Our Study Reveals The World’s Happiest Beaches

Few things bring joy quite like a day at the beach: between the sound of crashing waves, warmth of the sun, and breathtaking views, beaches have an uncanny ability to make us smile. To discover the world’s happiest coastlines, we used facial recognition technology to discover which beaches make us smile the most. 

How did we do this?

We compiled a list of 103 globally popular beaches, then analysed over 1,000 Instagram photos tagged in each beach. Using AWS Rekognition software, the images were analysed based on positive facial expressions, calculating an average smile score for each beach, ranking them from highest to lowest to uncover the world’s happiest beaches. 

What did we find?

• European beaches dominate our top 20, with Spain’s Sitges Beach taking the number one spot as the World’s Happiest Beach 

• Portuguese and Greek beaches also feature prominently, showing off the Mediterranean as the go-to for happy beach escapes

European Beaches Dominate the Rankings

Whether it’s the golden shores of Spain, the dramatic cliffs of Portugal, or the crystal-clear waters of Greece, the top 10 smile-inducing beaches in our rankings are all European. In fact, 23 of the top 30 happiest beaches are located in the continent. 

Sitges Beach in Barcelona, Spain is crowned the world’s happiest beach, with a near perfect happiness score of 98.42 out of a possible 100. Just outside Spain's popular city, it is much beloved among locals and travellers for a mix of smooth sands and warm, welcoming atmosphere with a lively promenade, too.

Another Spanish beach joins the list, with Mallorca’s Port de Soller ranking third with a smile score of 96.95. Framed by the Tramuntana mountains, the Mediterranean hotspot leaves beachgoers grinning and ready to snap photos admiring the view.

Following in the rankings, neighbouring Portugal claims four spots in the top 20, with Praia da Falésia (97.24) and Praia Dona Ana (94.31) landing in second and seventh place, respectively. Both located in Southern Portugal, Instagram users seem particularly keen on showing off bright smiles while dipping into the turquoise waters on offer in this part of the world. 

Meanwhile, Greece claims five spots on the list of happiest beaches, including Elafonisi Beach (93.34) and Ai Helis in Kefalonia (92.25) wrapping up the global top 10. If you’re planning your next summer escape, Elafonisi Beach, in Crete, is particularly popular for striking sands with an ombre pink facade, making for a perfect photo opportunity. 

Happiness Beyond Europe 

Outside of Europe, Playa Delfines in Mexico (91.47) and Las Pocitas Beach in Peru (90.52) rank among the world’s top 15 happiest beaches. Between golden shorelines and postcard-worthy scenery, it's no wonder why these locations bring so much joy. 

One USA beach manages to land a place in the top 20: Oregon’s Cannon Beach, with a smile score of 89.11, ranks 16th in the world, while Siesta Key Beach in Florida (85) narrowly misses the top 20 in 21st position. Famous for having some of the world’s bluest waters according to science and its iconic Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach promises sunshine, relaxation and plenty of smiles. 

Our Villa Specialists are happy help locate villas near these beaches. If you are feeling inspired by some of the happiest beaches and would like to speak with one of our Specialists, make an enquiry or browse our Beach Villas Collection today.