Who doesn’t love the beach? The feeling of the sand between your toes, the smell of salt being carried on the breeze and the sound of the waves crashing into shore is incomparable. Not all beaches are created equal though. There are good beaches and there are great beaches.
Here is a list of beaches that need to be on your bucket list.

Source d’Argent – Seychelles

On a sheltered cove on one of the 115 islands that make up the Seychelles is a beach that has pink tinted sand that meets beautiful blue ocean.
Overlooking the beach are huge granite boulders than only increase how photogenic this place is. Often voted as the best beach in the world, this should be your first port of call when looking for fabulous beaches.

Glass Beach – USA

A beach made purely of discarded junk may sound disgusting, and often is, but this particular beach is magnificent.
Made up of the remainders of rubbish that was thrown into the sea in the 20th century, all of the glass and pottery that was discarded was smoothed by the waves and washed ashore. You’re forbidden from stealing any of this “rubbish”, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it.

Playa del Amor – Mexico

Also known as the hidden beach, Playa del Amor is in an area that used to be a weapons testing site. The beach sits in a crater that may have been formed by a bomb going off.
Swimming is dangerous due to the proximity of rocks and the rough waves, but it’s a truly beautiful place with the added bonus of maybe even spotting a whale!

Greenfield Beach – Australia

A few hours away from the highly populated Bondi Beach in Sydney, Greenfield close to the far more popular Hyams beach, but doesn’t get the love that it so often deserves.
Make sure you pack your sunglasses because the sand here is blindingly white. One moment you’ll be trekking your way through a dense forest of native eucalypts and then suddenly you’re on one of the greatest beaches in the world!

Praia da Salema – Portugal

The western side of the Algarve hasn’t been developed as quickly as the rest of the Portuguese south coast, and you’ll be thankful for that on this beach.
Not just brilliant in terms of white sand and blue water, you can find preserved dinosaur footprints in the limestone rocks, so there’s more to do than swim and tan over here.

Cala Gonone – Sardinia

The most difficult part of finding an incredible beach in Sardinia is finding one that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to stay near, and that’s the box that Cala Gonone ticks.
At least as incredible as its more expensive neighbours, Cala Gonone has a beautiful sand and pebble beach that meets calm waters that are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

Sunj – Croatia

It can be tough to find a sandy beach in Croatia as there are far more pebble beaches, but Sunj is thankfully one of the former.
With no real drop off in depth, its super safe for swimming, and with a large range of beach activities available you’ll never be bored here.

Ramla l-Hamza Gozo – Malta

The dark, ochre sand of this beach is what separates it from the pack. The way that the sand clashes with the vibrant blue of the ocean is stunning.
With some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean, don’t forget your snorkel! Even though there isn’t much in the way of toilets and showers, this is a beach that is well worth your time.

Praia da Fortaleza – Brazil

An incredibly isolated beach on an island with no cars, this one can be a little tough to get to, but nothing good was ever easy!
Stretching for as far as the eye can see, this beach has spots that are perfect for everything ranging from surfing, to swimming and to hiking. There’s even an old sea fort if you walk far ebough!

Amanohashidate – Japan

Kyoto is a bustling city full of shrines, but there is a bridge to heaven there in the form of a beach.
A two-mile long sandbar backed by pine trees, you can either follow the path with the other tourists or go off the beaten track to find your own section of secluded beach. Both options make for some incredible views.

Grace Bay – Turks and Caicos Islands

The world’s best beach according to TripAdvisor, Grace Bay has blindingly white sands and some of the bluest water imaginable.
It isn’t hard to find great beaches on the Turks and Caicos Islands, but this one takes the cake.

Whitehaven Beach – Australia

Part of the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach has soft white sand surrounded by green rainforest.
This beach seems to be untouched by man in some parts, accessible only by helicopter, boat and seaplane. It’s almost like a trip back in time.

Navagio Beach – Greece

Iconic beause of its famous shipwreck, this cove has far more to offer than that.
Featuring deep blue waters that contrast brilliantly with the white sand and cliffs that are topped with lush greenery, this beach is a photographer’s dream, and it isn’t bad to swim at either!

Pig Beach – Bahamas

Usually being called a pig is an insult, but that’s actually the most inviting part of this beach.
White sand and clear, turquoise water aside, this beach gets its name from the tropical pigs that roam it. The pigs are quite friendly, and nobody is quite sure how they got there, but they are thriving.

Reynisfjara Beach – Iceland

It takes a brave person to swim at this beach as it’s so cold, but there is nothing like it in the world.
A far cry from other beaches on this list, the huge basalt rocks, rough crashing waves and black sand are beautiful in an untamed way. The sea stacks away from shore add to the ruggedness of the scene, one that you will never forget.

Sources

The Guardian - 50-Best-Beaches-In-The-World
Trip Advisor - Travelers-Choice-Beaches
Livingly - A-Travel-Bucket-List-For-Beach-Lovers
This is Insider - Best-Beaches-In-The-World