Top Beaches in Florida
Located along the Duval County shoreline, Jacksonville Beach - also known as Jax Beach - is a large beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated in a resort-city (also named Jacksonville Beach) near the city of Jacksonville. A quarter-of-a-mile long fishing pier named the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier is also present near this beach.
Home to the famous Daytona International Speedway and Motorsports Hall of Fame, Daytona Beach isn't limited by its racing tracks. Above all else, it's a tropical playground and a stunning beach.
Located less than an hour from Orlando, Daytona Beach is easily accessible. Although it can get crowded during the summer and NASCAR races, park on the beach’s side streets to dodge the traffic and congestion. Once you’re at Daytona however, you’ll find that it is truly worth it. With 23 miles of pristine beachfront, it’s the epitome of tropical paradise. With vibrant turquoise waters, glistening golden sand, vibrant sunsets, and sky-scraping palm trees, Daytona Beach looks like it belongs on a postcard. It’s the perfect place to lounge on the sand, tan, and bask in incredible views of the Atlantic.
While Daytona’s a great beach for lounging, it’s also an ideal place for adventurers. Temperate waters during low tide make the beach ideal for snorkeling, swimming, paddle boarding, fishing, and kayaking. And with large waves during high tide, it’s perfect for surfers and boogie boarders looking to catch only the Atlantic’s most exhilarating waves.
For beachgoers seeking a change of pace after a day of fun in the sun, Daytona Beach has plenty to do. Looking for a day of shopping? Visit the Tanger Outlets Daytona, a local outlet mall offering incredible deals on coveted brands such as Hugo Boss, Armani, Coach, Joie, Rag & Bone, Lululemon, Michael Kors, Theory, Tory Burch, True Religion, Vince, Polo Ralph Lauren, Adidas, and Nike. Prefer a nourishing spa day? Visit Ocean Waters Spa, a well-reviewed local spa known for its excellent facials, manicures, pedicures, and massages.
At Daytona Beach, hungry beachgoers are in luck. With a number of top-notch local restaurants offering unique dining experiences, Daytona is the perfect place to grab a bite. For authentic old-school Italian comfort food, visit Don Vito’s Italian Restaurant, a family-run local spot loved by locals for its eggplant parmigiana, lasagna, and stromboli. Prefer a romantic and adventurous night of fine dining? Dine at The Cellar, an upscale chef-driven hotspot known for its homemade pastas and excellent osso buco. For beachgoers spending the night in Daytona, the Plaza Resort and Spa and the Holiday Inn Daytona Beach on the Ocean offer guests spacious oceanfront rooms and excellent service.
Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Beach is a large beach with white sand and palm trees and is next to a beautiful background of oceanfront high-rise buildings. Fort Lauderdale Beach sees fewer visitors than other more popular Florida beaches and this makes the beach have a calm atmosphere. A recreational park named Fort Lauderdale Beach Park is also present near this beach. As an interesting fact, the 1960 movie Where The Boys Are was filmed around Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Fort Lauderdale Beach has been named the 35th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.”
Located along Florida’s central coastline, Clearwater Beach is an immensely popular beach that has soft white sand. This wide beach is situated in Pinellas County and spans over two-and-a-half miles. Clearwater Beach’s reputation as one of the United States’ premier beach destinations is not simply a tall claim - the beach has received many accolades from travel websites and media publications. The beach has been named the 5th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach" - and was also featured by Tripadvisor’s Travellers Choice awards in 2016, 2018, and 2019. USA Today also listed Clearwater Beach as the "best beach town in Florida" in 2013. A 1,000 feet-long concrete pier named Pier 60 is also present in Clearwater Beach
Located in the city of Delray Beach, Delray Municipal Beach - also known as Delray Public Beach and Delray Beach Municipal Beach - is a popular large and clean white-sand beach with nearby palm trees. Many kinds of plants are also present around Delray Municipal Beach including beach stars, necklace pods, and sea grapes. Delray Municipal Beach was named the 22nd Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” This one-and-a-half-mile-long beach was listed by Travel Holiday magazine as one of the top beaches in the South-eastern United States.
We’ve all heard of Miami’s South Beach. Featured heavily in iconic films such as Scarface, Miami Vice, Baywatch, Goldfinger, and Ride Along, it’s one of the world’s most famed and instantly recognizable beaches. With its iconic Ocean Drive, renowned restaurants, luxury shopping, opulent hotels and resorts, and bustling nightclubs, South Beach is possibly the world’s most popular beach destination. Additionally, Miami Beach – South was named theBest Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.”
When you arrive at South Beach, you’ll immediately notice the beach’s incredible views. From the sand, beachgoers marvel at Miami Beach’s skyline. With its art-deco architecture, dramatic modern high-rises, and sky-scraping palm trees, the skyline is arguably South Florida’s most iconic sight.
Once you walk onto South Beach’s glistening golden sand, you’ll see that South Beach is more than just a tourist destination. It’s a naturally stunning beach in its own right. With vibrant turquoise water and glistening golden, it’s the perfect place to lounge and enjoy nature while just steps from the big city. While you’re there, be sure to catch South Beach’s vibrant sunsets, which peak at around 7 pm.
Located in the city of Destin, Destin Beach is a beach with white sand.
Panama City Beach is a stunning vacation destination that combines tranquil, island paradise with bustling city life. A strip of skyscrapers sits along the golden sand, creating the paradoxical aesthetic that is unique to this Floridian beach. If you're looking for a beach with plenty of thrills and adventures, Panama City Beach is the destination for you.
This beach is the ultimate beach-palooza, with a myriad of watersports, including boating, fishing, parasailing, diving, and more. Take advantage of the opportunity to explore the turquoise waters of the Gulf Mexico by swimming with dolphins, deep-sea fishing on a charter boat, scuba diving through sunken ships and colorful reefs, and more. Scuba diving is especially popular among the artificial reefs of historic shipwrecks, including the Black Bart, World War II Liberty Ship, and Empire Mica. Further your underwater adventures with Panama City Dive Center, which offers diving lessons and the chance to become scuba-certified.
Jet-skiing on a Yamaha Waverunner is another popular beach activity. Enjoy your beach day by slicing through the bright blue waters at incredible speeds. Stand-up paddleboarding is another fun pastime on the beach or on nearby lagoons and rivers -- you can even fish or do yoga on your board! Parasailing is an adrenaline-filled experience above sparkling, blue coastline that many beachgoers go for during the summer months. At the end of the day, head to Saltwater Grill for amazing seafood and cocktails, or to Firefly for a romantic dinner under twinkling lights. It's clear that Panama City Beach is a legendary sandy paradise, complete with water activities, gorgeous views, and great food. Is Panama City Beach the beach for you? Come to Florida's northern coast yourself to find out.
Situated on Florida’s Space Coast an hour east of Orlando, Cocoa Beach is a tropical beach paradise that feels remote despite being accessible from the big city.
With lush trees and greenery, scenic walkways that lead to the beach’s thick white sand, and crystal clear water, Cocoa Beach is the quintessential Florida beach paradise. Getting there is a breeze, as the beach offers plentiful street parking. And once you arrive, you’ll find its amenities to be plentiful. Looking for a more restful beach day? Lounge on Cocoa Beach in comfort with chairs and picnic tables, and seek refuge from the sun with umbrellas. Prefer a day of adventure? Paddle-board, surf, snorkel, or swim in its crystal clear water. Hike through the beach’s nearby nature preserves, and explore stunning exotic wildlife and plants. Or grab your fishing rod and bait, and try to catch one of the Florida Space Coast’s many exotic fish.
Looking for a change of pace? For some top-notch fine dining and shopping, head to Cocoa Village, a revitalized riverside community with restaurants, galleries, local shops, and artist studios. Craving some authentic Southern Barbeque? Visit Cryderman’s Barbecue, a local favorite known for its mouthwatering brisket and excellent pork ribs. For some top-notch Thai grub, head to Thai Thai Cocoa Village, a local spot offering authentic Thai and Japanese cuisine with locally sourced beers and wines. Craving boba? Stop by Mima’s Cafe & Tea Bar and grab a refreshing milk tea or iced coffee. And for a day of learning and enrichment. visit the nearby Kennedy Space Center, where beachgoers can tour launch-pads, meet veteran astronauts, see giant rockets, interact with space simulators, and even view a rocket launch.
For beachgoers spending the night by Cocoa Beach, there are a number of excellent local hotels. At the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, experience top-tier service, luxurious and spacious rooms, and an incredible beachside location. Prefer a hotel offering unbeatable value? Check-in at the Best Western Cocoa Beach Hotel & Suites, an affordable hotel with spacious oceanfront suites.
Located on Siesta Key in Florida’s Sarasota County, Siesta Beach – also known as Siesta Key Beach and Siesta Key Public Beach – is a large and popular beach with white sand. This beach was named as the best beach in the United States by TripAdvisor’s Travelers Choice awards in 2020. It was also listed as the 9th best beach in the world by TripAdvisor in 2024, and it is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.
The beach is open between 6 am and 10 pm.
Located in the city of Jacksonville, Amelia Island State Park is a state park that has immaculate white-sand beaches and is one of the only parks in Florida that offers horseback riding on the beach.
