In classic Manchester winter style, the skies are dark and bleak out there, so much so it’s got us dreaming about taking a trip to a sunny beach abroad. If you’re looking to swap concrete pavements and grey skies for sandy beaches and sunshine, then you can because ‘the best beach in the world’ is just a four-hour flight away and can cost less than £40 one way.
TripAdvisor recently revealed the winners of The Travellers’ Choice Awards 2025, including the Best of the Best Beaches, with Elafonissi Beach being crowned number one in the world. What sets the beach apart is not just its impressive score of 4.5 out of 5 and a whopping 10,643 excellent reviews but also its pink (yes, pink) sands – although the amount of pink on display varies with conditions and the season.
The beach’s crystal clear turquoise waters, shallow lagoons suitable for kids as well as activities like snorkelling available, were just some of the reasons why it ranked so highly. Plus, many reviews recommended sticking around until sunset.
How to get to ‘the best beach in the world’ from Manchester
Located on the Greek island of Crete, travellers can fly from Manchester to the airport of Chania for as little as £39 one way according to flight comparison site Skyscanner, then head to the south west coast to this award-winning beach. Unfortunately if you’re wanting a direct flight as soon as possible, you will have to wait until April, which also happens to be one of the cheapest months to visit the biggest Greek island.
During the month of April, return flights from Manchester to Chania currently range from as low as £77 to highs of £409 dependent on when you want to go and how long you choose to go to Crete for. As for the most expensive time to visit the island, and probably the busiest and hottest time too, is the month of August.
The Best of the Best Beaches in the World
- Elafonissi Beach – Crete, Greece
- Banana Beach – Phuket, Thailand
- Eagle Beach – Aruba
- Siesta Beach – Florida, USA
- Praia da Falésia – Olhos de Agua, Portugal
- Playa Veradero – Veradero, Cuba
- Bavaro Beach – Bavaro, Dominican Republic
- Playa de Muro Beach – Majorca, Spain
- Kelingking Beach – Nusa Penida, Indonesia
- Myrtos Beach – Kefalonia, Greece
- Spiaggia dei Conigli – Lampedusa, Italy
- Playa de Maspalomas – Gran Canaria, Spain
- Ipanema Beach – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Poipu Beach Park – Kauai, Hawaii
- Manly Beach – Sydney, Australia
- Playa Delfines – Cancun, Mexico
- Plage de Palombaggia – Corsica, France
- Anse Lazio – Praslin Island, Seychelles
- Playa Norte – Isla Mujeres, Mexico
- Tropea Beach – Tropea, Italy
- Balandra Beach – La Paz, Mexico
- Ka’anapali Beach – Maui, Hawaii
- Reynisfjara Beach – Vik, Iceland
- Bondi Beach – Sydney, Australia
- Muro Alto Beach – Porto de Galinhas, Brazil
Another European beach which also made the world’s best list was Praia da Falésia in Olhos de Agua, Portugal. Located on the southern coast of Portugal, Mancs can fly directly to Faro and head north west towards Albufeira in order to reach this stunning sandy spot.
Plus, better still, depending on when you choose to fly, the flights are pretty cheap. March is the cheapest month to travel to Faro from Manchester, with direct flights starting from as little as £16 one way, according to Skyscanner.