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15 Beaches with the Best Seashells in the World

Feast your eyes on these stunning destinations that are brimming with whelks, cockles, Scotch bonnets, and conchs.

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Sunset over Sanibel Island, Florida, USA
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Sanibel Island, Florida

Named the best shelling spot in North America by Travel & Leisure magazine, Sanibel Island—located near Fort Meyers on the Gulf of Mexico—is a true haven for seashell-spotting enthusiasts. “It turns out this region’s east-west topography makes it an ideal final resting place for an amazing variety of shells,” says Gabe Saglie, senior editor, Travelzoo. “There are 400 varieties in all, rolling onshore by the thousands every day. Horse conches, jingle shells, giant cockles, calico scallops—take your pick. The Junonia shell is a locals’ favorite.” Sanibel is also home to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, the only museum in the United States dedicated to shells. A word of caution to all well-intentioned seashell gatherers: Collecting seashells from any beach may disrupt the local aquatic ecosystem (they provide homes for hermit crabs, a place for small fish to hide, and material for birds to build their nests), so it’s best to admire, take pictures, and then leave them in their natural habitat.

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Shell in a Caribbean sea
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Shell Beach, Saint Barthelemy

You don’t earn the name “shell beach” without having a truly impressive array of shells available—and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Shell Beach in Gustavia, St. Barths (as the French-speaking Caribbean island is commonly known). In fact, there are so many shells several inches deep, that you won’t be able to walk this beach with bare feet. “Shell beach is one part of the island where a ton of shells have accumulated on the shore,” says Sveva Marcangeli, owner and founder of travel blog Svadore.

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Shell Beach in Western Australia
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Shell Beach, Australia

Thankfully, the name “Shell Beach” hasn’t been trademarked, because there’s another location worthy of the same designation—this time, it’s in the Shark Bay region of Western Australia. While this beach may appear to be covered in pure white sand from a distance, there actually isn’t a grain of sand to be found—it’s entirely blanketed in billions of tiny white shells from the cockle species, and runs up to ten meters deep in some sections. While you’re at it, check out the best beaches in the world that are on our must-visit list. 

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tybee island boardwalk and pier at sunset with waves crashing, bright bold colors in the sky
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Tybee Island, Georgia

Located 20 minutes from downtown Savannah, Georgia, Tybee Island is a five-mile-long beach perfect for beachcombers. You’ll find a variety of seashells, including whelk, olive, and moon snail in a wide array of colors. For instance, the Ark shells, one of the most common bivalve shells, range from gray, dark red, orange, gold, and white. You never know where the best places will be on Tybee to find shells because of the changing tides, but oftentimes, you will find big shell deposits when walking along the sand. On calmer parts of the beach, there is a better chance of finding the more fragile shells, such as Duck Clams, Pen Shells, Razor Clams, and Angel Wings.

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Sunset in Punta Umbria beach, Huelva, Spain
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Playa de Punta Umbria, Spain

In the autonomous community of Andalusia in Southern Spain is Punta Umbria—and its beaches are bursting with bivalve seashells. “Very often, the low tides leave an amazing array of shells behind,” says Carlos Quintero, founder of Andalusia Lifestyles, a company that helps American citizens navigate retiring to Spain. “They tend to belong to the same type, like big clams, but they come in many different sizes, colors, and shapes. Sometimes it is like a massive carpet of shells covering the shore, very spectacular!”

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The most beautiful lonely beach in caribbean San Blas island, Panama. Turquoise tropical Sea, Palm Tree, Central America.
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San Blas Islands, Panama

An archipelago on the Caribbean shore of Panama, the San Blas islands are some of the most beautiful, remote beaches in the world, with coral reefs and lots of shells. “These reefs are just off the beaches and there are barely any tides, so it’s possible to search for shells at any time,” says Jorge Bastos, editor of Travel Drafts. “The most impressive shells I found in San Blas were the sand dollars, which are a species of sea urchins. Sand dollars have imprinted a leaf which is so perfectly designed that at first sight seems impossible that aren’t manmade.” Although it may be very tempting to bring some shells home with you, it’s actually forbidden to do so in San Blas.

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25/10/2017. Kite beach in Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A stretch of the beach designated for the kite surfers. The iconic Burj Al Arab is seen on the background.
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Kite Beach, Dubai

A hotspot for kite surfers in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai’s Kite Beach can also provide thrills to those searching for beautiful seashells in the white sand. “I heard it’s best at low tide, but I was there in the afternoon and easily found shells,” says Christabel Lobo, a freelance writer and designer born and raised in Dubai. From this spot, you’ll also have a great view of the iconic Burj Al Arab, one of the world’s most luxurious hotels.

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shells on driftwood louisiana
Courtesy Visit Lake Charles

Cameron Parish, Louisiana

Most people don’t think of beaches in Louisiana, but the shelling on the western side of the state, in Cameron Parish, is full of surprises. They call this part of the state “Louisiana’s Outback,” and it’s full of natural wonders (and alligators, which outnumber humans ten to one). “Traveling the Creole Nature Trail is a terrific way to explore the area, as it offers 26 miles of natural beaches that are incredibly undeveloped but also easily accessible, making them the perfect locales for finding whelks, cockles, angel wings, cat’s eyes, olives, wentletraps, coquinas, and periwinkles,” says Anne Klenke, the tourism director of Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Rutherford Beach in eastern Cameron Parish is one great site, and the smaller beaches west of Holly Beach are also prime shell-collecting territories.” Why are shells so plentiful here? Located west of the Mississippi Delta, the beaches are constantly replenished by the Mississippi River’s southeast tidal flow, which carries rich deposits of driftwood and a wide variety of shells. Low tide following a storm system offers prime shelling.

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Beautiful New Smyrna Beach, Florida USA in Winter
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New Smyrna Beach, Florida

The beautiful and expansive beaches of New Smyrna Beach, south of Daytona Beach, are worthy of a postcard—but it’s the thousands of different shells that blanket several areas of the beach that make it a seashell scouting paradise. “So many are in excellent shape,” says Rhonda Weaver, founder of travel blog Roaming Red Feather. “Rounded edges, different sizes, and colors ranging from reds and whites to dark browns and pink, too. Since there are so many seashells everywhere, it’s wise to make sure you have shoes you can slip on.” Just be careful if you enter the water, as this is also known as the shark attack capital of the world. Don’t miss the 12 other most dangerous beaches in the world.

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North Carolina beach crystal coast
Courtesy Crystal Coast TDA

Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina

You may recognize the iconic lighthouse on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, but it’s the 56-stretch of undeveloped shimmering beaches accessible only by boat that will catch any shell-lover’s attention. Knobbed whelks, bay scallops, Scotch bonnets, and other types of shells can be found washed up on these shores—try to comb the beach early in the morning, at low tide, after a storm, or during times of lower visitation such as the winter months for the best yield. A basketball-sized helmet shell—four times bigger than average—was found here recently!

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Beautiful Rainbow sight in Aveiros beach. Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal
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Praia dos Aveiros, Portugal

Nestled in the town of Albufeira, Algarve, near the southern tip of Portugal, lies the beach Praia dos Aveiros. Known for its fine golden sand and the cliffs and rock formations flanking it on either side, you’ll also find an impressive array of seashells. “If you come when the waves are rolling, you can see the shells from the water,” says Gareth Edmondson-Jones, of the Portuguese Tourism Office. “It is awash with numerous snails, clams, and all kinds of cool and fancy shells.”

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keewaydin island
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Keewaydin Island, Naples, Florida

If you’re looking for an abundance of seashell-lined beaches, then the Florida Gulf Coast is the region for you. “Keewaydin Island in Naples, Florida, is mostly uninhabited,” says Charles McCool, a travel happiness advocate. “If you visit on a weekday morning, by a private boat shuttle or eco-tour experience, you will likely have at least a mile of pristine beach to yourself. I found dozens of intact, unbroken, and magnificent sand dollars.” Pssst: here’s a guide to the best Florida beaches that locals want to keep secret.

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Idyllic tropical beach on Barbuda island in Caribbean with pink sand, turquoise ocean water and blue sky
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Low Bay, Barbuda

If pink is your favorite color, then feast your eyes on the pink sand beach of Low Bay in Barbuda (one of the two main islands that make up the Caribbean nation Antigua and Barbuda). What gives it this champagne hue? Tiny pink iridescent shells, which are sometimes so plentiful that they make a “tikka tikka” sound when the waves retreat. Check out these other gorgeous pink sand beaches around the world.

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Rough sea and golden sand at the rugged coast in jeffrey's bay,South Africa. This is the most famous location for surfing in africa ,
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Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa

A treasure trove of shells awaits at South Africa’s world-famous Jeffrey’s Bay. While you can find them year-round, some claim winter seems to be the best time to find seashells of all shapes, sizes, and colors. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, visit the Jeffrey’s Bay Shell Museum, which houses more than 600 species from around the world. To connect with like-minded shell-lovers, don’t miss the annual Shell Festival held each fall.

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Seashells On Beach
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Somerset Creek Beach, Bahamas

This one-mile long beach on Andros Island—an archipelago within the Bahamas—boasts millions of tiny pastel-colored shells, sand dollars, conchs, and other species. You’ll find the greatest abundance after a large storm, in the shallow pools. A fun fact about this island? It has the world’s largest collection of blue holes, which are one of the most stunning deep-sea sights in the world.

Jill Schildhouse
Jill is an award-winning travel writer and editor with 23 years of experience. She covers travel cruises and hospitality for Reader's Digest and regularly contributes to Travel + Leisure, Brides, TripSavvy, Insider, USA Today, Taste of Home, and Southern Living. An avid traveler, Jill has visited 37 countries but makes her home in Phoenix, where she lives with her fiancé and toy schnauzer.