Kefalonia’s Fteri Beach puts Greece successful the planetary spotlight, ranking No. 2 successful the World’s 50 Best Beaches 2026 and No. 1 successful Europe. Credit: Flickr / Tony Hisgett / CC BY 2Greece has secured a large favoritism successful the 2026 variation of The World’s 50 Best Beaches, with Fteri Beach connected Kefalonia ranking No. 2 globally and taking the No. 1 spot successful Europe.
The list, compiled by a squad of judges who visited beaches crossed dozens of countries, highlights coastal destinations known for earthy beauty, wide waters, melodramatic landscapes, and a consciousness of escape. For Greece, the designation is particularly strong, with 3 Greek beaches included among the world’s apical 50.
Fteri, located successful a secluded cove connected Kefalonia, stood retired for its chaotic mounting and striking scenery. Reaching the formation requires either a steep hike oregon a vessel transfer, a origin that has helped sphere its serenity. Judges described it arsenic a “magical formation with an unthinkable backdrop,” praising its untouched consciousness and cinematic landscape.
Greece among world’s champion beaches with 3 standouts
Beyond Fteri’s second-place finish, Greece besides appears further down the planetary ranking with 2 iconic destinations.
Porto Katsiki connected Lefkada ranked No. 34 worldwide and No. 5 successful Europe, confirming its presumption arsenic 1 of the astir recognizable beaches successful the Ionian Sea. Known for its towering achromatic cliffs and vivid bluish waters, Porto Katsiki remains 1 of Greece’s astir photographed coastal landmarks.
Porto Timoni connected Corfu ranked No. 46 worldwide and No. 9 successful Europe. The double-bay beach, framed by greenish hills and turquoise waters, continues to pull attraction for its antithetic geography and unspoiled atmosphere.
Entalula successful the Philippines named No. 1
The apical presumption worldwide went to Entalula Beach connected Palawan successful the Philippines. Accessible lone by boat, the formation is hidden among melodramatic limestone formations and features brushed achromatic sand, blue-green waters, and a calm, distant atmosphere.
Judges praised Entalula for its authentic, low-impact appeal, describing it arsenic melodramatic yet inactive mostly untouched by wide tourism. The champion clip to sojourn is considered to beryllium from March to November, though the summertime months bring typhoons.
The planetary apical five
Australia’s Wharton Beach ranked third, recognized for its achromatic sand, rugged earthy surroundings, surfing conditions, and dolphin sightings.
In 4th place, Nosy Iranja successful Madagascar impressed judges with its 2 tiny islands connected by a sandbar disposable astatine debased tide. Its wide waters and oversea turtles marque it a beardown destination for swimming and snorkeling.
Rounding retired the apical 5 was East Beach connected Vomo Island successful Fiji, a quiescent tropical formation surrounded by dense greenery and thenar trees.
Greece joins world’s champion beaches successful 2026 ranking
The apical 20 database besides includes Shoal Bay East successful Anguilla, a Caribbean favourite with calm waters, thenar trees, formation bars, and snorkeling; Dhigurah successful the Maldives, known for its agelong sandbank and turquoise lagoon; and Playa Balandra successful Mexico, protected by section visitant limits and recognized for its celebrated mushroom-shaped rock, El Hongo.
Other standout entries see Koh Rong successful Cambodia, Donald Duck Bay successful Thailand, Cayo de Agua successful Venezuela, Cala Macarella successful Menorca, One Foot Island successful the Cook Islands, Princess Diana Beach successful Barbuda, Turquoise Bay successful Australia, PK 9 Beach successful French Polynesia, Grace Bay successful Turks and Caicos, Cala Dei Gabbiani successful Sardinia, Saadiyat Beach successful Abu Dhabi, and Canto de la Playa successful the Dominican Republic.
Canto de la Playa, surrounded by tropical vegetation and thenar trees, is known for wide waters, coral reefs, and achromatic sand. It has besides been utilized arsenic a filming determination for Pirates of the Caribbean.
Greece strengthens its spot connected the formation question map
The 2026 ranking underlines Greece’s continued spot arsenic a planetary formation destination, not lone done celebrated names specified arsenic Porto Katsiki but besides done much secluded locations specified arsenic Fteri and Porto Timoni.
With Fteri starring Europe and ranking 2nd successful the world, Greece enters the 2026 question play with 1 of its strongest showings yet successful an planetary formation ranking.
The World’s 50 Best Beaches 2026
- Entalula Beach, Philippines
- Fteri Beach, Greece
- Wharton Beach, Australia
- Nosy Iranja, Madagascar
- East Beach, Vomo Island, Fiji
- Shoal Bay East, Anguilla
- Dhigurah, Maldives
- Playa Balandra, Mexico
- Koh Rong, Cambodia
- Donald Duck Bay, Thailand
- Cayo de Agua, Venezuela
- Cala Macarella, Spain
- One Foot Island, Cook Islands
- Princess Diana Beach, Barbuda
- Turquoise Bay, Australia
- PK 9 Beach, French Polynesia
- Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
- Cala Dei Gabbiani, Italy
- Saadiyat Beach, United Arab Emirates
- Canto de la Playa, Dominican Republic
- Wineglass Bay, Australia
- Pink Beach, Indonesia
- Paradise Beach, Thailand
- Anse Source d’Argent, Seychelles
- Kalanggaman, Philippines
- Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands
- Freedom Beach, Thailand
- Siesta Beach, United States
- Kaputas Beach, Turkey
- Cayo Zapatilla, Panama
- The Baths, British Virgin Islands
- Cabo San Juan del Guia, Colombia
- Baia bash Sancho, Brazil
- Porto Katsiki, Greece
- Santa Giulia, France
- Blue Lagoon, Fiji
- Playa Xpu Ha, Mexico
- Ofu Beach, American Samoa
- Playa Cofete, Spain
- Le Morne Beach, Mauritius
- Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico
- Grand Anse, Grenada
- Praia da Falésia, Portugal
- Pontal bash Atalaia, Brazil
- Boulder Beach, South Africa
- Porto Timoni, Greece
- Paje Beach, Zanzibar
- La Pelosa, Italy
- Cas Abao, Curaçao
- Keem Beach, Ireland

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