What makes a beach memorable?
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For most travelers, soft sand, sunshine, and a calm tide make for an unbeatable experience. Things like clear water, a cool breeze, and space to spread out are more than enough to create a fantastic afternoon under the sun.
But some beaches deliver on drama more than relaxation. Some are chock-full of wildlife that you don’t see often. Others have hidden reefs and other awesome secrets just beyond the coast. Some are all about visual dynamics, like black-sand beaches.
Some stand out purely because they have something that others don’t, from historic structures that dominate the horizon to dramatic ecological landscapes that you can’t look away from. If you’re on the hunt for one-of-a-kind beaches, you need to dig deep.
Lucky for you, TripAdvisor conducts an annual travelers’ choice award survey. In 2026, these are the top one-of-a-kind beaches, according to sand-loving globe-trotters.
Top 10 one-of-a-kind beaches in the world, based on traveler recommendations
Boulders Beach Penguin Colony, South Africa
- What makes it special: You can observe wild African penguins on this beach. The penguin population was reintroduced to this area back in 1982 when only two breeding pairs remained. Now, the healthy colony numbers between two and three thousand.
- Best time to visit: March to May is breeding season, when the penguins return to shore often to feed their young. You can observe the daily feeding in the afternoons. Just make sure to bring some cash for park fees, which support conservation efforts.
- Where to visit from: This beach is located in Table Mountain National Park on the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. You can drive from Cape Town to Simon’s Town where the penguin colony is located.
Isola Bella, Sicily, Italy
- What makes it special: You can see a preserved villa built at the turn of the last century from the beach. The villa and gardens were built by an eccentric English noblewoman in the late 1800s. You can also see an Ancient Greek theatre from some parts of the beach, called Teatro Antico di Taormina.
- Best time to visit: Isola Bella is crowded during the busy summer months. If you want to avoid crowds, visit during April, May, or October, when most people have cleared out, but the water remains warm.
- Where to visit from: Isola Bella is a small island located off the coast of Taormina, a popular town on the Sicilian coast.
Bamburgh Beach, United Kingdom
- What makes it special: This dramatic North Sea beach is home to Bamburgh Castle, which is a dramatic fortress perched high atop a basalt boulder. Once home to the Kings of Northumbria, you might recognize the castle from Netflix’s The Last Kingdom.
- Best time to visit: This isn’t a tropical beach where you will lie around all day. It’s best to visit as part of a Bamburgh Castle tour, which is open daily from early February to early November.
- Where to visit from: You can reach Bamburgh Beach from Edinburgh (located to the north) or Newcastle Upon Tyne (located to the south). Nearby is Alnwick, home to the famous Harry Potter castle.
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan, USA
- What makes it special: Dubbed the ‘most beautiful place in America’ by Good Morning America, this is a picturesque lake beach. It’s also home to impressive 450-foot sand dunes that boggle the mind. You can walk them down to the lake shore… but good luck getting back up.
- Best time to visit: The best time to visit is during the summer or fall. From June through August, the water is warm enough for a dip. But the fall foliage is also a treat if you visit in September and October, before winter sets in.
- Where to visit from: Stay the night (or two) in Traverse City, Michigan. You can drive there in about an hour and a half.
Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses, Barreirinhas, Brazil
- What makes it special: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to pools of water that form bright blue lakes and ponds between towering, endless sand dunes. Some call it heaven on earth. Think: a mirage-like oasis in a dramatic desert.
- Best time to visit: Visit from May to September when the lagoons are full of crystal-clear water. It’s important to note that the lagoons aren’t present year-round—they form when the rainy season hits.
- Where to visit from: This park isn’t easy to reach. The closest city is Barreirinhas, which you can access via flight from Sao Paolo or Rio de Janeiro. You can book a tour from there or drive yourself.
Anakena Beach, Easter Island, Chile
- What makes it special: You’ve likely seen the famous Easter Island heads, which are known as Moai statues. You can visit two on this famous beach and archaeological site (Ahu Nau Nau and Ahu Ature Huki), letting you get up close to these absolutely mammoth statues that were built over five centuries ago.
- Best time to visit: Generally, the best time to visit Easter Island and Anakena Beach is during summer from October to April.
- Where to visit from: Similar to Lençóis Maranhenses in Brazil, these one-of-a-kind beaches aren’t for the faint of heart in that they’re difficult to reach. You can reach Easter Island from Santiago, Chile, on a five-hour flight.
Wai’anapanapa State Park, Hawaii
- What makes it special: Home to black sand, sea caves, and dramatic lava tube structures, this beach looks like something out of a Sci-Fi film.
- Best time to visit: You can visit this state park year-round, but the best time to visit daily is either early morning for fewer crowds or as the sun sets for a droolworthy golden hour vista.
- Where to visit from: Wai’anapanapa State Park is located in Hana, Maui. You can easily book a tour of the park with a company or go it alone via hiking trails. Just make sure to stay on the trail—this area is notoriously dangerous to intrepid hikers.
Hopewell Rocks, Canada
- What makes it special: Also known as Flowerpot Rocks, these dramatic sea stack formations can reach heights up to 70 feet. They were sculped by dramatic, high-rising tides. In fact, the Hopewell Rocks are home to the highest tides in the world to this day, which can reach up to 52 feet.
- Best time to visit: Conditions are dangerous in winter, meaning you can only visit from mid-May to mid-October. Always visit during low tide in the early morning. You can also inquire at the visitor center about the best time to visit.
- Where to visit from: You can see this beach in the Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park in New Brunswick. You can also drive from Halifax, Nova Scotia, which takes around 3.5 hours.
Bahía Bioluminiscente, Puerto Rico
- What makes it special: Microscopic organisms called Pyodinium bahamense transform into neon blue colors when the water is disturbed in Bahias Bioluminiscentes. You’ll feel like you’re wading through the cosmos as you glide across the water at these one-of-a-kind beaches.
- Best time to visit: This is a year-round phenomenon, but the colors appear brighter around a full moon or on a cloudy night, when there is less light pollution. If you’re visiting the island to see this phenomenon, book your trip over a new moon.
- Where to visit from: Puerto Rico is home to three bioluminescent bays. You can find them in Mosquito Bay, Vieques; Laguna Grande, Fajardo; and La Parguera, Lajas. Only the bay in Lajas allows swimming. The rest you can explore via kayak or paddleboard.
Hot Water Beach, New Zealand
- What makes it special: This beach is home to hot springs, which are located underground. They naturally heat the sand and make it possible for you to dig your own soaking tub into the sand. Just watch out for dangerous rip currents.
- Best time to visit: Geothermal springs are only accessible during low tide. (During high tide, the tide carries away the hot water.) Make sure to plan your visit around the tide chart, which changes seasonally. You should plan your visit within two hours of the low tide, whether from the start or end.
- Where to visit from: You can visit from Auckland, which is around one hundred miles away.
