bazar Beach, Bangladesh

8. Bentota Beach, Sri Lanka

9. Khlong Muang Beach, Krabi, Thailand

10. Coconut Beach, Khao Lak, Thailand

11. Haeundae Beach, Busan, South Korea

12. White Beach, Boracay, Philippines

13. Varca Beach, India

14. Varkala Beach, Kerala, India

15. Long Beach, Krabi, Thailand

16. Kata Noi Beach, Phuket, Thailand

17. Nai Harn Beach, Phuket, Thailand

18. Nacpan Beach, Palawan Island, Philippines

19. Mirissa Beach, Sri Lanka

20. Hikkaduwa Beach, Sri Lanka

21. Nusa Dua Beach, Indonesia

22. Sanur Beach, Bali

23. Cenang Beach, Langkawi, Malaysia

24. An Bang Beach, Hoi An, Vietnam

25. My Khe Beach, Da Nang, Vietnam

TOP BEACHES IN AFRICA

1. Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar Island

2. Anse Coco Beach, La Digue Island, Seychelles

3. Belle Mare Beach, Mauritius

4. Nakupenda Beach, Stone Town, Zanzibar Island

5. Santa Monica Beach, Cape Verde

6. Clifton Beaches, Cape Town, South Africa

7. Praia de Santa Maria, Cape Verde

8. Anse Lazio, Praslin Island, Seychelles 

9. Paje Beach, Zanzibar Island 

10. Diani Beach, Kenya

TOP BEACHES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia

2. Turquoise Bay, Exmouth, Western Australia

3. Cape Le Grand National Park, Esperance, Western Australia

4. Greens Pool, Denmark, Western Australia

5. Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia

6. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

7. Piscine Naturelle, Ile Des Pins, New Caledonia

8. Ohope Beach, Whakatane, New Zealand

9. Kaiteriteri Beach, New Zealand

10. Mt Maunganui Main Beach, Tauranga, New Zealand

TOP BEACHES IN SOUTH AMERICA

1. Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

2. Baía dos Golfinhos, Brazil

3. Farol Beach, Brazil

4. Camurupim Beach, Brazil

5. Quarta Praia, Brazil

6. Anakena Beach, Easter Island, Chile

7. Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay, Ecuador

8. Playa Mansa, Uruguay

9. Playa de Spratt Bight, San Andres Island, Colombia

10. Playa Cavancha, Chile

TOP BEACHES IN MEXICO

1. Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres

2. Playa del Amor, Cabo San Lucas

3. Playa la Ropa, Zihuatanejo

4. Balandra Beach, La Paz

5. Chileno Beach, Cabo San Lucas

6. Nuevo Vallarta Beach, Nayarit

7. Mayan Beach, Tulum

8. Playa Zicatela, Puerto Escondido

9. Playa Delfines, Cancun

10. Playa Paraiso, Tulum 

Source: 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for Beaches

Taking bronze in the USA ranking is this enticing strip of sand – Moonstone Beach, California. ‘Taking a walk on Moonstone Beach is definitely a breathtaking experience,’ says Tripadvisor reviewer ‘travelbyjb’

Wailea Beach in Hawaii snares fourth in the USA list in 2021’s Tripadvisor Beach Awards. ‘You can rent snorkel gear and see the turtles near the rocks and coral,’ enthuses Tripadvisor reviewer alexwalkuski

If you like your beaches to come with gigantic lumps of off-shore rock, then head to the No5 beach in the USA – Cannon Beach in Oregon, home to this 235ft-high craggy mound, Haystack Rock. At low tide it’s possible to explore the sealife-rich tidepools around its base. Up high, meanwhile, live tufted puffins. But note, climbing the rock is prohibited

The rest of the USA top-five ranking, meanwhile, comprises Ka’anapali Beach on the Hawaiian island of Maui (second); Moonstone Beach, Cambria, California (third); Wailea Beach on Maui (fourth) and Cannon Beach in Oregon (fifth).

The No1-ranked Saint Pete Beach has an average of 4.5 out of five from over 5,100 reviews on Tripadvisor, with reviewer Fabiana Baad declaring it ‘safe and clean with fine white sand’. 

‘Your last trip to the beach probably feels like a lifetime ago, but with vaccine programs rolling out worldwide, safely making that beach getaway a reality just might be in reach!’ said Christine Maguire, vice president and general manager, global media business at Tripadvisor. 

‘Whether your preferred kind of beach is preened and pristine or rugged and rough, this list of travellers’ favourites is just the inspiration you need to get planning your next beach break.’

For the complete list of Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award-winning beaches for 2021, visit: www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice-Beaches.

In second place in the European ranking is Playa de Cofete on the Spanish island of Fuerteventura. Scenes for Exodus: Gods and Kings were filmed here

Praia da Falesia beach in Olhos de Agua, Portugal, comes third in Tripadvisor’s 2021 European beach reckoning

Foodie hotspot San Sebastian is also a beach hotspot. It’s home to Europe’s fourth-best beach, according to Tripadvisor – La Concha Beach. Its world ranking? Sixteenth

This Instagram hotspot in Crete – Balos Lagoon – is sixth in Europe by Tripadvisor’s beach calculations and 21st in the world. The dreamy spot is accessed via a dirt road that runs to it from Kalyviani village – or boat for a more romantic start to proceedings. The peninsula beyond is Tigani, where the ruins of a medieval castle and church lie, along with multiple tombs

Exotic Elafonissi Beach in Crete is seventh in Europe and 24th in the world, according to Tripadvisor’s algorithm. Elafonisi is actually an island (at the bottom of this picture), with the beach connecting it to the mainland during low tide. During high tide the middle section of the sandbar is submerged in water around one metre (3.2ft) deep

Pretty Plage de Santa Giulia in Corsica is the eighth-finest beach in Europe and comes 25th in the world ranking

Heavenly: Kleftiko Beach on the island of Milos, Greece, is the ninth best in Europe, according to Tripadvisor’s computations

Porthminster Beach in St Ives, Cornwall, rounds out the 2021 Tripadvisor European beach ranking top 10. One Tripadvisor reviewer, ‘CJM2121’, declared it the best beach he’d ever visited in the UK

Perranporth Beach in Cornwall comes 16th in the European list. As this picture shows, it’s quite something

Filey Beach, near Scarborough in Yorkshire, places 18th on the European ranking. Headlands to the north and south cocoon the bay from overly choppy seas – and crucially, there’s a crazy golf course

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