Greece’s Elafonissi Beach Named the Best Beach in the World

• Elafonissi Beach in Crete, Greece, was just named the best beach in the world by Tripadvisor.
• Visitors love this coastal destination for its calm, clear water and picture-perfect pink sands.
• Banana Beach in Thailand, Eagle Beach in Aruba, Siesta Beach in Florida, and Praia da Falésia in Portugal also made the list.

We're in the throes of winter—and that means it's high time to either take a warm weather vacation or start planning a future beachside getaway. Thankfully, Tripadvisor has a few ideas of where you should go next. 

On Tuesday, the travel company shared its 2025 edition of the Travelers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best Beaches. This year's list spans six continents, 50 countries, and over 100 beaches to showcase the best coastal hotspots in the world. Additionally, the company based its selections on a “comprehensive analysis of global beach reviews on Tripadvisor over the last year.” That's right; the report was created entirely by your globe-trotting peers, ensuring it's totally unbiased.

“Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards uniquely reflect the voices of millions of global travelers and help guide people to plan their best trip yet,” Kristen Dalton, president of the Tripadvisor core business, shared in a statement with Travel + Leisure. “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 offer.”

After analyzing the reviews, Tripadvisor named Elafonissi Beach, located on the island of Crete in Greece, the best beach in the world. Remarkably, this is the first time the destination made the list since 2021, and it climbed 23 places from its last ranking to shoot to the very top.

In its report, Tripadvisor praised Elafonissi Beach's “turquoise waters,” pink sands, hiking trails, and plentiful sunbathing space. It also noted that the best times to visit are in May and September, which offer “warm, sunny weather with significantly fewer crowds compared to the peak summer months of June, July, and August.”

As for what reviewers loved, many called out its stunning scenery, shallow waters, and remote location.

“It's an experience like no other. You seem to be at the Pacific Rim but actually in Crete, Greece,” one reviewer wrote. “The clean, pale blue, salty sea works wonders if you have arthritis, believe me … You can walk in about 15 feet and still be up to your hip in water. The road is quite good for driving. Go for it.”

Other beaches that made the top of the list include Banana Beach in Phuket, Thailand, followed by Eagle Beach in Aruba, Siesta Beach in Florida, and Praia da Falésia in Portugal.

“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,” Tripadvisor said.