{"id":1690,"date":"2025-05-03T09:20:59","date_gmt":"2025-05-03T09:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=1690"},"modified":"2025-05-06T13:05:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T13:05:59","slug":"the-best-beach-in-the-world-is-only-four-hours-from-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/03\/the-best-beach-in-the-world-is-only-four-hours-from-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u2018best beach in the world\u2019 is only four hours from the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"An\t<\/div>
Visitors describe it as \u2018like a paradise\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The best beach<\/a> in the world has been revealed for 2025, and you don\u2019t have to travel to a far-flung destination<\/a> to find it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tripadvisor\u2019s annual Traveller\u2019s Choice Awards<\/a> has crowned Elafonissi Beach<\/strong> in Crete<\/a> as the number one beach on the planet, thanks to its unique pink sands and crystal-clear waters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After a four-year absence from the rankings, it has soared past 23 other stretches of sand to claim the top spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Located on the southwestern coast of the Greek<\/a> island, Elafonissi is a small islet separated from the mainland by a shallow lagoon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The European<\/a> beach is famous for its soft, pastel pink shoreline, which gets its unique hue from microscopic organisms called Foraminifera.\u00a0<\/p>\n

These tiny marine creatures produce red-pigmented shells, which, over time, break down and mix with the white grains of sand on the shore.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Beautiful\t<\/div>
One visitor said it\u2019s the most stunning beach they\u2019ve ever seen (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tripadvisor\u2019s ranking of beaches is based on a comprehensive analysis of reviews and ratings from millions of travellers over the past 12 months.<\/p>\n

The winning beach currently holds a 4.5-star rating, based on 16,000 reviews. Its description reads: \u2018Elafonissi Beach is just one of those places you have to see to believe.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018The shallow lagoons are perfect for those with curious kids, while the deeper waters invite all sorts of adventure for adults: swimming, snorkelling, you name it. Just make sure to stick around until sunset \u2013 you won\u2019t regret it.\u2019<\/p>\n

Those who visit are rarely disappointed, as made clear by the glowing reviews from thousands of travellers.<\/p>\n

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\nhttps:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@allincrete\/video\/7386338239537286432?q=elafonissi%20beach%20&t=1740243561041<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Reviewers have declared it the \u2018Maldives of Crete\u2019 due to its \u2018jaw-dropping\u2019 scenery, and some have compared it to the Caribbean.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One reviewer, Xhiria, said the beach is a \u2018must see\u2019. They wrote: \u2018The water is clear. It\u2019s like a paradise before the people arrive.\u2019<\/p>\n

Another added: \u2018The water is beautifully clear, the pink grains of sand dance around at the water\u2019s edge, and the water is shallow enough for you to walk around in the water.\u2019<\/p>\n

While one reviewer said: \u2018This is the most stunning beach I have ever seen. It takes your breath away.\u2019<\/p>\n

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The beach has thousands of glowing reviews on Tripadvisor (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, some pointed out that it can get particularly crowded in summer, and a few inconsiderate tourists have been known to take samples of the pink sand.<\/p>\n

Cerys1992 wrote: \u2018[It\u2019s a] beautiful and clean beach. It\u2019s a shame that inconsiderate tourists have unfortunately been stealing the pink sand.\u2019<\/p>\n

Those who want to see the beach for themselves can easily travel from Chania, the nearest major city with convenient transport links. The beach is an hours drive away from there.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re flying from the UK, direct flights to Chania take roughly four hours. One-way flights from London Gatwick to Chania can be found for \u00a340, departing in April.<\/p>\n

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