Want to enjoy the beach without the heat?
I love sun, sea, and sand but hate sweat and sunburn! If you feel the same, then this list of the world’s top 5 beach destinations without the sweltering heat is for you.
To compile this list of the coolest beach destinations, we combined the expertise of our travel editors with the collective wisdom of our readers.
Our team meticulously analyzed thousands of TripAdvisor reviews, focusing on factors such as climate, activities, and overall visitor satisfaction.
Here are the picks:
1. Sand Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine
If Acadia National Park is a crown then Sand Beach is its jewel. This is the hottest beach on our list, with average August temperatures of 25 C (77°F).
With a regular welcome breeze, that’s a great temperature for a coastal cooldown!
One TripAdvisor user gave a rave review, stating, “Come here for cooling off in the day and stargazing at night.”
Sand Beach is a picturesque destination nestled within Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor, Maine. It’s a relatively small beach, but it’s truly unique. You’ll notice that the fine sand is actually made up of shell fragments.
The beach is surrounded by cliffs and is located between two rocky headlands. It’s worth noting that although the beach is flanked by sand dunes, these are actually closed to the public.
You should also be aware that there is a large staircase leading down to the beach, and this is the only access point, meaning that this particular beach isn’t wheelchair accessible.
2. Cannon Beach, Oregon
Proving again that you don’t have to leave the U.S. to find any idyllic coastal cooldown is Cannon Beach in Oregon.
Cannon Beach is a very clean and very large beach famous for its long, sandy shore.
One of the most iconic images of Cannon Beach is Haystack Rock which stands tall in the ocean just off the coast.
Haystack Rock is a seasonal haven for puffins, so this beach attracts wildlife lovers. But it’s also a great place to be if you want to relax on the shoreline and get closer to nature.
Waterfalls cascade onto the sand at Hug Point, and Cannon Beach is one of Oregon’s quaintest and most picturesque destinations thanks to its outstanding natural beauty.
The average temperatures here in August are 20°C (68 F), which is a comfortable temperature for a day of exploring on the shoreline.
This is confirmed by our TripAdvisor research, with one user sharing, “The weather was perfect, not a cloud in the sky but a cool breeze coming from the North.”
3. Uig Sands, Isle of Lewis, Scotland
As well as being TripAdvisor’s number 1 thing to do on the Isle of Lewis, Uig Sands is also regularly voted one of the best beaches in the UK.
This was my pick for a coastal cooldown, and when the weather is right, it’s one of my favorite places in the world.
Hebridean beaches are beautiful!
TripAdvisor reviews state that this is “a must visit beach if you enjoy empty beaches with beautiful white sands” and this is an “amazing beach in any weather.”
The average temperatures in Stornoway in August are just 16° (60.8°F) so if you’re idea of a perfect beach day involves wearing a sweater then this is the place to be!
My top tip? Pack your wetsuit! That way, you can enjoy the beach and the sea to the fullest without noticing the temperature.
Getting to the Isle of Lewis is an adventure in its own right. LoganAir runs tiny biplane flights to the island and these non-stop domestic flights operate from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.
Prices start from £101 ($129) for a one-way flight.
4. Zandvoort, The Netherlands
You might not think of the Netherlands as an obvious beach destination, but it actually has more than 250 kilometers of gorgeous sandy beaches.
One of our favorite of these is Zandvoort, which is just 40 km or a 38 minute drive from Amsterdam. It’s just a 24-minute train ride (costing just 7euros/$7.60), so it’s perfect for a day trip if you’re visiting Amsterdam and you want to escape the city.
I prefer to do things the other way around: I stay in the calm relaxation of Zandvoort and take day trips into Amsterdam to see the sights.
With average August temperatures of 19°C (66.2°F), you can comfortably spend the whole day relaxing on the beach here. No need to escape the midday sun in Zandvoort.
Some of the highlights of this beautiful, vast sandy beach are its lovely beach cafes. It also offers excellent surf and is known for its windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Zandvoort contains the southern portion of Zuid-Kennemerland National Park which boasts beautiful coastal dunes perfect for hiking and bike riding.
5. Sandhammeren, Sweden
Sandhammeren has a long white sand beach. The sand is fine, and the water is cool and clear. It’s almost universally agreed that this is the very best beach in Sweden.
If we turn once again to our friends on TripAdvisor, we’ll find that “The sea was cold but perfect for a paddle, and there were people swimming – plenty of shallow water. The sand was perfect.”
Sandhammeren’s average temperature in August is around 21°C (69.8°F), so you won’t overheat here.
You’ll find Sandhammaren in Skåne, south Sweden, and is one of the most southerly beaches in the country. The long beach, dunes and pine forests are welcoming all year round.
If you’re traveling from Stockholm (which is where most U.S. passengers land when they arrive in Sweden), then I won’t lie and say Sandhammaren is easy to get to. But it is worth the effort!
If you hire a car then Sandhammeren beach is a 4.5 hour drive. Alternatively you can use public transport to take a train from Stockholm to Ystad and then catch a bus to Sandhammaren Beach.
This is a 5 hour train ride, but a beautiful scenic one!
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