18 Beautiful Beaches That Have Secrets - Atlas Obscura Lists
Places near me Random place
Lists

18 Beautiful Beaches That Have Secrets

Add a little mystery to your next getaway.

by jonathancarey
18 Places

Ah, a trip to the beach. The idyllic summer getaway. Sand, sun, and water, what could be simpler. But some beaches aren’t quite so simple. Some have secrets and memories and histories. Beaches can have personality. 

Some represent geological wonders, where sand runs the color spectrum or pebbles sing. Others are treasure troves of lost history—ancient graves, shipwrecks, and even the remains of an ancient ghost forest. Many aren’t exactly vacation hotspots, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t wondrous in their own right. From remnants of World War II to shores covered in sparkling sea glass, here are 18 of our favorite surprising beaches. 

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Borgholm N, Sweden

Neptuni Åkrar

An otherworldly, fossil-rich cobble beach holds Viking graves, cairns, and other remains.
Added by Olndskan
Neskowin, Oregon

Neskowin Ghost Forest

The eerie remnants of an ancient forest were hidden under the sand for centuries.
Meg Added by Meg