Country
Philippines
577 beaches surveyed and measured. Ten chosen by fame. All ten rated.
10 judged · 577 surveyed · See on the Atlas →
The 10 best beaches in the Philippines
Ordered by fame: how often Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, the World's 50 Best Beaches and Condé Nast Traveller name them, plus measured size. The order is theirs. The rating is ours. Every number is measured or sourced.
- 1
White Beach
WORTH A DETOURFour kilometres of powder, and the whole island turns up for sunset.
The factBoracay’s White Beach is a four-kilometre ribbon of powder-fine sand on the island’s western shore, split into three lettered “Stations”
4,190 m long · 31 m wide · Photo: Deortiz, CC BY 2.0
- 2
Kalanggaman Island
ONLY IF YOU'RE ALREADY THEREA sandbar between two islands that has banned your shampoo.
The factKalanggaman Island is a sandbar located in the sea between Leyte and Cebu, in the Visayas Archipelago of the Philippines. It got its name from the local word "langgam" which means bird or fowl.
789 m long · 30.3 m wide · Photo: Gcabig2024, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 3
Nacpan Beach
WORTH A DETOURFour kilometres of golden sand that somehow never fills up.
The factNacpan Beach, a 4km crescent-shaped strip of creamy golden sand framed by azure waters, just north of the karst-lined bay at El Nido.
3,227 m long · 36.6 m wide · Photo: Kroisenbrunner, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 4
Alona Beach
WORTH A DETOURNamed after one naked run in 1973. Busy ever since.
The factThe beach is named after Filipino actress Alona Alegre who ran naked along the beach in 1973 for the movie “Esteban”, in which she co-starred along with Fernando Poe Jr.
837 m long · 21.4 m wide · Photo: Павел Бондарчук, CC BY 3.0
- 5
Mahabang Buhangin
ONLY IF YOU'RE ALREADY THEREFourteen hours from Manila, no signal, and the widest sand on our list.
The factThis is one for adventurous souls: expect no phone signal, no ATMs (bring cash), and only the wilderness as your playground.
1,085 m long · 76 m wide · Photo: Monette Nyem, CC BY 3.0
- 6
Dahican Beach
WORTH A DETOURThree kinds of turtle nest here. The skimboarders are just visiting.
The factNature lovers will be thrilled to know that a whopping three species of marine turtle (out of seven worldwide) nest on Dahican Beach.
1,445 m long · 30.5 m wide
- 7
Saud Beach
ONLY IF YOU'RE ALREADY THEREBoracay before the beer towers, according to the neighbours.
The factLocals will happily remind you that this is what Boracay used to look like before the beer towers and bars moved in
1,570 m long · 21.9 m wide
- 8
Bulabog Beach
OVERRATEDAsia's best kitesurfing, by its own account. Keep your cuts out of the water.
The factBoracay's Bulabog beach claims to be the best kitesurfing destination in Asia.
1,664 m long · 19.3 m wide
- 9
Puka Beach
ONLY IF YOU'RE ALREADY THEREBoracay's quiet end, where the island's jewellery comes from.
The factThis is where locals gather the small puka shells for some of the jewelry that is sold on the island
1,118 m long · 27.1 m wide · Photo: yuichiro anazawa, CC BY 3.0
- 10
Bonbon Beach
ONLY IF YOU'RE ALREADY THEREA beach with a walkway to the next island. The tide sets the hours.
The factBon Bon Beach also rose to 38th from 48th, described as a “laid-back paradise” known for its striking sandbar connecting to Bangug Island.
539 m long · 31.6 m wide
How we rate: we have not stood on these beaches, so the sources decide. A beach starts in the middle. It moves up for something no other beach has, or for a top-three place on the fame list. It moves down when someone has been hurt there, when it is closed or banned, or when a source calls the water dangerous. Ordinary cautions are printed on each beach’s page and leave the rating alone.
Asked about beaches in the Philippines
- What is the best beach in the Philippines?
- White Beach on Boracay tops our fame list, named by Lonely Planet and Rough Guides; we rate it Worth a detour, with Nacpan near El Nido, Alona on Panglao and Dahican on Mindanao.
- Do you need a permit for beaches in the Philippines?
- For some. Kalanggaman Island needs registration in Palompon and a reservation before your tour date, and only a limited number of visitors go each day. Boracay charges foreign visitors an environmental fee of around PHP 300 per stay.
- When is the sea warmest in the Philippines?
- In 2025 the ten peaked between May and August at 30.0 to 30.8 °C. The coolest month was January at Saud Beach, in the far north of Luzon, at 25.4 °C.
- When is typhoon season?
- Rough Guides puts it at July to September for northern Luzon and July to December for the Calaguas Islands, when boats are often cancelled.
From the blog, on Philippines
One Beach, One Story · Alona Beach, Bohol
Alona Beach, Bohol: The Beach Named After a 1973 Film Star
Until a film crew turned up, it was just the beach in Tawala. Somebody gave it the leading lady's name, and it has kept it for more than fifty years.
October 2026 · 4 min
The Rankings · Boracay
Boracay Beaches: White Beach, Puka and Bulabog, Rated
Four kilometres of powder on one side, kitesurfers on the other, and a quiet end made of jewellery. Three of the Philippines' ten are on one small island.
October 2026 · 3 min
The Big Board
Which Country Has the Most Beaches?
We counted eleven countries the same way, in the same month. Spain names the most beaches. Australia has the most sand. Croatia's, all of it together, covers 4.6 km².
Updated October 2026 · 4 min
Surveyed, awaiting judgment
first 100 of 567, widest firstEvery one is real: taken from OpenStreetMap, pinned where it actually is and measured. We have not rated these yet.