Located on some of the most scenic shorelines in the world, these glistening mansions and coastal cottages offer abundant sand, sea and luxury living.

From envy-inducing interior design to breathtaking backyards that provide direct access to the sand, grab your sunscreen and let's go!

Click or scroll as we tour the most beautiful beach houses around the world... 

Nestled on a nearly 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 various 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 suite comes with a spa-like bath with solid teak vanities, dual walk-in closets, a soaking tub and a Calacatta marble steam shower. Outside, there’s a secluded outdoor shower and a cold plunge pool.

Further in the garden, you’ll find a lanai – an open-sided porch – with a lounge and dining areas, as well as an infinity pool and spa. It's no wonder this home was priced at £23.4 million ($31m) when it was listed by Aloha Sotheby's International Realty in April 2025.

Located in Castaways Beach, a coastal suburb in the Shire of Noosa in Queensland, Australia, this amazing Tuscan-inspired beach house enjoys a spectacular position moments from the sea.

It was undoubtedly designed to maximise the scenery and create a seamless indoor/outdoor connection.

Inside, the lavish home is truly dreamy. With modern interior design, contemporary furnishings and walls of glass, every space is light-filled and chic. 

There’s an open concept lounge, dining room and kitchen, as well as four bedrooms and three bathrooms. There’s also a gym, a kids' playhouse and air-conditioning throughout.

There are endless exterior balconies for taking in the views, as well as a swimming pool with a waterslide, a sauna, a ping pong table, an outdoor kitchen, a hot tub and a basketball court – this is one seriously awesome backyard.

Plus, with the beach just minutes away (the home has private access onto the beach boardwalk), this home is perfect for lovers of long sunset walks, wild swimming, surfing and soaking up the sunshine.

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 CA$10.5 million or £5.7 million ($7.6m).

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 firepit 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 view!

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 well-being.

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?

Taking the idea of the beach house to new extremes, this very literal property is located right on the sand of Saint Margaret's Bay in Kent, England.

This shingle stretch of shoreline, on England's south coast, extends 4.7 miles (7.6km), in what is known as White Cliffs Country. Positioned beneath these cliffs, this lovely home is just footsteps from the English Channel.

Known as Sea Purse, the house was completely renovated in 2022 and is now beautifully decorated throughout. Yet there are plenty of original features, too, including a stunning brick and copper fireplace in the living room, pretty wall panelling and porthole and casement windows.

As for spaces, there's a sitting room, dining area, kitchen, library snug, four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Of course, the home’s décor and furnishings beautifully reflect its coastal position. 

Yet the home’s pièce de résistance is probably this amazing wrap-around balcony. The large exterior space comes with numerous benches and a dining table with seating for eight people, not to mention truly incredible, unobstructed views of the sea.

Hop over the wall and you'll find yourself on the shingle beach, a stone's throw from the waves.

This luxurious and elegant home is located on what's known as Millionaire's Row in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. The property’s backyard boasts a saltwater pool that overlooks the sand, creating a true resort feeling.

Plus, with no public beach access or street parking nearby, the stretch of sand is exclusive to those lucky enough to live on this affluent street.

Listed for sale in April 2025 with Compass South Carolina via Amy Byrne, the residence was priced at £5.1 million ($6.8m), and the beach right outside has everything to do with it.

Inside, the pad measures 3,562 square feet (331sqm) and comes kitted out with light-filled living rooms that face the scenery. There's a broken-plan lounge, dining room and kitchen, as well as four bedrooms and five bathrooms.

Traditional and perfectly presented, the interior benefits from swashes of natural oak, quartzite countertops, shiplap accents, log fireplaces and coastal furnishings. Yet it's all about what's going on outside. This expansive rear terrace is perfect for soaking up views and a few rays.

The deck is attached to the primary suite, which also boasts a spa-like ensuite and a massive walk-in closet. The other three bedrooms also have their own private oceanfront balcony.

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 guest 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 £4.5 million ($6m) when it was on the market in April 2025 with Leonard, Call at Kingston?

Known for their grand proportions and singled façades, 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 flooded 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 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 £22.6 million ($30m).

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.

Florida is known for its amazing oceanfront estates, which are owned by some of the world's richest and most powerful people. Located in the city of Pompano Beach, just north of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this luxurious compound is just one of these exquisite pieces of real estate.

There are just 17 direct oceanfront homes on this stretch of land, meaning the sandy shoreline behind is not only exclusive but quiet, too.

The sprawling residence extends over three floors and benefits from generously proportioned rooms, with modern fixtures, contemporary furnishings, soaring ceilings and full-height windows that provide stunning ocean views.

The home’s open-plan layout makes it perfect for hosting; there’s a lounge, dining room, kitchen, laundry facilities, six well-appointed bedrooms and five bathrooms.

Plus, the rear of the house is finished with seemingly endless balconies, where amazing scenery can be savoured while enjoying a morning coffee, a lavish dinner or an evening aperitif.

The luxe home also boasts half an acre (0.2ha) of land, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, a lawn and, of course, a pathway that leads down to the sand. What could be better than that?

Loved this? Take a tour of more stunning luxury homes