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Santorini is the supermodel of the Greek islands, a head-turner whose face is instantly recognizable around the world: multicolored cliffs soar out of a sea-drowned volcanic crater, topped by whitewashed buildings.

With its reputation for dazzling panoramas, romantic sunsets and volcanic-sand beaches, it’s hardly surprising Santorini features on so many travelers’ bucket lists.

If you’re planning to join the crowd, here’s your guide to Santorini to ensure your trip is one to remember.

When should I go to Santorini?

Peak travel time to Santorini is July and August, when temperatures and prices peak, and hotels, viewpoints and beaches are packed with tourists. Cruise ships deposit thousands of day-trippers to join the holidaying throngs. For better or worse, the island can feel like a crowded party.

For those in-the-know, the shoulder seasons from late April to June and September to October are the best months to visit Santorini. Things are marginally quieter at the caldera edge, and considerably quieter on the east coast. From May to October the weather is reliably sunny, and swimming is possible. Sea temperatures are more favorable in fall compared to spring.

All that said, don’t discount a winter break, when crowds are scarce (and prices low) while the scenery is still breathtaking. However, note that not all tourist places are open in winter. Tourism season kicks off in earnest from Greek Orthodox Easter (approximately mid-April).

Fancy extending your trip to mainland Greece? These are the top destinations to visit

How much time should I spend in Santorini?

Santorini can be expensive to visit (especially when you compare it to the lesser-hyped Greek islands), so your Santorini travel itinerary will depend on how far your budget stretches – and, in turn, this is highly dependent on what time of year you visit.

You need at least three days in Santorini to experience the best of the island – the caldera-edge views, a boat tour, some beach activity, and a dose of history and wine-tasting, too.

Is it easy to get in and around Santorini?

Frequent ferries and high-speed catamarans link Santorini with Athens’ main port of Piraeus, Crete and various Cycladic islands. Check OpenSeas for ferry timetables.

Santorini Airport has year-round flight connections with Athens, and direct summertime European connections.

On the island, bus services are decent, if crowded in summer. Lots of companies offer cars, mopeds and ATV four-wheeler bikes to rent. Walking is by far the best way to experience the caldera-edge clifftop towns.

Top things to do in Santorini

Views! Everywhere!

The top activity on Santorini is to walk the caldera edge and admire the gob-smacking views. Walks in and around Fira are spectacular, particularly heading north to Firostefani and Imerovigli along the caldera-edge pathway.

Keep walking and you’ll eventually reach Oia – a popular pastime, but be aware that it’s about 6.5 miles (10.5km) in total from Fira to Oia, and a good four-hour walk, one way. Carry water and sunscreen.

Nature’s handiwork is on display from any waterfront seat come sundown, but prime sunset-viewing on Santorini is in Oia, where thousands of tourists flock to admire nightfall.

Unearth history

Santorini’s intrigue reaches deep into the past, with the fascinating site of Akrotiri displaying a Minoan city destroyed by the volcanic eruption of 1613 BC. In Fira, the impressive Museum of Prehistoric Thera helps piece together the story of ancient Akrotiri.

Taste the island

Santorini’s local flavors are in the spotlight these days, and deservedly so. The island’s lauded wines are its crisp dry whites and the amber-colored, unfortified dessert wine known as Vinsanto. Both are made from the indigenous grape variety, assyrtiko. About a dozen local vineyards host tastings (usually with a small charge) and some offer food, with scenery and local produce combining to great effect. Start your investigations at SantoWines, or join a wine tour.

Take a tour

You might not think of yourself as a day-tour kind of traveler. But in Santorini, that might change. Any tour your heart desires can be organized, and there are dozens of agencies ready to help with winery visits, archaeology tours, sunset-watching and more. The most popular option is a cruise, and the classic itinerary takes in the caldera’s volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palia Kameni, including a stop at the former’s crater and the latter’s hot springs.

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My favorite thing to do in Santorini

A caldera walk is always high on my agenda: come for the views, but stay for the fabulous Santorini surprises, including an innovative brewery, wine caverns adorned with artworks, and cooking classes that celebrate the island’s blossoming food focus.

After a day on a trail or a beach, my favorite evening activity (well, second to sunset-watching) is checking out what’s playing at the gorgeous, tree-lined open-air cinema in Kamari. Cheesy movie, deckchair, popcorn, local beer: now I’m on vacation!

How much money do I need for Santorini?

Accommodation will be your biggest expense on the island. If you can afford it, first-timers should stay on the caldera edge to experience the full wow factor. Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia have hotels and villas with whitewashed interiors, terraces and infinity pools that have inspired marriage proposals, high-fashion photo shoots and many Instagram posts. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of places to stay in these view-blessed locales for budget-conscious travelers: caldera-view accommodations are expensive, and they’re in hot demand.

There are decent midrange options in Fira and Firostefani (less so in Imerovigli and Oia), away from front-row panoramas of the caldera. There’s also a great hostel and a campground (with rooms) on the outskirts of Fira. If you’re more interested in a beach break or activities, stay in Perissa or Kamari (and catch the bus into Fira). The advantage of this is some respite from the camera-toting caldera crowds, plus more reasonable prices.

Food options span the spectrum, from budget gyros to super-swank fine dining. The best activities are free: follow a walking trail, watch the sun set.

There are good ways to spend time without it burning a hole in your pocket: rent a sunlounger on the sand, visit a museum to investigate storied ruins. A day tour is always a hit: sightsee from a boat or visit local wineries. A visit to Ancient Akrotiri costs €16.

• Basic room for two: Away from the caldera’s edge in Fira in July, a dorm bed goes for around €50

• Double room at a resort: A guesthouse double room can be found for €120 to €160 per night, a self-catering apartment for two begins around €180.

• Lunch at a local market: Gyros costs between €5 and €7

• Main meal at a restaurant: €25

• Bottle of beer at a bar: €4

• Boat tours: Range from about €50 to €100 per person

• Bus ride in Fira: Varies between €1.80 and €2.50

• Taxi from the international airport: To the center of Fira is approximately €15 – €20

Enjoy Santorini’s main clifftop towns

Santorini’s main tourism is focused on the caldera-edge clifftops in the island’s west, with large clusters of whitewashed buildings nesting at dizzying heights, spilling down cliff-sides and offering gasp-inducing views from land or sea. Fira, the island’s busy capital, sprawls north into villages called Firostefani (about a 15-minute walk from Fira) and Imerovigli (the highest point of the caldera edge, about a 30-minute walk from Fira). A path running through these villages is lined with upmarket hotels, restaurant terraces and endless photo opportunities.

These three conjoined settlements draw most visitors, together with the stunning and upmarket village of Oia in Santorini’s north. There’s a growing number of hotels in the island’s south, offering caldera views looking north and northeast. Akrotiri’s views come cheaper than Oia’s, but it’s a fair way from the action of Fira.

Don’t miss the lesser-celebrated east coast

Santorini’s east coast is lesser known than the celebrated, elevated west coast. Here, the caldera-edge heights have sloped down to sea level, and volcanic-sand beaches and resorts offer a very different drawcard.

East coast resorts such as Kamari and Perissa have a more traditional (and more affordable) island-holiday appeal: sunlounger-filled beaches, water sports, and taverna-lined promenades. The east coast’s beaches are lined with black sand. On the south coast, there’s a string of beaches famed for their multicolored sand. The dramatic Red Beach is a traveler favorite.

The island’s interior is dotted with vineyards and traditional villages that let you see beyond the tourist hustle. Make a stop in Pyrgos for great eats and a wander through charming backstreets.

Ah, Central America – that great S-bend of land joining Colombia to Mexico. With two coastlines squiggling up the Caribbean Sea and the wild Pacific in a 1770km (1100-mile) medley of coral gardens, frothing waves and emerald-coast jungles laden with howler monkeys, there’s hardly a more beach-heavy region on earth.

No matter whether you’re searching for a laid-back surf town where you can chase barrels, a remote isle to channel your inner castaway, or a beer-sloshing party place on the Pacific Ocean, this corner of Latin America has you covered.

This guide searches out the crème-de-la-crème of coves and bays, narrowing down the best beaches in Central America to just 14 picks.

Manuel Antonio – Costa Rica

Best beach you have to hike to

Manuel Antonio is the pièce de résistance of its namesake national park, a bijou bit of tropical forest roughly midway up the Pacific shores of Puntarenas province.

The beach sits completely within the reserve, which means you’ll need to earn your taste of paradise by hiking 30 minutes amid jungles crawling with sloths and howler monkeys.

Facing south, the beige-tinged sand can be surveyed from the Mirador Playa Gemelas on the distant headland. The park opens at 7am, so get in early to beat the crowds.

Placencia – Belize

Best beach for peace and quiet

With a croc-filled lagoon on one side and the kaleidoscopic corals of the Belize Barrier Reef – part of the second-largest coral reef system on the planet, no less – on the other, Placencia is righteously hailed as one of the best beaches in Central America.

It’s quiet compared to the likes of Ambergris Caye, despite being more accessible (no seaplanes needed!). The area is peppered with traditional Garifuna fishing shacks and fronted by soft sands that sprout twisted sabal palms and sea oats.

Santa Catalina – Panama

Best hidden-gem beach

Mainly on the map for the rifling right-hand point break of La Punta that delights surfers from April to October, Santa Catalina is one of the long-lost fishing towns on the Panamanian Pacific.

It’s still little more than a clutch of ramshackle fishing huts and surf villas, but there’s growing interest, not least of all because it’s enfolded by two sweeps of unbusy, coffee-hued sand – Playa Arrimadero and Playa Santa Catalina.

Oh, and be sure to check out Coiba Island just across the strait, where you can swim with mantas and whale sharks at certain times of the year.

Isla Robeson – Panama

Best beach for pretending you’re a castaway

You don’t get a moniker like Isla Robeson (Isla Robinson Crusoe in English) without some top-quality beaches in the bank.

Although the actual place where Defoe’s hero is thought to have been stranded is some 4830km (3000 miles) away in Chile, this speck in Panama’s spectacular San Blas chain still has all the hallmarks of a castaway spot.

There’s not an overload of activity, just a few snorkeling reefs, a patch of jungle inland and – of course – a powdery lip of white sand on the west shoreline.

Little Corn Island – Nicaragua

Best beach to get away from it all

Located 43 miles off the coast of mainland Nicaragua, Little Corn and Big Corn – together the two Corn Islands – offer a rare slice of the Caribbean not yet dominated by multi-star hotels. Little Corn is the more untouched of the two; it’s only really got one resort, the fantastic bungalows that gaze at the Yemaya Reefs.

Away from that, you’ll paddle through dashes of coral reef and wander virginal coastal forests, where you’re more likely to come across a scaly iguana than another human being.

Red Frog Beach – Panama

Best beach resort beach

A soft bend of a bay on the northern tip of Isla Bastimentos, Red Frog is one of those beaches that could easily grace the cover of travel mags. It’s lined by a jumble of jungle that sprouts sea grapes and bowing coconut trees over a wavy Caribbean, which offers some pretty gnarly surf between December and April.

Stay at the Red Frog Beach Island Resort if you’d like to swing open your villa door to see the daffodil-hued sands framed by your own infinity pool – it’s the closest hotel to the beach.

Santa Teresa – Costa Rica

Best surf beach

Throughout the Costa Rican wet season (May to August), waves roll into Santa Teresa like clockwork. These sculpted wedges of water are what first drew surfers to this distant edge of the Nicoya Peninsula sometime in the late ’90s.

The secret is now well and truly out, and this erstwhile fishing town is now laden with yoga studios, boho surf camps and even a steady trend of Instagram-touting influencers.

But there’s space enough for all on the 5km-long (3-mile) playa, along with some of the most reliable swells this side of Hawaii.

West Bay Beach – Honduras

Best beach for active beach goers

West Bay Beach is where Honduras does its best impression of the Bahamas. A wisp of cream sand that curls its way around the tip of finger-like Roatán island, it regularly tops lists of the best beaches in Central America – and it’s hard to disagree.

Come here to soak up the rays, ride the glass-bottomed Coral Reef Explorer to see zebrafish and turtles in the surrounding reefs, whiz on Jet Skis and sip rum cocktails in the sandy palapa bars. Sounds good, eh?

Playa Conchal – Costa Rica

Best beach for swimming and snorkeling

Playa Conchal is the final beach in the tiara of beaches that starts in the small resort town of Brasilito in Guanacaste. Sandwiched between the rocks of the Punta Sabana headland and a sprawling Westin hotel resort, it doesn’t have black or white sand, but it does come covered in a unique shingle of crushed shells.

The Pacific waters are crystal-clear, and there’s fantastic swimming and snorkeling to be done at the northern end of the bay.

La Flor – Nicaragua

Best beach to see sea turtles

Playa La Flor is actually a lot like the other dark-sand beaches that arc and curve their way southwards to the Costa Rica border from San Juan del Sur in southern Nica. However, this one has a trump card: olive ridley turtles.

Come here to witness one of the seven annual nesting events known as arribadas – they take place between July and January, and the whole playa transforms into a shifting mass of carapaces and egg nests. About seven weeks later, you can return to watch new turtle life spring into action to make the arduous pilgrimage into the Pacific.

Playa El Cuco – El Salvador

Best beach for seafood

El Salvador’s lone contender for the best beach in Central America comes in the form of Playa El Cuco. It threads along the side of the Gulf of Fonseca, in the south of the country, in a run of dusky black sand with knots of lanky palm trees and frothing waves and whitecaps crashing in front.

You don’t come here for postcard-worthy sands – you come to hear the calls of the fisherfolk in the early hours, and to dine on zingy ceviche in the seafood restaurants.

Cuco itself can get busy with vacationers from San Miguel, but you can always stroll to more distant Playa El Esterón in the east to escape the buzz.

Guanaja – Honduras

Best beach for jungle hikes

Guanaja is more than content to let Roatán draw in the crowds and the cruise ships. Meanwhile, this member of the impossibly wonderful Bay Islands is covered in protected jungles and hiking paths. The north coast is where you go for the beaches.

From Michael Rock to Jim Bodden Beaches, there’s a series of coves and inlets that are washed by uberclear seas and offer snorkeling aplenty. To sleep, bag one of the treehouse-style cabanas at the End of the World Resort – the name says it all!

Punta Uvita – Costa Rica

Best beach for walking

The isthmus beach at Punta Uvita is one of the great wonders of the Dominical coast. It’s also known as Whale Beach, because it resembles the shape of a great whale tail splashing in the Pacific.

You can walk the whole length of it from Uvita Beach at low tide to see the salt-washed rock reefs at the tip.

Also head to the neighboring sands of Hermosa and Ventanas, where a tangle of gnarled ficus trees and palms tumble into the ocean. Oh, and there’s fantastic whale watching in the surrounding Costa Ballena between December and March.

Playa Maderas – Nicaragua

Best beach for a yoga retreat

It’s all about the good vibes and the consistent surf at Playa Maderas. Rumble down the rough dirt tracks north of San Juan del Sur and you’ll eventually emerge in a rocky bay wedged between stacked headlands.

The main wave is an all-level A-frame that breaks right in the middle.

But you don’t need to have a board in tow to feel at home here. There are blazing sunsets to watch from bamboo beer shacks, zen-inducing yoga retreats like Buena Vista Surf Club and secluded coves like Playa Rosa on the menu too.

Daphné is the author of the Brittany chapter for our latest France guidebook. Here she shares the best beaches along its epic coastline.

Brittany doesn’t offer your typical beach experience. It’s not a matter of throwing on a bikini and jumping straight into the sea; you’ll want to pack a fleece, a raincoat, and preferably – if you’re not one for cold water – a wetsuit.

But don’t let that put you off. The region, which alone makes up for a third of France’s coastline, is home to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches – ranging from sandy and tropical to wild and rocky, through surfer-friendly and ready to party.

Less crowded than most spots in warmer parts of the country, Brittany’s beaches often leave you with the satisfaction of having stumbled upon an unspoiled gem. You’ll be surprised to find out how heavenly the seascape can get and the photo opp is well worth sacrificing those perfect tan lines.

These are our favorite beaches in beautiful Brittany.

1. Plage de l’Île Vierge, Crozon

One to watch from afar

A small cove on the eastern flank of the Crozon peninsula overlooked by pine trees and swathes of heather, Plage de l’Île Vierge was once one of the most coveted spots in the area on a sunny afternoon. And with good reason – facing transparent, turquoise waters, the white, stoney beach, quietly tucked away between the cliffs, can seem other-worldly.

For the past few years, however, access to the beach has been closed for safety reasons. Stick to the warning signs and snap your pic from above, while remaining on the GR34 footpath that circles the peninsula.

Detour: Plage de l’Île Vierge is only one of the many wonders you can expect to see if you hike the GR34 in the Crozon peninsula. Don’t miss the majestic Cap de la Chèvre further down south.

2. Plage de la Torche, Plomeur

Surfers’ paradise

A two-kilometer (1.2 miles) stretch of sand facing the Atlantic Ocean, Plage de la Torche has become known for its rolling waves that attract surfers from around the world all year long. For those who don’t travel in a cool, board-loaded campervan, the beach is also an inspiring spot for a walk, a lie-down and a swim, followed by a crêpe at one of the cute restaurants facing the sea.

3. Plage des Grands Sables, Belle-Île-en-Mer

For the sailing enthusiasts

Located on an island literally named after its beauty, Plage des Grands Sables lives up to the reputation of Belle-Île. You’ll find it after a 15-minute car drive from the main town, Le Palais, featuring beautiful views of the coast and the neighboring islands of Houat and Hoëdic.

A long stretch of sand protected from the wind and bathed in sunlight throughout the day, it’s the perfect place for a relaxing family day out. The beach’s prime location has also made it a hotspot for water sports. You can rent kayaks, paddles and windsurfing equipment from the nearby sailing school.

4. Plage de la Mine d’Or, Pénestin

Best beach for a sunset

Somewhere between the setting of Dune and that of a desert island movie, Plage de la Mine d’Or is one of Brittany’s most astonishing beaches. The 2km-long site is bordered by imposing, ochre-colored cliffs that were mined for gold at the end of the 19th century, giving the Mine d’Or – “goldmine” in French – its name.

A popular spot in the summer, the beach is without doubt one of the most spectacular sights in the area, but you’ll also find cute, intimate coves if you head further south on the walking trail.

Planning tip: Head to the beach at sunset, when most of the crowd has cleared — the cliffs are drenched in a beautiful golden-orangey color.

5. Plage des Sables Rouges, Île de Groix

The perfect picnic stop on a bike trip

The rocks that make up the island of Groix’s coast are known to contain lots of garnet and when the weather gets stormy, particles of the mineral scatter along some of the beaches, coloring the sand a surprising shade of red. On the eastern side of the island, just a short walk from the town of Locmaria, Plage des Sables Rouges is one of the spots where this phenomenon is most visible. A small, cozy beach that is popular with local families, the site is easily accessible from the coastal path and protected from the wind.

Planning tip: Groix is a small island; if you can, skip the car and go beach-hopping on a bike.

6. Grande Plage du Sillon, Saint-Malo

Make your fishing debut

Stretching over 3km (1.8 miles) and overlooked by fancy hotels and restaurants, the quiet Plage du Sillon sits right next to the center of Saint-Malo and is a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It makes for a lovely walk with views of the town’s famous fortified walls and, in the distance, of the 17th-century National Fort.

As you get nearer to the southern side of the beach, you’ll notice locals armed with buckets crawling over rocks fishing for crabs, clams and oysters. It’s one of the most popular hobbies in Saint-Malo, so don’t hesitate to get involved. Always check out the latest rules on quotas and protected species before you set off.

Detour: A few kilometers from Plage du Sillon, you’ll find Pointe de la Varde, a protected natural site culminating 32 meters (105ft) above sea level, offering an unobstructed view of the surrounding bay. Walk north through Plage du Minihic and catch the GR34 footpath that will take you all the way to the site.

7. Grande Plage de Carnac, Carnac

For a family day out

Carnac’s claim to fame isn’t exactly beach-related: the area is mostly known for hosting the world’s highest concentration of standing stones dating back to the 5th century BCE. But just a five-minute drive from the site, lining the bay of Quiberon, you’ll find a few sandy beaches – five, to be precise – that are Carnac’s pride and joy.

The Grande Plage is the biggest one of them. A long stretch of sand sheltered from the waves and featuring typical striped beach huts, it’s popular with local families and the perfect spot for keen sandcastle makers.

Planning tip: There are plenty of restaurants and snack bars within walking distance of the beach.

8. Plage de l’anse du Pissot, Pléneuf-Val-André

The insider pick

Access to the small Plage de l’anse du Pissot is not easy. From the GR34 footpath, you’ll have to keep your eyes out for the steep set of stairs that takes you down to the hidden, intimate beach. Much lesser known than its bigger neighbor, Plage du Val André, it’s well worth going out of your way to find the spot if you’re a fan of beautiful, unspoiled natural beauty.

When planning a trip to Texas beaches, research is key. The Lone Star State’s coast can be a murky one and folks don’t simply rock up to whatever patch of sand is the closest.

But over 600 miles of coastline means there are sandy treasures to be found and wonderful communities coming together. You see, Texas is all about the people, and these shores are the beloved hosts of big family barbecues, students who play sports, and spectacular fireworks.

The wildlife is also a huge draw – close proximity to Mexico and a share of the border with Louisiana means that goodies of the tropics are in abundance along many points. And for those seeking a touch of secluded romance, there’s that too, with the beauty of emerald green over turquoise blue.

Couples, families, friends, and solo travelers, come take on the big and bountiful Texas seaboard – here are the best beaches to dip your toes in, along with essential planning tips. The best time to visit Texas beaches is typically from late spring to early fall, when the weather is warm and perfect for beach activities.

1. Sea Rim State Park

Against the frontier with Louisiana, Sea Rim State Park is an over 4000-acre wetland with a 5.2-mile bend of sandy beach tacked on. This is one for the wildlife watchers, who will love the rich birdlife, alongside ghost crabs, river otters, and alligators. The Gambusia Nature Trail boardwalk is especially good for sightings.

Kayakers will relish the network of waterways back from the shore for paddling. Basic camping is available for a fee, attracting those who want to enjoy the broad, un-crowded sweep of butterscotch sands for a little longer.

Planning tip: Mosquitoes are rife all year round, so lather on the bug spray before you get here.

2. East Beach, Galveston

Everyone in Texas knows Galveston is the place for gatherings. That basically means it’s where the party’s at. East Beach holds this sprightly status because it is the only one where alcohol is permitted. Frequent live music events and an annual sandcastle-building competition happen here alongside the drinking and barbecuing.

Planning tip: Glass is prohibited on the beach. Bring a cooler (you will definitely need a cooler) with reusable plastic cups or tumblers for the party.

3. Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula

The Bolivar Peninsula, a 27-mile-long hook of land outlined in sand, shields Galveston Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. A seven-mile stretch of sand within it, called Crystal Beach, forms an especially fetching focal point. It is an un-manicured and wild-feeling buff-colored sandy expanse backed by a thin crest of dunes, where hermit crabs and migratory bird species outnumber beach-goers. This calm oasis feels a world away from nearby bustling Galveston.

Planning tip: The peninsula is only connected to the big port by ferry and land access is via a 35-mile-long road from Winnie.

4. San José Island

Mustang Island lies between Corpus Christi Bay and the open ocean, and from Port Aransas at the northern corner, you can take a spin by ferry across the ship channel to another of the state’s peaceful sand-rimmed barrier islands. Only two miles wide at its broadest point, San José Island extends to 21 miles in length and, with the next island up being the still wilder Matagorda Island, becomes less busy the further north you explore. It receives a smattering of visitors, most of whom are here for beach-combing or for some of Texas’ finest fishing.

Planning tip: You’ll need to take everything with you for a day on the island as there are no stores on San José. Bring your own trash bag too and don’t leave anything behind.

5. Padre Island National Seashore

The Padre Island National Seashore is the world’s largest undeveloped barrier island. Not to be confused with the contrasting South Padre Island, a big and boisterous spring break destination, this is a gangly teased-out piece of road-less, car-less, unpeopled paradise along which 65 miles of white sand and shell beaches await you.

Grassy dunes, tidal flats, and one of only six hypersaline lagoons on Earth (Laguna Madre) complete a vigorously protected ecosystem frequented by the best of the Texas coast’s fauna, including 360 bird species, coyotes, and sea turtles such as the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley.

Planning tip: Access to the seashore is from Corpus Christi via Hwy 358 and John F. Kennedy Memorial Causeway, at the northern end. You can camp with a permit in five designated areas.

6. Rockport Beach

One of the cleanest sandy coastlines in the state, Rockport was the first scoop of sand in Texas to achieve Blue Wave Beach designation (the USA equivalent of Blue Flag Beach status), and the immaculate yellow crescent of the bay and gently shelving shallow water make it the best beach in Texas for families with small kids. The facilities, from shady picnic areas to playgrounds, make for the perfect family-friendly beach.

Additionally, Port Lavaca offers a quieter beach experience nearby with its calm waters and serene environment. Lighthouse Beach in Port Lavaca is a popular spot for families, featuring a lighted fishing pier, bird-watching tower, and picnic areas.

Planning tip: As much as fur babies are considered part of the family for many, this beach does not allow dogs or other pets, so find a sitter before the (human) clan heads down.

7. Boca Chica Beach

Welcome to the very end of the road. Boca Chica Beach is an away-from-it-all slice of sand and dunes brushing the Rio Grande River mouth. Surreally, the SpaceX Launch Facility, a rocket production and testing site, is located nearby, but adventurers will still be over the moon arriving at this sandy retreat. Apart from border city Brownsville from where the 23-mile road out here begins, this is the most southerly point in Texas and pretty undeveloped.

Planning tip: Texas is massive, so if you’re driving all the way to Boca Chica, chances are you’re going to pay Mexico a visit. Either way, checkpoints are dotted throughout the border, so bring passports in case you stumble upon one.

8. Matagorda Island

Matagorda Island is the destination of choice for those who want a break from absolutely everything. It is deservedly fabled amongst fanatics of the great outdoors: you must charter your own boat in Port O’Connor to get here and take camping equipment if you wish to stay over. This is a pristine, unspoiled seaside paradise, flanked by the least crowded beaches in Texas.

The wildlife billing includes bald eagles, whooping cranes, alligators, coyotes, and white-tailed deer, and without the presence of other humans, you will likely get much closer to such creatures than elsewhere. Get information, including permits for camping, at the park office in Bay City.

Planning tip: There is no electricity or drinking water on the island. Charge up those devices, and bring plenty of water in your reusable containers.

9. South Padre Island

Known for its vibrant nightlife and bustling atmosphere, South Padre Island is a favorite for many Texans. The island offers a wide range of activities, from water sports to dolphin watching tours. The sandy beaches and warm waters make it an ideal spot for a fun-filled getaway.

Planning tip: Book your accommodation in advance, especially during peak seasons like spring break, as the island gets quite crowded.

10. Mustang Island

Located near Corpus Christi, Mustang Island is a serene escape with its sandy shores and rolling dunes. The Mustang Island State Park offers ample opportunities for camping, fishing, and birdwatching. It’s a great spot for those looking to enjoy nature without the crowds.

Planning tip: Bring plenty of water and sunscreen, as shade can be sparse on the beach.

11. Surfside Beach

Surfside Beach is a laid-back destination known for its family-friendly atmosphere and beautiful sunsets. The beach offers a wide expanse of sand perfect for beachcombing, picnicking, and building sandcastles. The gentle waves make it ideal for swimming and boogie boarding.

Planning tip: Surfside Beach has several beachfront rental properties, making it convenient for extended stays. Be sure to check local regulations for beach driving permits if you plan to bring your vehicle onto the sand.

12. Stewart Beach, Galveston

Stewart Beach is another popular destination in Galveston, particularly favored by families for its well-maintained facilities and lifeguard presence. The beach offers plenty of amenities, including restrooms, showers, and picnic areas. It’s a great spot for volleyball, beach games, and soaking up the sun.

Planning tip: Arrive early to secure a good parking spot and a prime spot on the beach, especially on weekends and holidays.

No matter which beach you choose, Texas offers a unique and diverse coastal experience. Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, these beaches provide the perfect backdrop for your next getaway. If you’re planning a road trip, consider exploring these top Texas road trip destinations to enhance your journey.

FAQs

What is the prettiest beach in Texas?

Many consider South Padre Island to be the prettiest beach in Texas, but we have to highlight some of our faves: Padre Island National Seashore and Rockport Beach have our hearts soaring with gorgeous sand and lots to do!

Which Texas beach has the clearest water?

The waters of South Padre Island are often regarded as the clearest in Texas. The island’s location in the Gulf of Mexico helps maintain its pristine water quality.

Which beach in Texas has white sand?

Padre Island National Seashore is known for its stunning white sand beaches. This untouched barrier island offers miles of white sand and natural beauty.

Which beaches in Texas are family-friendly?

Rockport Beach, Stewart Beach in Galveston, and Surfside Beach are all highly recommended for families. These beaches offer excellent facilities, gentle waves, and plenty of activities for children and adults alike.

While you’re here, don’t miss out on top free things to do in Texas to make the most of your visit. For more travel inspiration and activities, check our guide on the best things to do in Texas. Happy beach hopping!