11 of the Most Relaxing Beaches Around the World

With both a Pacific and a Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica is home to many beautiful beaches. Uvita Beach, on the southern Pacific Coast, is a great option to combine adventurous outdoor activities and wildlife spotting with a relaxing beach holiday. It’s quieter than the famous Manuel Antonio National Park further up the coast, but equally beautiful and part of the Marino Ballena National Park. Ballena means “whale” in Spanish, and you can see migrating whales passing the coast for much of the year; join a tour for the best chances of spotting them.

Did you know?: In a quirk of nature, the beach at Uvita looks like a breaching whale’s tail when seen from above.

For uncrowded beaches to relax on in Hawaii, venture beyond Oahu—to Lanai Island, for instance. The smallest of the US state’s inhabited islands, Lanai is easy to reach from Maui (by ferry or flight), but it's infinitely quieter, especially if you make the trip up to Polihua Beach on Lanai’s northern coast. Take a 4-wheel-drive vehicle along backroads about an hour from Lanai City, in the island’s center.

Strong currents and winds mean you shouldn’t swim at Polihua Beach, but it’s a beautiful place to sunbathe and stroll in peace, as you may be the only person there.

Between the Bahamas and Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados (and many more island nations besides), it’s difficult to narrow down a shortlist of the best Caribbean destinations. But if you favor laid-back vibes over a party atmosphere, consider visiting Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory east of Puerto Rico. Anguilla is less touristy than many of its neighbors, partly because it doesn’t have a large commercial cruise port, so tours here tend to be more intimate. Many of its beaches are relaxing and hustle-free, and Shoal Bay is among its nicest. You can rent snorkeling and diving gear here, or try parasailing.

Although the beaches of the French Riviera on the Mediterranean Sea are typically lined deck chair–to–deck chair in summer, you can find quieter spots along France’s Atlantic Coast. The Île de Ré, connected to La Rochelle via the Pont de l’Île de Ré, is busy with French families in midsummer but much quieter at other times, with just a small local population.

Several beaches along the island’s northern and southern shores provide calm beach getaways, and when you want to explore beyond the sand you can bicycle the flat island, stroll the streets of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, or kayak the salt marshes.

You don’t have to love lounging in the sun to enjoy some of the world’s best beaches for relaxation: Rhossili Bay, near Swansea in South Wales, is an idyllic beach destination for lovers of brisk walks, churning seas, and windswept cliffs. The beach at the end of the scenic Gower Peninsula has been voted one of the most beautiful beaches in Wales. It’s a surfing hot spot and you can also participate in other outdoor activities in the area, like kayaking and coasteering, an adventure sport that originated in nearby Pembrokeshire. (Conveniently, Rhossili Bay is also easily accessible from Cardiff.)

South India’sGoa is known as a party destination, and while you’ll certainly find plenty of all-night raves, they’re generally more restricted to North Goa. South Goa is quieter, with less tourist development, more family-friendly accommodations, and beachside yoga retreats. Patnem Beach is especially pretty, and while it can still be busy around New Year, you won’t have any trouble finding a place to lay your towel. Purchase refreshments from beachside restaurants to use their loungers and umbrellas all day. When you need a break from the beach, take a tour to the Tropical Spice Plantation or UNESCO–listed Old Goa.

Insider tip: Patnem is about one mile (1.5 kilometers) south of the slightly busier and longer (but still peaceful) Palolem Beach. You can visit them both in one day, or alternate during a longer stay.

Bali’s southern coast is infamously overtouristed, somewhat detracting from its beaches’ natural beauty. But on the Indonesian island’s northern coast, gorgeous black-sand beaches don’t see the same volume of tourists, and the small coastal communities are less developed. Pemuteran Beach is a great spot for diving and snorkeling, and is especially easy to access if you arrive in Bali via the ferry from East Java. Pemuteran Beach is a peaceful place to stroll and swim, and local diving and snorkeling tours can take you to the colorful reefs around Menjangan Island.

Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand’s South Island may be the country’s most popular national park, but because most of its beaches are only accessible on foot or by water, it’s never too crowded. You can hike multi-day trails (stopping at beachside campgrounds overnight), take leisurely day hikes, kayak the coastline, or admire the views from a cruise. Among the park’s most beautiful beaches are Anchorage, Awaroa, Te Pukatea Bay, and Totaranui (with road access from Golden Bay). The Department of Conservation–run campsites fill up in midsummer (December–January), but the vibe is always chill at these hidden beach paradises.

With the possible exceptions of Sydney’s Bondi Beach and Queensland’s Gold Coast, most of Australia’s 21,000 mile (34,000 kilometer) coastline is uncrowded and peaceful. Choosing the most relaxing beach in this enormous, underpopulated continent is a hard task, but Whitehaven Beach in Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands is definitely among them. Many daytrippers do come from Airlie Beach (a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef) but if you walk up the beach from where the boats land, you’ll find quieter spots. The white sand, clear turquoise water, and tropical climate make this one of the best tranquil beaches to visit.

Muri Beach may be Rarotonga’s most developed beach area, but that doesn’t mean it’s overcrowded. The beautiful Cook Islands—east of Fiji and west of French Polynesia—are less developed than some other South Pacific nations, and mostly frequented by New Zealand families (Cook Islanders have New Zealand citizenship and the New Zealand dollar is the currency). The sheltered, shallow waters of Muri Lagoon make it a great place for kids, kayaking, and snorkeling, and the Muri Night Market (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings) provide a fun alternative to resort dining.

Insider tip: Rarotonga’s other beaches are even quieter than Muri (although the surf is stronger in most places). Visit them by hopping onto the public bus, which only takes about an hour to circle the whole island.

With the ancient temples of Kyoto and the neon-lit megacity of Tokyo, Japan might not be the first place that comes to mind for a serene beach vacation. But aside from the southern islands of Okinawa, many small offshore islands provide calm beach getaways. Kyushu is already overlooked by many international travelers, but to really get off the tourist trail, take the ferry to Iki Island, about 43 miles (70 kilometers) off Fukuoka (but part of Nagasaki Prefecture). Bring camping gear to pitch a tent at the campground at Tsutsukihama Beach, or stay at small boutique accommodations on the island.

Insider tip: A basic knowledge of Japanese is helpful for navigating your way to, and around, Iki Island.