Located on some of the most scenic shorelines in the world, these glistening mansions and coastal cottages offer sand, sea and luxury living in abundance.
From envy-inducing interior design, to breathtaking backyards that provide direct access to the sand, click or scroll as we take a tour of beautiful beach houses around the world. Grab your sunscreen and let's go..
Nestled on a near one-acre (0.4ha) estate in Kailua-Kona, a town on the west coast of Hawaii Island, this property overlooks Kapaka Bay. Sitting on the sand of its very own beach, it is just steps from the North Pacific Ocean.
Known as K95, the modern home was devised by architect Shay Zak, who designed a series of pods, each housing different private and communal living spaces.
Every room is positioned to provide views of the ocean, with walls of sliding glass doors that open up to the garden – and the scenery. There’s a stunning open-plan great room with a lounge, dining space and kitchen, finished with Calacatta Gold waterfall countertops.
The interior is defined by luxurious details, including hand-honed limestone flooring from India, custom teak cabinetry and waterjet-cut tiles. There are three bedrooms and four bathrooms in total, with the primary suite boasting some of the best vistas in the whole house.
The master comes with a spa-like bath with solid teak vanities, dual walk-in closets, a soaking tub and a Calacatta marble steam shower.
Outside the suite, there’s a secluded outdoor shower and cold plunge pool.
Further in the garden you’ll find a lanai with a lounge and dining areas, as well as an infinity pool and spa. It's no wonder this home was priced at £24 million ($31m), when it was listed by Aloha Sotheby's International Realty in April 2025.
Parked up on its own private sandy beach, in North Saanich, British Columbia, this stunning residence not only boasts exceptional scenery, but gorgeous design and an immaculate finish.
Enclosed by a 1.4-acre (0.6ha) parcel, the elegant home was designed by renowned local architect, Jim Grieve, and built in 2011. It was listed for sale in April 2025, with Sotheby's International Realty Canada, for £5.7 million ($7.4m).
The property measures 8,295 square feet (771sqm) and nearly every room benefits from soaring ceilings, opulent lighting, glossy timber floors and beautiful millwork, as well as huge windows that frame remarkable views of the water.
As for spaces, there’s a great room, a gourmet kitchen, a wood panelled office, a formal dining room, four bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
Overlooking the water, the primary bedroom provides stunning views, a bedside fireplace, an expansive ensuite and a walk-in closet. There’s also a wine room, home theatre and gym.
The garden is also totally dreamy. Tiered, it slopes gracefully down to the beach. There’s also a dining patio, a hot tub, a barrelled wooden sauna, a fire pit and a vegetable garden.
Malibu is known for its enchanting coastline and enviable real estate, and this property incorporates both. Situated just above Zuma Beach, the modern villa is a rare architectural gem.
Described on the Airbnb listing as a "celebration of light, openness and modern design", the retreat has a gorgeous open-concept layout, with plenty of exterior spaces for soaking up the sunshine, and the scenery!
Sprawling and light-filled, the home features a double-height great room with a 20-foot (6.1m) ceiling, a double-sided fireplace and disappearing glass walls that frame the ocean. There's also a dining space, a designer kitchen, three bedrooms and four bathrooms.
As for interior design, the home benefits from contemporary furnishings, timber accents and crisp white finishes, allowing the blues of the sky and water outside to take centre stage.
This remarkable bathroom is one of the home's finest spaces. With a skylight positioned under the tub, allowing for views of the stars while you bathe, and a huge picture window that frames the coastline, it is an oasis for wellbeing.
Of course, there’s also plenty of outside space. There are multiple decks, as well as a zero-edge infinity pool that extends toward the horizon. What could be better?
Anchored into a hillside in Forresters Beach, a coastal suburb in New South Wales, Australia, this amazing waterfront home was designed to allow any lucky occupants to rest, relax and reconnect with nature.
The house was built with Wabi-Sabi in mind. This traditional Japanese aesthetic is all about natural simplicity and flawed beauty – something this home truly embraces.
Named Kalakau_house, the residence is laid out over three floors and benefits from a living room that faces the water, a kitchen and plentiful outdoor entertaining areas.
With a distinct Japanese design, the home mimics the lines, textures and functionality of shoji screens. Everywhere you look you'll spot natural wood and organic shapes, which add to the home's tranquil, Zen-like feel.
Designed for eight guests, the property also features four bedrooms and two bathrooms. This lovely bathroom has gorgeous bespoke joinery and a soaking tub for whiling away the hours.
It also comes with a hot spa, a mineral lap pool and an infrared sauna. Plus, a pathway leads down to the beach, which is a mere 10-minute walk away.
Over in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, you'll find this impressive waterfront compound. Situated in the premier area of the Dunes, the residence showcases custom finishes throughout, as well as a truly exceptional backyard.
The gated home adjoins the historic green of the private Dunes Golf & Beach Club golf course and boasts 300 feet (91m) of lakefront, a pebble beach, a dock and park-like grounds.
The estate comes complete with a main residence and two private guests houses, totalling over 9,900 square feet (920sqm). The main house is equipped with a spacious floorplan, with expansive windows for breathtaking views of the lake.
With an indoor/outdoor layout, the home was designed for entertaining. There’s a stunning foyer, a formal living room with soaring ceilings and a family room that opens to a chef's kitchen.
There are seven bedrooms and 12 bathrooms in total, as well as a movie theatre, a games room and a custom mahogany panelled study. The top floor houses two primary suites, each with elegant bathrooms, generous walk-in closets and private balconies overlooking the pool and lake.
Is it any wonder this lovely home was priced at £4.6 million ($5.9m), when it was on the market in April 2025, with Leonard, Call at Kingston?
Pembrokeshire in Wales, UK, is loved for its historic castles, untouched nature spots and 186-mile-long (299km) coastline.
Tucked inside Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, moments from a cliff edge, this enchanting cottage blends the best of old and new, creature comforts and wild nature. Let's explore...
Bridgend Cottage is 200 years old, but thanks to a sensitive renovation, it is now stylish, modern and rustic. Think stone walls, exposed timber beams and wood-burning fireplaces. There’s a cosy snug, a spacious family bathroom and three bedrooms.
Upstairs, in the eaves of the home, you’ll find a lovely open-plan kitchen and lounge, with large windows that capture magnificent scenery of Aberfelin Bay.
Step out of the front door and cross the road to the clifftop garden, which is laid out over three levels. A pathway leads down to a hidden beach cove, where waves gently lap against the surrounding cliffs. Truly, what could be more tranquil than that?
Known for their grand proportions and singled facades, New England homes are truly stunning – and this one in Edgartown, Massachusetts, epitomises the style.
Described as a “true masterpiece of modern living”, the house finds itself on a meticulously landscaped one-acre (0.4ha) lot, minutes from Katama Bay and South Beach, one of Martha's Vineyard's most sought-after stretches of sand.
The main house features a gorgeous open concept living room, an impressive kitchen, a dining zone and three spacious bedrooms, each designed for relaxation and comfort.
French doors open the interior up to a deck overlooking the manicured lawn, while the state-of-the-art media room is the perfect spot for movie nights.
Every single room is flood with natural light and kitted out with lovely furnishings, while huge windows allow for majestic views across the surrounding area. There’s also a separate carriage house with a three-car garage and a one-bedroom apartment upstairs.
This elegant residence was for sale in April 2025 for £7.2 million ($9.3m). Wallace & Co. Sotheby's International Realty held the listing.
Located in the Mexican state of Nayarit, on an oceanfront hillside, Residencia Uxmal is one seriously envy-inducing home. Built in 2019, the residence blends contemporary luxury with spectacular elements of nature.
For starters, any lucky residents would be able to hear the roar of the waves while they sip their morning coffee. Its design was inspired by Mayan temples and features impressive stone walls, soaring ceilings, dramatic stone columns and intricate carved timber doors.
Spread over four buildings on several levels, each part of the 27,125-square-foot (2,519sqm) home is connected by lighted pathways. Across the property you’ll find numerous living rooms, a gourmet kitchen, six bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
The master bedroom is truly incredible, with sliding doors that open the space up to a private terrace, which offers truly dreamy views. Its ensuite also boasts a sculptural bathtub of natural stone.
The interior design was exquisitely created with natural fibres, neutral colours and fine embroidered textiles from Mexican artisans. On the rooftop, you'll find an impressive Observatory Terrace with a swimming lane, a circular lounge and an outdoor fireplace.
There are actually numerous terraces and six swimming pools on the property. Such an exquisite home deserves an exquisite price tag. The residence was listed in April 2015, with Puerto Vallarta Sotheby's International Realty, for £23.3 million ($30m).
Perched on more than five acres (2ha), on the edge of a dramatic coastal cliff in Mendocino County, California, this modern concrete, glass and steel home offers unparalleled views of a private cove, as well as over 1,800 feet (548m) of oceanfront.
Surrounded by dramatic rock formations and islands, this coastal retreat would allow for year-round sunset watching and whale sightings.
While the exterior is the home’s selling point, the interior is pretty exceptional, too. Sleeping eight people, with three bedrooms, the property comes complete with a gorgeous living room that faces the ocean, a large kitchen, a dining area and three state-of-the-art workstations. There’s even an outdoor desk that overlooks the ocean!
Design-wise, the residence is cool, contemporary and brooding, with dark tones, wood-clad ceilings, integrated fireplaces and, of course, walls of glass.
There’s even a gorgeous exterior terrace that appears to be floating above the ocean itself. It comes kitted out with an eight-person hot tub, a fire pit and a bluff-top bench. This home was truly designed to make the very most of the stunning surrounding scenery.
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