Smaller Shores, Better Vibes
If you’re dreaming of a beach escape but dreading packed boardwalks and overpriced cocktails, it’s time to look beyond the usual coastal headliners. Around the world, smaller beach towns are quietly offering gorgeous scenery, good food, and room to breathe without the tourist machine running at full volume. Here are 20 underrated beach towns worth visiting this year.
1. Avila Beach, California
Avila Beach sits on San Luis Obispo Bay, roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and feels far sleepier than California’s big-name coastal icons. The town has about 1,500 residents, a mellow beachfront, and a small, walkable center that trades nightlife for sunset strolls and wine tasting.
2. Tybee Island, Georgia
Just 18 miles from Savannah, Tybee Island stays laid-back while bigger destinations soak up the spotlight. You get wide, walkable beaches, a pastel lighthouse, and a relaxed main drag that feels more like an old-school beach town than a polished resort.
3. Anna Maria Island, Florida
Anna Maria Island is only about two miles wide, but it’s rich in Gulf Coast charm. A couple of hours from Orlando and an easy hop from Tampa and Sarasota, it somehow still feels like a sleepy, low-rise beach community with clear water and white sand.
4. Sanibel Island, Florida
Sanibel Island, off the coast of Fort Myers, delivers Caribbean-style turquoise water and shell-strewn beaches without a passport. The vibe leans more nature preserve than party strip, with wildlife refuges, bike paths, and low-key inns tucked among the palms.
5. Sapelo Island, Georgia
Sapelo Island feels like the opposite of a built-up beach resort: spacious, uncrowded sands and long, quiet stretches of shoreline. Access is more limited than in typical drive-up towns, which helps keep the crowds away and the atmosphere peaceful.
6. San Clemente, California
Tucked between Los Angeles and San Diego, San Clemente offers a mellow surf town escape from both big cities. Its scenic bluffs, pier, and beach draw surfers and families who want Southern California scenery without Santa Monica–level crowds.
7. Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead sits on the New England coast with cobblestone streets, 17th-century architecture, and a pretty harbor that somehow still flies under the radar. You get beaches, waterfront parks, and a small downtown full of shops and restaurants.
8. Sozopol, Bulgaria
On Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, Sozopol blends sandy beaches with a historic old town full of traditional wooden houses and cobbled streets. Summer evenings come with live music, sea views, and surprisingly affordable waterfront seafood restaurants.
9. Himarë, Albania
Himarë on Albania’s Riviera is a superb base for exploring crystal-clear coves and dramatically backed beaches along the Ionian Sea. The town stays more relaxed than nearby hotspots, and you can hire local boats to reach hidden bays, caves, and near-empty stretches of beach.
10. Assos, Kefalonia, Greece
On the island of Kefalonia, Assos is a pastel-colored village wrapped around a quiet bay. While nearby Myrtos Beach gets most of the fame, Assos offers a gentler, village feel with tavernas, clear water, and views of a Venetian-era fortress on the headland.
11. Nida, Lithuania
Nida, on the Curonian Spit, is a windswept Baltic town with colorful wooden houses and wide, uncrowded beaches. In summer, temperatures often climb into the high 70s or 80s Fahrenheit, making swimming doable for anyone who likes a refreshing dip.
12. Mazunte, Mexico
Mazunte, on Mexico’s Oaxaca coast, is a laid-back, hippie-leaning beach town where crashing waves provide the constant soundtrack. The beach is scenic and powerful, with sunsets that pull everyone to the shore each evening.
13. Zipolite, Mexico
Just down the coast, Zipolite is known for its relaxed, clothing-optional stretch of sand and low-key, bohemian energy. The beach is long, open, and backed by simple hotels and cafés rather than giant developments.
14. Huatulco, Mexico
Huatulco, also on the Oaxaca coast, offers a cluster of bays and coves that feel far removed from Cancun and Tulum. The resort area is more developed than Mazunte but still relatively low-profile, with lots of room for snorkeling, boat trips, and quiet beaches.
15. Penghu Islands, Taiwan
The Penghu Islands, in the Taiwan Strait, are a rugged archipelago of nearly 90 islands with basalt cliffs, stone villages, and wide, quiet beaches. Just be warned that the winds can be strong.
16. Bald Head Island, North Carolina
Bald Head Island is a car-free barrier island reached only by ferry, which instantly lowers the stress level. Visitors get around by golf cart or bike, wandering between beaches, marshes, and maritime forest.
17. Rockport, Massachusetts
Rockport, about 40 miles north of Boston, delivers classic New England coastal scenery without the intensity of Cape Cod crowds. The harbor, fishing shacks, and rocky shoreline give it that postcard look, but the town itself feels easygoing and artistic.
18. Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
On the French Riviera, Villefranche-sur-Mer has colorful waterfront houses and a curving bay that feels more village than high-glamour strip. While it's gained popularity, it still offers a calmer alternative to Nice or Cannes.
19. Bai Xep, Vietnam
Bai Xep, near Quy Nhon on Vietnam’s central coast, is a peaceful cove where fishing boats bob just offshore. The beach turns into an open-air dining scene at night, with simple seafood spots right on the sand. It’s a great choice if you want to add a few lazy beach days to a Vietnam itinerary heavy on cities and mountains.
20. Ky Co Beach, Vietnam
Not far from Bai Xep, Ky Co Beach offers a crescent of pale sand backed by cliffs and shockingly clear water. It’s popular with locals but still relatively unknown to international tourists, especially compared with Vietnam’s bigger-name coastal cities.
