The World's 50 Best Beaches (and the 7 we think are worth booking).
Every year a new "world's best beaches" list does the rounds, and every year it's full of places you'd need a fishing boat and three days to reach! So we've done the edit for you, pulling out our favourites from this year's list that are bookable, beautiful and paired with the kind of properties you actually want to stay in.
Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos (#17)
Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos
Consistently one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in the Caribbean, Grace Bay earned its place at #17. Powdery white, calm turquoise water and the infrastructure to back it up. Sandals Royal Turks & Caicos sits right on it for couples looking for an all-inclusive, and sister property Beaches Turks & Caicos is just down the bay for families. For something more exclusive, The Shore Club or Grace Bay Club are also great choices. Direct flights from London Heathrow make this an easy choice for a glorious week or two in the sun.
Grand Anse, Grenada (#42)
Grande Anse, Grenada
Grenada is the Caribbean destination I think more people should be considering right now. Grand Anse is a long, sweeping bay backed by lush green hills, with a completely different feel to the overdeveloped strips further north. Sandals Grenada is on the adjacent bay, but Grand Anse itself has excellent independent options and the island as a whole, the food, the rum distilleries, the spice farms, gives you plenty to do beyond the beach.
Porto Timoni, Corfu (#46)
Domes Miramare, Corfu
This one does require a short hike to reach, but that’s part of what makes it so special. Two coves, dramatic cliffs and water so clear it looks edited. My favourite Corfu spots are Domes Miramare for adults or Ikos Dassia for families.
Shoal Bay East, Anguilla (#6)
Shoal Bay East is a long, quiet arc of white sand with almost nothing commercial on it. Cap Juluca, now a Belmond property, is the top pick for me here. The water is extraordinary, the pace is unhurried and the food scene on the island is better than people expect. This is one for clients who've done Barbados and St Lucia and want to take things up a level.
Anse Source d'Argent, Seychelles (#24)
Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue, Seychelles
One of the most photographed beaches in the world, and it lives up to the images: pink-tinged sand, granite boulders, shallow turquoise water. It's on La Digue, a small island best reached by ferry. Accommodation on La Digue itself is boutique-scale, so I'd typically pair this with a few nights at the Four Seasons or Constance Lemuria on Praslin or Mahé, then a day trip or overnight to La Digue. A great way to add variety to a Seychelles itinerary for the more adventurous.
Le Morne Beach, Mauritius (#40)
Dinarobin Golf Resort & Spa, Le Morne
The St Regis Le Morne sits directly on this beach, as does the fabulous Dinarobin Golf Resort & Spa. Le Morne is on the south-western tip of Mauritius, with a dramatic basalt mountain backdrop, kite surfers in the distance and calm water on the sheltered side. Mauritius is family-friendly, the food is excellent and the range of experiences means nobody gets bored.
Praia da Falesia, Portugal (#43)
Just two and a half hours from the UK, and yet it feels a world away from the Algarve most people picture. Falesia is backed by rust-red cliffs rather than a promenade, which gives it a completely different character. Self-catering or catered villas are plentiful, but Vila Vita Parc is the resort I'd turn to here: great position, excellent food, strong spa (a must for me!). A great option for those of you who want luxury and warmth without committing to long-haul, or as a shoulder-season trip in April or October when the crowds have gone.
Want to book one of the world’s top beaches for 2026?
Drop me a message and I'll put together a tailored itinerary around whichever one catches your eye.
