The best 50 beaches in the world: Australia, Seychelles and Philippines take top spots

From Australia's kangaroo-filled bay to a hidden cove in the Philippines, these shorelines offer bucket-list inspiration

As popular with wild kangaroos as it is with sunseekers, Lucky Bay in Esperance, Western Australia, has been named the world's best beach. NeoPhoto

A 5km-long beach in Western Australia has been named the world’s most beautiful shoreline.

Lucky Bay in Esperance tops a new list of the 50 Best Beaches in the World released on Wednesday. Lauded for its beach-loving wild kangaroos and untouched shoreline, this stretch of coast has arguably the whitest sand in Australia.

Set in Cape Le Grand National Park on the southern coast of Western Australia, the picturesque spot receives 303 days of sunshine a year.

“Whether you just visit to see the kangaroos, or come to chill, dive, canoe, kayak, walk the bushy trails and tracks, this beach is absolutely the best in the world,” said judges for the World’s 50 Best Beaches.

The list was compiled by sun care brand Banana Boat, which collaborated with 1,200 influencers, journalists and travel agents to compile the best coastal locations around the globe.

Indian Ocean holiday destination the Seychelles took the second spot on the list, via Source D’Argent on La Digue island.

The typical Seychellois rocks and the crystal sea make La Digue one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Getty Images

One of the world’s most photographed shorelines, this granite-boulder-lined beach has pink-toned sand and pristine turquoise waters, and receives 325 days of sunshine a year.

Hidden Beach in the Philippines rounded out the top three.

The sheltered cove in Palawan is surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and offers crystal-clear shallow waters surrounded by soft sand and tropical palm trees.

Living up to its name, Hidden Beach is only accessible by boat and requires a short swim through a small opening. Its secluded location ensures its white sandy beach remains in pristine condition.

Iceland, Scotland and India rank in world’s best beaches

Iceland's rugged Reynisfjara Beach ranks in the top 10. Photo: Unsplash

With summer holidays around the corner, the annual list of the world’s best beaches is the ideal holiday inspiration for travellers planning their next seaside getaway.

Beaches in the Cook Islands, US Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Greece and Mexico rounded out the top 10, alongside Reynisfjara Beach in Iceland, which ranked as the 8th best in the world.

“Reynisfjara Beach showcases a different kind of beauty that you cannot afford to miss experiencing at least once in your lifetime. The black sand, sea stacks, glaciers and columnar basalts are just a few components that make this place seem like another world altogether,” say judges.

Other surprising entries on this year's list include Vaeroy Beach in Norway, ranked 30th in the world, and San Josef Bay in Canada's Vancouver Island, which ranked at number 36.

Scotland’s rugged highlands also made the cut. Achmelvich beach ranks at number 45, scoring high for its natural beauty and untouched nature. India’s Radhanagar Beach, with its emerald blue waters and rainforest background, earned a place at number 47.

Baia do Sancho in Brazil, which recently topped a list of the world's best beaches from TripAdvisor, ranked at number 19 in this list.

“Located in a national park, this beach is a paradise for nature lovers who are willing to pay a fee to visit,” said judges about the remote shoreline on the island of Fernando de Noronha.

The World's 50 Best Beaches – the top 10

1. Lucky Bay, Australia
2. Source D’Argent, the Seychelles
3. Hidden Beach, the Philippines
4. Whitehaven Beach, Australia
5. One Foot Island, Cook Islands
6. Trunk Bay, US Virgin Islands
7. Honopu Beach, Hawaii
8. Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland
9. Navagio Beach, Greece
10. Balandra Beach, Mexico

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  1. Lucky Bay in Western Australia ranks first in the 2023 list of The World's 50 Best Beaches. Photo: Unsplash

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  2. Source D’Argent in the Seychelles comes in second, lauded for its granite rocks and pink sand. Getty Images

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  3. Hidden Beach in Palawan is a secluded cove with lush green surroundings in the Philippines. Getty Images

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  4. Whitehaven Beach in Queensland has to be seen to be believed said judges. Getty Images

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  5. One Foot Island in the Cook Islands's Aitutaki has white sand and tropical palm trees. Getty Images

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  6. Trunk Bay in the US Virgin Islands is often called the most pristine beach in the Caribbean. Getty Images

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  7. Honpu Beach in Hawaii is not easy to get to, but rewards await beachgoers visiting this double bay, separated by the Honopu arch. Getty Images

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  8. Dramatic, rugged and famed for its black sand, Reynisjafara Beach in Iceland ranks at number 8. Getty Images

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  9. Navagio Beach is one of the most photographed destinations in Greece and consistently ranks among the world's best beaches. Getty Images

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  10. The protected Balandra Beach in Mexico's Baja California Sur has pool-like water. Getty Images

The best of the rest

11. Cala Goloritze, Italy

12. Pipe Creek Sandbar, Bahamas

13. Pink Beach, Indonesia

14. Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

15. Gardner Bay, Ecuador

16. McWay Falls Beach, California

17. Turquoise Bay, Australia

18. Le Morne Beach, Mauritius

19. Baia do Sancho, Brazil

20. Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands

21. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

22. Maya Bay, Thailand

23. Calo des Moro, Spain

24. Kelingking Beach, Indonesia

25. Meads Bay, Anguilla

26. Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico

27. Cayo Arena, Dominican Republic

28. Little Hellfire Bay, Australia

29. Anse Lazio, Seychelles

30. Vaeroy Beach, Norway

31. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

32. Myrtos Beach, Greece

33. Hidden Beach, Mexico

34. Grand Anse, Grenada

35. Xpu Ha Beach, Mexico

36. San Josef Bay, Canada

37. Matira Beach, French Polynesia

38. Capriccioli Beach, Italy

39. Pasjaca Beach, Croatia

40. Boulders Beach, South Africa

41. Salines Beach, Martinique

42. Champagne Beach, Vanuatu

43. Praia de Marinha, Portugal

44. Balos Beach, Greece

45. Achmelvich Beach, Scotland

46. Kaputas Beach, Turkey

47. Radhanagar Beach, India

48. Varadero Beach, Cuba

49. Piha Beach, New Zealand

50. Pink Sand Beach, Bahamas