The Citizen Femme editors have visited plenty of the world’s best beaches, and these are some of their favourites.
With tens of thousands of beaches in the world, it’s almost impossible to list the very best, and personal insight goes a long way. Here, the CF team share their favourite sandy shores in the world – each tried, tested, and loved.
Spanning Europe, the Caribbean, Australia, Asia and beyond, add all of these idyllic beaches to your must-visit list now.
Sheena Bhattessa, Founder
@sheenabhattessa
Sand Bar at Eden Rock St Barths, the Caribbean
I am, notoriously, the last person to visit a beach. I haven’t the patience to lie down for hours and I don’t sunbathe. The irony of this is my husband grew up in Florida and the Caribbean, so beaches have now become part of everyday life when we are there. And I have grown to love beaches, particularly after having children, who absolutely love spending days playing in the sand, splashing in the water. And the Caribbean beaches and waters are spectacular. The beach in front of Eden Rock St Barths is one of my favourites. Positioned on St John’s beach, the Sand Bar was conceptualised by the international chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and brings an element of New York’s ABC Kitchen to the sun and sand backdrop of St Barths, perfectly matching my urban-meets-tropical vibe. The seafood is truly exceptional, the cocktails are flawlessly mixed, and the pizzas are some of the best in the Caribbean. But Anguilla’s Shoal Bay East is the epitome of Caribbean paradise. This two-mile stretch of powdery white sand and crystalline turquoise water is blissfully uncrowded, with some of the best snorkelling. No wonder it’s celebrated as a Caribbean gem – paradise on Earth indeed.
Katie Silcox, Managing Editor
@katiesilcox
Malakibay Beach, Rizal, Palawan, the Philippines
It’s not easy to get to, you won’t find any high-end hotels nearby, and you’ll be lucky if you have any data on your phone (forget all about wifi too), but Malakibay Beach in Rizal, on the southwest coast of Palawan island in the Philippines stands out to me for all the right reasons. In a stretching bay, and with perhaps the flattest, clearest water I’ve ever seen, the best bit is that you’ll have it all to yourself – in my week spent here the only other life I saw on the beach was a few fishermen and a couple of stray dogs. The beach is long (I’m not sure how long; it’s so remote I’m also not sure it’s ever been measured) and there’s not much to do nearby so days are spent somewhere between the hammock, the sand and the sea. Interested? The only place to stay is a small hut on the beach, owned and run by a local lady (mommy Sally) who grew up on the land (her own house is somewhere in the beach-adjacent palm tree forest). The best time to visit for flat waters is April or May, and it’s probably best avoided from July to November during monsoon season. There’s no aircon, no hot water and no ATM nearby – but you won’t need any money anyway: mommy Sally prepares all meals, bringing them to your hut morning, noon and night.
Becki Murray, Beauty & Wellness Director
@beckimurray_
Caloundra, via Little Mountain, Queensland, Australia
It became a running joke when I was campervanning around Australia last year that every beach was better than the last. My first piece of advice is – perhaps surprisingly – not to miss the tourist hotspots. They might be busy and occasionally too crowded, but I saw the best sunsets of my life with my feet in the sands of Byron Bay, and personally think the crystal clear waters in the Whitsundays are unrivalled. Mission Beach at the Great Barrier Reef will always have a special place in my heart, because it’s where I landed my first ever skydive, and Bondi Beach is incredible for learning to surf – it’s also the start (or end) of my favourite coastal walk, Bondi to Coogee. Ultimately though, I learnt that going off the beaten track will always give you the best beachside rewards. By stopping wherever I pleased along the coastal roads, I ended up on sandy stretches that didn’t even have proper names, and had them all to myself. If I have to be pressed on just one? The beaches by Caloundra, via Little Mountain, in Queensland are worth visiting the Sunshine Coast for alone. Perhaps I’m biased because I walked them with my cousin and her new baby boy, but if you’re looking for an authentic slice of Aussie life alongside breathtaking views, you’ll find it all here.
Morag Turner, Citizen Enfants Editor
@moragturner
Woolacombe, North Devon, UK
When you marry a South African surfer (and then raise three surf-obsessed sons) beaches are no longer just pretty spots to relax on a lounger, they become central to your way of life. The tides, the current, the swell, the water temperature – the sea is at the heart of a lifestyle and passion that focuses on waves. In the UK our favourite surfing spot is the North Devon Surf Reserve – it’s the only cold water reserve in the world (joining just 11 others, including Manly in Sydney and Malibu in California). It’s a truly wonderful stretch of coastline covering Woolacombe, Croyde, Puttsborough and Saunton, but my absolute favourite is Woolacombe Beach because of its size – it’s so big that you’ll always find a quiet spot. While my boys surf, I tend to body board, but the adrenaline rush is the same and I can’t get enough of it. Bobbing out at the backline chatting to them while they sit on their boards as the sets roll in, then seeing them hop up and twist and turn so effortlessly through the water. It’s magical.
Rachel Story, Style & Commerce Director
@rachelastory
The Brando, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia
The perks of writing about travel means that I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited some of the most beautiful beaches in the world – from swimming with stingrays in the Maldives to the pink sands of Bermuda – but I think my absolute favourite has to be the sandy shores surrounding the tiny private island of Tetiaroa, home to The Brando in French Polynesia. Perhaps not as postcard-perfect as its neighbour Bora Bora (the colour of the water at Four Seasons Bora Bora was so impossibly turquoise that it felt like we were on a green-screen film set) but the privacy and nature at The Brando is next-to-none. It also holds a very special place in my heart, as it was where I honeymooned with my husband. Crystal-clear and calm on one side, wild and rocky on the other – yet still small enough to walk, or cycle, across in minutes – it felt like a true castaway moment, unlike anywhere I’ve experienced before (or am likely to experience again). As well as being so remote, the island was also incredibly quiet during our stay, making it feel like our own private slice of paradise. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, wildlife spotting here is also part of the incredible experience – from blue-footed seabirds and swooping giant frigatebirds with wingspans of up to eight feet, to tree-climbing, bright blue coconut crabs and lemon shark pups basking in the warm shallow waters. It truly is a place like no other.
Ella Alexander, Fashion Features Director
@ella_alexander1
Treasure Beach, Jamaica, the Caribbean
I have been very lucky to have travelled to many beautiful beaches through work, and although there are a few that stand out (the west coast of Mauritius was pretty exceptional as was Cape Weligama in Sri Lanka), Treasure Beach in Jamaica wins for me. It’s relatively free of tourists, and sits on the south coast of the island in a small fishing village. It isn’t easy to access (the best beaches never are), but the pay off is worth it – think golden sand, aquamarine water, tropical foliage and colourful beach shacks to sink a chilled Red Stripe. Take the 25-minute boat ride from the beach to the best bar in the world (in my opinion), Floyd’s Pelican Bar, which sits on wooden stilts just a mile from the shore. I spotted dolphins as we sped over the sea, pure magic. Upon arrival, you’ll be offered rum punch, cold beer or the freshest lobster and fish imaginable.
Bibiana Obahor, Head of Graphic Design
@bibs.s
Sunset Beach, Dubai, UAE
I’ve never been someone who plans a holiday around a beach. I love the beach in theory, but in practice, I usually last about 20 minutes before I’m looking for shade, a drink, or somewhere to sit that isn’t covered in sand. But Sunset Beach in Dubai (also known as Umm Suqeim Beach) has become a favourite of mine. It’s one of the quieter spots along the coast, just down from the busier Kite Beach, and it’s exactly where you want to be as the sun starts to dip. It really lives up to its name – the sunsets here are some of the best I’ve seen in the city, everything warm and gold and still. I like to take in the views while reading a book or just lie there doing nothing, which is honestly the appeal of a beach day. And if you’re in the mood for more of a scene, head over to J1 Beach next door — Bâoli Dubai and Sirene by Gaia are two great beach clubs, perfect if you want to pair peaceful shoreline with a bit more atmosphere.
Alex Carello, Head of PR
@alexandracarello
Jumby Bay, Antigua, the Caribbean
My favourite beach might be Jumby Bay in Antigua. Miles of perfect white sand sit next to a shallow ocean at this private-island beach reserved for guests only. The beach is quiet, relaxing, and safe – meaning children can play without parents worrying (too much!). It’s dotted with sunbeds, has tree cover as shade, and shallow waters that are perfect for playing in for hours. Order lunch or a drink to the beach, or take the short stroll down to Genny’s Bar for a mid-morning rum punch as you gaze out across the ocean. I also love how every day at 3pm you are surprised by the snack of the day, which keeps things exciting!
Ella Mansell, Junior Culture Editor
@ella.mansell
The Isles of Scilly, UK
My Dad’s family is Cornish, and so every year of my childhood we would travel over to the Isles of Scilly, a group of islands off the Land’s End tip of Cornwall. Although we always joked that you could probably fly to New York (the next landfall after the islands) in the time it takes to trek through Cornwall’s country lanes – across the stretch of Atlantic on the old and slow ferry, and then from the main island (St Mary’s) to St Agnes via the local, small ferry – it felt more than worth it every time we arrived. The island is so small that there are no cars, and it’s run entirely by local businesses and islanders who we were (and still are) friends with. My favourite beach on the island is a sheltered cove where the local fisherman all moor their wooden, brightly painted fishing boats in the clearest water I have ever seen in the UK (deceivingly inviting as it was always absolutely freezing, no matter the time of year). To arrive at the sandy cove, you have to walk through an overgrown field of bright pink foxgloves and then maritime grassland; it always felt like our hidden secret. The Isles of Scilly is changing rapidly as the once islander-owned homes are being bought by expensive cottage rental companies … but I hope somehow we can find a way to preserve and treasure its rugged charm.
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