The 19 Absolute Best Beaches In Canada

For a place without a sun-and-sand reputation, Canada certainly has an abundance of shorelines, stretching farther than in any other country in the world. Add to this the thousands of kilometres of lakeshores big and small, and you have a waterfront scene that could take lifetimes to explore. Here are our picks for the best beaches in Canada—those with the warmest water, the best sand, surf and swimming, the tiny hidden gems and the bountiful aquatic wonders, all right under our noses, from coast to coast.

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Best Canadian Beaches

Photo, @nomadandanova/Instagram.

Singing Sands Beach, Basin Head Provincial Park, Souris, Prince Edward Island

The perfectly shaped silica and quartz sand makes the “squeaking” sound on these pristine beaches on P.E.I.’s east coast. Souris has lots of cool places to stay, and there’s plenty of great golfing nearby, too. P.E.I. has more than 800 km of beach, but this is our favourite.

Wow factor: The water is warm (around 21 degrees) and the solitude is serene.

Where it’s at: From Charlottetown, head northeast on Highway 2 until it turns into Highway 16 near Souris.

Orignally published 2015; updated in 2022.