10 Best Beaches for Families with Teens Around the World

What makes a beach great for teenagers? First of all, it’s the activities. It’s awesome when you can try various watersports on one single beach. A social life also matters. Urban beaches work perfectly for that matter, as the places to eat are usually close by. Finally, it’s about the crystal-clear water and finding the perfect beach for swimming. I’ve experienced beaches all over the world, and here’s my definitive list of the best stretches for families with teens.

Try Pacific surfing at La Jolla Shores, enjoy the Florida easygoing vibes at Clearwater Beach, soak in the vibrant atmosphere at Barceloneta, and find Caribbean adventures in Playa del Carmen—each beach promises its own unforgettable experience.

Best for all kinds of water activities

San Diego families are fortunate to have La Jolla Shores. It’s an exemplary Pacific Ocean beach with fine soft sand on the northern end of the city. This beach is perfect for first-timers looking to dive into water sports. Kayak tours to nearby sea caves offer a peaceful, scenic adventure, while the consistent waves make it ideal for learning to surf. Rent gear or sign up for lessons at the surf shops lining Avenida de la Playa. Your teens can also try paddleboarding, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Lifeguards are on duty in La Jolla, and the beach is equipped with toilets, showers, and changing rooms. One of the coolest things to do at the beach when the sun sets is gathering around the fire pits for a bonfire.

Best for urban beachgoing

Visiting Barcelona with teens is never a bad idea. This Spanish city is filled with architectural gems of Antoni Gaudí, world-famous museums, and a diverse selection of restaurants. It’s among the bucket-list European destinations. The Catalan capital is the ultimate beach town. Its coastline stretches for over 3 miles, offering numerous opportunities to enjoy the blue Mediterranean. Barceloneta is where everyone ends up after a long day of sightseeing. Activities-wise, you’ve got beach volleyball, an open-air gym, and surf and paddleboard rental. The beach is flanked by a lively promenade with a never-ending supply of tapas (traditional Spanish appetizers), grilled seafood, and café desserts. If Barceloneta feels too crowded, your family can take a short walk to Bogatell, which is among the most locally-loved stretches.

Best for kitesurfing and sunset-watching

Dubai beaches are vast and gorgeous. They give you a desert feeling in the middle of the busy megalopolis. Family-friendliness is at the core of the beach experience in the largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Thanks to its watersports speciality, Kite Beach is the best place to visit for families with teens. As the name suggests, kite-surfing reigns supreme on the long and wide sandy strip. Get on the surf and let the wind take you on a sea-gliding adventure. Wakeboarding and stand-up paddleboarding are also among the top activities here. Although located far from the buzz of the Downtown and Marina, Kite Beach has the foodie “island” of its own, a cluster of coffee shops and restaurants overlooking the Persian Gulf. Don’t leave before witnessing the magical local sunset—the vista of the sail-shaped Jumeirah Burj Al Arab hotel in the twilight glow is unforgettable.

Best for boardwalk fun and amusement parks

Antalya is one of the major amusement park capitals of the Mediterranean. Located in southern Turkey, it’s a top destination for families with teens looking for beachside fun. You will find plenty of it in Konyaaltı, a 5-mile-long pebbly stretch which doubles as one coastal fun park. It’s the all-in-one family strip, where you have a Blue Flag-certified beach with clear water, a lively Beach Park with numerous restaurants, a series of all-inclusive hotels for all budgets and tastes, and a rich watersports proposition. But we started from amusement, and that’s where Konyaaltı excels. Teens can visit Waterhill Water Park for adrenaline-filled slides, explore the world’s largest tunnel aquarium at Antalya Aquarium and have fun at the sprawling Aktur Park. For more family entertainment, there’s the Land of Legends—Turkey’s biggest theme park—just 20 minutes away by car.

Best for seafood restaurants and paddleboarding

Located on a barrier island in Florida’s Gulf Coast, Clearwater Beach is the first choice for families in the Sunshine State. All the elements are present here for a memorable teen vacation. The powdery-white sand is an absolute delight, the Gulf is comfortable for swimming, and there are plenty of water activities to try. Clearwater Beach is a dreamy place for a carefree break. That doesn’t mean that there’s a shortage of fun things to try. Get on a paddleboard for panoramic sails, try the jet ski for high-speed action, and enjoy the vista of the coast from above on a paraglider. For the sunset, head to the legendary Pier 60, which many say is the most gorgeous sunset-watching location in Florida. During the day, the jetty is also a popular spot for fishing. Clearwater Beach is home to numerous outdoor grill restaurants with cozy terraces, serving all kinds of freshly caught seafood.

Best for quartz-crystal sand and water sports

Sand is like powder at a magical Siesta Key Beach. It’s the Florida Gulf Coast at its most charming: the water is turquoise, the sunsets are to-die-for, and the vibe is never boring. Teens will love playing in the pure white quartz, exploring the shore on a kayak, and trying parasailing. Renting a bike is popular for moving around, but there’s also a free trolley (Route 77 Siesta Islander) taking you to various spots around the vibrant beach village. Don’t miss the drum roll on Sundays, when the music accompanies the sunset, giving Siesta Key an irresistible allure. The town will be a great choice for families seeking the balance between activities, urban life, and affordability. While Siesta Key is a popular tourist destination, it’s worlds away from the high-rise-dotted Florida resorts, offering a more tranquil and budget-friendly alternative.

Best for surfing and city life

You’ll be challenged to find a better spot for trying surfing for the first time than Las Canteras. This gorgeous sandy beach is the main urban stretch of Las Palmas, the capital city of the Canary Island of Gran Canaria. A lively promenade flanks the sands, offering countless restaurants, tapas bars, and coffee shops. And then there are the surfing schools. Las Canteras comes with the ideal conditions for getting on the board. It’s the Atlantic at its most beautiful and Europe’s answer to Rio de Janeiro‘s long white stretches. But the activities aren’t limited to wave-riding. The reefs make Las Canteras an ultimate snorkeling destination. You can rent paddles to take scenic tours around the bay when the waters are calm. A part of the city center, this beach is very close to all the attractions of Las Palmas, so you won’t have to drive far or use public transport to enjoy the urban lifestyle.

Best for laid-back beachgoing

Waikiki is Hawaii’s icon, a dreamy strip from tourist brochures. Also, it’s among the best beaches for families with teens in the world. While located in the state’s busy capital, Honolulu, Waikiki is the Hawaii for leisure: spectacular, easygoing, and fun. Breakwaters ensure that the waters are tranquil, making it ideal for swimming and paddleboarding. Waikiki works ideally for surfing and handboarding for beginners, before trying the more challenging beaches in Hawaii with bigger waves. And then there’s Kalākaua Avenue—Honolulu’s most vibrant street—where you find various food options, high-rise resorts, local galleries, and shopping centers. Waikiki Beach is a perfect introduction to urban Hawaii. Start your day on the waves, hike the Kapiʻolani Regional Park in the afternoon, sample grilled seafood for lunch, and marvel at the gorgeous sunsets.

Best for family adventures

Playa del Carmen gives you access to the best of the Caribbean. The white-sand beaches of this tourist powerhouse of Mexico’s Quintana Roo state are breathtaking: turquoise, warm waters, plenty of water sports to opt for, and a vivacious town nearby. But for families with teens, traveling to Playa del Carmen also means an easy gateway to the wonders of Quintana Roo. Plan your trip the right way and you’ll get an adventure of a lifetime. Just outside Playa del Carmen is Xcaret Park, Mexico’s premier amusement destination, offering scuba diving, cave snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, and immersing yourself in the colorful Mayan culture through performances and celebrations. Then come the cenotes —the striking swimming holes in the middle of the jungle—where families can have a blast dipping. Add the day trips to see the marvels of the ancient world, such as Chichen Itza and Tulum pyramids, and you’re getting an unforgettable beach vacation with teens.

Best for water action and golden sand

Mellieħa (or Ghadira) Bay isn’t the most tranquil beach in Malta. But that’s the whole point. The soft sand is a delight, providing great opportunities for castle building. The stretch offers clear waters (Blue Flag-certified) and scenic views. You will have a good choice of places to stay—Mellieħa is surrounded by hotel resorts. It’s one of Malta’s prime destinations for fun water activities. Your family will have a blast experiencing banana rides, water skiing, and parasailing. The beach is just 1 mile away from Popeye’s Village, the country’s most interesting theme park. Created from the wooden film set of the 1980 “Popeye” movie, it’s a great day trip with an entertainment program and postcard-perfect vistas.

Best for treasure hunting and fishing

A piece of Gulf Florida as it once was, Manasota Key Beach is a sprawling area of dunes meeting the blue sea. It’s also a one big playground for families with teens. Apart from classic activities, such as swimming, surfing, sunbathing, and castle-building, Manasota Key is famous for another fun thing to do. The beach is a popular spot for shark tooth hunting, an exciting adventure the whole family will enjoy. The gorgeous Florida landscapes will serve as a perfect accompaniment to searching for fossilized treasures. Of course, you can also hunt for shells. Fishing is another great advantage of Manasota Key. You will find designated spots on the shore. And nothing can beat a white-sand picnic with the sunset vista; you’ve got four concrete picnic shelters for that.