It’s official: this beach in Italy is the best in the world in 2025

There are plenty of beautiful places on this planet that feel more like heaven than earth, but some of the most heavenly are the long stretches of gleaming white sand with calm, blue waves lapping at the shore. 

So, where can we find these paradise-like beaches? Well, the World’s 50 Best Beaches might be a good place to start. The annual list is back for another year with a shiny new ranking, created with the input and expertise of more than 1,000 travel professionals. 

Each beach has been assessed on its wildlife, unique characteristics, how untouched it is, the frequency of idyllic conditions, business, accessible water, calmness of water and the soundtrack of nature, and these 50 ranked the best. 

Recommended: These are the 30 best beaches in the world, according to Time Out. 

Claiming first place as the world’s very best beach is Cala Goloritzè, a beautiful stretch of coast in east Sardinia, Italy. It was formed back in 1962 after a landslide, and has been a UNESCO-protected site since 1995 – boats cannot venture any closer than 200 metres from the shore, so you’ll either have to dock and swim inland to make the most of it, or go via the hiking trail. 

It’s worth noting that entry to the beach costs €7 per person, but with the rugged limestone backdrop and glimmering blue waters, getting in to see the views is a no-brainer. 

In second place is Entalula Beach in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines, which has steep, cliffy backdrops and coral reefs just offshore, and in third place is Bang Bao Beach on the Thai island of Koh Kood. Read on for the full top 50, and check out last year’s ranking here. 

The best beaches in the world in 2025

1. Cala Goloritzè, Italy
2. Entalula Beach, Philippines
3. Bang Bao Beach, Thailand
4. Fteri Beach, Greece
5. PK 9 Beach, French Polynesia 
6. Canto de la Playa, Dominican Republic
7. Anse Source D’Argent, Seychelles
8. Nosy Iranja, Madagascar
9. Ofu Beach, American Samba 
10. Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos
11. Turquoise Bay, Australia
12. Boulders Beach, South Africa
13. Pink Beach, Indonesia 
14. Shoal Bay East, Anguilla
15. Detwah Lagoon, Yemen
16. Voutoumi Beach, Greece
17. One Foot Island, Cook Islands
18. Playa de Rodas, Spain
19. Playa Balandra, Mexico
20. Pontal do Atalaia, Brazil 
21. Wharton Beach, Australia
22. Cayo de Agua, Venezuela 
23. Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands
24. Cayo Zapatilla, Japan
25. Baia Do Sancho, Brazil
26. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda
27. Pulau Palambak, Indonesia 
28. Freedom Beach, Thailand 
29. The Baths, British Virgin Islands
30. Anse Georgette, Seychelles
31. Ffryes Beach, Antigua & Barbuda
32. Grand Anse, Grenada
33. Le Morne Beach, Mauritius
34. Bahía de las Águila, Dominican Republic 
35. Meads Bay, Anguila 
36. Porto Katsiki, Greece
37. Nudey Beach, Australia
38. Bon Bon Beach, Philippines
39. Saadiyat Beach, UAE
40. Goyambokka Beach, Sri Lanka
41. Playa Punta Uva, Costa Rica
42. Siesta Beach, USA
43. Paje Beach, Zanzibar
44. Klein Bonaire Beach, Bonaire
45. Cathedral Cove Beach, New Zealand
46. Santa Giulia, France
47. Gardner Bay, Ecuador
48. Keem Beach, Ireland
49. Kuramathi Sand Bank, Maldives 
50. La Pelosa, Italy

Oh, and these are the world’s 30 best beaches, according to us at Time Out. 

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