Elafonissi Beach in Greece ranks No. 1 Beach in the world, while
Siesta Beach in Florida is named
No. 1 in the U.S. in Tripadvisor's 2025 Best of the Best
List
NEEDHAM,
Mass., Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/
-- Tripadvisor®, the world's largest travel
guidance platform, today unveils the latest edition of Travelers'
Choice® Awards: Best of the Best Beaches for 2025. The
prestigious list is based on a comprehensive analysis of global
beach reviews on Tripadvisor over the last year.
The award highlights the highest-rated beaches, as rated by real
travelers who have visited and shared their tips and experiences.
From stunning sands and clear waters, to perfect conditions for
snorkeling and watersports, these award-winning beaches deliver
unparalleled experiences. The full list of winners can be found at
tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Beaches.
Travelers' Choice acknowledges the best beaches in the world, as
well as the top in the U.S. Rejoining the list for the first
time since 2021 and climbing 23 places to take the No. 1 spot in
the world for 2025 is Elafonissi
Beach in Greece. Located on the southwest coast of
Crete, this remote beach is known
for its pink sand and crystal-clear waters. A popular summer
getaway spot, drawing both sunbathers and water sports lovers,
visitors will find a mix of relaxation and activity. This stunning
family-friendly beach promises clear shallow waters, a scenic drive
down and plenty of photo opportunities too.
"Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards uniquely reflect the
voices of millions of global travelers and help guide people to
plan their best trip yet. In my family, beaches aren't just for
sunbathing - we like to get out and explore! The diversity of this
year's winners really showcases everything that a beach trip can
have to offer, said Kristen
Dalton, President, Tripadvisor.
"Whether it's strolling the beautiful pink sand beaches of our
world winner, Elafonissi beach, in Greece, experiencing breathtaking vistas in
Indonesia, whale watching in
Hawaii or diving in magical
bioluminescent waters in Thailand
- there really is something for everyone. This year's lists span an
incredible six continents and 50 countries with over 100 of the
very best beaches showcasing the eclectic mix of coastal spots
across the world."
Top 10 Beaches in the World for 2025
1. Elafonissi Beach – Crete,
Greece
a. Good for:
Crystal clear waters, hiking and dunes, sunbathing, warm water
b. Best time to visit: May and September
offer warm, sunny weather with significantly fewer crowds compared
to the peak summer months of June, July, and August.
2. Banana Beach – Phuket,
Thailand
a. Good
for: Boating, parasailing, day trips, colorful coral and
fish
b. Best time to visit: Between November and
March, Phuket enjoys clear skies,
dry weather, and calm seas, making it the perfect time for beach
activities and swimming.
3. Eagle Beach – Oranjestad,
Aruba
a. Good for: White
sand, watersports, calm waters
b. Best time to visit: From April to
August, the weather is excellent with fewer crowds than the peak
season, making it ideal for swimming and sunbathing.
4. Siesta Beach – Siesta Key, Florida
a. Good for: Clear waters, powder sand, seashells,
beachfront stays
b. Best time to visit: Between April and
May, or September and October, the weather is pleasant, crowds are
smaller, and temperatures are more moderate compared to the peak
summer months.
5. Praia da Falésia
– Algarve, Portugal
a. Good
for: Golden sand, walks, coastline and cliffs
b. Best time to visit: From April
to October, the weather is warm and sunny with minimal rainfall.
The shoulder seasons of May-June and September-October also offer
pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds.
6. Playa Varadero – Varadero, Cuba
a. Good for:
Watersports, white sand, walks, catamarans
b. Best time to visit: From December to March is the
region's dry season when the weather is stable, with warm
temperatures.
7. Bavaro Beach – Punta
Cana, Dominican Republic
a.
Good for: White sand, excursions, resorts
b. Best time to visit: December to
April, the dry season offers minimal rainfall, comfortable
temperatures, and perfect conditions for beach activities.
8. Playa de Muro Beach
– Mallorca, Spain
a. Good for: Shallow water, watersports, sand
dunes
b. Best time to visit: With a
Mediterranean climate, featuring hot, dry summers and mild winters,
the best time to visit is between July and August.
9. Kelingking Beach – Nusa Penida, Indonesia
a.
Good for: Cliffs, hiking, viewpoints, landscape
b. Best time to visit: During the dry
season, from April to October, travelers can expect bright, sunny
days.
10. Myrtos Beach – Kefalonia Island,
Greece
a. Good for: White pebbles, crystal clear waters,
cliffs
b. Best time to visit: Visit in the
spring from May-June or early fall in September for pleasant
weather and fewer crowds.
In the U.S., Siesta Beach in Siesta
Key, Florida jumped to the No. 1 spot from second place last
year, and Hawaii leads in
best beaches overall with five out of ten of the best beaches on
the top list.
Beach-loving travelers flock to Siesta Beach for many
reasons including the powdery white-quartz sand, clear shallow
waters and family-friendly atmosphere. The beach has lifeguards on
duty, while the relaxing town offers nearby cafes and oyster bars
all within walking or biking distance. Visitors can spot wildlife
like manatees and dolphins while on kayaking tours, and enjoy
beautiful sunsets from the soft sand beach.
Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. for 2024
1. Siesta Beach – Siesta Key, Florida
a. Good for: Clear waters, powder sand, seashells,
beachfront stays
b. Best time to visit: From April to May
and September to October, the weather is mild, crowds are fewer,
and temperatures are more moderate than during the peak summer
months.
2. Poipu Beach Park – Poipu, Hawaii
a. Good
for: Swimming, surfing, snorkeling
b. Best time to visit: During the
shoulder seasons, from April to June and September to November,
you'll enjoy warm, sunny weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices
compared to the peak summer and winter months.
3. Ka'anapali Beach – Maui,
Hawaii
a. Good for:
Surfing, snorkeling, whale-watching
b. Best time to visit: September to
November is the most affordable time of year, but January through
March brings exquisite whale-watching.
4. La Jolla Cove –
La Jolla, California
a. Good for: Wildlife viewing, diving,
picnics, swimming
b. Best time to visit: March through May
and September through November offer the best temperatures to enjoy
San Diego's finest beach.
5. Waikiki Beach – Oahu,
Hawaii
a. Good for:
Surfing, swimming, boat tours
b. Best time to visit: From April and
June, and September to November the weather is pleasant, with fewer
crowds compared to peak summer months.
6. Clearwater Beach
– Clearwater,
Florida
a. Good
for: Watersports, sunsets, white sand
b. Best time to visit: From October to
December, the weather is mild, crowds are smaller, and humidity is
lower during the autumn months.
7. Driftwood Beach – Jekyll Island, Georgia
a. Good for: Photo opportunities, sunrises,
lighthouses
b. Best time to visit: Shoulder seasons
in the spring and fall offer a quieter getaway with mild
temperatures - travelers can also check tide charts for best access
to its unique driftwood formations.
8. Punalu'u Black Sand Beach – Pahala,
Hawaii
a. Good
for: Black sand, tide pools, picnics
b. Best time to visit: The best time to
visit is in spring or fall, when the weather is mild, and the beach
is less crowded.
9. Bahia Honda State Park – Big Pine Key, Florida
a. Good for: Snorkeling tours, wildlife viewings,
picnics
b. Best time to visit: In the late
spring and early fall the weather is still pleasant, but the crowds
are fewer.
10. Ho'okipa Beach Park – Maui, Hawaii
a.
Good for: White sand, windsurfing, wildlife viewings
b. Best time to visit: Mid-March to
mid-May offers warm, pleasant weather without the summer heat, and
smaller crowds compared to peak winter months.
In celebration of Tripadvisor's
25th anniversary, Tripadvisor is honoring the top
beaches of the last 25 years based on all-time reviews. Topping the
list is Balos Lagoon, regarded as one of the most photographed
spots on the island of Crete with
hypnotizing turquoise waters and a panoramic landscape. Reviewers
refer to Balos Lagoon as a "heaven for beach lovers" with
breathtaking views and crystal-clear waters.
25th Anniversary: Global Beaches
- Balos Lagoon – Crete,
Greece
- Eagle Beach – Oranjestad,
Aruba
- Waikiki Beach – Oahu, Hawaii
- Ipanema Beach –
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Isla Pasion – Cozumel, Mexico
- Playa Manuel Antonio –
Quepos, Costa Rica
- Spiaggia La Cinta – Sardinia,
Italy
- Banana Beach – Phuket,
Thailand
- Praia da Falésia –
Algarve, Portugal
- Manly Beach – New South Wales,
Australia
With spring and summer trips on the horizon, travelers looking
for a beach getaway or day trip can take inspiration from
Tripadvisor's 2025 Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best
Beaches to find their next relaxation spot, water adventure, or
perfect photo opportunity.
Methodology
The Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Beaches honor
travelers' favorite beaches worldwide, based on the quality and
quantity of global reviews and ratings on Tripadvisor for
beaches, gathered over the 12-month period from November 30, 2023 to December 1, 2024.
About Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform*, helps
millions of people each month** become better travelers, from
planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe
use Tripadvisor's website and app to discover where to stay, what
to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been
there before. With more than a billion reviews and contributions,
travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book
experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover
great places nearby.
Tripadvisor LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tripadvisor,
Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIP). The subsidiaries of Tripadvisor, Inc. own and
operate a portfolio of travel media brands and businesses,
operating under various websites and apps.
* Source: SimilarWeb, unique users de-duplicated monthly,
Feb 2025
** Source: Tripadvisor internal log files
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SOURCE Tripadvisor
