Rio de Janiero
There are millions of beach lists out there, but it’s not too often you come across a ranking of the best beach cities. But that’s exactly what Lonely Planet has done with its compilation of the world’s top 10 beach cities.
We don’t agree with them all (have you ever even hear of Tangier, Morocco?), but most of the biggies are well represented. So without further ado, here are the world’s best beach cities, whether you like them or not:
1. Barcelona, Spain
Ranked #1 by Lonely Planet for its series of lively beaches, including Plaça del Campions and Platja de la Nova Icària, the city’s busiest beach. Out of the estimated seven million people that head to the city’s beaches each year, there’s plenty of eye candy.
2. Cape Town, South Africa
Described as “good-looking, fun-loving, sporty and sociable”, Cape Town ranks second as a famed beach hot-spot. The city is said to have a beach for every occasion, with the stylish cocktail sippers found at Camps Bay and families largely occupying the sands at Fish Hoek Beach.
3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The listing names Copacabana and Ipanema as Rio de Janiero’s most famed beaches, and we can’t argue with that. Brazilian babes dot the beach scenery at these beach hot spots, while the beaches along the Buzios peninsula offer a more traditional and laid-back beach experience.
4. Tangier, Morocco
This city’s new governor is said to have cleaned the city and its beaches of hustlers and undesirables. Aside from that, we’re not sure what this city has to offer aside from the standard sand and sun. If you know how Tangier got to be #4 in the world, please let us in on the secret.
5. Sydney, Australia
No beach list is complete without a mention of world-renowned Bondi Beach in Sydney. While Bondi is the closest beach to the city, Sydney has many more to offer, including Coogee, Bronte and Cronulla. Don’t let the names sour your opinion.
6. Valencia, Spain
This is entry number two for Spain, and considering Valencia’s romantic vibe (even the name is sexy) and its location on the Mediterranean coast, this is another great option for beach-lovers. Take your pick from the marvelous Playa de la Malvarrosa or neighbouring Playa de las Arenas, both of which are bordered by the Paseo Marítimo promenade and a string of restaurants, as Lonely Planet reports.
7. Tel Aviv, Israel
Tel Aviv attracts masses of beach-goers when the weather gets too hot to bare. Both the young and old and everyone in between pack the city’s beaches, which are described as clean and safe.
8. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Middle East’s playground of the rich is also a popular spot for beach-goers, particularly Jumeirah and Palm Beach. The downside to Dubai’s beaches is that very few are public. Many are under the control of ritzy hotels, so a day of fun in the sun may not come cheap.
9. Miami, USA
North America’s only presence on this list, Miami was chosen for it’s great sand, impressive beach skyline, but more than anything else it’s diversity of beaches. Lonely Planet describes South Beach as the spot to go to be seen (only if you’ve got great looks and a body to match), while North Miami Beach is where the “real” people go to play.
10. Brighton and Hove, England
Brighton is described as a vibrant English seaside resort, and a convenient one at that being just an hour’s drive from London. Lonely Planet says the cosmopolitan city has a Bohemian spirit, an “exuberant gay community, a dynamic student population and a healthy number of aging and new-age hippies”. What more can you ask for? Well, for starters, maybe some real sand as the beaches offered here are made up of pebbles. Don’t forget the flip-flops!
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