Summer is knocking on our door and many are dreaming of the ways they'll be soaking up the sun this year -- just imagine your toes in the sand as you gaze over the sea.
To give you some inspiration, Tripadvisor has unveiled its annual list of the best beaches in the world. The top 25 winners alone encompass 18 countries across five continents.
"Golden sands, rugged coastlines, clear blue waters — this year's winning beaches are traveler faves for everything from lazy beach days to underwater adventures," Tripadvisor says on its website.
The rankings are based an analysis of all the reviews left on Tripadvisor for beaches globally over one year, revealing the highest-rated beaches by real people who recently visited.
The first U.S. beach to make the list is Ka'anapali Beach in Hawaii, which came in at number four.
Siesta Beach in Florida was the only other U.S. beach in the top ten, coming in at number nine.
The best beach in the world, according to the ranking, is Praia da Falésia in Portugal.
Tripadvisor's Top 10 Beaches in the World for 2024
1. Praia da Falésia – Olhos de Agua, Portugal
Good for: scenic walks, sunbathing
Best time to visit: Spring is a great time to visit for more affordable prices and fewer crowds.
2. Spiaggia dei Conigli – Lampedusa, Italy
Good for: sea turtle sightings, scuba diving
Best time to visit: The spring generally has the lowest hotel prices. But in the summer, Lampedusa becomes more accessible via direct flights from mainland cities, as well as ferry service from Sicily.
3. La Concha Beach – San Sebastian - Donostia, Spain
Good for: people watching on the boardwalk, families
Best time to visit: The spring generally has the lowest hotel prices. Plus, beat the summer crowds.
4. Ka'anapali Beach – Lahaina, Hawaii, U.S.
Good for: wildlife sightings, water sports
Best time to visit: It's never a bad time to visit Maui. The most affordable hotel prices can be found in the fall, but winter brings unbelievable whale watching - even from the shores of the beach.
5. Grace Bay Beach – Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
Good for: sunbathing, walking along the soft white sand
Best time to visit: Not only does summer bring blue skies, white clouds and shimmering water, hotel prices are generally the lowest June through August.
6. Anse Lazio – Praslin Island, Seychelles
Good for: sunbathing, photography, swimming
Best time to visit: Between April and May or October and November have calmer, less windy weather.
7. Manly Beach – Sydney, Australia
Good for: walking, shopping the surrounding area
Best time to visit: Comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds in Sydney come between March and May or September and November — which means better prices on airfare, too. But for those who want to warm up with the masses from winter back home, January is another great time.
8. Eagle Beach – Palm-Eagle Beach, Aruba
Good for: sunbathing, jet skiing
Best time to visit: With its location south of hurricane zones, there is never a bad time to visit Aruba, but going in the winter is especially sweet. While there is a slightly rainy season from October to January, the showers are usually short.
9. Siesta Beach – Siesta Key, Florida, U.S.
Good for: sunbathing, families
Best time to visit: Fall is a great time to visit Siesta Key to snag lower hotel prices and enjoy post-summer sunshine.
10. Varadero Beach – Varadero, Cuba
Good for: couples, walking
Best time to visit: U.S. citizens still need to stay up-to-date on travel policies and jump through a few hoops to visit Cuba, but hotel prices are generally the lowest in the spring.
Looking at the best beaches in the US alone, winners span eight different states, from the northern coasts of Maine to the Pacific shores of Oregon. However, Hawaii and Florida unsurprisingly shine with the most award-winning beaches, with Ka'anapali Beach on the island of Maui holding the coveted No. 1 spot for the second year in a row.
Tripadvisor's Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. for 2024
1. Ka'anapali Beach – Lahaina, Hawaii
Good for: wildlife sightings, water sports
Best time to visit: It's never a bad time to visit Maui. The most affordable hotel prices can be found in the fall, but winter brings unbelievable whale watching - even from the shores of the beach.
2. Siesta Beach – Siesta Key, Florida
Good for: sunbathing, families
Best time to visit: Fall is a great time to visit Siesta Key to snag lower hotel prices and enjoy post-summer sunshine.
3. Poipu Beach Park – Poipu, Hawaii
Good for: snorkeling, sea turtle sightings
Best time to visit: Shoulder season is the best time to visit Oahu: from mid-April to early June or between September and November, when attractions are less crowded and rates are lower.
4. Hollywood Beach – Hollywood, Florida
Good for: sunbathing, boardwalk, families
Best time to visit: The weather in Hollywood is the most pleasant between December and April.
5. La Jolla Cove – La Jolla, California
Good for: sea lion spotting, cliff walks
Best time to visit: Temperatures in San Diego are at their best between March through May, and September through November.
6. Cannon Beach – Cannon Beach, Oregon
Good for: photography (particularly of the monolithic Haystack Rock), wildlife sightings
Best time to visit: Hotel prices are generally lowest in the winter months, but visit in June to catch the annual sandcastle contest.
7. Santa Monica State Beach – Santa Monica, California
Good for: sunbathing, families
Best time to visit: Hotel prices are generally lowest in the winter months.
8. Driftwood Beach – Jekyll Island, Georgia
Good for: photography (don't miss capturing the beach's namesake driftwood!), nature-lovers
Best time to visit: Hotel prices are generally lowest in the winter months.
9. Coligny Beach – Hilton Head, South Carolina
Good for: sunbathing, biking trails
Best time to visit: Mid-September is far less crowded than the summer, and still has great weather.
10. Ocean City Beach – Ocean City, Maryland
Good for: families, surfing
Best time to visit: Spring is a great time to visit, both for more affordable prices and less crowds, as many families flock to Ocean City in the summer months.