Two Western Cape gems have ranked #1 and #2 on a list of the world’s 10 most popular beaches!
Western Cape, South Africa (17 April 2026) – With hundreds upon thousands of beaches in the world, South Africa’s coastal beauty still comes out on top.
Travelbag, a long-haul travel specialist, has analysed several key online metrics including Google reviews and searches, as well as Instagram hashtags, to find the world’s most popular beaches.
Data on more than 30 of the world’s leading beach destinations was analysed, Forbes reports, to determine the top ten. Beaches in the US, Thailand, Virgin and Cayman Islands, Indonesia, Mexico and more all made the cut, but two local South African beaches came out right on top!
Boulders Beach and Cape of Good Hope Beach, both in the Western Cape, within a 40-minute drive apart.
As per the ranking, Boulders Beach scoops first place globally with 27,000 reviews and an average monthly search volume of 111,000 on Google!
Just outside Simon’s Town on the Cape Peninsula, Boulders is famously associated with its wild colony of African penguins. The beach is sheltered by huge granite boulders that create little coves. The penguins have been there since the early ‘80s. A little colony that once started with one breeding pair has since grown into the thousands! Sadly, African penguins are considered Critically Endangered and the Boulders colony is under threat just as others along the coast are.
Ranking as the world’s second most popular, is the Cape of Good Hope Beach which boasts 12,941 reviews and 135,000 monthly searches on Google, on average.
Sitting at the wild southern tip of the peninsula, it’s located within the Table Mountain National Park. It isn’t the first spot you’d go to catch a tan, nor is swimming there recommended, but what it lacks in those qualities, it more than makes up for in beauty!
Once again, Cape Town proves why it consistently ranks as the top travel destination in South Africa. This time, for its world-famous beaches!
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- Boulders Beach, South Africa
- Cape of Good Hope Beach, South Africa
- Siesta Beach, Florida, USA
- Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda
- Freedom Beach, Thailand
- The Baths, British Virgin Islands
- Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Indonesia
- Playa Balandra, Mexico
- Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands
- Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos
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