There’s nothing better than a beach holiday. But if anything can top azure seas fringed by white sands, it's azure seas fringed by pink sands. Scattered across the globe, these rare pink beaches are endlessly photogenic. But what exactly causes their mysterious and otherworldly hue? And more importantly, where can you see one of these beaches for yourself?
Click or scroll through this gallery to browse the best pink sand beaches from around the world...
At first glance, pink sand beaches might look like a trick of the light or a pretty photo filter, but their hues are surprisingly natural. The rosy colour often (though not always) comes from tiny fragments of foraminifera – marine organisms with pink shells, mixed with crushed coral, other shells and limestone.
Over time, these natural materials are broken down by waves and deposited on shore, creating beaches with a gentle pink tint. While the specific composition and saturation varies depending on the location, the end result is always spectacular.
Elafonissi Beach on the southwestern tip of Crete is so beautiful that it's been named the best beach in the world in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travellers’ Choice Awards. This Greek gem, which is set in a protected nature reserve, was crowned for its striking colours and shallow lagoons.
As well as its rosy complexion, which is a mixture of foraminifera shells and white sand, the beach and its surrounding dunes are home to endangered plant life and loggerhead sea turtles. The shallow waters make it a perfect snorkelling spot too.
Spiaggia Rosa (or 'Pink Beach') on Budelli Island boasts ethereal pink sands that make it truly unforgettable. But, to protect the beach, strict conservation measures have been in place since the 1990s, meaning that if you want to take in its wonders you’ll have to do it from a safe distance via a boat tour.
Fun fact: until 2021 Budelli had just one resident, a former PE teacher named Mauro Morandi who became the island's caretaker after being shipwrecked on its shores in 1989.
Balos Beach, found in northwestern Crete, is one of the most photographed spots on the island. Its exotic scenery, with turquoise waters, pink-tinged sands and a dramatic mountain backdrop, makes it a favourite for visitors and snappers, so it can get very busy during peak season.
Balos is one of Crete’s three famous pink sand beaches, alongside Elafonissi Beach and Falassarna Beach. The pink hue at Falassarna is subtler compared to its more vibrant sister beaches.
Often ranked among the top beaches in the world, Horseshoe Bay is a public beach that's named for its curving shape. Another beach that boasts a rosy hue thanks to red foraminifera, the colour is particularly vivid at the water’s edge. The sheltered bay, framed by limestone cliffs, makes it perfect for swimming, snorkelling and family fun.
Naturally its popularity peaks during summer, and facilities, including a bus service plus an on-site snack bar and showers, make it visitor-friendly as well as beautiful.
Crane Beach, on Barbados's southeast coast, is a contender for the island’s most stunning beach. Famed for its soft, pink‑tinged white sand, coconut groves and dramatic limestone cliffs, it’s particularly popular with patrons of the historic Crane Resort, who can access the beach using an iconic glass-fronted elevator.
But it is also a public beach offering a relaxed Caribbean vibe, with plenty of amenities and ideal conditions for watersports. Although partially protected by a reef, the surf can be strong, making it better suited for confident swimmers.
A jewel of the Tuamotu Islands, the atoll of Rangiroa boasts a tiny airport that is the gateway to a series of minuscule South Pacific islets. It takes around an hour and a half to get to Les Sables Roses ('The Pink Sands') from Rangiroa by boat, but it's worth every penny for the unforgettable experience and photo opportunities.
The incredible bank of bright pink sand in the middle of the turquoise lagoon unsurprisingly draws visitors from all over the world. The breathtaking scenery alone is enough, but it's even better beneath the water's surface, with copious tropical fish and rays.
This stretch of light pink beach on the Caribbean island of Barbuda reaches for eight miles (13km) between Spanish Point and Palmetto Point, but, unlike some other pink beaches, the colouration is not always visible. The rosy hue changes day to day, and is most apparent when shells have been deposited by the waves.
Although it's the most famous beach on this little-visited island, it remains wonderfully quiet, offering a tranquil, unspoiled haven where you can enjoy the sand in peace. A day trip from Antigua by air makes for an unforgettable experience, especially when combined with visits to the Frigate Bird Sanctuary and Princess Diana Beach.
A rare sight in Asia, Great Santa Cruz Island, located off Zamboanga City, is renowned for its striking pink sand, formed not by foraminifera shells but by pulverised red organ-pipe coral mixed with white sand grains.
It's the only pink sand beach in the Philippines and has been named one of the 21 best beaches in the world by National Geographic. Accessible via boat tours, the small, inhabited island is a protected landscape and seascape, featuring pristine beaches and lush mangrove forests.
Located on the Balearic Island of Formentera, just a stone’s throw from Ibiza, Playa de Ses Illetes is sometimes dubbed 'the Maldives of the Mediterranean' for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, aided by the protected posidonia meadows that thrive beneath the surface.
While its pink-tinged sand is more subtle than that of other 'pink' beaches, this Spanish gem consistently earns a spot on Lonely Planet’s list of the world’s most beautiful beaches. There's a boat service that goes to La Savina port, so whether you’re into watersports or simple sun and sand vibes, this beach is worth visiting – even though it can get busy during peak season.
Harbour Island’s Pink Sand Beach is a nearly three-mile (4.8km) expanse of pastel shoreline. Its calm, shallow Atlantic waters and quiet vibe make it perfect for serene beach strolls, swimming and snorkelling.
Unlike in other parts of the world, the sand here, which is a mix of foraminifera shells and coral, is generally cool, so you can walk about freely with bare feet. Frequently named among the world’s most beautiful beaches, Harbour Island remains accessible and lightly developed, making it ideal for embracing island life.
A once-hidden gem on the southern tip of Eleuthera, Lighthouse Beach sits between the calm Exuma Sound and the vast Atlantic Ocean. Its blush-rose sand may be subtler than Harbour Island’s famed pink stretch, but it rivals it in beauty, framed by dramatic limestone cliffs.
In recent years, Disney Cruise Line acquired land in and around Lighthouse Beach to develop an exclusive destination for its cruise guests. In June 2024, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point officially opened on the island’s southern shore.
Tucked away in Big Sur, California, Pfeiffer Beach is a rare coastal gem known for its purplish-pink sand, which is tinted by manganese garnet deposits washing down from the nearby cliffs. Though not traditionally pink, the sand’s unique hue shifts with the light and tide, creating an ever-changing landscape that feels almost surreal.
The beach is especially popular in winter, when the sun sets perfectly through Keyhole Arch, attracting photographers from around the world. Hidden off Highway 1 via the unmarked Sycamore Canyon Road, Pfeiffer Beach often remains a tranquil escape away from the crowds.
Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the legendary home of the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest living lizard. Due to its protected status, visits to the park's breathtaking pink sand beach are allowed only with a licensed tour guide.
But a visit to this beach is worth the effort. With its deep rose-coloured sand and dramatic volcanic backdrop, it’s a bucket-list experience, whether you're lounging on the blush shoreline, diving into vibrant coral reefs or paddling out in a kayak.