You open your backpack at the airport to grab your laptop, and your clean underwear spills out onto the floor right in front of a startled security officer. Or, after a long red-eye flight, you arrive at your hotel, desperately hunting for your comfy pyjamas, and end up tipping out every carefully arranged stack of clothes — so your suitcase instantly looks like it’s been hit by a bomb. If you recognise yourself in any of these crisis moments, I’ve got a solution that will genuinely change your travel life and save you a whole lot of stress.

The days when packing for a holiday had to be a chaotic, stressful ordeal — forcing the zip shut and praying the seams hold until you land — are long gone. The real game-changers here are packing cubes, which help you keep a perfect system inside your luggage. These clever fabric pouches work like little drawers, so you know exactly where everything is, and they keep your things neatly in place even after rough handling at the airport.

Let’s walk through how a luggage organiser works in practice, what types are out there, and which folding technique to choose so that everything you need actually fits. I’ll show you the difference between regular and compression cubes, plus how to avoid the most common mistakes. Learning how to pack a suitcase efficiently really is the best investment you can make in a relaxed, hassle-free holiday.

What are packing cubes — and are they really worth it?

The basic idea is wonderfully simple and yet genius. They’re lightweight fabric pouches with a zip, into which you neatly sort your clothes, electronics or toiletries. Instead of one big, messy pile of stuff, your luggage holds tidy blocks you can easily pull out and put back without disturbing the rest of the contents. This system is an absolute lifesaver for anyone hopping between several hotels who doesn’t want to fully unpack into wardrobes every single time.

So the main benefit is the incredible clarity and the speed with which you can find your favourite T-shirt or a pair of clean socks. Another huge plus is that packing cubes for travel stop your things from spilling out when you suddenly need to open your bag in public. They also protect your clean clothes to some degree from getting dirtied by shoes or from a badly sealed bottle of shampoo leaking, since they form an extra protective layer.

But I have to flag up one very common misconception right away — one that costs plenty of people money in airline fees. While a compression luggage organiser can save you valuable volume and squash a pile of clothes down to half its size, it absolutely will not save you weight. If you’ve got a strict weight limit for your cabin bag packing set at seven or ten kilograms, the cubes sadly won’t save you — quite the opposite, they’ll just let you pack more heavy items that push you over the limit.

Packing cubes vs. compression bags vs. organisers

These days the market offers an overwhelming range of options and it’s easy to get lost in the choice. Classic fabric cubes are ideal for basic sorting and keeping order, because they hold a firmer shape and slot beautifully into your luggage. Most have a top made of see-through mesh, so you can instantly tell what’s inside and your clothes can breathe naturally during the journey.

By contrast, compression packing cubes have one extra special zip that works on the same principle as an expansion zip on a suitcase, just in reverse. Once you’ve packed your clothes in and done up that second zip, you mechanically squeeze out the excess air and the volume shrinks dramatically. It’s a brilliant solution for bulkier items like jumpers or hoodies, but bear in mind that the strong compression will crease your clothes far more.

The third category covers specialist organisers, which don’t have the classic cube shape but are designed for a specific purpose. Typically these are waterproof wash bags with a hook for hanging in the bathroom, or padded cases for electronics, where you neatly tuck away all your chargers, cables and power banks. These smaller pieces perfectly complement the bigger system and make sure your bits and bobs don’t go wandering off to the bottom of your bag.

How to pack properly with packing cubes

Unfortunately, simply buying the organisers won’t save you if you just chuck your things in haphazardly. For the whole system to work properly and save you as much space as possible, you need to master the right filling technique and think strategically about what belongs together. A well-thought-out approach to how to pack a suitcase is actually a little logistics game — and one that’s very easy to learn.

Rolling, folding, or bundle wrapping?

The most common question travellers wrestle with is the actual technique for handling clothes. Classic folding into stacks — the kind we use at home in the wardrobe — is the worst possible option for travel. Not only do those stacks take up a surprising amount of room, but above all they collapse the moment you put them in the bag, creating sharp creases exactly where you least want them.

Far more effective is the rolling method, which has become the absolute standard among seasoned backpackers. It’s ideal for soft, pliable wardrobe items like cotton T-shirts, underwear, light summer dresses or socks. Rolls pack much better side by side inside a packing cube, filling every spare centimetre, and because there are no sharp folds, your clothes crease only minimally.

But if you’re heading off on a business trip or taking delicate items like shirts and blazers, definitely try a technique called bundle wrapping. The idea is to make a firm core out of soft items (underwear, for example), then carefully wrap your most delicate clothes around it, laid out flat. This way you get absolutely no creases, and your formal outfit arrives at its destination in surprisingly great shape — even if it does take a little longer to prepare.

The system: one cube, one category

The fundamental rule for a truly functional luggage organiser is strict thematic division. Set up a system where each category has its own dedicated pouch, so you know exactly where to reach. One medium cube holds all your T-shirts and tops, into a smaller one you stack underwear and socks, and another takes your trousers and shorts. Then when you’re hunting for clean socks in the morning, you just pull out the right little pouch and the rest of your bag stays untouched.

If you’re off on a family holiday and sharing one big suitcase, it’s absolutely ideal to get sets in different colours. The blue pouches can be yours, the red ones your partner’s, and the green ones the kids’. That way you avoid endless rummaging and squabbling over whose black T-shirt is at the bottom of the case. Quick visual orientation is priceless in a hotel room during the morning rush.

💡 Tip: When packing full cubes into your luggage, always think about the centre of gravity. Put the heaviest pouches with jeans or electronics as close to your back and at the bottom in a backpack, and towards the lower wheels in a roller case, so the bag doesn’t tip over on you.

Don’t forget about hygiene and separating dirty or potentially problematic items either. Shoes always belong in their own sealable bag, and to save space it’s a good idea to stuff them with rolled-up socks. I’d recommend putting toiletries into a waterproof organiser, which keeps any disaster with a leaking shower gel safely away from your favourite clothes.

How to choose packing cubes

Once you decide to buy your first set, you’ll discover that the choice is enormous and prices range from a few pounds to well over fifty. The most important thing is not to be lured by a pretty design alone, but to focus on the practical features that determine how long your gear lasts and how easy it is to handle on the road. Quality packing cubes should be an investment for several years to come.

Sizes and sets

The most common beginner mistake is buying the largest sizes available, believing they’ll hold the most stuff. The truth is that huge cubes are often completely impractical, because they adapt poorly to the shape of your luggage and you still end up with chaos inside them. Your main goal is to choose sizes that fit perfectly within the dimensions of your particular suitcase or backpack.

If you’re gearing up for cabin bag packing — especially with budget airlines that have strict dimensions like 40×30×20 centimetres (typically Ryanair or Wizz Air) — rule out the giant cubes straight away. You’ll get far more out of a combination of several smaller and medium pouches that you can rearrange like Tetris blocks. Most manufacturers offer handy starter sets, which usually contain one large, two medium and one small cube, and often a separate bag for dirty laundry or shoes too.

When choosing, also consider what your usual travel wardrobe is made of. If you like travelling in thin merino and quick-drying synthetics, smaller sizes will do, because these materials roll up beautifully and take up minimal space. But if you prefer thick cotton, knitted jumpers and heavy denim, you’ll need slightly bulkier pouches — or the compression ones outright.

Material, zips and compression

It definitely doesn’t pay to skimp on material, because packing cubes take a real beating when you travel. Look for products made from quality, lightweight nylon or polyester that resist tearing and dry quickly, in case you ever have to rinse them out on the road. A very practical detail is a breathable mesh top panel, which lets you see inside instantly and stops your clothes from getting stuffy in the enclosed space.

The absolute essential, though, is good-quality double zips, ideally from trusted brands. The zip is the most heavily stressed component — it has to withstand enormous pressure when you’re trying to close a slightly overstuffed luggage organiser. A double slider is a must for comfortable, quick handling, so you don’t have to fiddle your way all the way around the pouch.

When deciding between classic and ultralight versions, weigh up your travel style. Ultralight cubes are made from parachute-like materials and weigh just a few grams, but they hold their shape poorly when they aren’t completely full. More durable versions with slightly reinforced walls do add a few extra grams, but they’re much easier to work with and create a firm, well-ordered structure inside your bag.

💡 Where to buy: ready-made packing cubes and luggage organisers are widely available online, where you’ll also find practical sets of packing pouches in various sizes.

Who packing cubes suit (and who they suit less)

This organisation system is an absolute dream for all the so-called one-bag travellers who set off into the world with just a single backpack and need to use every square centimetre. They’re equally a lifesaver for families with children, because keeping order in things for four people in one big suitcase is a near-superhuman task without colour-coded organisers. They’re also greatly appreciated by people on business trips who need to separate casual clothes from formal ones.

On the other hand, if you only ever drive to a weekend cottage, take a huge suitcase you just toss things into loosely, and don’t unpack it all week, packing cubes might be an unnecessary extra step for you. If you don’t need strict order on your travels and you don’t mind occasionally digging through the entire contents of your bag to find your favourite socks, the classic free-for-all packing style will probably do the job just fine.

💡 Tip: Even if you decide not to buy a whole pricey set, do at least get one waterproof bag for dirty laundry. Separating used clothes from clean ones is a basic hygiene rule that makes every longer trip more pleasant.

Common mistakes when packing with cubes

Even with the best gear, it’s possible to make mistakes that needlessly complicate the whole process. Here’s a rundown of what to watch out for most when you’re getting ready:

• You buy only the largest sizes available and then overstuff them so much that only two fit in your backpack and the rest of the space goes unused.
• You get a false sense that compression has left you loads of room, so you pack far more “just in case” and end up unable to close the case at all.
• You confuse saving volume with saving weight, and then you’re caught out at the airport by a hefty surcharge for exceeding your airline’s weight limit.
• You don’t put shoes or liquid toiletries in a separate waterproof bag, risking the ruin of your carefully arranged clean clothes.
• You fold clothes into classic stacks instead of rolling them, needlessly wasting precious space inside the organiser itself.
• You buy the cheapest options with poor-quality zips that burst on the very first day of your holiday, the moment you try to fill them to bursting point.

Where to next

Once you’ve got everything neatly sorted and packed, you might be wondering what to actually load it all into. If you prefer travelling light and don’t want to waste time waiting at the baggage carousel, definitely read our detailed guide on how to choose the right cabin bag and flight backpack. You’ll also find specific tips there for the best cabin bags, into which all those organisers stack absolutely perfectly.

So you don’t forget anything important at home, also take a look at our detailed list of what to take on a plane. And if you’re flying with your favourite budget airline, be sure to check the current rules for Ryanair luggage before you set off, so you don’t face a very unpleasant surprise at the airport in the form of steep surcharges at the desk.

Frequently asked questions

When you stand in Athens right below the Acropolis and gaze up at the majestic Parthenon, it’s incredibly easy to fall under the illusion that the ancient gods are still somewhere close by. Lukáš and I fell in love with Greece not just for its fantastic food and gorgeous beaches, but precisely because of this ever-present history that seems to breathe down your neck at every turn. This is the land where Greek mythology comes alive at every step, whether you’re strolling through the Athenian Agora, admiring the ruins at Delphi, or standing on a cliff above the stormy sea at Cape Sounion.

And let me tell you, Greek mythology and its Olympian gods, who according to legend ruled from the summit of Mount Olympus, are anything but boring. We’ll work our way through all twelve principal gods plus the mighty lord of the underworld, Hades, untangle their complicated stories, and I’ll point you towards exactly where in Greece you can still discover their sanctuaries today.

Whether you’re heading off on a summer holiday to the Greek islands, planning an adventurous road trip across the Peloponnese, or you simply want to finally sort out who was feuding with whom up on Olympus, let’s go through them one by one.

Who are the main Greek gods?

The main Greek gods make up the so-called Twelve Olympians (Dodekatheon), who according to mythology dwelled on Mount Olympus. At their head stands the mighty Zeus alongside his wife Hera, and other key figures include the god of the sea Poseidon, the goddess of wisdom Athena, the sun god Apollo, the goddess of the hunt Artemis, the goddess of love Aphrodite, the god of war Ares, the smith Hephaestus, the messenger Hermes, and the goddess of the harvest Demeter. The twelfth spot is held by either Hestia or Dionysus, while the powerful Hades rules the underworld and isn’t formally counted among the Olympian gods, since he doesn’t dwell in the heavens.

TL;DR

• There are traditionally twelve main Olympian gods, but the exact list isn’t entirely fixed (eleven names are constant, while Hestia and Dionysus share the twelfth spot).
• The most powerful god of the pantheon is Zeus, ruler of the sky and lightning, who managed to defeat the older generation of gods, the so-called Titans.
• After their great victory, the brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades divided up rule over the world (Zeus took the sky, Poseidon commands the sea, and Hades the dark underworld).
• The Romans later adopted the Greek gods and gave them their own names (for example, Zeus became Jupiter, Aphrodite became Venus, and wise Athena became Minerva).
• The famous Pandora’s box is actually a translation error; in the original Greek myth it was a large clay jar called a pithos.
• The most important ancient monuments dedicated to the gods, such as the Parthenon in Athens or the famous oracle at Delphi, can still be admired in Greece today.

The 13 Most Important Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology

We’ll start with the mightiest Olympians and gradually work our way down to the lord of the underworld. For each god you’ll learn what they ruled over, their attributes and symbols, their best-known stories, and where the ancients built sanctuaries in their honour.

1. Zeus (Roman: Jupiter)

Zeus is the undisputed king of all the gods, the ruler of the sky, thunder, and lightning, who watches over justice, law, and the overall order of the world. His path to power, however, was far from easy, because he first had to overthrow his father Cronus, who had been swallowing his own children, and then lead the Olympian gods through a devastating ten-year war against the older Titans. His main symbols are, of course, the destructive thunderbolt, the eagle, the oak, and the royal sceptre.

Mythology is packed with tales of his countless love affairs, for which he took on all sorts of disguises, whether a white bull to seduce Europa or a majestic swan for Leda. In this way he became the father of many other gods and demigod heroes, including Apollo, Athena, the famous Heracles, and the beautiful Helen of Troy.

💡 Where to encounter him today: If you want to see the place of his greatest glory, head to Olympia on the Peloponnese, where the ancient Olympic Games were held in his honour and where his colossal gold-and-ivory statue, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, once stood. In the very centre of Athens you’ll find the enormous Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieion), of which fifteen monumental columns survive to this day.

2. Hera (Roman: Juno)

Hera is the queen of the gods, the powerful goddess of marriage, women, family, and childbirth, and at the same time the wife (and sister) of Zeus himself. In ancient art she is often depicted with a diadem or a tall crown on her head, and her best-known symbols are the peacock, the pomegranate, and the sacred cow. Her standing on Olympus was very lofty, yet her mythological life was full of constant conflict.

Most myths about Hera revolve around her immense jealousy and her persecution of Zeus’s lovers and his illegitimate children. The one who bore the brunt of her wrath was the famous hero Heracles, on whom she sent venomous snakes while he was still in the cradle and later set him his legendary twelve labours. Hera also played a key role in the so-called Judgement of Paris, the quarrel over the golden apple for the most beautiful goddess, which ultimately led to the outbreak of the Trojan War.

💡 Where to encounter her today: You can admire the remains of her ancient cult on the island of Samos, home to the Heraion, one of the oldest monumental Greek temples. A very old temple dedicated to Hera can also be seen in the archaeological site at Olympia mentioned above, where it stands right next to the sanctuary of her husband Zeus.

3. Poseidon (Roman: Neptune)

The mighty ruler of all the oceans, Poseidon, is the god of the sea, storms, destructive earthquakes, and also horses. As Zeus’s brother, he gained dominion over the watery realm after the defeat of the Titans and became one of the most feared gods, since the lives of all sailors depended on his mood. You’ll spot him easily by his iconic trident, with which he could whip up the sea’s waves or split a rock, and his symbols also include the dolphin, the horse, and the bull.

One of the most famous myths tells of his rivalry with the goddess Athena for control of Athens, when he gifted the city a salt spring while Athena offered the olive tree, and thanks to the more practical gift she ultimately won. Poseidon also features prominently in Homer’s Odyssey, where he relentlessly pursued the hero Odysseus with storms and left him wandering the sea for ten years as revenge for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus.

💡 Where to encounter him today: Definitely don’t miss the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, which lies about 70 kilometres southeast of Athens. This marble Doric temple perches on a dramatic cliff high above the Aegean Sea and still offers some of the most beautiful sunsets in all of Greece.

4. Demeter (Roman: Ceres)

Demeter is an absolutely key goddess of the harvest, agriculture, grain, and the fertility of the earth, on whom the survival of all of ancient Greece depended. She made sure the fields yielded a bountiful crop, and her main attributes are therefore logically a sheaf of grain, a cornucopia, a torch, and poppy flowers. One of the most beautiful and profound myths is linked to her, one that explained to ancient people the changing of the seasons.

The myth tells how the lord of the underworld, Hades, abducted her beloved daughter Persephone, after which a grief-stricken Demeter let all the fields lie barren and a terrible famine fell upon the world. Zeus eventually had to step in and broker a compromise, by which Persephone spends part of the year in the underworld (when Demeter mourns and it is winter) and the rest of the year on earth with her mother (when nature blooms and spring and summer arrive).

💡 Where to encounter her today: The main centre of her worship was Eleusis (modern-day Elefsina) in Attica, where the so-called Eleusinian Mysteries were held. These were secret initiation rites promising a happy afterlife, and you can walk through their ruins in this archaeological site near Athens even today.

5. Athena (Roman: Minerva)

Athena is one of the most revered Olympian deities, the goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, crafts, and the arts, and of course the proud patron of the city of Athens. Unlike Ares, who represented raw bloodshed, Athena embodied clever military tactics and fair combat. You’ll always recognise her by her symbols: the wise owl, the olive tree, the war helmet, the spear, and a special shield (the aegis) bearing the head of the terrifying Medusa.

Her birth is utterly unique, because according to legend she sprang straight from Zeus’s head, already fully grown and in full armour, after Zeus swallowed her pregnant mother Metis. She was the protector of many ancient heroes, and besides winning her dispute with Poseidon over control of Athens, she’s also famous for punishing the mortal Arachne, whom she turned into the first spider for boasting about her weaving (though this version of the myth is just one of many variants).

💡 Where to encounter her today: There’s no more iconic place than the Athenian Acropolis, where the monumental Parthenon proudly rises. This breathtaking marble temple was dedicated to the cult of Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin) and represents the absolute pinnacle of classical Greek architecture.

6. Apollo (Roman: Apollo)

Apollo, son of Zeus and the goddess Leto, is an incredibly versatile god of music, poetry, prophecy, healing, archery, and radiant sunlight. He was one of the most popular gods of antiquity and, as an ideal of male beauty, was often portrayed as a beardless youth. His unmistakable attributes include the golden lyre (kithara), the silver bow with a quiver full of arrows, and the laurel wreath.

Mythology says he gained his exalted position after slaying the enormous serpent Python at Delphi, where he then founded his most famous oracle. Although he was the god of beauty, he often had bad luck in love, as shown by the famous myth of the nymph Daphne, who begged to be turned into a laurel tree rather than endure his relentless pursuit (which is why the laurel is Apollo’s sacred tree).

💡 Where to encounter him today: If you want to experience the true mystique of antiquity, head to the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, set on the stunning slopes of Mount Parnassus. Here you can see the ruins of Apollo’s temple, where the famous Pythia once delivered her prophecies, as well as a magnificent ancient theatre and stadium.

7. Artemis (Roman: Diana)

Artemis is Apollo’s twin and in the Greek pantheon she takes on the role of the goddess of the hunt, wild nature, wild animals, and virginity, and was later also associated with the magic of the Moon. Despite being a virgin goddess, she was paradoxically also regarded as a protector of women in childbirth. She roamed the forests accompanied by her nymphs, and her symbols are the bow, arrows, quiver, a forest deer or stag, and the crescent moon.

Myths often portray her as an uncompromising and stern goddess who harshly punished anyone who offended her. There’s the well-known tale of the hunter Actaeon, who by unfortunate chance caught sight of her bathing naked, for which she turned him into a stag and let his own hunting dogs tear him apart. Just as cruelly, together with her brother Apollo, she took revenge on Queen Niobe, whose children they all killed because she had boasted of having more than their mother Leto.

💡 Where to encounter her today: Her most famous building was the breathtaking Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in modern-day Turkey, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. In present-day Greece you can visit the remains of her sanctuary at Brauron in the scenic region of Attica.

8. Ares (Roman: Mars)

While Athena represented clever warfare, Ares was the god of raw violence, bloodshed, battle frenzy, and uncontrollable rage. As the son of Zeus and Hera, he was not particularly popular among the other gods or with ordinary Greeks, because he embodied the worst of armed conflict. His warlike attributes are above all the spear, helmet, heavy shield, sword, and animals such as the dog and the vulture.

His favourite pastime was stirring up fights, and he took part in the legendary Trojan War, where he was utterly humiliated when wise Athena and the hero Diomedes ignominiously drove him from the battlefield. He’s also known for his long-running love affair with the beautiful Aphrodite, which ended in an enormous scandal when her husband Hephaestus caught the pair in an invisible metal net and then exposed them to the ridicule of all Olympus.

💡 Where to encounter him today: Right below the Athenian Acropolis stands a massive rocky hill called the Areopagus, where according to myth Ares was tried by the other gods for murder. On the nearby ancient Agora once stood the Temple of Ares, which was moved here during Roman times.

9. Aphrodite (Roman: Venus)

The beautiful Aphrodite is the Olympian goddess of love, beauty, desire, and fertility, who could enchant not only the gods but ordinary mortals too. Her best-known symbols reflect her delicacy and grace, including the white dove, the rose, a sprig of myrtle, the seashell, and a little sparrow. There are two different versions of her origin. According to one she is the daughter of Zeus and the goddess Dione, while in the more famous version by Hesiod she rose from the sea foam near the island of Cyprus.

Her influence on human fate was enormous and often deeply destructive. It was Aphrodite who, in the Judgement of Paris, promised the Trojan prince Paris the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen, thereby effectively unleashing the devastating Trojan War directly. Famous too is her tragic myth of the handsome youth named Adonis, whom she loved and who died on a hunt after being attacked by a boar. From his spilt blood, legend says, the first fragile anemones grew.

💡 Where to encounter her today: If you want to visit the supposed site of her birth, head to Cyprus and the so-called Aphrodite’s Rock. Cyprus was also home to the ancient Sanctuary of Aphrodite at Palaepaphos (modern-day Kouklia), and an important temple of hers once stood on the summit of the Acrocorinth fortress in mainland Greece.

10. Hephaestus (Roman: Vulcan)

Hephaestus was the indispensable god of fire, metalworking, crafts, and volcanoes, who served as the court armourer and divine smith for all of Olympus. He forged not only perfect weapons for the gods but also magnificent palaces and magical objects. His symbols are entirely practical, including the blacksmith’s hammer, the massive anvil, and tongs. He differed from the other flawless gods in that he was lame.

There are two versions of how he was injured: according to one, his mother Hera threw him off Olympus because of a congenital defect, while in the other mighty Zeus threw him down when Hephaestus stood up for his mother, after which the smith crashed hard onto the island of Lemnos. He later took revenge on his mother by crafting a golden throne with invisible bindings, from which he refused to release her until he had forced his official acceptance back among the Olympian gods.

💡 Where to encounter him today: In Athens, on the edge of the ancient Agora, rises the Hephaisteion (Temple of Hephaestus). It’s an amazing experience, because this is one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, having retained most of its original columns and roof.

11. Hermes (Roman: Mercury)

The swift and cunning Hermes served above all as the messenger of the gods, but he was also the god of travel, commerce, thieves, border crossings, and eloquence. He held the important role of the so-called psychopomp, which means he acted as a guide for the souls of the dead into the dark underworld. His appearance is utterly iconic: he always carries the caduceus (a winged staff with two entwined snakes), the petasos hat, and winged sandals on his feet.

He was a great trickster from birth. According to myth, as a newborn he stole the sacred herd of cattle from the god Apollo and then lightning-fast fashioned the first lyre from a tortoise shell, which he subsequently gave to Apollo to make peace with him. He also became famous for slaying the hundred-eyed giant Argus on Zeus’s orders, who had been guarding one of Zeus’s lovers turned into a cow.

💡 Where to encounter him today: In ancient Greece you’ll come across his traces everywhere in the form of so-called herms, stone pillars that served as signposts and boundary markers. One of his oldest sanctuaries stood on Mount Cyllene in the Arcadia region, where legend says he was born.

12. Hestia (Roman: Vesta) or Dionysus (Roman: Bacchus)

Two entirely different deities share the twelfth spot on Olympus in mythological lists. According to the older tradition, the place belongs to Hestia, goddess of the hearth, fire, family, and home. She was a virgin goddess and the eldest daughter of Cronus, who tended the sacred fire. According to a later tradition, however, as the immovable hearth she didn’t take part in the divine processions, and so her place among the twelve was often taken by Dionysus. (The modern notion that Hestia voluntarily gave up her seat on the throne to him is a modern invention, not an ancient myth.)

Dionysus was the god of wine, winemaking, ecstasy, and theatre. He was unique in that he was the only Olympian with a mortal mother (the princess Semele) and the youngest of all the gods. His symbols are the grapevine and the thyrsus (a staff wound with ivy). The myth of his birth tells how, when his mother died, Zeus carried the unborn child sewn into his own thigh, so that Dionysus was born twice.

💡 Where to encounter them today: Hestia was honoured by the so-called prytaneion (the town hall sanctuary) with its eternal flame in every Greek city. Dionysus, meanwhile, you can celebrate with a visit to the Theatre of Dionysus, which lies right on the southern slope of the Athenian Acropolis and is considered the very cradle of ancient drama.

13. Hades (Roman: Pluto)

Although Hades isn’t counted among the twelve Olympian gods (because he doesn’t dwell on Olympus), he is an absolutely fundamental figure of Greek mythology. He is the brother of Zeus and Poseidon, the dark god of the dead, lord of the underworld and of subterranean wealth. The Greeks were afraid even to speak his name, so they often called him Plouton (“the Wealthy One”), since grain and precious metals came from beneath the earth. His main attributes are the helmet of invisibility and the terrifying three-headed dog Cerberus, who guards the gates to the realm of the dead.

His most famous story is the already-mentioned abduction of the goddess Persephone, whom he chose as his wife and carried off to his dark realm. Hades wasn’t seen as pure evil (unlike the Christian concept of hell), but rather as a strict, relentless, and just keeper of souls, from whom there is no escape.

💡 Where to encounter him today: His cult wasn’t very widespread, but in the Epirus region you can still find the archaeological site of the Necromanteion near the river Acheron. In antiquity this mysterious place was considered a genuine physical gateway to the underworld, where people went to commune with the souls of the dead.

A Handy Comparison Table

When the Romans conquered ancient Greece, they adopted the entire pantheon but gave the deities their own Latin names. Here’s a clear comparison of the main figures:

Fascinating Facts and Records from Greek Mythology

Before we say goodbye, let’s clear up a few things about the Greek gods that seem to intrigue just about everyone.

Titans vs. the Olympian generation

People often mistakenly assume the Olympian gods had always existed. In reality they were preceded by an older generation of gods called the Titans, who were the children of the primordial pair Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky). Among them were figures such as Cronus and Rhea. The Olympians are actually their descendants, a younger generation that rebelled against their creators and, after a brutal struggle, took over rule of the world.

The ten-year Titanomachy

A key moment in mythology is the Titanomachy, an immense ten-year war between the old Titans and the young Olympians led by Zeus. The Olympian gods were greatly aided in battle by the terrifying Cyclopes, who forged Zeus’s first thunderbolts. After the Olympians’ crushing victory, the defeated Titans were cast into the deep abyss of Tartarus, and the giant named Atlas was given the cruel punishment of forever holding the entire vault of heaven on his shoulders.

The heroic Prometheus

The Titan Prometheus was a great friend of humankind, which according to some ancient sources he even created himself from clay. His most famous deed was that he stole fire from the gods, hidden in a hollow stalk, and gave it to humans, enabling them to survive and develop. The furious Zeus had him chained to a rock in the Caucasus mountains for this, where a giant eagle devoured his liver every day, only for it to regrow overnight, until he was finally freed by the mighty Heracles.

“Pandora’s box” is a mistake

As punishment for Prometheus’s theft of fire, Zeus had the first woman created, the beautiful Pandora. The gods gave her a mysterious vessel and forbade her to open it. The curious Pandora disobeyed, opened the vessel, and thereby released all the diseases, pains, and evils into the world, with only Hope remaining inside. Interestingly, the famous term “Pandora’s box” is a huge translation error. The original Greek texts speak of the word pithos, which means a large clay storage jar, not a small box.

The creation of the world from Chaos

According to Hesiod’s famous Theogony (Birth of the Gods), at the very beginning of everything stood only Chaos, a gaping void. From it other primordial forces then gradually emerged, such as Gaia (Mother Earth), dark Tartarus, and Eros (Love). From Gaia herself rose Uranus (Sky) and the deep seas, and only from the union of Earth and Sky was the first generation of Titans born.

Mount Olympus is real

The home of the gods isn’t just an imaginary place in the clouds. Mount Olympus lies on the border of Thessaly and Macedonia and is a completely real, and the highest, mountain massif in all of modern Greece. Its highest peak, Mytikas, soars to an impressive 2,917 metres above sea level. Today it’s a protected national park where you can set off on a superb high-mountain hike.

A travel note: Many tourists often mistakenly associate the Meteora complex in Thessaly with the ancient gods, but although these monasteries perched on sandstone pinnacles look absolutely otherworldly, they have nothing to do with ancient mythology. They are medieval Christian and Byzantine monuments dating only from the 14th century.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have you ever stood on the shore and felt like you were staring at a perfectly painted picture? Lukáš and I absolutely love the sea and the oceans, and over the years we’ve discovered some of the most beautiful beaches in the world — places that genuinely left us speechless, whether it was a hidden turquoise cove on our beloved Sardinia or, at the other extreme, a black-sand beach lashed by icy waves in Iceland.

So I’ve put together 16 of the most beautiful beaches in the world for you — from the ones where we kicked off our shoes and dug our toes into the sand, to the ones we still only dream about. You’ll find European gems with white pebbles, dreamy pinkish lagoons, and the whitest sand spits all the way out in Australia and the Caribbean.

And since beaches aren’t just for looking at, I’ll also show you why some of them are pink or black, and most importantly, I’ll tell you when to visit each one so you can dodge the biggest crowds and the worst of the weather.

TL;DR

The best beaches in the world include Italy’s Cala Goloritzé on Sardinia, crowned the outright winner for 2025, the dazzling white Whitehaven Beach in Australia, and the Seychelles’ Anse Source d’Argent fringed by giant granite boulders. In Europe, you’ll also be wowed by Portugal’s famous Praia da Marinha in the Algarve, the pinkish Greek lagoon of Elafonissi, and Croatia’s iconic Zlatni rat.

Summary

• The most beautiful beach in the world for 2025: The prestigious industry poll was won by Sardinia’s Cala Goloritzé, which lures visitors with glowing turquoise water and tiny white pebbles.
• The whitest sand on the planet: Australia’s Whitehaven Beach is made of 98.9% pure silica, which means the sand never heats up, even at high noon.
• The pinkest hue: The Bahamas’ Pink Sands Beach and Crete’s Elafonissi get their unique colour from the crushed shells of microscopic organisms called foraminifera.
• The most dramatic scenery: Iceland’s black volcanic beach Reynisfjara fascinates with its basalt columns — but swimming is strictly forbidden and life-threatening because of treacherous sneaker waves.
• The best swimming in Europe: Portugal’s Algarve, Italy’s Sardinia and the Greek islands offer countless stunning coves sheltered by steep limestone cliffs.
• The clearest Caribbean water: The island nation of Turks and Caicos boasts the flawless Grace Bay, where underwater visibility commonly reaches an incredible twenty metres.
• Current warning for Greece: The famous Navagio Shipwreck Beach on Zakynthos is completely closed to all access until at least the end of October 2026 due to a genuine risk of landslides.
• An Arctic paradise: Norway’s Lofoten Islands prove that white sand and Caribbean sea colours can be found deep beyond the Arctic Circle too — although the water here is reserved strictly for the truly hardy.

16 of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the World

I’ve ordered them from the European gems that are within easy reach all the way to far-flung tropical paradises. For each beach you’ll find out what makes it special, the colour of its sand and water, and when it’s worth visiting.

1. Zlatni rat (Brač, Croatia)

On the southern Dalmatian island of Brač, right by the popular little town of Bol, lies a beach that is an absolute phenomenon and appears on most of the country’s promotional material. Zlatni rat, or the Golden Horn, is an incredible spit of fine white pebbles that juts about five hundred metres out into the crystal-clear sea. Lukáš and I have travelled around Croatia several times now, and this beach has always fascinated us with the way it changes shape according to the prevailing wind and the sea currents, so the tip swings to the east one day and to the west the next.

Because the beach is made of pale pebbles rather than fine sand, the water is a gorgeous turquoise and emerald with fantastic clarity. The swimming here is superb, and the spot is also a renowned windsurfing destination thanks to the reliable afternoon maestral wind. From the centre of Bol you can reach it on a pleasant twenty-minute stroll along the pine-lined promenade.

💡 Tip: If you want to enjoy the Golden Horn in peace and with pleasantly warm water, come in June or September, because it gets seriously crowded during the summer holidays. You’ll find more great tips in our separate article on the island of Brač (Zlatni rat).

2. Stiniva (Vis, Croatia)

If you’re after something truly unique and a touch dramatic, you have to head to the southern coast of the island of Vis, where the stunning Stiniva cove hides away. It’s an extraordinarily narrow beach hemmed in by tall cliffs that form an almost perfect closed ring around it, with only a ten-metre gap leading out to the open sea. This whole geological wonder was created long ago when the roof of a huge original cave collapsed, and Stiniva was even named the most beautiful beach in Europe back in 2016.

The combination of white pebbles and the narrow rocky opening turns the water in the cove into a distinctly turquoise natural pool that’s absolutely ideal for swimming. Getting there is a little trickier, though — you can either come by boat from the towns of Vis or Komiža, or take the steep walk down from the hamlet of Žužec. The descent takes about twenty-five minutes, there’s no railing whatsoever and the rocks are quite slippery, so sturdy footwear is an absolute must.

💡 Tip: Seasoned travellers recommend visiting Stiniva early in the morning or late in the afternoon, since between 10am and 4pm the tiny beach tends to be packed with passengers from excursion boats. After four o’clock the sun and the crowds both leave the cove, and the place takes on its true magical atmosphere.

3. Cala Goloritzé (Sardinia, Italy)

Sardinia is our absolute favourite, and Cala Goloritzé, set on the east coast in the Golfo di Orosei, is probably the most beautiful gem you can discover there. Its exceptional status is confirmed by the fact that it was crowned the outright winner of the prestigious World’s 50 Best Beaches poll for 2025, decided by a jury of more than a thousand tourism professionals. Towering majestically over the entire UNESCO-protected cove is the limestone spire of Monte Caroddi, over a hundred and forty metres high and beloved by climbers from all over the world.

What makes this beach unusual is that it isn’t made of classic sand but of tiny white pebbles that look like grains of rice, lending the water an unusually bright, glowing turquoise. We walked down to it from the Golgo plateau, and the trek took us about an hour and a half going down — the return journey back up the steep hill in the heat was considerably harder. It’s absolutely crucial to know that entry costs seven euros and requires a booking at least 72 hours in advance via the Heart of Sardinia app, because the daily limit is strictly capped at around two hundred and fifty people.

💡 Tip: Excursion boats are strictly forbidden from coming within two hundred metres of the shore, so if you arrive by sea, you’ll have to swim from the boat to the beach. The best time to visit is definitely May, June or September, which you can read more about in our guide to the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia.

4. Spiaggia La Pelosa (Sardinia, Italy)

At the very northwestern tip of Sardinia, near the town of Stintino, you’ll find a place that looks as if someone cut it straight out of a luxury Caribbean brochure. La Pelosa boasts incredibly fine white sand and beautifully shallow water that stretches far out to sea, creating an enormous natural pool with a view of the ancient Torre della Pelosa watchtower. The swimming here is incredibly pleasant, and thanks to the sun-warmed shallows, it’s an absolute paradise for families with little kids.

This beach is very strictly protected and regulated, however, to prevent its destruction and the gradual loss of its sand. During the summer season from June to September, the daily capacity is limited to fifteen hundred visitors, and you have to book your entry well in advance through the official website. On top of that, there’s a strict ban on placing classic cloth towels directly on the sand — all visitors must use solid straw mats.

💡 Tip: When you leave the beach, don’t forget to carefully rinse your feet at the showers provided, so the precious white sand isn’t carried away from the area. The ideal month to visit is September, when the sea is still lovely and warm and the pressure on the booking system is a little lighter.

5. Cala Luna (Sardinia, Italy)

Back to Sardinia’s wild east coast and the Golfo di Orosei, home to the breathtaking Cala Luna. This wide beach forms a perfect crescent moon and is backed by enormous limestone cliffs that open up into deep, highly photogenic caves offering merciful shade. The whole scene feels so raw and cinematic that the famous film Swept Away, starring Madonna, was once shot here.

The sea here plays in every shade of blue and turquoise, and the fine pebbles on the shore blend seamlessly into pale sand. We arrived by boat from the nearby port of Cala Gonone, which is by far the most comfortable and popular way to get here, although more adventurous souls can also reach it on foot via a demanding trek over the Supramonte mountains. The water is very calm, and the caves in the cliffs practically beg you to explore them in the afternoon with a camera in hand.

💡 Tip: If you come in spring or early summer, you’ll see beautifully blooming oleanders behind the beach and a freshwater lagoon that gives the scenery an even more romantic feel.

6. Praia da Marinha (Algarve, Portugal)

We simply adore Portugal’s southern Algarve coast, and Praia da Marinha is probably the most iconic beach you’ll see there. It’s exactly the place you see on every postcard and in every guidebook, thanks to its fantastic golden-to-ochre sandstone cliffs and two famous natural arches rising straight out of the sea. In the afternoon sun the cliffs practically glow honey-coloured, and the contrast with the turquoise water is absolutely breathtaking.

To get down to the water you have to descend a fairly steep staircase from the cliff, and while the large car park at the top is free, in summer it’s usually full by around ten in the morning. The cove is beautifully sheltered from the big waves of the open ocean, so the water here is surprisingly calm and offers some of the best snorkelling conditions in all of Portugal. At low tide, fascinating rock pools full of marine life are also revealed at the eastern end of the beach.

💡 Tip: Up on the cliffs, the famous Sete Vales Suspensos trail — the Seven Hanging Valleys — begins, taking you past the most beautiful viewpoints in the area. We’ve written up everything about this region in our article on the most beautiful beaches in Portugal.

7. Praia de Benagil and the Cave (Algarve, Portugal)

While you’re in the Algarve near the town of Lagoa, you definitely shouldn’t miss Praia de Benagil and, above all, the cave of the same name hidden just a short distance away. Above the small public beach, in the rock, sits Portugal’s most famous sea cave, resembling an enormous cathedral, with a huge circular opening in its ceiling known as the eye or the chimney. Sunlight pours beautifully through this opening, illuminating the golden sand hidden inside the cave.

We highly recommend setting off early in the morning, when the sea is calmer and there aren’t so many day-trippers inside the cave. It’s vital to know that the cave can only be reached by water — either on a rented sea kayak or paddleboard, or as part of an organised excursion on a smaller boat with companies like Tortuga or Didi. For safety reasons, walking inside the cave is currently partly restricted, and from above on land the famous opening is protected by a wooden fence so no one falls in.

💡 Tip: Kayak trips give you a far greater sense of freedom than a packed motorboat, and you can also explore other smaller caves in the area that the bigger boats simply can’t fit into. You’ll find more practical information in our guide to the beaches and Benagil near Lagos.

8. Navagio (Zakynthos, Greece)

One of the most photographed beaches in all of Greece is undoubtedly Navagio, on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, which has even won an award for the most iconic beach scenery. In the middle of a cove hemmed in by steep limestone cliffs rests the enormous rusting wreck of the MV Panagiotis, which ran aground here in 1980 and to this day creates an incredible contrast with the dazzling white pebbles and the neon-blue water. It used to be reachable only by excursion boat, but the situation has changed dramatically in recent years.

Heads up — there’s one major piece of news: until at least 31 October 2026, the beach is completely closed to access due to a high risk of rockfalls. After the earthquake in September 2022, part of the cliff fell directly onto the sand, so today you can’t set foot on the beach itself at all, and excursion boats can only anchor about twenty to thirty metres offshore. But you can still safely admire and photograph all that fascinating beauty from the official viewpoint perched high on the cliffs above the beach.

💡 Tip: The viewpoint above tends to be absolutely packed with tour buses at midday, so set off early in the morning to have this amazing view almost to yourself. Find plenty of inspiration for other Greek islands in our article on the best beaches in Greece.

9. Elafonissi (Crete, Greece)

Crete draws millions of tourists, and one of the main reasons is the famous Elafonissi beach at its very southwestern tip. Its biggest claim to fame, and a real tourist magnet, is its incredibly fine white sand that takes on a clear pink tint at the water’s edge, giving the whole place a very exotic, Caribbean feel. The pink colour isn’t down to magic but to the gradual crushing of fragments of shells and coral organisms mixed with the pale sand.

The beach actually forms a gorgeous shallow lagoon that connects the mainland with the adjacent islet of Elafonissi, with the water usually only waist-deep when you wade across. It’s an absolutely ideal spot for families with small children, because the water is very calm and warmed by the sun like a bathtub. The whole area falls within the Natura 2000 protected zone, and there’s a very strict ban on taking away any of the pink sand, under threat of a hefty fine.

💡 Tip: You’ll see the strongest pink shade right where the waves spread out onto the sand, and especially in the late afternoon light, when the biggest crowds have also disappeared and the beach turns into a perfectly peaceful paradise.

10. Balos (Crete, Greece)

At the northwestern tip of Crete, on the Gramvousa peninsula, lies another incredible lagoon that goes by the name of Balos and makes a great alternative to pink Elafonissi. This natural paradise offers breathtakingly shallow, warm water that sometimes also creates subtle pinkish reflections on the white sand, and the view from the elevated bluff down to the lagoon is one of the most beautiful photos in all of Greece.

Getting here is a bit more of an adventure, since you can either come on an organised boat from the port of Kissamos, or by car along a very dusty, rocky track followed by a longer walk down. It’s that descent that earns you the famous iconic view, which you’ll never see from a boat deck. Here too, the shallows are absolutely perfect for all ages, and swimming in the turquoise water is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

💡 Tip: If you drive, be very careful with the car’s undercarriage, because the road to the car park isn’t paved and some rental companies explicitly don’t provide insurance for this particular route.

11. Kvalvika and Haukland (Lofoten, Norway)

Who says the most beautiful beaches have to be in the tropics where it’s scorching hot? Far up in northern Norway, deep beyond the Arctic Circle, lie the Lofoten Islands, which hide absolute Arctic treasures of white sand and turquoise water that genuinely take your breath away. Haukland is an easily accessible beach right by the road, ranked by prestigious magazines as one of the most beautiful in Europe, and it even has a little café and a kayak rental.

Kvalvika, by contrast, is a wild and hidden cove in Lofotodden National Park, which you reach on foot via a roughly hour-and-a-half trek across boggy ground. It’s one of the most popular spots for wild camping in tents, and the incredible paradox is that although the sea looks like the Caribbean, the water barely tops ten degrees even in the height of summer. Swimming is therefore reserved for hardy cold-water lovers, but the scenery of steep mountains and the midnight sun more than makes up for it.

💡 Tip: If you love photography, be sure to head up to the viewpoint from the summit of Ryten, from which you’ll see the whole of Kvalvika beach laid out below you from a stunning bird’s-eye perspective. Read more about this Arctic paradise in our article on the beaches of Lofoten.

12. Reynisfjara (Iceland)

Iceland is utterly magical, and Lukáš and I have the most beautiful travel memories from there — although the black beach of Reynisfjara near the town of Vík sometimes sent shivers down our spines out of sheer respect for the power of nature. The sand here is deep black, of volcanic origin, and the whole scene — with its enormous geometric basalt columns, the wild cliff and the raging grey-blue ocean — looks like something out of a fantasy film.

It’s vital to understand that Reynisfjara is beautiful, but very dangerous. Swimming here is absolutely forbidden and life-threatening because of so-called sneaker waves, which surge far up the shore at huge speed without any warning and can drag a person into the icy sea. In February 2026, part of the basalt columns even collapsed here after a series of strong storms, and there’s a permanent safety traffic light on site warning tourists of the current risk.

💡 Tip: Never, and I really mean never turn your back on the sea at this beach, and keep a safe distance from the water even when the ocean seems relatively calm. For more trip ideas, check out our article on the south coast of Iceland (Reynisfjara).

13. Whitehaven Beach (Whitsundays, Australia)

If we cross to the other side of the planet, to the famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia, we come across a place that holds the record for what’s probably the whitest beach in the world. Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands is an incredible seven kilometres long, and its sand is 98.9% pure silica, which means the grains reflect sunlight perfectly and you can walk barefoot across them even in the fiercest midday heat, because they simply never heat up.

You can only reach this beauty by excursion boat or luxury seaplane from the ports of Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island, since the whole area is a strictly protected national park. At the Hill Inlet mouth, the water creates amazing swirling patterns with the white sand that rank among the most photographed natural phenomena in all of Australia, and swimming in the turquoise water is sheer bliss.

💡 Tip: The best time to visit is June to October, when you’ll avoid the season of venomous jellyfish and won’t have to swim in special protective stinger suits.

14. Anse Source d’Argent (Seychelles)

For many people the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean are synonymous with perfect, undisturbed exotica, and the beach of Anse Source d’Argent on the smaller island of La Digue is arguably the most photographed coastline in the world. Its huge advantage and absolute uniqueness are the giant, prehistoric-looking granite boulders smoothed into soft shapes, which frame the fine coral sand and, together with the shallow turquoise lagoon, create scenery that will make your jaw drop.

Access to the beach is via the old coconut and vanilla plantation of L’Union Estate, where a daily entrance fee of about a hundred and fifteen Seychellois rupees is charged. The lagoon is protected by a coral reef, so the water is very calm and safe for swimming, although at high tide the sandy beach itself shrinks considerably. The granite boulders have a subtle pinkish hue, and your photos here will look perfect even without any filters.

💡 Tip: As with so many other famous spots, crowds of day-trippers pour in from neighbouring islands at midday, so set off either early in the morning or just before sunset, when the surrounding granite turns incredible warm tones.

15. Grace Bay (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos)

The Caribbean boasts an endless number of perfect beaches, but Grace Bay on the island of Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos archipelago is simply in a league of its own. It regularly wins worldwide awards as the very best beach destination, and travellers often describe it as the place with the clearest water on the entire planet. The average underwater visibility here commonly reaches an impressive twenty metres, and you’ll see every detail beneath the surface.

The beach stretches for about five kilometres, is lined with luxury resorts, and its sand is made of crushed coral without a single sharp rock or annoying patch of seaweed. Around a kilometre and a half offshore there’s also an enormous barrier reef that reliably shields the beach from the Atlantic swell, which is why the warm local shallows are a perfectly safe playground for relaxed swimming and for little kids.

💡 Tip: For a trip to the Caribbean, choose the months between December and April, when dry weather is guaranteed in the region and you’ll safely avoid the unpredictable hurricane season, which peaks in late summer and autumn.

16. Railay (Thailand)

To round off our big selection, let’s head to ever-popular Thailand, straight to Krabi province, home to the fairy-tale cove of Railay. Although this beach sits right on the Thai mainland, you can only reach it on a traditional long-tail wooden boat from the town of Ao Nang, because the entire area is cut off from the rest of the mainland by impenetrable, enormous limestone cliffs. It’s precisely these cliffs, dropping sheer into the emerald water, that make the place an absolute visual paradise and a mecca for climbers.

The sand here is dazzling white, and thanks to the surrounding cliffs and vegetation the water takes on a gorgeously rich green-blue colour. The atmosphere is very laid-back and noticeably calmer than on the big Thai islands, and you won’t find any cars or roads here, just little paths between the trees. The sea is ideal for swimming, and there are countless little secret caves and viewpoints to explore in the surrounding area.

💡 Tip: Travel to Thailand and the Andaman Sea ideally between November and April, during the dry season when the sea is beautifully calm, whereas in summer a strong monsoon and big waves take over.

A Handy Comparison Table

Fun Facts and Records

Let’s take a look at a few records and curiosities that people ask about most often when it comes to the most beautiful beaches in the world.

The most beautiful beach in the world for 2025

According to the highly prestigious World’s 50 Best Beaches poll, the outright winner for 2025 was Italy’s Cala Goloritzé on the island of Sardinia, decided by a jury made up of more than a thousand tourism professionals. Second and third place in various polls are often taken by the Seychelles’ Anse Source d’Argent or Australia’s Whitehaven Beach.

Where to find the whitest sand of all

This stunning geological record is held by Australia’s Whitehaven Beach, whose sand is 98.9% absolutely pure silica. Thanks to this unique composition, the grains intensely reflect heat and sunlight, so even at tropical noon the sand stays very pleasantly cool underfoot.

Why some beaches are pink

The fairy-tale pink colour on the Bahamas’ Pink Sands Beach or Crete’s Elafonissi isn’t created by magic, but by the crushed shells of microscopic single-celled organisms known scientifically as foraminifera. These reddish-pink creatures gradually mix in the sea with classic white coral sand to create that subtle coloured tint.

What black sand is actually made of

Black beaches like Iceland’s Reynisfjara or Hawaii’s Punaluʻu always have a clear volcanic origin, because they form when molten lava from a volcano flows into the sea, rapidly solidifies, and is then gradually ground down by strong waves into tiny, deep-black grains.

Where the longest beach in the world is

An intriguing geographical record-holder is Brazil’s Praia do Cassino, which, according to satellite measurements, stretches for an incredible two hundred and fifty-four kilometres from the city of Rio Grande all the way to the border with Uruguay.

Does green sand really exist?

Yes, it’s extremely rare, but on Hawaii’s Big Island you’ll find Papakōlea Beach with its bright green sand, caused by a high concentration of a heavy volcanic mineral called olivine. There are only two main beaches in the world with this phenomenon — the other lies in the remote Galápagos.

Where to Next

If you’re planning a summer holiday full of swimming in Europe, be sure to check out our big article on what we think are the very most beautiful beaches in Croatia. And if you’d like to explore more Italian gems and coves with giant granite boulders, you’ll be utterly charmed by the La Maddalena archipelago, which lies just a short boat ride from northern Sardinia.

Lovers of Greece and volcanic colours, meanwhile, will be guaranteed to fall for the island of Milos, Greece, where you’ll find a fantastic lunar landscape and the white Sarakiniko cliffs dropping straight into the deep blue sea.

Frequently Asked Questions