8 countries you didn't know have amazing beaches
When planning a beach trip, most travelers (especially Americans) will opt for the Caribbean or somewhere in Latin America. Additionally, the Mediterranean coast in Europe is popular with those down for a bit more distance, and real globetrotters will travel all the way to Fiji and other places in the South Pacific for some sun. But with all the coastlines in this world, why do we always pick from the same group of places? Isn’t there more out there?
When you think about it, all you need for a good beach is warm weather, stretches of sand, plenty of sun, and comfortable surroundings, which is why and we searched the Earth for eight countries with beaches that offer all this and more. The catch, however, is that you probably wouldn’t consider the countries in this list as beach destinations, and most aren’t synonymous with the word “tropical” either.
When planning your next trip, consider booking a ticket to one of the following locations instead. They likely have tourist attractions and advantages of which you’re already aware, and now you know they also contain some amazing places to soak up the sun.
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China
Shot in the dark, but I’m going to wager that most people don’t think of the word “beach” when they hear “China.” But land-wise China is a huge country, and it contains enormous cities, tons of mountains, and endless stretches of rural areas, along with quite a large coastline on the eastern and southern sides. It’s true that Chinese folks aren’t the biggest beach-goers in the world (although with such a large population, generalizations are tricky), but don’t let that deter you. In fact, it means you’ll like have more space to yourself, especially during the hottest part of the day. While Beidaihe in the north is known for its long stretches of sand and shallow water, and Putuoshan Island is worth a trip if you’re in the Shanghai area, the south is really where it’s at. Head to the large island of Sanya and whether you end up at Yalong Bay (the most popular), Sanya Bay (the least crowded), Wuzhizhou (“The Maldives of China;” great for diving), or Tianya Haijiao (the second-most southern point), you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the beautiful sand, surf, and sun.
Germany
Northern European country, chilly weather, and only a small portion of its border is coastline — we get it, Germany isn’t an obvious beach country. But with average temperatures in the summer around 72 degrees F (and up into the 80s and even 90s at times), there’s plenty of time to book it to the beach. Sylt, Germany’s northernmost island, has almost 25 miles of fine, sandy beaches, and seeing the sunset from Rotes Kliff (red cliff) near Kampen is highly recommended. Germany actually has a surprising number of islands, with Usedom (which shares it’s 28 miles of coastline with Poland), Amrum (your best chance to have a beach to yourself), Rugen (the largest, with 38 miles of beach, a few seaside resorts, and an average of 1800 hours of sun each year), and Hiddensee and Juist (both totally car-free) rounding out the list. Want to avoid a spell of rock fever? Head to the mainland’s Bay of Lübeck, which has numerous lighthouses dotting its four beaches.
Iceland
Don’t let the country’s frigid name fool you, Iceland has some ridiculous beaches — it is an island, after all. The temperatures can get quite cold for most of the year, but in the peak of summer, it’s not unusual to see temperature highs land in the low 70s or even low 80s. A two-hour drive from the capital, Reykjavik, is the southern town of Vik and its breathtaking beaches. Reynisfjara Beach has black sand and pebbles, and the nearby basalt caves are more than worthy of a visit. On the flip side, Budir Beach on the Snaefellsnes peninsula in the west is one of the rare light-colored beaches in Iceland. The tip of this peninsula is also home to the Snæfellsjökull volcano, one of the main symbols of the country. Eager to take a dip but worried about the water temp? Nautholsvik (near Reykjavik) is a thermal beach heated by hot water flowing into the bay.
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