The most overrated beaches in the world - and the hidden gems to visit instead
While stunning Instagram photos and TikTok clips might paint a picture-perfect paradise, the reality for many travellers is far less idyllic, with overcrowding, poor weather, and inflated expectations often leaving visitors disappointed.
A recent study from Ibiza Summer Villas has ranked over 100 of the world's most popular beaches, revealing exactly which beaches are most likely to disappoint - and which deliver everything they promise, and more.
Researchers analysed thousands of traveller reviews, TikTok virality, Google search trends, and environmental data such as annual rainfall, to uncover where the biggest gap exists between expectation and reality.
To ensure accuracy, the study only included beaches with at least 1,000 publicly available reviews.
The percentage of negative reviews - specifically those containing terms like 'overrated' or 'disappointing' were then weighted against each beach's popularity.
Read on to discover five of the world's most overrated beaches as ranked by tourists - and the five hidden gems to visit instead.
Top five most overrated beaches
Ibiza Summer Villas has ranked over 100 of the world's most popular beaches, and found the most overrated. With 110,000 TikTok views and 165,000 monthly Google searches, Railay Beach serves as a classic cautionary tale for travellers chasing Instagram perfection. LEFT: What visitors expect. RIGHT: The reality
1. Railay Beach, Thailand
Renowned for its towering limestone cliffs and accessible only by boat, Railay is a frequent feature in travel reels on social media.
But despite its dramatic setting, 1.59 per cent of its reviews use negative terms, with visitors citing overcrowding and underwhelming experiences.
With 110,000 TikTok views and 165,000 monthly Google searches, it serves as a classic cautionary tale for travellers chasing Instagram perfection.
2. Patong Beach, Thailand
Patong's bustling party scene has long attracted - and united - backpackers and revellers, but many visitors leave the Thai hotspot disillusioned.
High noise levels, pushy vendors, and cleanliness issues earned it the second-highest "overrated" rating in the study.
It also scored poorly on weather, with some of the highest rainfall scores in the study.
3. Maya Bay, Thailand
Made famous by Danny Boyle's adventure thriller, The Beach, Maya Bay once epitomised tropical escape.
But the picture-postcard bay has suffered from years of overtourism, which resulted in the beach being closed temporarily by the Thai government in 2018 to allow nature to recover.
It has since reopened under strict restrictions: no swimming, limited access, and large crowds.
Despite ongoing viral interest, 2.05 per cent of reviewers expressed disappointment, citing a gap between the dream and the reality.
4. Byron Bay, Australia
Known for its bohemian vibe and A-list fans, Byron Bay might be Australia's most famous beach town - but the numbers suggest it doesn't deliver the serenity it promises.
With 1.57 per cent negative reviews and frequent mentions of high rainfall, it ranked poorly on overall satisfaction.
Visitors who had hoped for tranquility also reported being met with a commercialised, crowded hotspot on arrival.
5. Bondi Beach, Australia
With 447,000 TikTok searches and 673,000 Google searches, Bondi Beach may be iconic, but it also tops the list for disappointment.
With the highest rate of negative reviews (2.70 per cent), it's become a victim of its own success.
Overcrowding, sky-high prices, and tourist fatigue are common complaints, suggesting that its global fame might come at the cost of authenticity.
Top five hidden gem beaches
1. Playa de la Concha, San Sebastián, Spain
Topping the list is Playa de la Concha, an elegant crescent-shaped beach combines natural beauty with urban charm.
Reviewers consistently praise its cleanliness, calm waters, and walkable location in one of Spain's most stylish seaside cities.
2. Playa de Bolonia, Andalusia, Spain
A rugged, unspoiled stretch of sand backed by ancient Roman ruins and rolling dunes, Bolonia offers a natural alternative to Spain's more crowded beaches.
3. Playa de la Barrosa, Andalusia, Spain
Loved for its golden sands and laid-back atmosphere, this beach earned top marks for both scenery and experience without the viral spotlight.
4. Tropea Beach, Italy
Perched below a cliffside town, this southern Italian gem blends history, stunning views, and warm waters, all with a warm local feel.
5. Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Beach, France
Set in the wild Camargue region, this beach is perfect for travellers seeking nature and peace.
Its low crowds and high satisfaction ratings make it a standout hidden spot.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tourists warned to stay away from Instagrammable lavender fields in Spanish town at weekends
Tourists have been asked to stay away from Spain's famous lavender fields, known for producing eye-catching Instagram photos, at the weekends as the strain of the crowds is becoming too much to bear. The Spanish town of Brihuega attracts thousands of visitors each year, with many drawn by its picturesque lavender fields that span 1,000 hectares and serve as a stunning spot for social media photos. The area has become more popular over the past decade, with the influx of tourism helping to combat depopulation in the rural town. This time frame has seen a 24 per cent increase in residents and millions of euros brought in for the local economy. However, Brihuega is at risk of becoming a victim of its own success, as more and more tourists flock to the fields to pose among the sea of purple flowers, putting increased pressure on local services. More than 100,000 people visited the fields in July, the only month the flowers fully bloom, putting a strain on the closest small town, which has just under 3,000 residents. While the region recognises that the lavender fields play a vital part in its economy, Mayor Lusi Viejo has asked tourists if they could avoid visiting on the weekends. 'Take last Saturday, for example: the village collapsed. It was a hard time for me,' Mr Viejo told the Spanish national daily newspaper ABC, according to The Telegraph. 'We have a wide range of tourist, cultural and artistic offerings thanks to the lavender,' he said. 'But my advice is that people come and visit us between Monday and Thursday – please! Weekends are more difficult because of the huge quantity of people who come.' The main problem is overcrowding Brihuega's historic narrow streets, with parking becoming chaotic, especially during the blooming season. 'Ahead of next year, we need to build a park-and-ride parking lot on the outskirts of the historic centre and connect it with shuttle buses,' Mr Viejo said. In a recent letter to residents, Mr Viejo confirmed a permanent park-and-ride would be in place, complete with shuttle buses to try to make daily life easier for residents in the municipality. The mayor also explained that access to the field is free, so the village does not have the authority to limit visitor numbers or charge a tourist fee. Despite the issues created due to overwhelming crowds, the high number of tourists has brought in €8m for the local economy across the lavender season so far. 'Managing such an influx of visitors in such a short time is difficult. We work hard, we have a security committee, but it's still a large turnout,' the mayor said. Mr Viejo added that the challenge is to try to attract tourists all year round and spread out visitors, instead of seeing an influx in the summer for the lavender blooming. He said the council is working to promote visiting the fields of sumac in October and November, with the hillsides turning a deep red in the autumn season.
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Resorts across Europe are now employing security to tackle sunbed fights - and they're even removing towels
As holidaymakers jet off on their travels abroad this summer, some hotels are having to find different ways to handle sunbed shortages, and tensions. Gone are the days of waking up early and putting your towel down on a sunbed to secure a good spot by the pool. Now, some hotels are employing security to help keep things under control after several videos have gone viral of people battling it out for sun loungers. Another tourist, @grantsimpson10, posted a video on TikTok of a security guard opening gates to the pool area at Spring Bitacora hotel in Tenerife and dozens of tourists flooding in with their towels at hand. A viewer commented on the clip, revealing they had holidayed there previously and said: 'Stayed there two years ago great hotel but the sun lounger situation was an absolute joke do they still have a security guard?' The poster replied, confirming the establishment had staff 'patrolling' the area still. 'Yeah still got two patrolling it until 8am for opening the gates,' they wrote. Spring Bitacora isn't the only hotel to employ such methods to help tackle the increasingly common sun bed battles. Someone else, @seejonj, posted on TikTok a clip sharing that their hotel in Turkey employed security guards to remove towels from 'unaccompanied' sun loungers before 7am. They captioned the video: 'Sun lounger etiquette, no unaccompanied towels allowed before 7am. 'In all fairness there is plenty and plenty of loungers. always a space and the staff a super friendly and will find you a linger and set it up for you. 'No need to be out at 0630. We've seen the same few people out at 0530!! putting their towels down.' The video, taken at 6.30am, showed dozens of sun beds positioned neatly, most of them with towels already spread across them. The holidaymaker revealed the 'majority of loungers taken with towels'. In a caption over the video, they added: 'The security guard removes them unless you stay with the towels. 'No unaccompanied towels before 7am.' @seejonj Sun lounger etiquette 😩 no unaccompanied towels allowed before 7am. in all fairness there is plenty and plenty of loungers. always a space and the staff a super friendly and will find you a linger and set it up for you. no need to be out at 0630. We've seen the same few people out at 0530!! putting their towels down. #fyp #eftaliaaquaresort #towelchallenge #summer2025 #turkeytiktok #eftalia #sunlounger #loungerwars ♬ original sound - HeyZeusGetLoose Footage at Spring Bitacora hotel showing how security have been employed to help keep things under control after several videos have gone viral of people battling it out for sun loungers abroad It comes after holidaymakers were left shocked as they watched a 'stampede' unfold for prime sunbed spots at a popular five-star hotel in Crete - sparked by influencers who wanted to take selfies 'all day' on them. Chaotic scenes unfolded at Akasha Beach Hotel & Spa, located in Hersonissos, which saw dozens of guests charging towards available loungers as the pool opened for the day. The luxury hotel has become a hit on social media in recent months thanks to its modern and 'clean' aesthetic, providing visually appealing backdrops for photos and videos, which is a key factor for content creators. The hotel's multiple pools, private beach, and spa facilities also offer a range of opportunities for influencers to create engaging content and share unique experiences with their followers.
BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
El Classico: The beautiful game in a city of resistance
Barcelona is one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in Europe. The city is also best known for its football team, Barcelona FC. Reporter Emeline Nosing Nkosi visits the city for El Clásico. A clash between Spain's two fierce rival teams Barcelona FC and Real Madrid, rooted in the culture and history of Spain. This video is from The Travel Show, the BBC's flagship travel programme.
