Caribbean Mediterranean Canary Islands

The best places to visit when… you want to relax on the beach

Whether you’re a water baby, sun worshipper or sandcastle-building pro, a day at the beach is always the highlight of a holiday. Soak up some rays, feel the sand between your toes and breathe in the salty tang of the ocean with our guide to some of the best beach escapes for relaxing on shore

5 min 20 Jul 2024

Editorial Team

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1. Bequia, St Vincent

Beach days are obligatory in the Caribbean, and where better than on the friendly island of Bequia (pronounced Bek-way) in the glorious Grenadines (from St Vincent)? Measuring a little more than 18 square kilometres, Bequia is an easy place to navigate and you won’t have to travel far from the port to reach one of its loveliest beaches, Princess Margaret (named for our late Queen’s sister, who swam here on her honeymoon in 1960). The sand is golden and the tranquil turquoise waters are perfect for swimming, kayaking and scuba-diving – look out for green and hawksbill turtles and lobsters. Depending on the season you’ll also see the latter on the menu of Jack’s Beach Bar at the northern end of the beach, a great spot for a refreshing passion fruit margarita or soursop colada.

Shore experiences: Mustique Retreat with Local Lunch; Bequia Transfer; Bequia Beach Hop with Local Lunch

View cruises to St Vincent here.

Port Elizabeth, Admirality bay, Bequia, St. Vincent

2. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

Bermuda’s beaches are famously pink and you’ll find an exquisitely delicate hue at Horseshoe Bay (a mere 30-minute bus ride away from the port). The pretty colour is the result of the crushed shells of a prolific marine organism called foraminifera mixing with the powdery white sand. This classic, crescent-shaped beach is very popular and boasts all the amenities: for a quieter spot, head left and clamber over the rocks to reach some more secluded coves; or for child-friendly swimming, turn to the right for the shallow waters and rock pools of Port Royal Cove. If you tire of sand and sea, you can explore the network of nature trails through the dunes that lead to Warwick Long Bay, another ‘pink’ beauty.

Shore experiences: Easy Panoramic Bermuda

View cruises to Bermuda here.

Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

3. Grand Anse, Grenada

Another Caribbean classic awaits on the scented ‘Spice Island’ of Grenada. Grand Anse is within easy reach of the capital St Georges (where your ship will be) and offers over 3km of blissful blonde sand and glittering blue sea. Settle in the shade of a sea grape or coconut tree with a rum punch or venture out into the water – you can snorkel, water ski, parasail and kayak at Grande Anse or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, explore the wreck of the Bianca-C, a 183m luxury Italian liner that sank about 2km out from the beach in 1961. If a wreck dive feels too demanding, potter around the Grande Anse Craft and Spice Market instead or enjoy a seafood feast at one of the numerous beachside restaurants.

Shore experiences: Scenes of Grenada and Swim; Starwind Snorkel

View cruises to Grenada here.

Grand Anse beach

4. Elafonisi Beach, Crete (from Souda Bay/Chania cruise port)

Another ‘pink’ sand beach, Elafonisi is a gem. It has four parts: a popular central shallow lagoon, which is lovely for wallowing in (or for small children to paddle safely in); two quieter spots to the left and right and, finally, Elafonisi island, a glorious, protected nature reserve that is accessible via a sandbar at low tide. Framed by dunes and fragrant juniper trees, it is home to many rare plants such as the flowering Crocodilium pumilio and a palm tree, Phoenix theofrasti, that is unique to the area. Because Elafonisi is about an hour and a half from Chania, you could take a taxi or hire a car. Better still, rent a boat – it will get you there much quicker and let you see more beautiful beaches, such as Balos and Gramvousa, along the way.

This is for independent exploration

View cruises to Crete here.

Elafonisi Beach, Crete

5. Playa de Sotavento, Fuerteventura

There’s room for everyone on Fuerteventura’s epic Sotavento beach, an hour’s drive from the cruise port. Get your bearings by heading to the Sotavento viewpoint and take in the grandeur of the scene. When the tide is low, the sand stretches out to sea for what feels like miles and the beach (actually five beaches running into one another) runs for 9km. It’s all fantastic to explore if you love a bracing walk, paddling in clear lagoons or kiteboarding and windsurfing (there are classes for beginners). There are also wonderful sand dunes for a bit of shelter from the sun and the breeze. Bring your own picnic to this unspoilt beach – you can pick up Canary Island specialties such as queso majorero (a firm goat milk cheese), fresh tomatoes and figs in Puerto del Rosario or from a local market along the way.

This is for independent exploration

View cruises to Fuerteventura here.

Playa de Sotavento, Fuerteventura

6. Es Trenc, Mallorca, Spain

A 45-minute drive from the capital and cruise port Palma, Es Trenc is a little slice of the Caribbean in the Mediterranean, with nearly 2km of soft white sand and sparkling clear waters that are calm and shallow. This lovely beach doesn’t really offer water sports, and facilities are limited – you can hire umbrellas and loungers, there’s one good restaurant (Es Trenc – book ahead), and a handful of beach bars selling snacks and ice cream. Here, it’s all about chilling out amid wild natural beauty. Behind the beach are sand dunes and, beyond that, the Salobrar de Campos, a huge wetland with salt flats, birds and a small lake. You can buy some of its famous salt (and tasty sandwiches) at Flor de Sal Es Trenc salt shop and café near the beach.

This is for independent exploration

View cruises to Mallorca here.

Es Trenc, Mallorca, Spain

7. Dueodde beach, Bornholm, Denmark

The little island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea is distinct for being the sunniest spot in Denmark, so a day at the beach is definitely in order while you’re here. On the island’s southern tip, Dueodde is a real stunner, with the silkiest, softest white sand (so fine it’s used for filling hourglasses). It’s great for swimming options – sandbars mean there are both shallow and deep spots close to the shore and the water is clear so you can easily navigate them. The beach is accessible for wheelchairs and buggies and there are plenty of quiet spots in the dunes to curl up and read your book. To stretch your legs, it’s worth venturing to the slender lighthouse, Denmark’s tallest, for panoramic views across the sands. Look out, too, for a pair of WWII German cannon bunkers hidden in the pine forests behind it.

This is for independent exploration

View cruises to Bornholm here.

Dueodde Beach, Bornholm

8. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Australia

Whitehaven on Whitsunday Island, off Australia’s Queensland coast near the Great Barrier Reef, has been called the greatest beach in the world for good reason. It’s certainly one of the most photographed. For the best insta-worthy shots, head to the viewing platforms at Hill Inlet to the north. You’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking vista of swirling white sand through gleaming turquoise waters. The sand has traces of gold in it, apparently, but is mostly made up of pure, tiny silica beads, which means it doesn’t feel scorching hot when you walk on it with bare feet – a bonus! Swimming here is also blissful – stroll along the boardwalk through lush vegetation to Betty’s Beach and take a dip in the shallow, tropical waters. You might see baby lemon sharks, rays and blue soldier crabs.

Shore experience: Catamaran to Whitehaven Beach