There’s something raw and earthy about some our coastlines. Fantastic views, rugged landscapes, and crashing waves all make for some memorable scenery. Here then, are the top 10 most spectacular coastlines on the planet.   

10. Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland

This rugged route runs along the Atlantic coast from Londonderry to Belfast for a total of 212 kilometers. Here you’ll find beaches, famous Game of Thrones shooting locations, fishing villages, rope bridges, and more. See the Gobbins cliff walk on the huge basalt cliffs of the Islandmagee peninsula for over a century.

Another “must-see” is the famous geological UNESCO world heritage site known as the Giant’s Causeway. Legend has it that these 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns form a stairway created by an Irish giant looking to do battle with a Scottish giant.

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Great Ocean Road, Australia

The Great Ocean Road is 400 kilometers in length. From center-city Melbourne, you can do the drive in about 90 minutes and see everything from Torquay to Nelson along the southern border. Take in the rainforests, rivers, and volcanoes too.

Highlights here include the stunning sea stack known as the 12 Apostles. Once joined to the cliffs of the mainland, these impressive, 45-meter high limestone pillars are the result of years and years of sculpting by winds and waves. In fact, there are presently only eight Apostles.  

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Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

You’ll find Ha Long Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin about four hours out of the capital city of Hanoi. It includes more than 1,600 wild islands and islets. The bulk of them remains uninhabited.

This bay is one of the best things to see here. It’s a striking seascape of wave- and wind-eroded grottoes and towering limestone pillars. This Karst landscape is ideal and was born of a wet and warm tropical climate. That along with its biological elements earned it a slot on the UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1994. 

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Glacier Bay National Park, USA

This national park in the state of Alaska spans 3.3 million acres of deep sheltered fjords, dynamic glaciers, mighty mountains, verdant rainforest, and wild coastlines. It’s part of an even larger 25-million acre UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the largest international protected areas on the planet.

The glaciers here were rapidly retreating well before the coining of the phrase “global warming.” This has resulted in a spectacular, 65-mile fjord that still includes big glaciers that plunge off the stark, surrounding mountain peaks. 80 percent of tourists who travel here suggest signing aboard a cruise. 

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Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Namibia’s Skeleton Coast is named after the bones that were once scattered along the shore because of the whaling industry. It is arguably one of the last great wildernesses on Earth. This unforgiving environment is dominated by a brisk Benguela current, heavy, thick fog, an icy surf, dry desert winds, and under 10 millimeters of yearly rainfall.

See the otherworldly landscapes of canyons of volcanic rock, massive mountain ranges, and arid, wind-swept dunes. You might also see the wooden skeletons of whaling ships that crashed on the rocks in the dense, dangerous fog.

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Milford Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound is nestled deep in the heart of Fiordland National Park. Said by some to be the nation’s “most stunning natural attraction” is an official UNESCO World Heritage site, Author Rudyard Kipling once called it “the eighth wonder of the world.”

This breathtaking place was carved out by numerous glaciers back in the ice age. It is impressive any time of the year because the forested cliffs of the fiord rise out of the water regardless of the weather. See the waterfalls plunge from a height of up to 1000 meters. The frequent rain makes the falls even more memorable.

Big Sur, USA

Big Sur is a pristine, remote portion of the country’s system of scenic byways. The famous two-lane Pacific Coast Highway covers 90 miles. It’s bordered by San Simeon featuring the famous Hearst Castle, to the south, and Carmel to the north.

This narrow highway hugs California’s cliffs as it winds along the central coast high above the wildly crashing waves. Be sure to see the Bixby Bridge, and the Monterey Peninsula as well. This drive is considered by some to be among the world’s most scenic.

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The Amalfi Coast & Capri Island, Italy

This is a popular tourist destination and said by many to also be the “most scenic coastline” in all of Europe. Here you will be able to explore a lovely landscape of great, green-swathed mountains, impressive palatial renaissance mansions, and pastel-painted villages complete with cobblestone streets, and the turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea.

The history and scenery have earned this place on Naples’ serene Sorrento Peninsula a slot on UNESCO’s World Heritage list back in 1997. Take the 20-minute boat ride to the dramatic island of Capri too.

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Napali Coast, USA

Speaking of spectacular coastlines, this 17-mile long stretch is located on Kauai’s North Shore. It is perhaps most known for its beautiful beaches, lush valleys, wild waterfalls, and exceptional emerald-hued cliffs with razor-sharp ridges. The area hasn’t changed much since Hawaiian settlements first appeared here.  

Here you can hike the popular Kalalau Trail which runs along 11 miles of the coast. If you truly want to appreciate the entire coast, take a helicopter tour. The Napali Coast is said by some to be one of the best places to see in the entire state.

Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard, South Africa

Mere minutes from busy downtown Cape Town, you’ll find this lush nature lover’s paradise. Highlights of this remarkable coastal road include beautiful beaches, dramatic hiking trails, and unforgettable scenery. Also known as Cape Town’s own “Riviera”, this route runs from the Hout Bay in the south to the V&A Waterfront to the north between the towering Twelve Apostles and the shining Atlantic Ocean.

This coastline is often included on the top 10 lists of most scenic drives, and most scenic travel destinations too.

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