Ipanema is both more luxurious and calmer than its beach-rival Copacabana. This is a flourishing district for the cream of society in Rio, with more patrolling policemen than anywhere else in Rio De Janeiro, making the area one of the safest in the world. At dusk people are applauding the sunset over the mountains, and the sight can get even the toughest beach bum to shed a tear. There is no lack of beaches in Sydney – but the number one is, without doubt, Bondi Beach. This is the perfect place to enjoy the Aussie beach-life at its most intense. Restaurants, cafés, surf shops and hip bars are dotted out like a string of pearls along the beach promenade. Bondi is an ideal surf beach and there are also great opportunities for rookies to try their luck in a surf school. The secluded bay is situated on the south side of Hong Kong Island and has a lovely golden beach. This calm oasis is a great contrast to Hong Kong's hectic city-pulse and offers a breathing space for both tourists and locals. Bring your walking-shoes and walk westwards along Seaview Promenade. Barcelona is possibly Europe's most beautiful city and they have a true city-beach, or in fact, six beaches in a row. Barceloneta is close to both the city centre and the entertainment district in the harbour, Port Olympic. It can get really crowded during summer and it might be a good idea to walk east towards the beaches of Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella or Nova Mar Bella. Venice Beach in LA is just like you remember it from the movies. You'll be sure to find street art performers, jugglers, roller-skating bikini girls and biking policemen along the Ocean Front Walk and dedicated body-builders lifting weights on Muscle Beach. Clifton beach is situated ten minutes from the centre of Cape Town and are actually four beaches in a row. The beach has sand as white as snow and stunning views! And the water will definitely cool you down on a warm day with its low temperatures of only 12-16 degrees all year-round. Waikiki Beach is probably the most well-known beach in the world and are for many people synonymous with Hawaii. This is American in a miniature, but the good reputation is unfortunately partly because of good marketing. However, the sunset is marvellous when the silhouettes of the yachts, the surfers and the palm trees are outlined against the horizon of the Pacific Ocean.