I've always had a real love for the ocean, swimming, and warm, sunny weather, so it goes without saying that beaches are one of my favourite types of destination to visit. There is something very special about looking out to sea or being in the sea and remembering that the ocean stretches out across the whole planet; it is something that makes us feel connected to the rest of the world, wherever we are. So I try to visit beaches as often as I can.
Here are the ten most memorable ones I've been to so far!
Algarrobo, Chile
This seaside resort in the Valparaíso region of central Chile is a really popular holiday destination amongst santiaguinos, as it has several beautiful beaches including El Canelillo, which is surrounded by a pine forest. I first went to Algarrobo in April 2018 during my Year Abroad, but my most memorable trip there was in January 2019 with my boyfriend Claudio. We went on a boat trip round a little island just off the coast, where we saw lots of Humboldt penguins!
Read more here and here!
Brighton, England, UK
Given that Brighton's beach is both located in the UK and is made up mostly of pebbles rather than sand, it's not the best for relaxing and sunbathing. But what makes it special is that there are various interesting attractions located along its shoreline, including the iconic Palace Pier (pictured above), the British Airways i360 Viewing Tower and the Upside Down House. Claudio and I visited the vibrant city for the first time in December last year, and had a great time.
Read more here and here!
La Serena, Chile
In 2019 we went on a road trip to the Coquimbo region in the north of Chile, where we stayed in the city of La Serena. It's one of the largest cities in the country and has many interesting architectural features such as the Monumental Lighthouse, which is located on its long stretch of beach. Because of its northern location, the beach is quite a bit sunnier and warmer than the beaches near Santiago, which is a definite plus point!
Read more here!
Cannes, France
The glamorous city of Cannes in the south of France is known for its prestigious film festival. (There's a red carpet out all year round where you can take photos!) But it also has a beautiful sandy beach with warm Mediterranean water to swim in and lots of great restaurants. And when you're swimming in the sea, you have great views of the city's elaborate buildings, such as the Carlton Hotel.
Read more here!
Reñaca, Chile
This town just to the north of Viña del Mar has one of the most attractive and popular beaches in Chile. It's well known as a great destination for surfing, but it's also perfect for swimming in the sea or simply relaxing on the sand under the palm trees.
Read more here!
Cap d'Agde, France
Cap d'Agde is another seaside resort in the south of France, but it's a lot smaller and quieter than Cannes. It's known for the natural beauty of Plage de la Grande Conque (the volcanic black sand beach pictured above) and it also has other beaches with golden sand. Be aware that part of the town is a nudist village, but the beach above and others nearby are normal beaches!
Read more here!
Bournemouth, England, UK
Bournemouth is just a couple of hours away from my home in Wiltshire, but when I went there with my parents in 2019, it felt like we were in a foreign country. The weather was hot, the sea was bright blue and warm enough to swim in, and the beach had golden sand and palm trees. Maybe we were just lucky to be there at the right moment - I'm sure it's not like that most of the year - but it definitely felt like a great alternative to taking a flight to another country.
Read more here and here!
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
Most of the beaches on this list are by the sea, but of course beaches can also be by a lake or a river. One place with several beautiful river beaches is Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay, located on Río de la Plata, opposite Buenos Aires. It's a very idyllic place with amazing architecture, palm trees and great weather. In fact, its mix of architectural styles have earned it a place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Read more here!
Navagio Beach, Greece
Image by Pixabay from pexels.com
When I was little, my family and I went on a couple of summer holidays to the Greek island of Zakynthos. One time we went on a boat trip to see Navagio Beach, also known as Shipwreck Beach or Smugglers Cove. The plan was that we would swim from the boat to the beach, but unfortunately the weather had other ideas. In the end, we ended up just seeing the beach from the boat while clutching onto sick bags! But I have to say it was one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen, and I can understand why travel experts have voted it as the world's best beach.
Slano, Croatia
Image by Rachel Claire from pexels.com
One of my favourite family holidays was when we went to Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2012. We stayed in Slano, a village in the south of Croatia located in a bay. The hotel had a private beach which was surrounded by mountains, and I remember the views being amazing. Back then I didn't have a phone with a camera, so sadly I have no pictures of it! The photo above is of the incredible walled city of Dubrovnik, another place we visited during the holiday.
It's been really nice to compile this list of my favourite beaches, as beaches and swimming in the sea are things I've been missing recently! I can't wait until I can finally move back to Chile and visit some of the beaches there with Claudio. On my list are Zapallar (Edit: Made it there in July 2022!), Bahía Inglesa, Iquique (Edit: Made it there in April 2022!) and Arica (Edit: Made it there in June 2022!), and it would also be amazing to visit the beaches in Cartagena, Colombia and Rio, Brazil (Edit: Made it there in December 2022!) while I'm in South America. Other cities around the world with beaches I'd love to visit include Barcelona, Miami, Havana and Sydney. Hopefully soon I'll have the chance to explore another great beach, whether that's in the UK or further afield!
Check out the rest of my Travel Tips here!
Also check out my 2023 follow-up to this post here!
