Yesterday, I put on five or six layers to walk to the grocery store. By the time I got there, my hands and face felt numb, and when I walked in the door, my glasses immediately fogged up from the extreme temperature difference. Everyone around me looked just as freezing as I was. And in that moment, all I could think was, “I wish I was at the beach right now.” Indeed, a gorgeous white sand beach would be a welcome reprieve from the harsh winter temps and these 18 beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. Even if you can’t make it out of town right now, you can at least let these pictures help you mentally escape the frigid temps. I need to get to #17 as soon as possible.Lanikai Beach isn’t as popular as the massive beaches on the north shore of Oahu, but it’s magnificent all the same. Plus, you get to enjoy the environment, sans crowds.
The Seychelles are a popular, idyllic getaway, but La Digue beach just might be the finest place on the islands. It’s secluded, and the water is beautifully turquoise.
When it comes to southeast Asian getaways, the Philippines don’t spring to mind as much as Thailand or Malaysia. However, judging by the looks of Palawan beach, they definitely should.
Off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba’s beaches look like something from a movie. If you get sick of one, you can easily hop to another, as there are several to choose from.
The turquoise water and white sand are just part of the charm here: Bora Bora is also known for it’s amazing cabanas that sit just above the Pacific Ocean, giving visitors the ultimate view.
Durness Beach, located in the far north-west of Scotland, isn’t exactly warm — but it sure is beautiful. This is the kind of place you visit in the fall, equipped with a hot coffee and a sweater, ready to breathe in the crisp, chilly winter air.
This beach chain is comprised of dozens of cays and inlets, which visitors can check out on foot or by boat. It’s also considered one of the best places to snorkel in the Bahamas.
Brazil is full of amazing beaches, but Fernando de Noronh might be the best. The rock formations and white sand look like something out of a movie, don’t they?
Grace Bay Beach is nothing more than 12 miles of white, soft sand — the same sand that has earned it multiple awards for being a great beach to travel to.
Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape) is among Europe’s most famous beaches and one of the top tourist attractions in Croatia. The beach’s landscape is composed of white pebbles, and because of it’s shape, the beach actually changes with the tide.
Located off the coast of Queensland on Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven is slightly lesser-known than Bondi Beach, and just as good for surfing.
Fethiye is a popular tourist destination, as it has tons of beaches to choose from. Oludeniz has a blue lagoon that is stunning to behold, and the Kelebekler Vadisi beach is known for being surrounded by butterflies.
Remember the movie The Beach? It takes place in this pristine Thai island, off of the country’s Andaman coast.
This incredible beach is difficult to reach: It’s only accessible by water, so most people swim their from an offshore boat. Still, the beach itself is worth the effort: It’s covered in yellow sand and bordered by cliffs covered in rich vegetation.
This Mexican beach boasts 40-foot limestone cliffs and silvery sand leading into the Caribbean Sea. The stone around the beach are some of the most impressive we’ve seen.
Blinky Beach is great for surfers, with powder white sand and beautiful blue water. The landscape of the beach is gorgeously rugged as well.
At the base of steep white cliffs on a hidden side of the Greek island of Zakynthos is Navagio beach, which has some of the bluest water in the world.
Ibiza is home to several amazing and secluded beaches, but the Playa San Miguel might be the most gorgeous.
