A beach in summer with a large amount of people

Beach Vacations

The beach holiday is the platonic ideal of vacations: what nearly every traveler, whether active or armchair, dreams of. Soft sand, shady palms, a cold drink, a warm surf—what more could you want? It's no wonder so many ad campaigns hang their hook (and their products) on this seaside ideal: brands of beer, lines of clothes, models of cars. Travel + Leisure writers and editors are no strangers to the allure of the shore, and so search the world for the best beach vacations it can offer.
Worth Ave in Palm Beach, Florida
This Florida County Is Ideal for a Mother-daughter Trip — With Chic Hotels, Beautiful Beaches, and Relaxing Spas
Tourist walking down the street in Positano, Italy on the Amalfi Coast
How to Visit Positano, Italy’s Iconic Summer Hotspot on the Amalfi Coast
Aerial view of the pool area along the beach at the
The Best Family-friendly Beach Resorts in the Caribbean
People relaxing and beach of Comporta, Sines, Alentejo, Portugal
This Charming Beach Town Is Called the 'Hamptons of Portugal' — and It's Home to a Massive Flock of Flamingos
Flying over Galveston Texas Sea Wall and Beach
This Texas City Is Home to Beautiful Beaches, Delicious Gulf Coast Eats, and the Birthplace of Juneteenth
The winding road taking you down to the water in Atrani town on Amalfi coast
10 Dreamy Amalfi Coast Towns to Visit in Italy
Monastery of Agios Ioannis Thymianos at Kos island
This Gorgeous Greek Island Has Ancient Ruins, Beautiful Sandy Beaches, and a Charming Old Town
Aerial view of tro beach in the sunny afternoon. Juanillo beach, Dominican Republic.
29 Best Tropical Vacations Around the World
The coastline along South Florida in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
15 Best Family Beaches in Florida
Hammock hanging on trees on beach in Caye Caulker, Belize
This Tiny Caribbean Island Is the Perfect Laid-back Beach Escape
Beach Chairs and Umbrella on Isla Holbox, Mexico
This Car-free Island in Mexico Has Beautiful Beaches, Turquoise Cenotes, and One of the Largest Animals on the Planet
Malta, Gozo Island, Xlendi, watchtower and salt pans at sunset
This Small Mediterranean Island Is a Hidden Gem With Historic Towns and a Stunning Coastline
Assorted images of Heron Island underwater on the southern great barrier reef
19 Beautiful Destinations With the Best Scuba Diving in the World
View of the Coral Cottage from the water at the Briland Club in the Bahamas
One of the Best Islands in the Bahamas Has Luxe New Vacation Homes With Private Beach and Marina Access
Aerial view of St. Augustine, Florida
This Charming Florida City Has Quaint Inns, Pristine Beaches, and Year-round Appeal
Huatulco, a coastal area located in the state of Oaxaca (Mexico) where the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains meet the Pacific Ocean.
This Underrated Mexico Destination Is Set Across 9 Bays — With Laid-back Beach Towns, Bioluminescent Waters, and Charming Hotels
Christmas stocking on palm tree at Crandon beach, Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida
9 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Florida — From Disney Parties to Boat Parades
Sunset at Port Hueneme pier in Oxnard California United States
10 Wheelchair-accessible Beaches in the U.S. — Including Sandy Shores in California, Virginia, and Florida
Four Seasons Enclave in Cabo, resort and estate renderings
These Mexico Vacation Homes on 50 Beachfront Acres Will Have All the Trappings of a Luxury Resort
View of Paradero's catamaran boat on the water in Todos Santos
I Spent the Night on the Sea of Cortez in a Luxury Catamaran — and Now You Can Too
Gulls in flight at dawn. Dr. Julian G. Bruce Saint George Island State Park, Florida
This Island Off Florida's 'Forgotten Coast' Has the Best Beach in the U.S., According to Dr. Beach
Couple walking on the beach, Bal Harbour, Florida
13 Best Beaches in Miami With Turquoise Waters and Stunning White Sand
Navarre Beach is known for its beautiful white sandy beaches and its fishing pier, which is the longest in Florida.
This Small Beach Town Is 'Florida's Most Relaxing Place' — and It's One of the Best Destinations to Buy a Beach House in the U.S.
Aerial view of Destin and Miramar Beaches in Florida
These Florida Beach Towns Have Locals on Call to Give You Live Travel Tips
Panoramic of the bay of Pechón in Cantabria Spain
11 Best Beaches in Spain With Turquoise Waters and Golden Sand
Oahu's Most Famous Beach, Hanauma Bay
12 Best Beaches on Oahu With Stunning Views and Epic Waves
Downtown aerial of Fernandina Beach, Florida near Jacksonville.
This Florida Beach Town Has Loads of Southern Charm, a Shrimp-themed Festival, and Year-round Fun for the Whole Family
The lighthouse located on Sanibel island, west of Ft. Myers Florida
15 Best Beach Towns in the South
View of empty Praia da Zambujeira do Mar beach with ocean waves, cliffs and stones, wet golden sand and green vegetation at wild Rota Vicentina coast, Odemira, Portugal.
11 of the Best Beaches in Portugal
Aerial of Cancun beach with boat
10 Beach Destinations Perfect for a Mother-daughter Vacation
Aerial view of Bermuda
10 Beach Destinations for Your Next Girls Trip
Sunset on South Padre Island Beach in Texas
The Best Texas Beaches for Every Kind of Traveler
View of people on the beach at Brighton Pier in Brighton, England
This Seaside Resort Town Near London Has Victorian Pubs, Global Cuisine, and a Vibrant LGBTQ+ Scene
Panorama of the Celafu medieval old town and beach in Sicily, Italy
16 Most Beautiful Beaches in Italy
Sailboat, Icacos Island, Puerto Rico
10 Best Beaches in Puerto Rico
Navagio beach in Zakynthos Greece
20 Best Beaches in Greece With the Bluest Water You've Ever Seen
Aerial view of Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
9 Best Beaches in Costa Rica for Surfing, Snorkeling, and Wildlife Spotting
Beach Access Boardwalk Over Sand Dunes Amelia Island Florida
Florida’s Amelia Island Has Pristine Beaches, Luxury Resorts, and a Small-town Feel
Park entrance of Katmandu Park
A New Theme Park Is Coming to the Caribbean — and We Got Exclusive Details About the Rides
Springtime in Providence, Rhode Island
34 Best Things to Do in Rhode Island — From Stunning Beaches to Historic Mansions
Victorian homes on beach in Cape May, New Jersey
How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Cape May on the Jersey Shore — Beautiful Beaches, Historic Victorian Homes, and Sophisticated Inns Included
Sunset panoramic view of Azenhas do Mar, in Sintra, Portugal.
This Coastal Town in Portugal Is a Hidden Gem — With Scenic Beaches, Beautiful Architecture, and Few Crowds
Two photos from Nantucket, one showing a Bronco car with a surfboard on top, and one showing a woman walking by beach dunes
Nantucket Still Has Small-town Charm — but These Sophisticated New Hotels Make It a Global Destination
Houses along the Cape Cod National Seashore
28 Best Beaches on the East Coast — From Maine to Florida
Myrtle Beach South Carolina Drone Skyline Aerial
15 Things to Do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment State Park, Long Beach Peninsula
15 of the Most Beautiful Washington Beaches
Photo: Courtesy of Annie Archer
This Puerto Rico Resort Is Home to Stunning Villas, Chic Restaurants, and a Secluded Speakeasy
Big Sable Lighthouse in Ludington Michigan
12 Best Lake Michigan Beaches With White Sand, Rolling Dunes, and Stunning Views
Aerial view of Lake Tahoe
11 Best Lake Tahoe Beaches — With Sandy Shores and Mountain Views
View of a sailboat on the water from the dunes with a blue cloudy sky in Morehead City
This Small Town on North Carolina's 'Crystal Coast' Has Some of the Most Affordable Beach Houses in the U.S.
Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, located on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area
This East Coast Seaside Destination Is Home to Beautiful Beaches, a Great Music Scene, and Vintage Boutiques
sunset hawaii beach in wailea
16 Best Tropical Vacations in the U.S.
Palawan
23 Affordable Beach Vacations Around the World
Aerial view of Ocracoke Island
This Beautiful Island in North Carolina Has the Best Beach in the U.S., According to Dr. Beach Himself
Cancun All Inclusive Resorts
13 All-inclusive Resorts in Cancun for Families, Couples, and Solo Travelers
Beaufort, North Carolina, waterfront with American Oystercatcher shorebirds in the foreground.
This North Carolina Destination Is Home to Charming Small Towns, Beautiful Sailing, and Retro-chic Hotels
Bahia Honda State Park - Calusa Beach, Florida Keys - tropical coast with paradise beaches - USA
10 Best Beaches in the Florida Keys
Two people walking at Sunset at Avila Beach
This Coastal California Town Has Unreal Whale Watching and Outdoor Hot Spring Tubs You Can Rent by the Hour
Mandarin Oriental on Canouan island
This Caribbean Island You've Never Heard Of Has Luxury Hotels, Stunning Blue Waters, and Some of the Best Snorkeling in the World
Aerial view of Siesta Key, Florida
This Florida Town Has One of the Best Beaches in the U.S. — Known for Its Incredible White-quartz Sand
Exterior view of Grand Velas Los Cabos
12 of the Best All-inclusive Resorts in Mexico, According to Hotels.com
Best Packable Sun Hats
The 17 Best Packable Sun Hats for Your Summer Getaways
South Beach Lifeguard tower and beach, Miami, Florida at sunrise
The 20 Best Beaches in Florida — From Romantic Islands to Family-friendly Spots