A Greek beach, on Crete, has been named best in the world for its pink sands, crystal clear blue waters, community atmosphere and prime water activity opportunities
The best beach in the world has been named – and it is in Europe.
Elafonissi Beach in Greece has been crowed the best beach in the world by Tripadvisor, as part of its Travellers Choice Awards: Best of the Best Beaches for 2025. The beautiful sandy strip is located on the island of Crete, and it rejoins the list for the first time in four years.
The serene beach is known for its pink sand and crystal-clear waters, but is also surrounded by forests of cedar trees, making it a great spot for hiking too.
According to Tripadvisor, the best time to visit is between May and September, when the destination is warm and has sunny weather with significantly fewer crowds compared to the peak summer months of June, July, and August.
David from Nottingham lavished praise on the beach in a Tripavisor review: “Incredible lagoon to visit-like the Caribbean. Saw the pink sand and I don’t care that it wasn’t as vivid as the photos online. Went on tour from Chania on last day and gutted I didn’t go sooner. Not many people there even at midday and it’s quite amusing to read ‘too many tourists’ comments written by tourists!! It was the highlight of our trip.”
Peter from Dublin, Ireland said: “The beach is magnificent but be prepared for lots of other visitors and a long walk down from the carparks. Make sure you don’t stop at the first carpark as there are lots of carparks much closer to the beach entrance.
“Sun beds are expensive but necessary unless you have your own sun umbrella with you. If you are travelling through the mountains be sure to stop at the small vendors along the way selling lots of natural Cretan products including honey balm which is amazing. Also take the coast road home it is a magnificent drive but not for the faint hearted! Enjoy the sunset too.”
The small beach also features a small island around 200 metres south of the main swimming area. Also nearby is a big shallow kite surfing lagoon, which is no more than one metre deep. There are a number of hotels and restaurants less than a kilometre from the beach, and more in the surrounding area. For those staying in nearby Chania, there are also local and international travel agencies that operate bus trips to Elafonisi everyday.
The area offers many opportunities for families including kite surfing, a lighthouse at the west end of Elafonisi Island, the Palaiochora Elafonisi Path which features breath-taking flora, daily boat trips and surf excursions.
“Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards uniquely reflect the voices of millions of global travellers and help guide people to plan their best trip yet. In my family, beaches aren’t just for sunbathing – we like to get out and explore! The diversity of this year’s winners really showcases everything that a beach trip can have to offer,” said Kristen Dalton, president, Tripadvisor.
“Whether it’s strolling the beautiful pink sand beaches of our world winner, Elafonissi beach, in Greece, experiencing breath-taking vistas in Indonesia, whale watching in Hawaii or diving in magical bioluminescent waters in Thailand – there really is something for everyone. This year’s lists span an incredible six continents and 50 countries with over 100 of the very best beaches showcasing the eclectic mix of coastal spots across the world.”