Whether you’re a water baby, sun worshipper or sandcastle-building pro, a day at the beach is always the highlight of a holiday. Soak up some rays, feel the sand between your toes and breathe in the salty tang of the ocean with our guide to some of the best beach escapes for relaxing on shore.

The best places to visit when...you want to relax on a beach

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Dueodde beach, Bornholm, Denmark

<h2><b>7.&nbsp;Dueodde beach, Bornholm, Denmark</b></h2>
<p>The little island of <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/ports/bornholm-denmark">Bornholm</a> in the Baltic Sea is distinct for being the sunniest spot in Denmark, so a day at the beach is definitely in order while you’re here. On the island’s southern tip, Dueodde is a real stunner, with the silkiest, softest white sand (so fine it’s used for filling hourglasses). It’s great for swimming options – sandbars mean there are both shallow and deep spots close to the shore and the water is clear so you can easily navigate them. The beach is accessible for wheelchairs and buggies and there are plenty of quiet spots in the dunes to curl up and read your book. To stretch your legs, it’s worth venturing to the slender lighthouse, Denmark’s tallest, for panoramic views across the sands. Look out, too, for a pair of WWII German cannon bunkers hidden in the pine forests behind it.</p>
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<p><b>This is for independent exploration&nbsp;</b></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">View cruises to Bornholm <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise?ports=BNH">here</a>.</h3>


Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Australia

<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>8.&nbsp;Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Australia</b></h2>
<p>Whitehaven on <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/ports/airlie-beach-australia">Whitsunday Island</a>, off Australia’s Queensland coast near the Great Barrier Reef, has been called the greatest beach in the world for good reason. It’s certainly one of the most photographed. For the best insta-worthy shots, head to the viewing platforms at Hill Inlet to the north. You’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking vista of swirling white sand through gleaming turquoise waters. The sand has traces of gold in it, apparently, but is mostly made up of pure, tiny silica beads, which means it doesn’t feel scorching hot when you walk on it with bare feet – a bonus! Swimming here is also blissful – stroll along the boardwalk through lush vegetation to Betty’s Beach and take a dip in the shallow, tropical waters. You might see baby lemon sharks, rays and blue soldier crabs.</p>
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<p><b>Shore experience:</b> <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/shore-experiences/wsy/catamaran-to-whitehaven-beach">Catamaran to Whitehaven Beach</a></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">View cruises to the Whitsunday Islands (from Airlie Beach) <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise?ports=WSY">here</a>.</h3>


<h2 style="text-align: center;">Feeling inspired?</h2>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Book your cruise holiday <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise">here</a>.</h2>


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