The world's best pink beaches have been revealed

Barbie-mania has officially taken the world by storm, with the Greta Gerwig movie influencing everything from our fashion choices to our home decor.

If that’s not enough pink for you, though, there’s also a way to bring a hit of the hue to your next holiday.

Where most beaches are covered with either white, brown or black sand, some take on a pinkish colour thanks to an organism called foraminifera.

Crushed shells of these microscopic coral insects disperse into the shore, causing the rare phenomenon whereby the sand takes on a unique rosy tint.

Not only is it a beautiful feat of nature that’s worth witnessing at least once in your lifetime, it makes for some amazing Instagram shots to help take your Barbiecore aesthetic to the next level.

To help you choose which pink coastline to visit, Airport Parking has ranked the most popular candy-sandy beaches around the world based – and one is right here in the UK, so you don’t have to travel too far.

Paignton, England

With 221,551 hashtags on Instagram, Paignton beach in Devon makes a perfect pink staycation spot.

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With two packages to choose between, you can opt for French Daze And Ibiza Nights, where you get to mix stop-offs to the beautiful beaches of the south of France and Ibiza and sample some of the party island’s famous nightlife.

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The sand itself is actually slightly red, thanks to iron minerals found along the coastline, and there’s all sorts of amenities like cafes, an outdoor swimming pool, and a pier packed with amusements.

Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

Horseshoe Bay on the south coast of Bermuda is famous for its soft pink sand and turquoise waters, boasting 176,460 hashtags from visitors on Instagram.

The main part of this beach is great on a summer day, with a beach cafe, bar and grill, public toilets, and umbrellas, watersports equipment and sunbeds for hire.

Alternatively, you can head to the adjacent Port Royal Cova (also known as Baby Beach) which is a calm cove that still has pink sands, but where waters are slightly gentler for nervous swimmers.

Elafonissi, Crete

With 176,460 hashtags on Instagram, Elafonissi is a small archipelago just to the southwest of Chania, Crete.

Tour operators throughout Greece offer trips to the beaches here, with shallow lagoons and cliffs ripe for diving attracting visitors (along with the pink sand of course) throughout the summer season. Elafonissi beach is also a Natura 2000 protected spot due to the unique plants that live there, so it’s perfect for nature lovers.

There are a few canteens serving drinks and snacks by the beach, as well as loungers and umbrellas for hire, but it’s fairly remote so it’s recommended to bring your own.

Balos Lagoon, Crete

Next up is the second Cretan pink beach, Balos, which came in fourth with 47,673 Instagram hashtags.

On the western part of the island near the city of Kissamos, it’s accessible by ferry (and you may even spot dolphins on your trip) or via a dirt road running along Cape Gramvousa.

As Balos is protected by environmental organisations, the facilities are somewhat basic, comprising sun loungers and umbrellas for hire, a shower and a small cafe. It’s definitely worth a trip for its natural beauty, though.

Pink Sands, Bahamas

With a three-mile-long stretch of glorious pink sand, this beach on the east side of Harbour Island is one of the most well-known across the Bahamas.

Boasting 46,053 hashtags on Instagram, it draws visitors around the world who take in the phenomenon and swim in the crystal clear waters.

Sunrises and sunsets here are truly majestic, and there are a number of bars, restaurants, activities and hotels nearby to keep you busy when you’re done with the beach.

Pfeiffer, USA

Pfeiffer beach is certainly more rocky than some of the others that made the list, but has garnered 45,800 hashtags from fans of its unique pinkish purple sand.

Situated in the Big Sur Region of California, it features the often-photographed Keyhole Rock. Nudity is also legal here, with ‘clothing optional’ days on the north end.

The sand here actually changes colour depending on the weather, and the shade – caused by Manganese garnet eroded down from nearby hillsides – becomes particularly visible after rains.

Crane Beach, Barbados

With 34,981 Instagram hashtags, Crane Beach in St Philip is the most popular pink beach in Barbados.

Although it’s just below the exclusive Crane Resort, like all Bajan beaches, it’s open to the public.

It’s a quiet spot that’s great for sunbathing, but the choppy waters mean taking a dip may be best reserved for stronger swimmers. There’s everything you need otherwise, though, from restaurants to beach equipment.

Spiaggia Rosa, Italy

Spiaggia Rosa is in the Italian region of Sardinia, on Budelli Island within the Maddalena archipelago.

Instagram hashtags here total 15,455, but it’s actually illegal to step foot on its pink sands, as previous visitors had stolen so much that the beach was closed off to preserve it.

However, you can still take a boat trip from nearby resorts and witness Spiaggia Rosa in all its glory from the sea – plus you can spot dolphins, whales and other creatures on your journey.

Elbow Beach, Bermuda

The intimate coastline of Elbow Beach has garnered 13,153 hashtags on Instagram, most likely since it’s only available to those staying at the adjacent resort.

In Paget Parish, three miles from Hamilton, it features half a mile of soft pink sand, along with sun loungers, a spa, a swimming pool and tennis courts on the hotel’s grounds.

There are plenty of places to eat and drink nearby too, including Mickey’s, Bermuda’s only restaurant located directly on the beach.

Komodo Island, Indonesia

Komodo – hashtagged 4,022 times on Instagram – is one of the 17,508 islands that comprise the Republic of Indonesia, accessible by boat from Labuan Bajo and with a surface area of 150 square miles.

Popular with divers and nature fans alike, it’s home to one of the few pink beaches in the world and the world’s largest lizard, the Komodo Dragon.

There are many other animals you can spot here too, with a national park, snorkelling gear for hire, and a number of beautiful hiking trails. A real bucket list destination.

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