As the weather warms up, do you find yourself dreaming of sandy beaches, secluded coves and crystal clear waters? Us too! So much so, in fact, that we’ve spent hours and hours lusting over the most gorgeous shores (under the guise of “work”), checking out the most Instagrammed coastlines and the most written-about sandy stretches. And why let all that hard work go to waste, when we can turn that research into something useful for all our Cult Beauties!
Using our newfound knowledge and our existing expertise, we’re proud to reveal our definitive list of the world’s most beautiful beaches, plus {hair} and {make up} tips to help you nail your beach look and get that totally perfect Instagram shot – no matter which faraway shore you find yourself on.
THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES
| Ranking | Name of beach | Location | Number of Instagram posts | Number of Google articles containing the word ‘beautiful’* | Total Score |
| 1 | Venice Beach | California, United States | 4,300,000 | 5,410,000 | 89.08 |
| 2 | Main Beach | Byron Bay, Australia | 3,100,100 | 6,920,000 | 86.05 |
| 3 | El Nido | Palawan, Philippines | 1,200,000 | 3,950,000 | 42.48 |
| 4 | Panama City Beach | Florida, United States | 911,000 | 4,380,000 | 42.23 |
| 5 | Bondi Beach | Sydney, Australia | 1,800,000 | 2,230,000 | 37.02 |
| 6 | Sunrise Beach | Koh Lipe, Thailand | 126,000 | 3,180,000 | 24.43 |
| 7 | Bandon | Oregon, United States | 33,500 | 1,830,000 | 13.59 |
| 8 | Long Beach | Phu Quoc, Vietnam | 35,000 | 1,540,000 | 11.51 |
| 9 | Los Roques | Venezuela | 606,000 | 330,000 | 9.40 |
| 10 | Hot Water Beach | Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand | 41,800 | 988,000 | 7.60 |
| 11 | The Baths | Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands | 1,000 | 1,040,000 | 7.50 |
| 12 | Maya Bay | Ko Phi Phi, Thailand | 420,000 | 342,000 | 7.33 |
| 13 | Tulum | Mexico | 452,000 | 276,000 | 7.22 |
| 14 | Jeffreys Bay | South Africa | 94,000 | 847,000 | 7.19 |
| 15 | Unawatuna | Sri Lanka | 224,000 | 619,000 | 7.05 |
| 16 | Rarotonga | Cook Islands | 50 | 959,000 | 6.91 |
| 17 | Grace Bay | Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands | 414 | 733,000 | 5.28 |
| 18 | Crane Beach | Barbados | 29,800 | 624,000 | 4.83 |
| 19 | Boulders Beach | Cape Town | 142,000 | 440,000 | 4.80 |
| 20 | Whitehaven Beach | Queensland, Australia | 215,000 | 322,000 | 4.80 |
Our top 20 list features beaches from around the globe, from the sunny shores of the USA all the way round to the golden coastlines of Australia, via the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. Let’s take a closer look at some of the world’s most beautiful beaches…
1. VENICE BEACH, CALIFORNIA
Storming ahead with the highest number of Instagram posts is the golden state’s buzzing and bohemian Venice Beach. Its wide stretch of soft golden sand is lined with palm trees and an iconic boardwalk where you’ll find just about every type of street performer imaginable! The beauty of this beach is amplified by the stunning mountain views – get your bikini on, style your best boho waves and get set to mingle with California’s coolest residents.
2. MAIN BEACH, BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA
The second most Instagrammed beach and the one that features in the highest number of Google search results containing the word ‘beautiful’, Main Beach in Byron Bay is a mecca of sand, sun and serenity. Not only is it breathtakingly beautiful thanks to its calm, clear waters and its long, white, sandy strip of beach, it also feels pretty damn vibey, with its alternative, hippy past leaving an unerasable mark.
3. EL NIDO, PHILIPPINES
For unspoiled beauty, nothing beats the jaw-droppingly gorgeous beaches of El Nido. Those turquoise waters, that white, powdery sand, that lush green vegetation and those dramatic rocky backdrops – swooooon! This is the ultimate place for relaxation, and with natural beauty like that (and your best natural make up look), you won’t struggle to get that Insta-worthy shot!
4. PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA
With 43 kilometres of the whitest sand you’ve ever seen, and some of the clearest emerald green waters too, it’s no surprise that Panama City Beach is such a popular spot and the 4th most beautiful beach in our ranking! The coastline faces south west, and the kaleidoscope of colours that streak the sky as the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico only adds to the beach’s beauty. The best bit? It boasts 320 days of sunshine each year, so it’s a year-round destination!
5. BONDI BEACH, AUSTRALIA
Bondi Beach is quite possibly the most iconic of Australia’s beaches, with its sweeping crescent of white sand, its blue waters and its curling waves. It’s a hotspot for surfers, sun-worshippers and backpackers, with a lifestyle so laid back you’ll never want to leave. Beachy tousled waves and shimmery golden {bronzer} will ensure you look every bit the part!
6. SUNRISE BEACH, KOH LIPE, THAILAND
Named for its legendary sunrises, Sunrise Beach on the Thai island of Koh Lipe is, quite simply, pure paradise. The beautiful white sandy beach stretches over the entire eastern side of the island, leading into crystal clear waters where you can spot tropical fish and colourful coral. The longtail boats that dock on the shores are incredibly photogenic too!
7. BANDON BEACH, OREGON
Bandon Beach is possibly the most uniquely beautiful beach in the world, with an array of dramatic rock formations jutting out of the ocean like you’ve never seen before! There’s Face Rock, which looks like the side profile of a human face and is the subject of a local legend, Elephant Rock, which looks like a partially submerged elephant’s head, and Wizards Hat, which…well you can guess that much! The sandy stretch is gorgeous, the sunsets are spectacular, and, in short, we’re obsessed.
8. LONG BEACH, PHU QUOC, VIETNAM
On the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc you’ll find the aptly named (at 15km long) Long Beach. With powdery white sand, rocky outcrops and vivid blue waters, this beach features in our list of beautiful beaches with good reason! Find a spot in the shade of a palm tree or under a picturesque straw parasol and stay until the sun has set (in the most extraordinary fashion!).
9. LOS ROQUES, VENEZUELA
If you want a beach that is completely and utterly isolated – we’re talking nothing around but blue waters and white sand – then the Venezuelan archipelago of Los Roques is the perfect destination for you. It’s seriously beautiful, with a string of islands, each with powder-soft white-sand beaches and shallow emerald and turquoise waters.
10. WHITEHAVEN BEACH, AUSTRALIA
The third entry from Australia in the top 10 list of the world’s most beautiful beaches is Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Famous for its impossibly white and silky smooth sand and its swirls of crystal clear turquoise, blue and green water, and for being totally untouched by pollution and inhabitation, it doesn’t get much more naturally beautiful than this.
No matter which beautiful beach you end up on – even if it’s one of the UK’s very own – nail your beach hair and make up with these tips from Cult Concierge…
THE BEST BEACH MAKE UP LOOKS
Here are some of our Cult Concierge team’s favourite beach make up looks:
Syhem
The no-make-up make-up look is always a winner at the beach, but there’s nothing stopping you from going more glam with glitter and a high-shine, high-impact lip gloss for some fun in the sun. Focus on waterproof & long-wear formulas, skincare benefits ({SPF}, antioxidants), and easy-to-apply multitasking products to avoid over-packing on your beach trip.
Try:
- Ultra Violette Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm SPF50 – for glossy lips and SPF protection.
- NARS Cosmetics Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30/PA+++ – for a sheer and glowy base with SPF, great when re-applying throughout the day.
- Huda Beauty Cheeky Tint Blush Stick – universal, sheer and glowy.
- about-face Fractal Glitter Eye Paint – for super long-lasting and vibrant colour that’ll sparkle in the sunshine.
- NYX Professional Makeup Shine Loud High Shine Lip Gloss – high-impact, glossy and long-lasting.