What makes a real dream beach? According to the ranking World's 50 Beaches there are eight key characteristics that define it: It is located in a unique landscape, often far off the beaten track. Nature is intact, and it is not uncommon to observe impressive wildlife. Instead of hustle and bustle, tranquillity dominates and the water should be calm, clear and easily accessible. Do these places still exist?

According to the platform, lots of them! To create the ranking, World's 50 Beaches enlisted the help of travel journalists, experts and influencers and came to this conclusion.

The top ten most beautiful beaches in the world

#1 Entalula Beach, Philippines

The combination of dramatic rocky landscape, turquoise sea and natural tranquillity gives the place a special blend of intensity and serenity. The steep limestone cliffs that rise up directly behind the fine white sandy beach are striking and create a spectacular backdrop. The beach can only be reached by boat and is therefore much less frequented than many of the surrounding villages. The water is exceptionally clear and mostly calm.

#2 Fteri Beach, Kefalonia, Greece

Fteri Beach is located in a secluded bay on the island and is surrounded by striking white cliffs. The beach can usually only be reached by boat or via a steep hiking trail, which preserves its seclusion. The scenery is characterized by light-coloured rock faces framed by a mixture of white pebbles and sand, which merge into the crystal-clear, turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea.

#3 Wharton Beach, Australia

Wharton Beach is remotely located on the south coast of Western Australia in the Duke of Orleans Bay region - a place that hardly ever seems overcrowded due to its location. White, fine sand meets surprisingly clear, turquoise water, behind which a vast, almost untouched coastal landscape opens up. The atmosphere is calm and pristine, with plenty of space for silence and space even on summer days. The beach is also popular with surfers and is considered a good vantage point for spotting dolphins off the coast.

#4 Nosy Iranja, Madagascar

Nosy Iranja is an extraordinary island duo off the coast of Madagascar, consisting of Nosy Iranja Be and Nosy Iranja Kely. The place is particularly famous for a sandbank around two kilometers long, which connects the two islands at low tide and disappears completely under the turquoise water at high tide. This natural connection creates a landscape that is constantly changing with the tides - sometimes a narrow white strip in the sea, sometimes completely hidden. At the same time, Nosy Iranja is an important habitat for sea turtles, which regularly land here to lay their eggs.

#5 East Beach, Vomo Island, Fiji

East Beach gives you the feeling of being far away from the rest of the world. Tall palm trees and dense tropical vegetation line the wide white sandy beach, where there is often barely a trace of sand to be seen in the morning. As the beach is on the sheltered side of the island, the water usually remains calm and is suitable for swimming all day long. At the same time, this part of the island is not very well developed, which is why many sections appear almost deserted.

#6 Shoal Bay East, Anguilla

Shoal Bay East is one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean - and is considered by many to be the island's flagship. Despite its popularity, the long beach is surprisingly quiet and relaxed. Between palm trees, small beach bars and powder-white sand, the laid-back atmosphere for which Anguilla is known unfolds. The water is crystal clear and mostly calm, the gentle waves are ideal for swimming or snorkeling on the nearby coral reefs.

#7 Dhigurah, Maldives

Dhigurah Beach stands out even among the beaches of the Maldives - above all due to its exceptionally long coastline and the narrow sandbank that stretches far out into the lagoon. The beach is easily accessible from the village, but becomes increasingly secluded the further away you get. At the tip of the island in particular, the scenery is almost surreal: a narrow strip of soft white sand flanked by shallow, crystal-clear water on both sides.

#8 Playa Balandra, Mexico

Playa Balandra is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico - not least because the bay has remained surprisingly unspoiled despite its fame. Strict protective measures limit development, visitor numbers and interference with nature. The calm, shallow water and the striking rock formation"El Hongo", which rises out of the sea like a mushroom, are particularly characteristic. The entire bay remains comparatively shallow even at high tide, which makes it particularly attractive for families and relaxed days of swimming.

#9 Koh Rong, Cambodia

Koh Rong Beach is located off the coast of Cambodia and is best known for its miles of almost uninterrupted white sandy beach. The clear, shallow water shimmers turquoise and merges gently into the sea. Some sections open wide to the coast, others are framed by dense tropical vegetation.

#10 Donald Duck Bay, Thailand

Donald Duck Beach is located in the protected Similan Islands National Park and is only accessible during the season from around November to May. The area remains closed during the monsoon season - a protective mechanism that keeps nature largely intact. Accessible only by boat, the beach boasts fine white sand, calm, crystal-clear water and the typical round granite rocks, including the striking formation that gave the place its name.