Bali Pips Australia For The ‘Most Beautiful Beach In The World’ Title, According To Instagram
Aussies may have a deep love for Bali, but there’s another thing we love just as much: gloating about how amazing our beaches are. But a recent global ranking based on Instagram data has seen the popular Indonesian island take out the top spot for the most beautiful beach in the world, just pipping Australia.
Bali’s Kelingking Beach has been crowned the most beautiful beach in the world as far as Instagram is concerned, with more photos taken on its shores (4,227 Instagram photos per metre) than any other beach.
Money.co.uk analysed over 26 million Instagram hashtags associated with the world’s most popular beaches and calculated how many Instagram posts are shared per metre of that stretch of sand; the one with the most Instagram posts per metre being crowned the most beautiful in the world.
In second place is (obviously) iconic Bondi Beach in Sydney with 1,776 pictures per metre and rounding out the top three is Thailand’s Railay Beach with 587 pictures per metre.
The per metre metric shakes things up. Kelingking Beach has just 338,193 hashtagged images on Instagram but covers a modest 80m of Nusa Penida. Meanwhile, Bondi has over 1.7 million hashtagged Instagrams but across a 1000-metre stretch.
We do have to hand it to Kelingking Beach; it’s one stunning spot. One of the main reasons it’s so popular with tourists is because of its incredible cliff formation shaped like Tyrannosaurus Rex, which obviously makes for the perfect photo opportunity. The other thing to consider is access – it’s much easier to get down to Bondi than to a secluded beach off a cliffside on an Indonesian island off Bali.
Here’s the top 10 vying for the most beautiful beach in the world, according to Instagram
#1 Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali
80 metres, 4,227 pictures per metre
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For every glorious metre of Kelingking Beach there are 4,227 pictures taken. It’s no surprise that this is a popular photo location when you consider the famous cliffs in the shape of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, plus the stunning backdrop of the bright blue sea and the added greenery from tropical plants.
#2 Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
1,000 metres, 1,776 pictures per metre
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Conveniently found just 7km away from the Sydney CBD, Bondi Beach is of the biggest attractions in Australia for tourists and locals alike. The stretch of sand beach gets its name from the Aboriginal word ‘Bondi’ meaning, “water breaking over rocks.”
#3 Railay Beach, Krabi, Thailand
450 metres, 587 pictures per metre
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Once a laid back fishing village in Krabi, Railay Beach is now a world-class tourist destination. What makes this place feel even more special is that it’s cut off from the rest of the mainland by a row of steep hills, which means you can only get there by boat. plus, there are striking limestone cliffs shooting out of the crystal clear waters.
#4 Tropea Beach, Calabria, Italy
115 metres, 423 pictures per metre
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A few years ago Puglia came into vogue, and now Calabria (the tip of the boot) is getting its time in the spotlight. A classic Italian resort bursting with charm, Tropea Beach aptly sits on the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is called the Costa Degli Dei, the ‘Coast of the Gods.’ This is another spot with dramatic cliffs, but there’s also a historic town centre sitting on top.
#5 Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece
182 metres, 403 pictures per metre
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Of course, Greece had to make the top five. Also known as Shipwreck Beach thanks to a vessel that used to smuggle ciggies washing to shore in 1983, Navaggio has widely been considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the country thanks to its huge surrounding cliffs and crystalline waters.
#6 Hanauma Bay, Hawaii, USA
570 metres, 345 pictures per metre
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Hanauma Bay is one of the most popular tourist destinations on Oʻahu, found in the Hawaii Kai neighbourhood in East Honolulu. Looking like something straight out of Disney’s Moana, this is also the first Marine Life Conservation District in the State, aiming to re-establishing its pristine marine ecosystem that so many people flock to visit.
#7 Tenby North Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales
770 metres, 343 pictures per metre
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Awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Beach as a result of their strong environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related efforts, this is a slice of Welsh paradise. Enclosed by the pastel-hued townhouses and rugged cliffs, this east-facing beach is a self-made sun trap so you can enjoy the Welsh weather all day long.
#8 Praia do Camilo, Lagos, Portugal
100 metres, 325 pictures per metre
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Possibly one of the Algarve’s most iconic beaches, its golden sand and crystal clear waters are an Instagram opp waiting to happen. You need to climb down 200 wooden steps winding down through orange-toned cliffs though, but it’s all part of the experience.
#9 Boulders Beach, Cape Town, South Africa
420 metres, 323 pictures per metre
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Unlike all the other beaches on the list, at Boulders Beach you will get the chance to be surrounded by its most famous residents – a colony of African penguins. It’s actually the only place in the world where you can get this close to these special creatures, which is why over 60,000 people visit the beach each year. Well, that and the gorg seaside views.
#10 Blue Point Beach, Ungasan, Bali
105 metres, 287 pictures per metre
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Look at Bali taking out two top 10 spots. This beautiful coral beach can only be accessed via a secret, narrow gap amongst the cliffs framing the beach, which makes it feel like a treasure. You can soak in the naturally occurring pools or catch rays on the super-soft sand, but if you’re more of a foodie, go to one of the seafood restaurants dotted alongside the coast and watch the surfers while you eat.
The full 20 also includes:
#11 Cala Saona, Formentera, Spain
#12 Margate Beach, Kent, England
#13 Cala Goloritzè, Baunei, Italy
#14 Freedom Beach, Phuket, Thailand
#15 Cala Gat, Cala Ratjada, Spain
#16 Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver, Canada
#17 Lanikai Beach, Hawaii, USA
#18 Bal Harbour Beach, Miami, USA
#19 Durdle Door, Dorset, England
#20 Sitges Beach, Barcelona, Spain
(Lead image: Alec Favale / Unsplash; Vincent Rivaud / Pexels)
