Best Beach Destinations

Visa-free Budget

Albania

The Riviera, Ottoman towns and rugged Alps.

Best time: May–Sep

Albanian RivieraBeratGjirokastër

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Visa-free Luxury

Antigua and Barbuda

365 beaches, sailing and pink-sand seclusion.

Best time: Dec–Apr

English HarbourDickenson BaySt John’s

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eVisa Luxury

Australia

Reefs, road trips, beaches and the vast Outback.

Best time: Sep–Nov, Mar–May

SydneyGreat Barrier ReefMelbourne

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Visa-free Luxury

Bahamas

700 islands of turquoise water and swimming pigs.

Best time: Dec–Apr

Nassau & Paradise IslandExumasHarbour Island

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Visa-free Luxury

Barbados

Platinum beaches, rum and British-Caribbean charm.

Best time: Dec–Apr

West CoastSouth CoastBridgetown

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Visa-free Mid-range

Belize

The Blue Hole, barrier reef and Mayan jungle.

Best time: Dec–Apr

Caye CaulkerAmbergris CayeSan Ignacio

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eVisa Mid-range

Brazil

Rio's beaches, the Amazon and Iguazu Falls.

Best time: Sep–Mar (varies)

Rio de JaneiroIguazu FallsSalvador

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Schengen visa Budget

Bulgaria

Black Sea beaches, monasteries and great value.

Best time: May–Sep

SofiaPlovdivRila Monastery

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Visa-free Mid-range

Cape Verde

Atlantic islands of beaches, volcanoes and music.

Best time: Nov–Jun

SalSanto AntãoSão Vicente

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eVisa Mid-range

Comoros

The 'Perfumed Isles' — volcano, reefs and ylang-ylang.

Best time: May–Oct

MoroniMohéliAnjouan

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Visa-free Luxury

Cook Islands

Aitutaki's lagoon and easygoing island life.

Best time: Apr–Nov (dry)

AitutakiRarotongaMuri Lagoon

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Visa-free Mid-range

Costa Rica

Rainforests, volcanoes, wildlife and two coasts.

Best time: Dec–Apr (dry)

Arenal / La FortunaMonteverdeManuel Antonio

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eVisa Mid-range

Côte d’Ivoire

Modern Abidjan, a vast basilica and Atlantic beaches.

Best time: Nov–Mar (dry)

AbidjanYamoussoukroGrand-Bassam

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Croatia

Adriatic islands, walled cities and turquoise seas.

Best time: May–Jun, Sep

DubrovnikSplitHvar

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Visa required Mid-range

Cuba

Vintage cars, salsa, cigars and Caribbean sand.

Best time: Nov–Apr

HavanaTrinidadViñales

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Visa-free Mid-range

Cyprus

Mediterranean beaches, ruins and mountain villages.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

PaphosAyia NapaTroodos Mountains

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eVisa Luxury

Djibouti

Salt lakes, whale sharks and lunar landscapes.

Best time: Nov–Feb

Lake AssalGulf of TadjouraLake Abbé

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Visa-free Mid-range

Dominican Republic

Caribbean beaches, all-inclusives and colonial Santo Domingo.

Best time: Dec–Apr

Punta CanaSanto DomingoSamaná

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Visa-free Mid-range

Ecuador

Galápagos wildlife, Andes peaks and the Amazon.

Best time: Jun–Sep, Dec–Jan

Galápagos IslandsQuitoBaños

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Visa-free Budget

El Salvador

World-class surf, volcanoes and colourful towns.

Best time: Nov–Apr

El Tunco / El ZonteRuta de las FloresSanta Ana

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Visa-free Luxury

Fiji

Island paradise of reefs and warm welcomes.

Best time: May–Oct (dry)

Mamanuca IslandsYasawa IslandsCoral Coast

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eVisa Luxury

Gabon

Rainforest, surfing hippos and pristine coast.

Best time: May–Sep (dry)

Loango NPLibrevilleLopé NP

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Visa-free Budget

Gambia

'The Smiling Coast' — beaches, birds and the river.

Best time: Nov–Mar (dry)

Kololi / SenegambiaRiver GambiaKunta Kinteh Island

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Greece

Island villages, ancient ruins and Aegean sunsets.

Best time: May–Jun, Sep

AthensSantoriniMykonos

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Visa-free Luxury

Grenada

The 'Spice Isle' — beaches, nutmeg and waterfalls.

Best time: Dec–Apr

Grand AnseSt George’sGrand Etang

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eVisa Mid-range

Guinea-Bissau

The wild, sacred Bijagós archipelago.

Best time: Nov–May

Bijagós IslandsBissauOrango

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Visa-free Budget

Honduras

Reef-fringed islands and Mayan Copán.

Best time: Feb–Apr (diving)

RoatánUtilaCopán

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Visa on arrival Budget

Indonesia

Bali rice terraces, surf breaks and island-hopping.

Best time: Apr–Oct

BaliNusa IslandsKomodo / Flores

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Visa-free Mid-range

Jamaica

Reggae, beaches, waterfalls and jerk spice.

Best time: Nov–Apr

NegrilMontego BayOcho Rios

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eVisa Mid-range

Kenya

Masai Mara safaris and Indian Ocean coast.

Best time: Jul–Oct (migration)

Masai MaraAmboseliDiani Beach

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Visa-free Luxury

Kiribati

Remote equatorial atolls and the date line.

Best time: Apr–Oct

TarawaChristmas IslandPhoenix Islands

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eVisa Mid-range

Lebanon

Ancient ruins, mountains, cedars and Beirut buzz.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

BeirutBaalbekByblos

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Visa required Budget

Liberia

Surf beaches and the Upper Guinean rainforest.

Best time: Nov–Apr (dry)

RobertsportMonroviaSapo National Park

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eVisa Mid-range

Madagascar

Lemurs, baobabs and unique island wildlife.

Best time: Apr–Nov

Avenue of the BaobabsAndasibeTsingy de Bemaraha

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eVisa Budget

Malawi

The 'Lake of Stars' and the warm heart of Africa.

Best time: May–Oct (dry)

Lake MalawiLiwonde NPZomba Plateau

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Visa-free Budget

Malaysia

Skyscrapers, rainforests, islands and amazing food.

Best time: Dec–Feb (west), Mar–Oct (east)

Kuala LumpurPenangLangkawi

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Visa-free Luxury

Maldives

Overwater villas, turquoise lagoons and house reefs.

Best time: Nov–Apr

Resort atollsMaafushiBaa Atoll

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Malta

Golden-stone cities, blue lagoons and ancient temples.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

VallettaMdinaGozo & Blue Lagoon

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Visa-free Luxury

Marshall Islands

Remote atolls, WWII wrecks and world-class diving.

Best time: May–Oct

MajuroBikini AtollArno Atoll

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Visa-free Luxury

Mauritius

Lagoon beaches, reefs and luxury island living.

Best time: May–Dec

NorthWestSouth & Chamarel

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Visa-free Mid-range

Mexico

Mayan ruins, Caribbean beaches and incredible food.

Best time: Nov–Apr

Mexico CityRiviera Maya / TulumOaxaca

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Visa-free Luxury

Micronesia (FSM)

Chuuk Lagoon wrecks and the ruins of Nan Madol.

Best time: Dec–Apr

ChuukPohnpeiYap

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Visa-free Luxury

Monaco

Glamour, the Grand Prix and Riviera luxury.

Best time: Apr–Oct

Monte CarloMonaco-VilleLarvotto

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Visa-free Mid-range

Montenegro

Fjord-like bays, walled towns and Adriatic coast.

Best time: May–Sep

KotorBudvaSveti Stefan

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eVisa Mid-range

Mozambique

Indian Ocean reefs, islands and Portuguese flavour.

Best time: May–Nov (dry)

Bazaruto ArchipelagoTofoMaputo

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Visa-free Budget

Nicaragua

Volcanoes, colonial Granada and Pacific surf.

Best time: Nov–Apr

GranadaLeónOmetepe

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Visa-free Luxury

Palau

Rock Islands, Jellyfish Lake and world-class diving.

Best time: Nov–Apr

Rock IslandsJellyfish LakeKoror

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Visa-free Mid-range

Panama

The Canal, island archipelagos and rainforest.

Best time: Dec–Apr (dry)

Panama CitySan Blas IslandsBocas del Toro

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Visa-free Budget

Philippines

7,000 islands of white sand and turquoise lagoons.

Best time: Dec–May

PalawanBoracayCebu & Bohol

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Portugal

Coastal cities, golden beaches and great value.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

LisbonPortoAlgarve

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Visa required Mid-range

Puerto Rico

Old San Juan, rainforest and glowing bays.

Best time: Dec–Apr

Old San JuanEl YunqueVieques & Culebra

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Visa-free Luxury

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Twin-island Caribbean with a clifftop fortress.

Best time: Dec–Apr

Basseterre & Brimstone HillFrigate BayNevis

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Visa-free Luxury

Saint Lucia

The iconic Pitons, rainforest and luxury resorts.

Best time: Dec–Apr

Soufrière & the PitonsRodney BayMarigot Bay

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Visa-free Luxury

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Yachting paradise of pristine Grenadine isles.

Best time: Dec–May

Tobago CaysBequiaMustique

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Visa-free Mid-range

Samoa

Lava pools, waterfalls and Polynesian beach fales.

Best time: May–Oct (dry)

UpoluTo Sua Ocean TrenchLalomanu Beach

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eVisa Mid-range

São Tomé and Príncipe

Volcanic islands, cocoa and Gulf of Guinea jungle.

Best time: Jun–Sep

São Tomé islandPríncipePico Cão Grande

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Visa-free Mid-range

Senegal

Teranga hospitality, music and Atlantic coast.

Best time: Nov–May

DakarGorée IslandSaint-Louis

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Visa-free Luxury

Seychelles

Granite-boulder beaches and giant tortoises.

Best time: Apr–May, Oct–Nov

La DiguePraslinMahé

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eVisa Budget

Sierra Leone

Pristine beaches, rainforest and chimpanzees.

Best time: Nov–Apr (dry)

Freetown PeninsulaBanana IslandsTacugama

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Visa-free Luxury

Solomon Islands

WWII history, wreck diving and untouched reefs.

Best time: May–Oct

HoniaraWestern ProvinceMarovo Lagoon

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Visa-free Mid-range

South Africa

Safaris, Cape Town and the Garden Route.

Best time: May–Sep (safari)

Cape TownKruger areaGarden Route

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Schengen visa Mid-range

Spain

Sun-soaked cities, tapas, beaches and Gaudí.

Best time: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

BarcelonaMadridSeville

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eVisa Budget

Sri Lanka

Tea hills, ancient temples and golden beaches.

Best time: Dec–Mar (west/south)

KandyEllaSigiriya

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eVisa Mid-range

Tanzania

Serengeti safaris, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.

Best time: Jun–Oct (safari)

SerengetiNgorongoro CraterZanzibar

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Visa on arrival Budget

Thailand

Beaches, temples and street food at unbeatable value.

Best time: Nov – Mar

BangkokPhuketChiang Mai

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eVisa Mid-range

Timor-Leste

Pristine reefs, mountains and one of Asia's youngest nations.

Best time: May–Nov (dry)

Atauro IslandDiliMount Ramelau

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Visa-free Mid-range

Tonga

Swim with whales in a timeless Polynesian kingdom.

Best time: May–Oct (whales Jul–Oct)

Vava’uTongatapuHa’apai

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Visa-free Mid-range

Trinidad and Tobago

Carnival, calypso and twin-island contrasts.

Best time: Jan–May (Carnival in Feb/Mar)

Port of SpainTobagoCaroni Swamp

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Visa-free Budget

Tunisia

Sahara dunes, Roman ruins and Mediterranean beaches.

Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

Tunis & CarthageSidi Bou SaïdSahara

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Visa-free Luxury

Tuvalu

One of the least-visited nations on Earth.

Best time: May–Oct

FunafutiFunafuti Conservation AreaThe airstrip

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Visa-free Mid-range

Uruguay

Beach towns, colonial Colonia and laid-back charm.

Best time: Dec–Mar (summer)

MontevideoColonia del SacramentoPunta del Este

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Visa-free Luxury

Vanuatu

Active volcanoes, blue holes and island culture.

Best time: Apr–Oct (dry)

TannaEspiritu SantoEfate

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Visa-free Mid-range

Venezuela

Angel Falls, table mountains and Caribbean isles.

Best time: Dec–Apr

Canaima & Angel FallsLos RoquesGran Sabana

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