Top 10 Longest Beaches in the World

Summer is the season of holidays, beaches and relaxation. Here is the list of top 10 longest beaches in the world for you to add to your travelling wishlist.
July 31, 2021 | 17:55
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For many people, beaches are the ultimate place to be during their well deserved holidays. Whether one prefers beaches for long romantic walks in the evening, relaxing tanning hours during a sunny day or just for all sorts of sporting activities, the beach is worldwide known as the most defining symbol for vacations.

The good news is that beaches are not rare at all. Most bodies of water feature beaches. But not all beaches are alike. They can consist of pebbles, shingle, gravel and most importantly sand. Sandy beaches are the most common form of beach and typically occur by the sea or ocean (though sandy lake beaches are also anything but rare). The sandy beaches are unsurprisingly the most popular type of beaches and the preferred destination for sea tourists.

But beaches also differ greatly in size. They can be relatively small hidden spots, but also impressively long areas stretching tens of tens of kilometers/miles. Usually, it is along those long beaches where tourism booms most. Hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, etc. all long to be located near the beaches.

The following ranking will show you where on our planet you can find the longest beaches in the world.

1. Praia do Cassino, Brazil

Photo: World Atlas
Photo: World Atlas

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Praia do Cassino is the world’s longest beach . It is to be found along the coast of Brazil, specifically that of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The name is in Portuguese, and means "Casino Beach" when translated into English. This beach is so long that it is known to span the length between the seaport of Rio Grande all the way down to the Chui Stream, which is considered the final stretch of the Brazilian border before it runs into Uruguay. People on vacation who are looking to spend warmer days at the Praia do Cassino are better off visiting it during the month of December to January, when it is at its warmest and sunniest. July is its coldest month, although this month is still relatively hot due to Rio Grande do Sul’s humid subtropical climate.

Praia do Cassino entertains about 150,000 guests per year on its 152-mile-long coastline. It is roughly a 15 mile road trip from Rio Grande, Brazil’s oldest and most important port city of the south. From Porto Alegre, however, the beach is a good 207 mile distance by car. There isn’t a shortage of exciting water activities that can be had at this destination, especially since it is easily accessible by plane from the Rio Grande Airport, which is itself around 9 miles from downtown Rio Grande.

Praia do Cassino is home to a large number of sea lions which can be viewed via guided boat trips. Varying species of vegetation may also be found along its many coastal sand dunes, which serve to protect organisms from the harsh conditions of the ocean. These areas are where such species as tuco-tuco (a small rodent), insects, lizards, frogs, and snakes feed and breed, along with sand fixing plants like the catiporagua.

2. Padre Island Beach, USA

Photo: Dallas Wanderer
Photo: Dallas Wanderer

Padre Island Beach is the second longest beach in the world. At the same time, it is also the longest beach in the United States of America. The beach marks the coast of Padre Island, a thin island just off the Texan mainland. It stretches from the seaside part of Corpus Christi, Texas all the way down to the Brazos Santiago Pass, almost reaching the U.S.-Mexican border. The beach hence reaches an impressive length of 182 km / 113 miles.

A 34-mile long tropical paradise located on the Gulf Coast of Texas, South Padre Island is consistently ranked as a top beach destination by travelers across the globe. It’s a beautiful setting rich with leisure and experiences — ranging from stunning sandy beaches, extensive nature tourism attractions, and world-class wind and water activities to outstanding local restaurants and a growing entertainment district.

Beneath the waters, the sand plains harbour a vast array of marine life. In ten square metres 860 species were discovered living in the sand and in one square metre a staggering 187 species.

The beach can be reached from the South Gippsland Highway via the towns of Woodside Beach, Seaspray, Golden Beach or Loch Sport and Lakes Entrance. Unspoilt and offering clean white sand, wonderful crashing waves and a natural bush environment, these seaside towns create the perfect holiday location. Both Woodside and Seaspray have life saving beach patrols during the summer season.

3. Ninety Mile Beach, Australia

Photo: Amusing Planet
Photo: Amusing Planet

From the shallow inlets near Port Albert to the wide open waterways of Lakes Entrance lies the Ninety Mile Beach – a 90-mile long stretch of pristine golden sand that separates the Gippsland Lakes from Bass Strait.

This is one of the most natural and unspoilt beaches in the world and is ideal for any number of beach activities from beach fishing and swimming to walking, whale and dolphin-spotting or just lazing in the sun.

The beach lies on the edge of a long slender sand dune and the absence of rocky outcrops or headlands results in a vista of endless sand that stretches as far as the eye can see. Offshore, the sandy plains are only occasionally broken by low ribbons of reef which formed as shorelines or sand dunes during ice-ages when the sea-level was lower than today.

4. Cox’s Bazar Beach, Bangladesh

Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images

Cox’s Bazar Beach is the fourth among the longest beaches in the world. At the same time, the beach is the longest one of the Indian Ocean and in all of Asia. The beach is named after the city of Cox’s Bazar, located in the Bangladeshi Chittagong Division. It is there where the beach starts. It then stretches South alongside Himchari National Park before it gets interrupted by the Reju Canal after a length of 120 km / 75 miles.

Most of Cox’s Bazar is 660 feet wide at high tide, and 1,300 feet wide at low tide. This Bay of Bengal beach is quite unknown to the international beach-loving crowd. But Cox’s Bazar is one of the most visited destinations in Bangladesh.

Along its 75 miles, different sections of Cox’s Bazar Beach have distinct names, usually referring to the flora and fauna in the area. Among the most popular sections are Laboni Beach, Humchari Beach, and Inani Beach, all doable on one-day trips from the town of Cox’s Bazar, where most accommodation is located. Further south is Teknaf Beach.

In general, the further south you go, the bluer the ocean, and the smaller the crowd. If you stay near Cox’s Bazar town, brace yourself for throngs of people. This can be frustrating if you were expecting a deserted tropical beach, but it can a great opportunity to get closer to the Bangladeshi notion of a beach holiday.

5. Grand Strand, USA

Photo: visitmyrtlebeach
Photo: visitmyrtlebeach

Grand Strand is another American beach featured in the Top 10 of the longest beaches in the world. Grand Strand is also the longest beach on the U.S. Eastcoast stretching over a length of 97 km or 60 miles on the coast of the U.S. state of South Carolina from Little River to Winyah Bay. The beach most famously features Myrtle Beach, a popular tourism town in the region.

One of the most popular vacation spots in the US, the Grand Strand is a section of coastline known for its numerous golf courses, entertainment, amusement parks and resorts. The climate is ideal for sunning, swimming, water sports and any number of daytime activities, while world-famous stars draw nighttime crowds to clubs and theaters.

Here's the real beauty of a stay on the Grand Strand: No matter where you decide to lay your head, a short drive enables you to experience it all, be it a deep-sea saltwater fishing excursion, parasailing over the waves, a day of shopping at local boutiques, outlet malls and flea markets, an afternoon golfing on the best courses in the South, memorable casual and fine dining, water park hijinks, live Vegas-style entertainment or simply a morning watching the tide come in as you sip a cold beverage. If you're looking for the best the beach has to offer, the Grand Strand is your treasure trove. It's one of the reasons Myrtle Beach topped TripAdvisor's list of travel destinations in 2015 and consistently turns up as a top choice for beaches in the U.S.

6. Ninety Mile Beach, New Zealand

Photo: GreatSights
Photo: GreatSights

You are not seeing double, there actually is another Ninety Mile Beach. Unlike the Australian version the New Zealander beach does not actually deserve the name though, as it is “only” 55 miles long. The beach was likely named by a confusion of the metric with the imperial system, as the beach does have a length of almost 90 kilometers (88 to be exact). This is still an impressive length for the beach which is located in New Zealand’s Northernmost Northland state.

Its name does not give the Ninety Mile Beach in Australia enough credit, because the beach actually even measures 94 miles or 151 km. This makes the beach the longest of the Pacific Ocean.

Ninety-Mile Beach is the fabled strip of sand that stretches from Ahipara to Scott Point, five kilometres south of Cape Maria van Diemen. Truth be told, it is actually 88 kilometres long.

This beach is officially a highway, but is really only suitable for 4WD vehicles and is safe to drive only at specific times of the tides. Rental companies won’t allow their cars on the sand, mostly for safety reasons. The easy way to drive along the beach is to catch a coach tour from Kaitaia. If you are short of time in Northland and staying in the Bay of Islands, coach tours and scenic flights up to Cape Reinga depart from Paihia daily.

Beach activities range from surfcasting and swimming to bodyboarding down the sand dunes. A special treat is digging for tuatua (a native shellfish) in the sand at low tide. Flanking the beach is the Aupouri Forest, which provides a green escape from the hot sun.

Once a year in late February or early March, 90 Mile Beach hosts a five day fishing competition. Hundreds of anglers surf cast from the beach hoping to catch the biggest snapper, a delicious white-flesh fish found in New Zealand waters.

7. Playa Novillero, Mexico

Photo: TuriMexico
Photo: TuriMexico

Playa Novillero (“Novillero Beach”) is the seventh longest beach in the world. The beach measures impressive 82 km / 51 miles in length and is therefore the longest beach on the North American Westcoast. The beach stretches from the Teacapan Estuary, which marks the border between the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Nayarit, all the way down South to the Agua Brava Lagoon in Nayarit.

Stretching for almost 90 kilometers (56 miles) and measuring almost half a kilometer (a third of a mile) wide, the fine sand beach of Playa Novillero Mexico is stunning with its tranquil waters. In places, this beach literally invites you to walk out into open Pacific Ocean waters for almost 100 meters (328 feet). This is undoubtably one of the state’s best must-see Nayarit destinations.

It is common to see groups of young adults and adolescents enjoying themselves in the surf and entire families gathered together to prepare a feast on the ocean shore.

Thanks to its natural gifts, the beach at Novillero Mexico is also one of the safest in the state of Riviera Nayarit, making it ideal for children and inexperienced swimmers to venture out into the tranquil warm waves.

8. Virginia Beach, USA

Photo: Expedia
Photo: Expedia

Another beach in the USA is part of the 10 longest beaches in the world. Virginia Beach is also known as the longest pleasure beaches anywhere on the planet. Especially in the Virginian part you will hardly find any spot of the beach without a hotel, restaurant, bar or other recreational establishment right by the beach. Virginia Beach stretches from the city of the same name in Virgina all the way down to Oregon Inlet in North Carolina.

Where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll find the vibrant and bustling coastal city of Virginia Beach. A popular destination all year long, Virginia Beach shines during the summertime when visitors flock to the oceanfront and boardwalk. Also known for its flourishing local dining scene, arts and entertainment, maritime history, and family-friendly attractions, Virginia Beach features its own unique districts that offer experiences for everyone to enjoy.

It’s no surprise the Oceanfront and 3-mile boardwalk is the center of the action in Virginia Beach. Stretching across 40 city blocks, the boardwalk is packed with hotels, restaurants, and entertainment all with beautiful ocean views.

9. Long Beach, USA

Photo: Visit California
Photo: Visit California

Long Beach is yet another American beach to be included in the Top 10 of the longest beaches in the world. The beach measures 45 km / 28 miles in length and is located on the Long Beach Peninsula in the Northwestern U.S. state of Washington, right by the Pacific Ocean. Unlike the other American beaches in this ranking, Long Beach does not feature a big tourism infrastructure and has largely remained natural with only a few small towns settling by the beach.

Just half an hour from Los Angeles, Long Beach is an oceanfront gem you’ll want to add to your California itinerary. The city offers beautiful beaches and marinas along with a busy dining and shopping scene that perfectly blends urban sophistication with beach-town fun.

With 11 miles of sandy shoreline, waterfront adventure is central to the city’s charm. Visitors can enjoy the waves from dry land at one of the family-friendly beaches like Alamitos Beach and Marine Park, or rent stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, Duffy electric boats, and other watercraft in Rainbow Marina. Try your hand at kitesurfing on Long Beach’s Belmont Shore, one of the best places in the state for beginners to learn the sport. Hop aboard a vessel and venture out to sea on a whale-watching tour from Harbor Breeze Cruises, a sailboat through Sunglow Charters, a point-to-point ride on the high-speed water taxis, or a romantic excursion on a Venetian gondola.

10. Ibeno Beach, Nigeria

Photo: Twitter
Photo: Twitter

Ibeno Beach measures 34 km / 21 miles in length which makes the beach the longest one in Africa. The beach is located in Nigeria’s Southeastern state of Akwa Ibom. It stretches from the town of Kwa Ibo in the West all the way to the Easternmost corner of Akwa Ibom, just by the river border with the neighboring State of Cross River.

Ibeno beach with a mind-blowing stretch of over 45km sand bank which transverses many riverine communities, is a beautiful tourist site for lovers of fun and tourists to unwind.

Situated in Eket, Akwa-Ibom State; Ibeno beach with its alluring beauty and splashing waves welcome visitors throughout the year.

The smell of the beach sand is crisp and from a distance, visitors can hear the sea gulls and the splashing waves. Nature makes it so.

At anytime of the day, the verdure around the beach, entertains the tourists and lovers with exotic sites, just as the friendly host community ascertains tourists of their safety during their stay.

Due to its serenity and security, the beach is rated high amongst the top soothing and clean beaches in the country. The beauty of this beach is that the sands of the beach itself have been stable over the years without receding with the tide of the water.

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