Siesta wins No. 4 spot on world list
Siesta Key Beach earned the top ranking this year in TripAdvisor’s Best Beaches list in the United States, with a rating of 4.5 based on 8,552 reviews, TripAdvisor has announced.
In 2023, Siesta was No. 2 on the U.S. list, while it ended up at No. 3 last year.
This year, Siesta also won the No. 4 spot on TripAdvisor’s list of the best beaches in the world. No. 1 was Elafonissi Beach on the island of Crete. That ranking was based on 16,027 reviews, the company noted.
The top 10 list for the United States was dominated by beaches in Hawaii, though two others in Florida are on it: Clearwater Beach and Bahia Honda State Park.
“Whether you want to relax or fill your day with activities, Siesta Beach delivers,” the TripAdvisor listing says. “Kick back on the white sand, go swimming in the clear water, or simply admire the sunset — it’s up to you. It’s easy to get to via public transportation, offers wheelchair access, and has plenty of shops and restaurants nearby,” the TripAdvisor comments conclude.
The Sarasota News Leader found that 6,882 of the reviews of Siesta marked it as “Excellent,” with another 1,117 noting it was “Very Good.” On the lower end of the scale, 115 reviews said it was “Poor,” while 125 marked it as “Terrible.”
Rounding out the top 10 on the U.S. list were the following beaches:
- 2. Poipu Beach Park on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, which was the focus of 4,994 reviews.
- 3. Ka’anapali Beach on Maui in Hawaii, based on 9,466 reviews.
- 4. La Jolla Cove in San Diego, with 13,807 reviews.
- 5. Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, with 18,877 reviews.
- 6. Clearwater Beach, with 12,906 reviews.
- 7. Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island in Georgia ,with 3,109 reviews.
- 8. Punalu’u Black Sand Beach on the island of Hawaii in Hawaii, with 1,840 reviews.
- 9. Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine Key in Florida, with 4,186 reviews.
- 10 Ho’okipa Beach Park on Maui, with 1,636 reviews.
A News Leader scroll through the reviews of Siesta Key on TripAdvisor found the following sampling of comments:
- A Sarasota resident who visited the beach in December 2024 gave it the top rating of 5 and wrote, “We live near Siesta Key and it’s by far the most beautiful beach my wife and i have had the pleasure of enjoying. With the exception of Clearwater Beach (way too crowded) and Ft. Lauderdale Beach (Water not as warm) who come close but no cigar to Siesta Key. I guess we’re spoiled because we live near it and are able to avoid it when Red Tide is in but the Red Tide isn’t always present. The sand which is really Quartz is always cool to the touch regardless of the temperature and the water feels amazing in the summer months. I get in to get rid my aches and pains and it absolutely works for me. It’s vast and even when busy, there’s always room. Very clean as well. The Village in Siesta Key is really nice as well. I almost didn’t write the review for selfish reasons. Want to keep it to ourselves. lol But an amazing beach like Siesta should be enjoyed because it truly is amazing. Just be mindful of other beach goers and keep it clean. Enjoy!!”
- An October 2024 review by a solo traveler, who also gave the beach a rating of 5, wrote, “This is by far the #1 beach in the USA. Quiet, swimmable gulf of America water. White, famous sand! Plenty of restaurants and shops around…No need to worry about changing currency, learning a foreign language, etc…And sunsets are second to none…you’ll never ever see anything like that. In one word, it’s a paradise!!!”
However a visitor this month complained about the effects of red tide and gave Siesta a rating of only 1: “Sadly, Siesta Key has red tide and the beaches are lined with dead fish! The smell is terrible and air quality is not healthy. I feel bad for families that came for Presidents weekend.”
A Flint, Mich., visitor in February also gave Siesta a 5: “It’s easy to see why this area is rated so highly. This is our first time here having spent most trips farther south in Florida. The beach is so beautiful. There are four lifeguard stations on the beach. Water is inviting. Look for the sand sculptures…they are amazing.”
Yet another comment from a person who rated the beach a 1 — which was written on Dec. 30, 2024, included the headline, “No peace at this beach.” The person pointed out, “We went to siesta Key beach for the sunset. It’s a beautiful beach with beautiful facilities but the people preaching on loud speakers ruined the peace. The speaker was turned up so loud it hurt. When I tried to ask one guy to turn it down he never began to listen but instead talked over me about how women need to be quiet and passive and not speak loudly. I’m all for free speech but not disturbing the peace and tossing insults at the tourists. I wish they would sing songs or stand quietly with a sign inviting connection and exchange rather than disturbing the peace and yelling 150 decibels through a microphone. From an evangelical standpoint they would convert more flies with honey. The city needs a noise ordinance and reserve speakers for music unless you have a permit. I for one will not be returning to siesta key.”
Going back to July 2024, the News Leader found that only five reviews out of 20 gave the beach fewer than 5 stars.