20 unique beaches around the world you have to see

Anse Source d’Argent in Seychelles is a beach you’ve undoubtedly seen pictures of. It’s quite picturesque, and it’s incredibly unique thanks to its large boulders. While it’s certainly not a lost land, it looks like a place only the marooned go to. 

Maho Beach in Saint Martin is beautiful, but what makes it unique is that it’s right at the end of a commercial runway. Airplanes look like they’re going to land on the beach itself, making for an exciting, albeit noisy, trip to the beach.

Caves aren’t often mixed with beaches. The two usually exist separately. But they come together for one unique beach in Portugal. Benagil Beach is beautiful and memorable, and it’s got lots of natural shade if that’s what you’re looking for. 

Boulders Beach in South Africa wouldn’t be particularly noteworthy if it weren’t for housing thousands of African penguins. The beach is protected and requires a fee for entry, but if you’re willing to put some money toward its conservation, it’s a fun stop. 

Most beaches are made of sand, but not all of them are. The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland is composed of basalt columns, creating a unique geometric pattern that extends into the Atlantic Ocean. 

In Hawaii, Papakōlea Beach exists, a unique beach known for its green sand. If you were to look at pictures without reading any explanation, you might think that the beach is covered in grass. But that’s just the verdant sand. 

Vik Beach in Iceland is one hauntingly beautiful place. It has black sand and basalt pillars, making for an eerie yet stunning landscape. It gives off similar vibes to the fictional Briny Beach in A Series of Unfortunate Events, where the Baudelaire children learned that their parents had died. 

Koekohe Beach in New Zealand appears to be located on a different planet. The beach is marked by its unique Moeraki Boulders, which are enormous but only appear at low tide. If you can manage to catch a glimpse, Koekohe Beach is certainly worth seeing.

There are plenty of unique beaches to behold down under, but another particularly unique beach is Shell Beach in Australia. The beach is made of mollusk shells, and while it’s a little uncomfortable on your feet, it’s very pleasing to your eyes. 

Hot Water Beach in New Zealand is another intriguing beach in the region. It has geothermal springs, making for hot waters at the beach, hence the name. The springs make for a steamy but relaxing trip to the beach. 

The United States has more unique beaches than you might imagine. Take Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California. The beach used to be a dump site for trash, but since prohibiting the practice in the late 1960s, the citizens and the ocean have cleaned up the beach, and it’s now covered in beautiful sea glass.  

In the British Virgin Islands is the Baths, a very interesting beach with breathtaking geologic formations. The boulders are huge and create all sorts of crevices for humans to explore. The rocks against sparkling seas make for a gorgeous beach. 

There are multiple pink sand beaches across the globe, and one of the most famous is Pink Sand Beach in the Bahamas. Tourists flock to see the gorgeous sands, but it’s totally worth the crowds to catch a glimpse of the pink against the turquoise waters. 

Sarakiniko Beach is one of the most unique beaches in the world, let alone Greece. While it doesn’t have the Greek vibe that typically comes to mind, its rock formations are too interesting to let a different vibe stop you from paying a visit. 

Red Beach in China is an unbelievable sight to behold. It doesn’t have any sand, but it is covered in reeds that turn red at the end of their growth cycle. It’s surprising and beautiful. 

On Georgia’s Jekyll Island is Driftwood Beach, an unusual beach named for, you guessed it, all its driftwood. It doesn’t sound that exciting, but the particular brand of driftwood makes for a mysterious but compelling view. 

In Spain, there is Gulpiyuri Beach, a flooded sinkhole that features an inland beach. It has a very unique backdrop, and the entire experience is unlike any other beach because it’s located inland. 

Italy is known for some of the world’s most pristine coasts, but one of its lesser-known is the Stair of the Turks. Off the coast of Sicily, Stair of the Turks is a white cliff that sits against stunning, clear blue waters and beautiful sands underneath. 

Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives is always stunning, but it’s particularly noteworthy at night. It’s a bioluminescent beach, meaning tiny sea life will cause the beach to light up when it’s dark out. 

If you want to hide but want to go to the beach, opt for Hidden Beach in Mexico. Part of the Marietas Islands, Hidden Beach is a funny little beach that can only be accessed through a tunnel. It’s difficult to get to, but it’s an unbelievable view.