Iconic Coastlines That Should Be on Your Travel Radar
There’s nothing predictable about the world’s best coastlines. Salt hangs in the air, the weather can turn on you, and the scenery refuses to be ordinary. These are places where the water and land shape everything—legends, stories, how you spend a day, even what you remember years later. Step out, look around, and let the place explain itself.
Nā Pali Coast, Hawaii
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The Nā Pali Coast on Kaua’i isn’t reachable by car. Guests need to hike, sail, or fly to witness its sharp emerald cliffs and misty valley, but it’s worth it. It’s beauty has even been featured in movies like Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean. The Kalalau Trail is the stuff of backpacking legends, and celebrities often charter private catamarans for views without the crowds.
Big Sur, California
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Writers like Jack Kerouac and Henry Miller once called Big Sur home. Today, it’s more likely to host A-listers like Oprah or Anne Hathaway at retreats like Post Ranch Inn. The coastline itself is a dramatic mix of cliffs, fog, and redwoods, with landmarks like Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls making it a favorite for scenic drives and moody Instagram shots.
Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
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This 120-mile route passes through real-life locations from Game of Thrones, including the Dark Hedges and Ballintoy Harbour. But it’s the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO site of 40,000 basalt columns, that steals the show. Some locals still lean into the legend that it was built by giants, not lava.
Great Ocean Road, Australia
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Built by returning WWI soldiers, this road honors fallen comrades and hugs 150 miles of raw southern coast. It’s most famous for the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks, though only eight remain. Surfing in Bells Beach, koala spotting in Kennett River, and rainforest walks in Otway National Park round out the experience. Even Chris Hemsworth, who has a home not far from here, can’t escape this place’s charm.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
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Since ancient Roman times, this coast has been a getaway for emperors and artists. Today, everyone from Beyoncé to George Clooney has dropped anchor off Positano. The winding roads are best known for cliffside villas, lemon groves, and scenic towns like Ravello and Amalfi.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland
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Icelanders call this peninsula “Iceland in Miniature” because it crams in lava fields, glaciers, fishing villages, and coastal cliffs in just one region. Snæfellsjökull volcano, capped with ice, is featured in Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth. There’s whale-watching in Ólafsvík and black sand beaches at Djúpalónssandur. In winter, it’s a Northern Lights hotspot.
Lofoten Islands, Norway
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Above the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands offer remote beauty, fishing heritage, and towering fjords. Painters and photographers flock here for its surreal light, especially during the midnight sun in summer. The town of Reine has been called one of the most beautiful in Norway.
Halong Bay, Vietnam
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Halong Bay’s name means “descending dragon,” and legend says dragons created the limestone islands to protect Vietnam. Tours range from luxury junk boats to budget overnighters, with chances to kayak through caves and swim in hidden lagoons.
West Coast, South Island, New Zealand
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Few places feel as wild as this coast, which has glaciers that reach rainforest, ocean views beside snowcapped peaks, and blowholes at Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks. Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers offer guided ice walks, and Milford Sound’s towering cliffs are often cloaked in waterfalls. Peter Jackson filmed Lord of the Rings scenes nearby, and fans still come searching for Middle-earth.
Cape Point, South Africa
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Cape Point sits at the far edge of Table Mountain National Park, battered by weather and surrounded by the rough sea. An old lighthouse stands above the cliffs, which keeps watch over the waters where two oceans meet. The place feels wild—baboons patrol the parking lots, ostriches graze near the trails, and the wind changes direction without warning. In whale season, people gather near the viewpoints, scanning the waves for a sign of movement offshore.
Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia
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The Cabot Trail winds through Cape Breton Highlands, where cliffs drop into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and moose sometimes wander across the road. This 186-mile route is packed with coastal drama and cultural flavor. Gaelic traditions still thrive in the region, and Alexander Graham Bell’s nearby estate adds a layer of historical intrigue to an already fascinating landscape.
Staffa Island, Scotland
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Fingal’s Cave on Staffa is made of hexagonal basalt columns, naturally formed but oddly perfect. After visiting, Mendelssohn composed an overture, and Queen Victoria toured the island in 1847. No one lives on Staffa now, but puffins nest there from April to August. Because it’s remote and rugged, the island is accessible by boat only when the seas are calm.
French Riviera, France
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This glamorous stretch of coast draws everyone from yacht owners to film stars. During the Cannes Film Festival, the region swells with global celebrities. Nice offers beachside art museums, while Èze charms with medieval lanes. Picasso and Matisse found inspiration here, and it’s easy to see why. The turquoise water and pastel buildings make every angle camera-ready.
Cap de Formentor, Spain
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Drive to Cap de Formentor, and the island feels like it’s dropping away beneath your tires. The narrow road climbs through pine woods and opens onto rocky outcrops that look straight into the Balearic Sea. Past every hairpin, the views change—sometimes a sheer cliff, sometimes a stretch of turquoise water. At the tip, a white lighthouse stands above the wind. On clear days, you can spot Menorca on the horizon.
White Cliffs of Dover, England
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These iconic chalk cliffs face France across the narrowest part of the English Channel. During WWII, they symbolized home and hope for returning British soldiers. Today, visitors can hike cliff-top trails, explore tunnels beneath Dover Castle, or catch a ferry for a cross-channel view. The Beatles and Vera Lynn both famously sang about them, and the cliffs still draw crowds.