Crete, Elafonissi the most beautiful beach in the world. No Italian in the top 10 Tripadvisor

The winner is Elafonissi beach, in Crete – returning to the rankings after a four-year absence – ahead of Banana beach , in Phuket, Thailand, and Eagle beach , one of the least crowded beaches in Aruba, in the Caribbean. It is the podium of the Traveler's Choice , the Tripadvisor awards, in this case in the absolute ranking dedicated to the best beaches in the world . "The award - we read on the dedicated page - is given to those who receive a high number of excellent reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community in a 12-month period". Of the 8 million profiles on the platform founded by Stephen Kaufer ( who we interviewed here ), less than 1% reach this milestone.

Lampedusa, Rabbit Beach 11th

The bitter surprise is another, however, among the paradises listed in the first 25 positions: that is, in the top ten there are no Italian beaches . You don't have to go too far, however, to find the first tricolor beach: it is the Spiaggia dei Conigli , the most famous of Lampedusa, eleventh. While the second mention unfortunately arrives only in twentieth place with Tropea , in Calabria. The first ten positions still see Siesta beach in Siesta Key, one of the Keys islands that make up the long tail of Florida, Praia da Falésia in Olhos de Agua, in the Algarve (Portugal), and again the famous Playa Varadero, in Cuba, Bavaro beach, in the Dominican Republic, Playa de Muro in Palma de Mallorca, Kelingking beach in Nusa Penida, in Indonesia, once again Greece with Myrtos beach in Cefalonia and precisely the Spiaggia dei Conigli in eleventh position.

“TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards uniquely reflect the voices of millions of global travelers and help people plan their best trip ever. In my family, beaches are about more than just sunbathing—we love to get out and explore. The diversity of this year’s winners truly showcases all that a beach trip has to offer,” said Kristen Dalton , president of Tripadvisor.

100 beaches awarded in 50 countries

Known for its pink sand and warm, crystal-clear waters, Elafonissi Beach on Crete's southwest coast is a prime location, especially in May and September, when visitors can find more peace and quiet before and after the peak summer crowds. As mentioned, the beach has returned to the rankings for the first time since 2021.

“Crete is the largest Greek island and is also known as the birthplace of the ancient Minoan civilization, making it the perfect place to explore ancient ruins and historic sites” in addition to its spectacular beaches, explained Hilary Fischer-Groban , senior editor of Tripadvisor. As for the overall picture of the 2025 rankings, Dalton added that “this year’s lists span six continents and 50 countries with more than 100 of the best beaches, showcasing the eclectic mix of coastal locations around the world.”

When to go visit the winners

Among other things, the ranking is also useful for organizing a trip by indicating the best periods of the year to visit the winning beaches. Elafonissi has already been mentioned, for example, in Phuket it is better to go between November and March, in Aruba from April to August, in Florida between April and May or September and October and in the Algarve from April to October. The ranking can be consulted here .

Saint Theodore in the “celebration”

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Tripadvisor has drawn up another special ranking. That is, the top 10 of the best beaches of the last 25 years based on all-time reviews. At the top of the list is the Balos lagoon , considered one of the most photographed places on the island of Crete, with its mesmerizing turquoise waters and panoramic landscape. In this case, however, Italy returns to the top with La Cinta di San Teodoro, in Sardinia, in seventh place.

The absolute prizes of the last 25 years

1. Balos Lagoon – Crete, Greece

2. Eagle Beach – Oranjestad, Aruba

3. Waikiki Beach – Oahu, Hawaii

4. Ipanema Beach – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

5. Passion Island – Cozumel, Mexico

6. Manuel Antonio Beach – Quepos, Costa Rica

7. La Cinta Beach – Sardinia, Italy

8. Banana Beach – Phuket, Thailand

9. Falesia Beach – Algarve, Portugal

10. Manly Beach – New South Wales, Australia