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,

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