The best beaches to visit in November range from the Caribbean’s always dazzling beaches to the Southern Hemisphere’s endless shores, not to mention the soft sands of Asia and even parts of Europe.
Whether you prefer a deserted stretch of golden sand with dramatic waves or buzzy beaches with plenty to do aside from sunbathing and swimming, November is a great month to experience them.
From the Canary Islands’ undulating dunes to far-flung Indonesia, discover the world’s best beaches in November.
Frigate Bay Beach, St. Kitts
Frigate Bay Beach, St. Kitts
With tall palms and velvet-soft sand, the sweeping Frigate Bay Beach on the glamorous island of St. Kitts is a dreamy November escape. Trade winds nicely balance the tropical climate, making it a smart time to visit.
The one-mile Frigate Bay Beach, just three miles from Basseterre, the capital, is close to the narrowest point of the island, providing an idyllic setting for one of St. Kitts’ best beaches.
Swim, snorkel, water ski, wind surf, or jet ski. Relax under the warm Caribbean sun and enjoy luminous cocktails from the shacks that line the beach.
Timothy’s Lookout, St. Kitts
Another one of the unmissable things to do in St. Kitts is to take a hike to Timothy’s Lookout. It’s roughly 25 minutes from the beach and offers jaw-dropping views of St. Kitts’ lush vegetation and some of the area’s other sizzling beach spots, such as South and North Friars bays.
On a clear day, you’ll also see the peak of Nevis, which rises 3,232 feet from St. Kitts’ sister island to the south.
Reduit Beach, St. Lucia
Reduit Beach, St. Lucia
Lining a swathe of St. Lucia’s Rodney Bay, Reduit Beach is the ultimate Caribbean beach with flour-soft sand, a row of palm trees, gentle aquamarine water, and fantastic facilities.
The verdant Mt. Pimard looms over Reduit to the south, while to the north is an inflatable water park, and the entrance to Rodney Bay’s marina.
Reduit Beach, St. Lucia
Rent jet skis or try Reduit’s other watersports activities. Choose a thatched parasol by the water and lounge on a sunbed. With clear and calm water, Reduit Beach is one of the best beaches in St. Lucia and a top spot for snorkeling directly from the shore, with tropical fish, eels, and crabs to be spotted in the shallows.
Travelers to St. Lucia during November can expect warm temperatures, but fewer crowds since it is considered shoulder season (the period between peak and off peak seasons).
La Caleta Beach, Cadiz, Spain
La Caleta Beach in Cadiz, Spain
During summer, southern Spain’s Andalusian shores are bursting with sun-seekers from Europe and further afield, basking on the blistering hot beaches. This culturally rich and vibrant region of Spain, known as the Costa del Sol lives up to its name with an average of 325 days of sunshine each year.
Sea temperatures reach 69°F in November, making this a wonderful, though quieter, time to visit. La Caleta offers the perfect setting, too, with acres of space on the beach for walks and sunbathing, a wide promenade, and access to amenities such as bars and restaurants.
Castle of Santa Catalina in Cadiz, Spain
Wander from the Castle of Santa Catalina to the Castle of San Sebastián, with the two centuries-old fortresses lying at opposite ends of La Caleta. Behind the beach is the charismatic old town of Cadiz, with its narrow cobbled streets filled with tapas bars, beautiful churches, and the oldest covered market in Spain, the Central Market of Cádiz.
For the perfect November beach day, wander through the old town, pick up cheese, ham, bread, and fruit from the market, and kick back on this sparkling Spanish beach.
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Whitehaven Beach in Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Whitehaven Beach is a sumptuous spot on Whitsunday Island, Queensland, reached by boat or seaplane from nearby Airlie Beach on the mainland.
You’ll want to pack your sunglasses, because the sand on Whitehaven glistens bright white thanks to its 98-percent-white-silica makeup. In contrast, the thick rainforest that tumbles onto the beach is a deep emerald shade and the water—swirls of turquoise—is mesmerizing.
Whitehaven Beach in Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Whitehaven Beach is paradise personified and one of the best beaches to visit in November, before summer really heats up in tropical North Queensland.
Protected within Whitsunday Islands National Park, Whitehaven Beach also lies within the Great Barrier Reef, the largest reef ecosystem in the world, making for an extraordinary snorkeling destination.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Look for reef sharks, sea turtles, and colorful tropical fish, including coral trout, clownfish, surgeonfish, and parrotfish. Most impressive is the Maori wrasse, a large but docile fish found in these waters.
On the shore, sink your soles into the sand as you walk a section of the four-mile-long beach.
There are no facilities on the unspoiled Whitehaven Beach so pack water, snacks, sun protection, and swimming gear for a trip to this cinematic spot.
Playa Punta Uva, Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Playa Punta Uva in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
There is something magical and moving about Costa Rica’s Punta Uva Beach. Lying on the country’s southern Caribbean coastline on the edge of the Gandoca-Manzanillo nature reserve, this wild spot features palm trees and white sand.
Uva, which means “grape” in Spanish, is named after the sea grape tree that grows along this curved shoreline.
Playa Punta Uva in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
One of the best things to do on Playa Punta Uva is rent a kayak from the beach shack to skirt this little-explored section of Costa Rica. Snorkel equipment and tours are also offered, with the reef rich in ocean life, including lobsters, long-spined urchins, snappers, amberjacks, and groupers.
Some of the most exotic wildlife that Costa Rica is known for is found in the rainforest surrounding the beach, too, including butterflies, tropical birds, including parrots and toucans, and tree-lounging sloths.
Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda
Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda
A short hop from the U.S., Bermuda is a devastatingly beautiful island known for its pink-tinged beaches—a result of coral and broken shells from the seabed washing up on the shore. Not only is Horseshoe Bay Beach one of the most famous beaches in Bermuda, it’s among the best beaches to visit in November.
Outside of the island’s high season, which runs from May to October, November typically sees fewer crowds, while travelers still benefit from balmy temperatures. November also sees less humidity than the summer months, making the climate more pleasant at this time of year.
Horseshoe Bay Beach, Bermuda
Horseshoe Bay Beach lies on the south coast of Bermuda. It’s a broad, half-moon stretch featuring candy-hued sand and glass-clear water. There are lifeguards on duty, beach loungers and watersports equipment for hire.
Venture to Horseshoe Bay Cove, a tiny inlet immediately to the west of Horseshoe Bay Beach, featuring dramatic serrated limestone rock formations. Both are within South Shore Park, a nature reserve that covers a string of south coast Bermuda beaches, linked via a 1.25-mile coastal walk.
Jobson’s Cove, Bermuda
Once you’ve spent time lazing on the beach and have enjoyed soothing ocean swims, walk the route to take in more spectacular sunny beaches, including Angel Beach, Hidden Beach, Jobson’s Cove, and Warwick Long Bay, home to some of the best snorkeling in Bermuda.
Jimbaran Beach, Bali, Indonesia
Jimbaran Beach in Bali, Indonesia
Few shores compare to the two-and-a-half mile Jimbaran Beach for its sweep of blond sand in the southwest of Bali. The neighborhood, originally a quiet fishing village, is still known for excellent seafood restaurants near the beach.
Jimbaran Beach is one of the best beaches in Bali and, for sunseekers, November is one of the best times of year to visit with temperatures hovering around the early 80s°F.
Gentle waves, less dramatic than those on the east coast, are perfect for novice surfers. The beach is pristine, too, ideal for sunbathing, long walks, and relaxing with a Balinese beach massage.
Seafood
Try authentic Balinese food and dine on barbecued shrimp, lobster, squid, red snapper, and other locally-caught seafood at a beachside restaurant, such as Bayang Café Jimbaran, after a languorous day well spent on the beach.
Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Playa de Maspalomas in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Maspalomas Beach is among the best beaches to visit in November for its otherworldly dune landscape and year-round sunshine.
Located on the southern tip of Gran Canaria, an onion-shaped Atlantic island off the coast of northwest Africa, Maspalomas shares many similarities with the not-too-distant Sahara desert. This vast golden-orange beach is flanked by the Maspalomas Dunes Nature Reserve, made up of 988 acres of rolling dunes.
Maspalomas Dunes Nature Reserve in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Travelers can expect warm weather, sometimes with a light breeze, making Gran Canaria, and indeed the rest of the Canary Islands, an idyllic November escape.
The beach runs almost two miles, caressed by gentle, blue waves that are suitable for swimming. There are sun loungers and parasols to rent, and plenty of places to enjoy a bite to eat.
Playa del Inglés in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
There is, in fact, a section of Maspalomas Beach for every type of traveler. To the eastern end is the lively resort of Playa del Inglés, one of the best beaches in the Canary Islands. In the middle is a clothing-optional section, and to the west it’s more peaceful, with a striking 1890-built lighthouse.
The dunes—the direct result of a tsunami that followed an earthquake in 1755—are laced with walking routes to explore. Their changing shapes and patterns are spellbinding. There is also a luscious palm grove and a brackish lagoon enjoyed by plenty of bird life, from gray herons to yellow-legged gulls.
It’s essential to carry water, sun protection, and avoid going barefoot on the desert-like sand when exploring Maspalomas Dunes Nature Reserve.
St. Clair & St. Kilda Beaches, Dunedin, New Zealand
St. Clair & St. Kilda beaches in Dunedin, New Zealand
St. Clair and St. Kilda lead from one to the other, forming one long stretch of pearly-white sand, near the center of Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island.
With steep dunes facing the sapphire-blue Pacific Ocean, these two joined-together New Zealand shores are among the best beaches to visit in November for their surf credentials. It helps that the scenery is staggeringly beautiful and whether you surf or simply enjoy digging your heels into some of the world’s softest sand, beach lovers adore it here.
St. Clair & St. Kilda beaches in Dunedin, New Zealand
Start by visiting St. Clair Esplanade, to the west of the shore, and order coffee at Esplanade, an Italian restaurant that also serves ludicrously tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Browse Wander & Sons, a Dunedin concept store selling beautiful hand-picked fashion, accessories, and homeware.
Dedicate the rest of your time here to relaxing on these outstanding New Zealand beaches. Other facilities include a golf course, bathrooms, and playgrounds scattered behind the beaches.
Save time for a negroni cocktail and one of Esplanade’s mouth-watering pizzas, such as the Padrino, with toppings of pancetta, ricotta, pesto, mozzarella, and pistachio, after hitting the beach.
White Bay Beach, Jost Van Dyke, BVI
White Bay Beach in Jost Van Dyke, BVI
If bright cerulean water and powdery sand feature in your idea of the perfect beach, you’ll love White Bay Beach on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.
Rows of leafy palms tilt towards the sand, while the ocean is the stuff of dreams, velvety and warm.
PainKiller
Following an ocean dip, order a well-deserved cocktail at White Bay Beach’s famous Soggy Dollar Bar. Try the PainKiller, a rum-based Caribbean cocktail said to have been concocted here in the 1970s.
Containing coconut cream, pineapple, and orange juice (the exact proportions are a secret), topped with fresh grated Grenadian nutmeg, and lashings of rum, it may, or may not, cure your ailments.
There really is never a bad time to visit the British Virgin Islands, but if you’re looking to escape cooling temperatures at home, White Bay Beach is the antidote.
Carlisle Bay, Barbados
Carlisle Bay, Barbados
Barbados is known for blue skies and breathtaking scenery, but most of all it’s known for its glorious beaches, including those in Carlisle Bay on the southwest of the island.
On the edge of Barbados’s capital, Bridgetown, Carlisle Bay is an easy-to-reach stretch divided into several smaller sections—including Brownes and Pebbles beaches—that sweep around the bay.
Carlisle Bay, Barbados
The inviting water is bright turquoise and calm, with catamarans and other boats gently bobbing on the water. Enjoy a swim or experience snorkeling in Barbados and head out a little further. There are six shipwrecks in Carlisle Bay, each one home to a host of marine life, from turtles and seahorses to rays and other tropical fish.
There is plenty of space for unwinding in Carlisle Bay, too, with beach chairs and umbrellas available to rent, and seafood stands and beach bars scattered around the shore.
Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia
With temperature rising to around 73°F in November, Sydney’s sun-bleached Bondi Beach is already teeming with surfers, swimmers, and bathers looking for a slice of this iconic shore.
The crescent-shaped beach—an easy 20-minute drive or 40-minute bus ride from downtown Sydney—has it all, including sultry white sand, superb amenities, and spectacular surf.
Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia
Bondi’s promenade is lined with excellent cafés, including Glory Days Bondi, serving outstanding coffee, breakfast, brunches, lunch, and dinner.
After stretching out on the sand and dipping into the cool azure Pacific Ocean, stroll to Icebergs, with its famous pool cut into the cliff edge. Iceberg’s Clubhouse has a bistro and two bars, with unbeatable views of this Australian beach and the Pacific waves lashing the pool.
Read: Best Places to Visit in November
Jobson’s Cove, Bermuda
Few things compare to the unbridled joy of spending time on one of the world’s best beaches. To experience multiple heavenly beaches all in one vacation, explore our November cruises to book your next unforgettable escape.
