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Halong Bay, Vietnam -

Sometimes written as Ha Long Bay, this beautiful coastal body of water in northern Vietnam near the Chinese border is dotted with nearly 2,000 limestone islands. The entire region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Bay of Kotor, Montenegro -

The sheltered Bay of Kotor on Montenegro's Adriatic coast enjoys a stunning natural setting and has been called Europe's southernmost fjord.

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Paradise Bay, Antarctica -

It doesn't get much more pristine than this! Located north of Antarctica's Le Maire Strait, Paradise Bay is set in a steel-blue sea, the waters of which lap gigantic crystal-white glaciers.

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Maya Bay, Thailand -

Maya Bay in the Phi Phi archipelago became internationally renowned after featuring in the movie 'The Beach' (2000), starring Leonardo DiCaprio.  Unfortunately, the subsequent publicity garnered by the film meant that by 2018, the peak of its popularity, an estimated 6,000 people were plodding into Maya Bay every day. The ecosystem began to buckle and eventually the Thai authorities closed off access to the bay and its beach.

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Bay of Islands, New Zealand -

The fabulous Bay of Islands encompasses 144 islands moored between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula, in New Zealand's North Island. Pictured is Urapukapuka Island and its pretty beach, set as if wedged between the gnarled feet of a huge ogre.

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Shark Bay, Australia -

Western Australia's Shark Bay is the largest bay in the country. Sited in the Gascoyne region, this exceptional body of water is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, classified as such for its vast sea grass beds, vulnerable dugong (sea cow) population, and several globally threatened mammals, including the banded hare wallaby.

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San Francisco Bay, USA -

Songs have been written about San Francisco Bay, one of the most iconic bodies of water in the world. The famous bridge appeared in 1933 to span the Golden Gate Strait and link San Francisco with Marin County to the north.

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Mirabello Bay, Greece -

The subject of many a vintage postcard and today an Instagram favorite, Mirabello Bay on Crete is the largest bay in the Greek islands. The area around the bay was an important prehistory settlement.

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Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda -

Arguably Bermuda's most celebrated beach destination, Horseshoe Bay lies on the main island's south coast. The rosy shade of sand fronting the bay is a result of a blend of crushed shells, coral, and calcium carbonate called red foraminifera.

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Phang Nga Bay, Thailand -

Among the many islands anchored in Thailand's Phang Nga Bay is Koh Tapu, known as "James Bond Island" for its appearance in the 007 movie 'The Man with the Golden Gun' (1974). Ko Ta Pu, one of the most spectacular limestone tower karsts in the bay, is where Bond villain Scaramanga's solar power deflector was hidden.

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Guanabara Bay, Brazil -

Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay is one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the planet. Viewed at dusk from the summit of Mount Corcovado under the watchful gaze of the Christ the Redeemer statue, the bay positively shimmers and sparkles with romantic allure.

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San Sebastián Bay, Spain -

Well known for its annual international film festival, the city of San Sebastián in Spain's Basque Country faces a wonderful bay fringed by three urban beaches, Concha, Ondarreta, and Zurriola. The crescent-shaped basin itself lies on the coast of the Bay of Biscay.

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Saint Ives Bay, England -

One of Cornwall's best-loved destinations, St Ives is set on the western edge of Saint Ives Bay, a shallow crescent of golden sand popular in the summer with tourists and year round with surfers.

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Magens Bay, US Virgin Islands -

Magens Bay on the US Virgin island of St. Thomas constitutes a public park and nature reserve, and is one of the destination's most crowd-pleasing attractions.

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Antsiranana Bay, Madagascar -

Antsiranana Bay on the northeast coast of Madagascar was first recorded by European explorers in 1500, when it was originally named for the Portuguese navigator and explorer Diogo Soares when his expedition sighted the island.

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Keem Bay, Ireland -

Keem Bay, at the western end of Achill Island in County Mayo, is one of the most photographed bays in Ireland. It shelters a beach regularly voted one of the best in Europe.

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Port Jackson Bay, Australia -

Port Jackson Bay encloses Sydney Harbour and has played a significant role in the history and development of the city since a settlement was established here in 1788.

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Bay of Fundy, Canada -

The landmark Hopewell Rocks along the edge of the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick bristle with so many dinosaur fossils that UNESCO long ago declared the area a World Heritage Site.

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Byron Bay, Australia -

Byron Bay in New South Wales is distinguished for its iconic lighthouse, spectacular beaches, and excellent surfing and scuba diving conditions. The bay and its headland marks Australia's most easterly point.

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Gordon's Bay, South Africa -

Gordon's Bay is tucked into the northeastern corner of False Bay, about 58 km (36 mi) from Cape Town. Some of Western Cape's best beaches and scenic coastal drives are found here. The bay itself is named for the picturesque harbor town that accommodates Cape Town out-of-towners seeking solace from the city heat.

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Moreton Bay, Australia -

Southeastern Queensland's Moreton Bay is an enormously popular watersports destination, especially with recreational anglers. Another draw is the unusual collection of shipwrecks littering the shores of Moreton Island.

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Massachusetts Bay, USA -

The chilly waters of Massachusetts Bay extend from Cape Ann on the north to Plymouth Harbor on the south, and edge in west into Boston Harbor. Modern-day Plymouth is where the Mayflower docked on December 8, 1620, shortly after which the Plymouth Colony was established.

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Ensenada Zaratiegui Bay, Argentina -

Ensenada Zaratiegui Bay is one of the great defining natural wonders of the Tierra del Fuego National Park in Argentina. Indeed, the bay melds perfectly within the surrounding scenery, with waterfalls, forests, mountains, and glaciers providing a dramatic backdrop.

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Bay of Setúbal, Portugal -

Enjoying a glorious setting along the fringes of the protected Parque Natural da Arrábida, the crystalline Bay of Setúbal is cherished for its resident dolphins and Caribbean-like Portinho da Arrábida or Praia do Creiro beaches. 

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Kaneohe Bay, USA -

The clear, shallow waters of Kaneohe Bay define the northeastern shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The bay is noted for its vivid underwater coral formations teeming with equally colorful fish and sealife.

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Rhossili Bay, Wales -

Nearly 5 km (3 mi) of gorgeous sand and scenic coastline makes Rhossili Bay one of the most frequented beach destinations in Wales. The bay is set on the southwestern tip of the Gower Peninsula.

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Bay of Puck, Poland -

Poland's Hel Peninsula serves as natural enclosure for the Bay of Puck, in fact a shallow western branch of the Bay of Gdańsk in the southern Baltic Sea.

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Bay of Naples, Italy -

Italy's Bay of Naples, sometimes called the Gulf of Naples, embraces the upmarket islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida. The bay has been a favorite destination with tourists since antiquity.

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Chaleur Bay, Canada -

Set between Quebec and New Brunswick, Chaleur Bay translates to English as "bay of warmth" or "bay of torrid weather." The bay is the location of an unusual visual phenomenon, the "Fireship of Chaleur Bay," an apparition of sorts resembling a ship on fire which has reportedly appeared at several locations in the area.

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Morecambe Bay, England -

Morcambe Bay in Lancashire is in fact a huge estuary, which lies south of Lake District National Park. The low-tide cross-bay walk is a popular 14-km ( 9-mi) trek from Arnside to Kents Bank. Those attempting the walk, however, should be aware of deep pooled water, patches of soft sand, and the notorious speed of the rising tide.

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Bay of Roses, Spain -

Effectively one enormous half-moon of sand, the Bay of Roses on Catalonia's Costa Brava was originally settled by the ancient Greeks. The Romans later occupied the area. Vestiges of their rule can be admired at Empúries.

Sources: (DW News) (UNESCO) (Go to Bermuda) (History Hit) (History) (BBC) 

See also: Scenic journeys along the strait and narrow

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