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Home/ What to pack/ Beach & swimming

Beach & swimming

Beaches, lagoons, lakes and calm coastal water for swimming.

Beach & swimming

Illustrative image.

What to pack

  • Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon →
  • Quick-dry towel - A microfibre towel packs small and dries in minutes. Find on Amazon →
  • Water shoes - Protect your feet on rocky entries, hot sand and sea-urchin spines. Find on Amazon →
  • Dry bag - Keeps phone, cash and keys safe while you are in the water. Find on Amazon →
  • Rash guard or sun shirt - Better sun cover than lotion for long hours in the water. Find on Amazon →
  • Snorkel set (optional) - Your own mask that fits well beats a scratched rental every time. Find on Amazon →
  • Check flags and currents - Ask locally about rip currents and tides before swimming off open coasts.

Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links - if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only list the kind of gear we would pack ourselves. Check the season and the official source for each place before you go.

🖨️ Printable checklist →

Where this comes in handy 3356 places

beach The Beaches of Anguilla

The Beaches of Anguilla

Anguilla
monument Nelson's Dockyard

Nelson's Dockyard

Antigua and Barbuda
old town Historic Bridgetown

Historic Bridgetown

Barbados
old town The Town of St George

The Town of St George

Bermuda
old town Tortola and Road Town

Tortola and Road Town

British Virgin Islands
old town Bujumbura

Bujumbura

Burundi
forest Christmas Island National Park

Christmas Island National Park

Christmas Island
palace Oceania House

Oceania House

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
old town Cartagena Old Town

Cartagena Old Town

Colombia
beach The Aitutaki Lagoon

The Aitutaki Lagoon

Cook Islands
old town Willemstad

Willemstad

Curaçao
island Hiiumaa

Hiiumaa

Estonia
lake Kaali Meteorite Crater

Kaali Meteorite Crater

Estonia
national park Karula National Park

Karula National Park

Estonia
island Kihnu

Kihnu

Estonia
lighthouse Kõpu Lighthouse

Kõpu Lighthouse

Estonia
national park Lahemaa National Park

Lahemaa National Park

Estonia
lake Lake Peipus

Lake Peipus

Estonia
trail Otepää Nature Park

Otepää Nature Park

Estonia
beach Pärnu Beach

Pärnu Beach

Estonia
lake Rummu Quarry

Rummu Quarry

Estonia
island Saaremaa

Saaremaa

Estonia
food street The Onion Road

The Onion Road

Estonia
island Vormsi

Vormsi

Estonia
beach Dune du Pilat

Dune du Pilat

France
viewpoint Etretat Cliffs

Etretat Cliffs

France
canyon Gorges du Verdon

Gorges du Verdon

France
museum La Piscine Museum in Roubaix

La Piscine Museum in Roubaix

France
lake Lake Annecy

Lake Annecy

France
lake Pont d'Espagne and Lac de Gaube

Pont d'Espagne and Lac de Gaube

France
bridge Pont du Gard

Pont du Gard

France
island Porquerolles

Porquerolles

France
old town Saint-Malo

Saint-Malo

France
viewpoint The Calanques

The Calanques

France
national park The Camargue

The Camargue

France
forest The Landes Forest

The Landes Forest

France
trail The Pink Granite Coast

The Pink Granite Coast

France
monument Taputapuātea

Taputapuātea

French Polynesia
old town Libreville

Libreville

Gabon
island Helgoland

Helgoland

Germany
national park Jasmund Chalk Cliffs

Jasmund Chalk Cliffs

Germany
lake Konigssee and Berchtesgaden

Konigssee and Berchtesgaden

Germany
lake Lake Constance

Lake Constance

Germany
island Sylt

Sylt

Germany
lake The Alster Lakes

The Alster Lakes

Germany
national park The Darss and Zingst Peninsula

The Darss and Zingst Peninsula

Germany
fortress The Cape Coast and Elmina Castles

The Cape Coast and Elmina Castles

Ghana
archaeological site Gorham's Cave Complex

Gorham's Cave Complex

Gibraltar
island The Cousteau Reserve

The Cousteau Reserve

Guadeloupe
beach Ritidian Point

Ritidian Point

Guam
old town Conakry

Conakry

Guinea
old town Bolama

Bolama

Guinea-Bissau
island Capri and the Blue Grotto

Capri and the Blue Grotto

Italy
viewpoint Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre

Italy
palace Doge's Palace

Doge's Palace

Italy
lake Lake Como

Lake Como

Italy
lake Lake Garda

Lake Garda

Italy
cave Neptune's Grotto

Neptune's Grotto

Italy
viewpoint Scala dei Turchi

Scala dei Turchi

Italy
old town St Mark's Square and Basilica

St Mark's Square and Basilica

Italy

Showing 60 of 3356. Use the search box to find a specific country or place.

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