The best beaches in California
The top 3 according to 11 votes from people: Coronado Beach, San Diego · Huntington Beach · Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur. (Updated Aug 27, 2026.)
From Big Sur's purple sand to San Diego's sea lions: the California beaches locals and travel guides rate highest.
Top 10
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1
Coronado Beach, San Diego
Wide golden sand in front of the Hotel del Coronado.
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2
Huntington Beach
'Surf City USA' with a long pier.
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3
Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur
Purple-tinted sand and the Keyhole Arch.
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4
El Matador State Beach, Malibu
Sea stacks and caves below the bluffs.
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5
La Jolla Cove, San Diego
Sea lions, snorkelling and tide pools.
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6
Victoria Beach, Laguna Beach
Hidden beach with a castle-like tower.
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7
Carmel Beach
White sand and cypress trees in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
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8
Crystal Cove State Park
Historic cottages and tide pools between Newport and Laguna.
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9
Santa Monica State Beach
Classic beach with the pier and its Ferris wheel.
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10
Baker Beach, San Francisco
Views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the sand.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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11
Glass Beach, Fort Bragg
Shoreline of sea glass polished by the waves.
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12
Corona del Mar State Beach
Sheltered cove in Newport Beach.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (2)
El Matador is beautiful but the stairs are no joke.
Pfeiffer Beach purple sand at sunset, unreal.