From Piha to The Split: Matador's 11 Favorite Beaches

Choosing a single favorite beach feels impossible — especially when you've been lucky enough to see so many. So, instead of just picking one, the Matador editorial team put together a collection of the beaches we've loved enough to revisit time and time again.

For me, Achmelvich Beach on the west coast of Scotland always tops my personal list. Even though sunshine is famously scarce in this part of the world, on a clear day, its white sand and bright, clear waters rival anything I've seen in the Mediterranean. Another spot I love is Calanque de Marseilleveyre in southern France. It’s a small pebble beach at the end of an hour-long coastal hike, where you’re rewarded with crystal-clear water and a chilled glass of French rosé.

But it’s not just my picks — our editors highlight a handful of beaches that have stuck with us, from the reef-lined shores of Lizard Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to a quiet bay in the Turkish town of Güvercinlik, where one editor spent early fall swimming off the dock with his toddler, eating just-caught fish by the water, and watching the sun set over an empty stretch of sand.

Check out the full list to see if your favorite made the cut.

Cheers,

Katie Gavin, lifestyle editor

✅ Your Travel To-Do List

AUGUST EDITION

• Where to travel: The 10 cheapest US cities to visit for a last-minute Labor Day trip

• What to do: Enter for a chance to win a luxury stay in the Maldives for two

• Trending news: Paris cafes charge tourists more than locals, French investigation finds

• What we’re loving: This fleece

• Listen in: How to hit 1M YouTube subs (from an oil painter who did it)

Matador's Weekly Roundup

Our most popular stories last week.

How to See Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

The reef has suffered its worst annual decline since monitoring began in the 1980s, with heatwaves and coral-eating starfish taking a heavy toll. See it while you still can, and learn how to help protect it.

Tomorrow Night: Catch the Perseid Meteor Shower at Its Brightest

The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks the night of August 12, lighting up the sky with bright, fast-moving meteors.

Amtrak to Debut New Acela Trains

Launching August 28, the NextGen Acela will reach 160 mph, provide 27% more capacity, and upgrade service along the Northeast Corridor.

The 15 Best US Cities for Bookworms

From indie bookstores to literary landmarks, these cities are perfect for travelers who love to read.

New Controversial Sidewalk Theft Warning

A cheeky new sidewalk campaign on Oxford Street is raising awareness about rampant phone theft and testing if street-level cues can reduce crime.

This Week's Viral Videos

Our most-watched videos last week.

📍Where To Stay

Epic stays in our favorite places.