Voting: The World's Most Unusual Urban Beach?

June 28, 2026, 12:03 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

The utopia of a varied vacation is often hard to achieve. Those who opt for a city trip usually have to forgo beach days. Conversely, the most beautiful beaches are often far from the nearest metropolis. Therefore, we are looking for a place that combines both: the most extraordinary city beach in the world!

To make this vacation utopia a reality and provide the best recommendation for the next beach-city vacation, we are searching with you for the most beautiful and extraordinary city beach in the world. The winner will be announced as part of the TRAVELBOOK Award on September 22, 2026.

Which is the most extraordinary city beach in the world?

We have already made a suitable preselection and discovered some lesser-known but beautiful beaches around the globe. It was also important to us that they are easily accessible from the adjacent city: Whether by train, bus, bicycle, or even on foot–short distances to the sea ensure a relaxed and stress-free beach day.

Our international candidates for the most extraordinary city beach are:

English Bay Beach, Canada

Best city beach in the world voting English Bay Beach Vancouver — The coastal section on the right in the image is the beach at English Bay in front of Vancouver

The wide sandy beach is Vancouver’s most popular coastal section near the bustling West End district of downtown. Between cafes, shopping opportunities, and parks, you can take a swim break here.

Haeundae Beach, South Korea

In front of Busan’s impressive skyline, this fine sandy beach with clear water beckons. Thanks to direct subway access and the traditional Haeundae Market within walking distance, you can perfectly combine a beach day and city experience.

Mole Beach, Namibia

Best city beach in the world voting - [x] Mole Beach, Swakopmund Namibia — A place with a view of the wild Atlantic on the west coast of Africa

The Swakopmund promenade combines sea views with the city’s attractions. Between the aquarium, museum, restaurants, and historic lighthouse, you can explore the coast at your leisure.

Praia de Matosinhos, Portugal

Best city beach in the world voting - [x] Praia de Matosinhos, Porto Portugal — Porto’s city beach impresses mainly with its proximity to downtown

The expansive sandy beach on the outskirts of Porto is especially popular with surfers. Along the promenade, bars and restaurants invite you to linger, while from the pier, which extends far into the sea, you can watch ships on the Atlantic.

Playa de San Lorenzo, Spain

Best city beach in the world voting - [x] Playa de San Lorenzo, Gijón Spain — From the city center of Gijón in Asturias, you can reach this wide golden beach with plenty of options on foot

The shell-shaped beach of Gijón offers plenty of space for relaxation and sports activities with its deep golden sand. Restaurants, beach huts, and surf offerings–all in one place.

Vote for your favorite here:

Note on methodology: Voting is allowed once per device (computer, smartphone, etc.).

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.