With an increase in searches by 220%+ for ‘what are the most beautiful beaches’ over the past year it seems that many of us are planning our next holiday getaway.
A study by Cult Beauty analysed Instagram post data and the number of Google articles containing the word ‘beautiful’ for each beach to reveal the top 20 most beautiful beaches in 2022. From the most Instagrammed coastlines to the most written-about sandy beaches Cult Beauty have us all covered!
The study found that Venice Beach, California is the most beautiful beach in the world with the highest number of Instagram posts and over 5.4 million articles online containing the word beautiful. Its wide stretch of sand is lined with palm trees and an iconic boardwalk. The beauty of this beach is amplified by the stunning mountain views – get your bikini on, style your best boho waves and get set to mingle California’s coolest residents.
Check out the full list of the top 20 most beautiful beaches in the world below:
| Ranking | Name of beach | Location | Number of Instagram posts | Number of Google articles containing the word ‘beautiful’ | Total Score |
| 1 | Venice Beach | California, United States | 4,300,000 | 5,410,000 | 89.08 |
| 2 | Main Beach | Byron Bay, Australia | 3,100,100 | 6,920,000 | 86.05 |
| 3 | El Nido | Palawan, Philippines | 1,200,000 | 3,950,000 | 42.48 |
| 4 | Panama City Beach | Florida, United States | 911,000 | 4,380,000 | 42.23 |
| 5 | Bondi Beach | Sydney, Australia | 1,800,000 | 2,230,000 | 37.02 |
| 6 | Sunrise Beach | Koh Lipe, Thailand | 126,000 | 3,180,000 | 24.43 |
| 7 | Bandon | Oregon, United States | 33,500 | 1,830,000 | 13.59 |
| 8 | Long Beach | Phu Quoc, Vietnam | 35,000 | 1,540,000 | 11.51 |
| 9 | Los Roques | Venezuela | 606,000 | 330,000 | 9.40 |
| 10 | Hot Water Beach | Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand | 41,800 | 988,000 | 7.60 |
| 11 | The Baths | Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands | 1,000 | 1,040,000 | 7.50 |
| 12 | Maya Bay | Ko Phi Phi, Thailand | 420,000 | 342,000 | 7.33 |
| 13 | Tulum | Mexico | 452,000 | 276,000 | 7.22 |
| 14 | Jeffreys Bay | South Africa | 94,000 | 847,000 | 7.19 |
| 15 | Unawatuna | Sri Lanka | 224,000 | 619,000 | 7.05 |
| 16 | Rarotonga | Cook Islands | 50 | 959,000 | 6.91 |
| 17 | Grace Bay | Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands | 414 | 733,000 | 5.28 |
| 18 | Crane Beach | Barbados | 29,800 | 624,000 | 4.83 |
| 19 | Boulders Beach | Cape Town | 142,000 | 440,000 | 4.80 |
| 20 | Whitehaven Beach | Queensland, Australia | 215,000 | 322,000 | 4.80 |
Main Beach, Byron Bay, Australia comes second on the list and the one that features in the highest number of Google search results containing the world ‘beautiful’, 6.92 million to be exact! Main Beach in Byron Bay is a mecca of sand, sun and serenity.
El Nido in the Philippines comes in third place with 1.2 million Instagram posts and 3.9 million articles. For unspoiled beauty nothing beats the jaw-droppingly beautiful beaches of El Nido. Those turquoise waters, powder white sand and lush green vegetation. With natural beauty you wont struggle to get that Insta-worthy shot!
Commenting on the study, a spokesperson from Cult Beauty said: “With worldwide travel back up and running it seems that many people are on the lookout for the perfect summer holiday destination, and we all want to post the perfect beach shot on our social media accounts. Our study reveals the most Insta-worthy destinations so rest assured that you will be able to get the most beautiful snaps if you’re planning on going to one of these destinations.”
