For many people, getting married is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, and the celebrations surrounding it are unlike any other. In particular, the honeymoon is always a special event, and you want to make it memorable. It’s no wonder that many couples choose to hop on a plane and fly to an exotic destination they otherwise might never have the chance to visit.

As globe-trotters and adventurers ourselves, we’ve been to many of these destinations – including for our own honeymoon. Here’s our list of the top five beaches to visit on a honeymoon and why.

Keep in mind that this is very much not an exhaustive list. Several of the locations we list below have hundreds, if not thousands, of beaches to choose from, ranging from completely isolated to extremely popular. We’re only covering the best and, in many cases, the ones we’ve been to before. There’s a lot more available if you look, so use this list as a starting point, not the end of the line.

#5: Indonesia

First up is Indonesia. Indonesia stretches quite a ways, from the lower tip of Thailand to the northeast corner of Australia, and encompasses over 17,000 different islands. Some of those are little more than tiny drops of land barely rising over the sea; others are large and well-populated, with cities rivaling the largest metros of the West.

With so many islands to choose from, there’s no end to the options available to you when you want to take a honeymoon to Indonesia. Consider options such as:

• Komodo Island. The Pink Beach surrounds an expanse of deep blue waters that hide amazing coral formations just beneath the waves. The Komodo National Park is also a great place to see the namesake lizard, the Komodo Dragon, in its natural habitat.
• Ora Beach, on the island of Seram, is famous for its incredible bird population, as well as some excellent snorkeling opportunities and, of course, pristine white sand beaches to enjoy.
• The Togean Islands. These islands are surrounded on all sides by incredible underwater reefs and barrier reefs, as well as all sorts of sea life. You can also go island hopping and check out more isolated beaches to have them all to yourself.

For our money, though, the best destination in Indonesia is Bali. Whether you’re visiting the hidden art markets, checking out the ancient and well-kept temples, going on wildlife safaris, or just chilling out on the beaches, Bali can’t be beat when you’re in that stretch of the world. It’s not the most isolated, but that’s fine; when you’re on a honeymoon, sometimes you want the civilization around to make sure you’re never far from your basic needs, right?

#4: French Polynesia

Located somewhere around halfway between Pero and Australia, the islands that make up French Polynesia are some of the most isolated in the world. There are only around 100 islands in the chain, though there are only a small handful of them that you’re likely to be spending your honeymoon lounging on.

Pretty much all of the islands in French Polynesia are going to have the same basic amenities. You have vibrant blue waters and calm, open seas. You have tropical jungle islands with exotic birds and wildlife. You have overwater bungalows built out on piers, and you have your own room to yourself just over the water, where you can enjoy both isolation and amenities. There are also beach villas with their own private pools and other resorts you can experience, but let’s be real here; if you’re going to be spending time in French Polynesia, you have to try the overwater bungalows.

This is where we went for our own honeymoon, and we tried out both the Four Seasons and St. Regis on the island of Bora Bora. You can read our review of both luxury resorts here.

Mentioning Bora Bora brings us to the discussion of the islands you can visit. Bora Bora is one of them, of course. You can also try out Tahiti, which offers similar amenities and arrangements. In addition to the major islands, there are also a few smaller locales you can visit as well, like Motu Tautau, home of Le Taha’a, a private islet located between Taha’a and Bora Bora.

As a unique benefit to honeymooners, Tahitian tradition offers the bride a pearl farmed in the pristine waters of the South Pacific. Green, white, and even black pearls are all available, and as long as your chosen resort knows you’re there on a honeymoon, there’s a good chance they’ll offer you the opportunity to pick one up. You can also learn firsthand how the pearls are farmed if that’s your thing!

There’s plenty to do when you’re out in French Polynesia, as long as you’re a fan of beaches, boats, and underwater adventures. There’s comparatively little jungle to explore – though that’s not to say there’s nothing – but the best adventures are beneath the waves. Whether it’s snorkeling with manta rays, enjoying a tiki party on the beach, or going birdwatching with the tropical avians, there’s always something to do.

#3: Greece

Sometimes, you don’t want to spend half a day on a plane to a remote island destination in the middle of the ocean. Sometimes, you want to go somewhere much closer, more connected to civilization, and with both a more familiar atmosphere and a long history of romanticism.

Why not visit Greece?

Greece has a lot of history, and it’s a very “western” kind of country compared to many of the other destinations you might want to visit. As part of Europe and European history, Greece is going to be a more comfortable destination for many folks who are less accustomed to travel. To be blunt, you aren’t going to get nearly as much culture shock in Greece as you might in Indonesia or French Polynesia. Going to a more exotic destination isn’t a bad thing – it’s a compelling adventure – but it can be stressful in the wrong ways for a honeymoon, especially when you have the pressure to make it perfect.

Greece is, in many ways, a “safer” destination for that kind of experience. While there are certainly things that can go wrong, the experience of getting to Greece, and staying in Greece for a honeymoon, is comparatively easier and offers more ability to fall back to other plans and options if something doesn’t work out.

So, where in Greece should you go, especially if you’re seeking out the beachside experience? Hint: you’re going to want to get off the mainland. Mainland Greece is beautiful, of course, but the best beaches are on the Greek islands. In particular, Santorini and Mykonos are two of the most iconic destinations for Greek beaches you could possibly hope for. Other islands, like Thassos and Lemnos, are also good options.

We loved our experience in Santorini, but it’s definitely worth trying to make sure you’re there when there isn’t a cruise ship in town. That can be a tall ask, so if you don’t want to fight the crowds, consider Mykonos instead.

Either way, you’re going to experience historic and beautiful beaches, incredible architecture, pristine waters, and plenty of adventures to be had across whichever island you choose to visit. Or, of course, you can plan to visit several of them in a whirlwind tour of Greece.

#2: Mexico

For somewhere a little closer to home, why not give Mexico a try?

There’s an unfortunate public perception of Mexico as a land of deserts, of brown dusty wastes, of crime and cartels. It’s all fueled by the media – both news media and entertainment media that use stereotypes to convey shorthand that really isn’t reflective of the truth. Sure, some areas of Mexico aren’t all that safe, but the same is true of pretty much anywhere. There are areas in Los Angeles or New York you wouldn’t want to go to either.

Meanwhile, Mexico has some incredible beaches and beachside resorts that aren’t just beautiful; they’re iconic. Whether you’re going to Tulum, the Playa del Carmen, or even the iconic Cancun, you have the option to enjoy life where it takes you or book an all-inclusive resort and insulate yourself from anything beyond the luxury and pre-planned experiences you know you’ll love.

We’ve actually covered Mexico a lot in the past. That means we have a lot of options to offer. For example:

• Check out this nine-day itinerary that takes you from Cancun to Tulum and shows you the sights along the way.
• Plan an incredible trip to Puerto Vallarta, a land of stunning beaches and vibrant activity.
• Visit the Cenotes all throughout and around Cancun, and take in one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders you can’t find anywhere else in the world.

Mexico has the added benefit of being quite close to home and, depending on where you live, quite familiar in terms of culture and norms. On top of that, when you visit a popular resort town like Cancun, chances are you’re going to be surrounded by more tourists than native citizens, and that means an even more comfortable time; after all, you’re all in the same boat. And, hey, you can make new friends with folks all around the world. What’s not to love?

#1: Maldives

Number one is one of our favorites and a place we’re keenly looking forward to visiting soon: the Maldives.

Officially the Republic of Maldives, this is another island chain, this time located off the southern tip of India and stretching down to the equator. The Maldives includes over a thousand islands, and almost all of them offer some kind of incredible tropical resort, getaway, adventure, tour, or other experience you can have.

Just like in Tahiti and Bora Bora, the Maldives resorts are often overwater bungalows, so you get that on-the-water experience. Unlike those locations, Maldives resorts are almost all private islands. Most of the Maldives islands are, in fact, essentially just owned by a single resort. You’re not just picking where to go; you’re picking your entire experience when you pick an island.

There are a bunch of popular and global hotel and resort brands operating in the Maldives. The JW Marriott is a great resort and spa option. The Robinson Club has a resort, as does W. There are, as well, a few more populated islands where you can choose a more free-form honeymoon, staying in a VRBO or even AirBnB.

What is there to do in the Maldives? More like, what can’t you do? Well, snow sports, you can’t do winter anything in an equatorial island chain, but that’s just about it. Want to go scuba diving? Take a sunset cruise? Go to an underwater restaurant? Try a traditional spa? You can do all of this and more, alongside all of the traditional tropical island activities like snorkeling, swimming, diving, sunbathing, and generally enjoying the picture-perfect weather year-round.

There’s no wrong time to go to the Maldives, and there’s so much to do you’ll never want to leave. It’s quite honestly one of the most perfect places on earth, which is why it’s such a shame that it’s threatened by sea level rise. Visit while you can; we certainly plan to!

Your Honeymoon Ideas

If you want a seaside honeymoon where you can lounge on the beach, enjoy the water, and experience a tropical paradise, there are countless beaches around the world you can try. We’ve listed five of our favorites here, but there are plenty of others. You could check out the Seychelles, or Mauritius, or the Bahamas, or even somewhere like Thailand, New Zealand, or Hawaii itself.

So, we turn to you: if you’ve had a great beach vacation – it doesn’t have to be a honeymoon, though we’d love it if it was – where did you go, what did you do, and what would you recommend? We love hearing your stories and inspiring our own future adventures, so let us know all about them in the comments! Who knows, maybe instead of you following in our footsteps, next time, we’ll be following in yours.