The world’s ‘happiest beaches’ revealed through bizarre study | Travel News

A day stretched out on golden sand, a good book in hand, with the sun beaming down and the sound of the waves crashing nearby would bring a smile to just about everyone. But which beach brings tourists the most joy?

London-based travel agency CV Villas has used an intriguing method to rank the world’s happiest coastlines, using AWS facial recognition technology to scan thousands of Instagram photos. The world’s happiest beaches had the highest number of smiles online. Spain dominated the podium, with two of its beaches among the top three.

Sitges Beach, just 25 miles from Barcelona, took the top spot with a near-perfect “beach happiness score” of 98.42.

Known for its golden sand, scenic palm-lined promenade, 300 days of sunshine and lively mix of restaurants and bars, Sitges is a favourite among both locals and tourists. Just 40 minutes from Barcelona, it is one of the best day-trip destinations to escape the chaos of the Catalonian capital.

The second “happiest beach” in Spain is Port de Soller, found on the picturesque northwest coast of Majorca. It ranked third worldwide, just behind Praia da Falesia in Albufeira, Portugal.

According to Time Out Travel Editor Grace Beard: “If Mars had a beach, it would look like Praia da Falesia at sunset.

“I spent two weeks beach-hopping Portugal’s Algarve and it became a ritual to end each day with a stroll on this four-mile stretch of sand, which in certain lights took on the same orangey-red shade as the limestone cliffs that run behind it.”

The secluded gem of Cala Pregonda in northern Menorca, which took 11th place, rounded out Spain’s top three most joyful beaches. Famous for its reddish-golden sand and crystal-clear waters, it rounds out Spain’s top three most joyful beaches.

In total, Portugal claims five positions in the top 30. Greece, meanwhile, took the crown for the most appearances, with eight entries in the ranking.

The UK also made a surprise impact, with Wales and Scotland featuring in the Top 30. Rhossili Bay and Caswell Bay in Wales achieved impressive fourth and fifth places, while Troon Beach, Scotland, secured 26th place.

Overall, Europe dominates the top 30, claiming an impressive 24 places. The continent has a great deal to smile about.