25 Santa Monica Beach, Cape Verde, Africa More than 22km long, Santa Monica Beach is the longest beach in Cape Verde.

24 Anse Lazio, Praslin Island, Seychelles. The bustling reef just off the shore at Anse Lazio beach provides unrivalled snorkelling opportunities.

23. Surfers Paradise Beach, Gold Coast, Australia 3km stretch of sand is, as the name would suggest, a legendary surfing spot.

22. Fig Tree Bay, Protoras, Cyprus .The shallow waters of Fig Tree Bay make it perfect for swimmers

21. Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece.The pink-hued sand of Elafonissi Beach is reason enough to visit — think of the 'gram.

20. Bournemouth Beach, Dorset, UK.The highest British entry in the ranking is Bournemouth Beach on the south coast of England.

19. Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia.This secluded beach is sheltered by an impressively steep cliff and headland.

18. Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia.Another surfing hot spot, Manly Beach is surrounded by tall, distinctive trees.

17. Playa Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica.This tropical paradise is one of Costa Rica's most popular beaches.

16. Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, India.Surrounded by lush forest, with white sands and calm seas, this is a flawless beach.

15. Balos Lagoon, Kissamos, Crete, Greece.It may not be easy to reach (you need to venture down a narrow dirt track), but a visit to the natural wonder that is Balos Lagoon is so worth it.

14. Ka'anapali Beach, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, US.Three miles of white sand and clear turquoise waters make this one of the most popular beaches in Hawaii.

13. Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain. The sea at this popular Formentera spot is, on a sunny day, jaw-droppingly blue.

12. Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilMeaning "the small beaches," these are surrounded by white sand and lush greenery.

11. Falesia Beach, Faro, Portugal.Falesia Beach, Faro, Portugal. The colourful cliffs are the most distinctive feature of this long, sandy beach.

10. Seven Mile Beach, Negril, Jamaica.This picture-perfect beach was once taken over by pirates.

9. Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico.This palm tree-lined beach is, for many, holiday perfection.

This palm tree-lined beach is, for many, holiday perfection.The second Seven Mile Beach to make the top 10, a trip to the Cayman Islands is not complete without a visit to this famous beach

7. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Sicily, Italy.The rugged coastline makes a visit to this beach particularly memorable.

6. Clearwater Beach, Florida, US. As the name would suggest, you can expect calm, clear waters at this beach, perfect for stand-up paddleboarding.

5. Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.Grace Bay has a tropical reef just off shore.

4. La Concha Beach, San Sebastián, Spain.Europe's number one beach for the second year running, the beach is located in the centre of the city and has no less than 1,500 metres of white sand, plus a small island off the bay that beachgoers can swim out to with its own small beach, a lighthouse, picnic tables, and a bar.

3. Eagle Beach, Palm, Aruba.This wide beach with plenty of soft sand makes it an ideal sunbathing location.

2. Varadero Beach, Varadero, Cuba.Varadero Beach is a 20km stretch of golden sand along what is one of the largest resorts in the Caribbean.

1. Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, The crystalline water, soft white sand, and surrounding cliffs teeming with exotic wildlife make this archipelago with UNESCO world heritage status the number one beach in the world.