15 Best Beach Towns For Partying

Partying on the beach with the wind in your hair, free of the stifling walls of nightclubs, is something even the most crowd-averse curmudgeon should experience at least once. Many public beaches all over the United States have become increasingly strict about large gatherings, but that is no reason to rule out the beach as a location for your next party. Plus, there are always those famous beaches abroad that welcome reveling tourists. Here are some of the world's best beaches for partying.

Oak Island, North Carolina, didn't just make this list because of its stellar views and clean sand. With 65 public beach access points, it is one of the most welcoming beach towns in the country. Oak Island allows eating and drinking on the beach, and it's home to eight different parks sure to suit everyone's preference, whether you're looking for fishing, barbecuing, or recreational sports. 

Oak Island, North Carolina, didn't just make this list because of its stellar views and clean sand. With 65 public beach access points, it is one of the most welcoming beach towns in the country. Oak Island allows eating and drinking on the beach, and it's home to eight different parks sure to suit everyone's preference, whether you're looking for fishing, barbecuing, or recreational sports. 

Don't write off this largely unsung Florida spot. Venice, Florida, is much less popular than Fort Lauderdale or Miami — or Venice Beach, California — which means fewer tourists to cramp your holiday plans. A short walk from the main nightlife street of Tamiami Trail, Venice Municipal Beach also has free parking, public volleyball courts, and a picnic area to add to your beach experience. 

While Super Paradise Beach on Mykonos Island is rockier than most partiers like their beaches to be, the liberal, nudist-friendly beaches, turquoise waters, and energetic spirit — you'll see people partying mid-afternoon, as though the sun never rose — make this one of the best beach destinations in the world. Look no further than the Super Paradise Beach Club for a fun night out, or eat fresh oysters from the Aegean Sea at Jackie O' Beach Club. 

This beach is a popular spring break destination for college students in March, but that doesn't mean it should be forgotten during the rest of the year. Edwin K. Atkin Park is a public beach that is close to a number of activities for all ages, from Schlitterbahn Waterpark to a host of bars and restaurants. Amenities like a beachfront picnic pavilion will suit all of your barbecue needs. Just 10 minutes from popular spots like the Wanna-Wanna Beach Bar & Grill, this beach is a great place for your summer celebrations. 

This Jersey Shore beach's proximity to attractions like the boardwalk and the beachfront amusement park, which makes for a very picturesque backdrop, make it a shoo-in for our list. There are more than 100 rides and three beachfront waterparks to trigger your endorphins. And at night, Wildwood is home to a variety of clubs and bars, such as Irish sports bar Cattle 'n Clover and Caribbean-inspired Flip Flopz Beach Bar and Grill. Outdoor activities like fishing and volleyball are made easy with rentals and courts right on the beach. 

Madeline Island is an unlikely place for your summer holiday plans. However, because the island is only three miles wide, bars and restaurants in the area are never too far away. The famed Tom's Burned Down Café, which was featured on The Daily Meal's list of Best Beach Bars, promises a no-frills, casual beach atmosphere without sacrificing a seriously good time. Picnic and camping sites that overlook the lake are plentiful on this beach, which was named one of America's Top Secret Beaches by Budget Travel Magazine in 2011.

Legendary is the only way to describe this beach. While it draws many international crowds, being one of the most famous beaches in the world and all, party-lovers must add a night at this beach to their bucket lists. It might be nearly impossible to go here in summer 2016, when the Olympics will take place, but you can rest assured that Copacabana Beach will probably stay a party beach for many years to come — especially on New Year's Eve. A lot of the best street food in Rio is right along the beach. The only reason this iconic beach isn't higher on the list is because of the high tourist factor — and, well, let's just say you're cleaner in the sand than you are in the water. 

Fire Island is the Hamptons' relaxed, cool younger sister. For young people who want to get out of the city but aren't trying to rub elbows with the rich and famous, Fire Island is the place to be. Ocean Beach is one of the public beaches on the island, and it's within walking distance from some of the island's most fun spots, like Bocce Beach and Matthew's Seafood. Though you can't eat on the beach (that's part of the reason it's so clean!), the superior restaurant and bar scene is available to provide sustenance for your daylong festivities. 

There's live music on the pier almost every night of the week, and a visit will make your beach vacation worthwhile. One of many beach areas in Los Angeles County, Redondo Beach boasts an impressive nightlife and restaurant repertoire. Though there aren't any picnic areas beachside, a stroll on the pier is sure to give you a host of dining options. Check out Old Tony's on the Pier, which made our list of Best Beach Bars. 

Named one of America's Best Little Beach Towns by Travel and Leisure in 2013, Rehoboth is a classic beach town that isn't marred by the quantity of tourists that you might find in other parts of America. Rehoboth Beach even has a bandstand, which hosts more than 50 free live musical acts over the course of the summer. There is also pavilion seating nearby to host larger gatherings. Veteran nightlife spots like the Rusty Rudder are low-key options that still promise a great time. 

Goa, particularly Anjuna Beach, is known for being one of the places where electronic and trance music started to blossom. There is even a style of music called "Goa trance," a mixture of the folk music often enjoyed — and played — by the many hippies who settled near Anjuna in the early '70s and the earliest iterations of computer-generated house music. In other words, dancing all night is highly encouraged, though increasingly stringent laws are starting to crack down on noise pollution. For legendary trance parties, go to Curlies. If you stay up late enough, hawkers begin to populate the beach and sell omelette sandwiches and Maggi noodles (the Indian version of ramen), and you'll see both locals and tourists flock to end their nights with something hearty and delicious. 

Like Oak Island in North Carolina, Topsail Beach boasts a high number of public access points. Topsail Beach also allows eating and drinking oceanside, and it scored high on this list due to its proximity to classic beach bars like Gilligan's, a neighborhood tavern by day and dance club by night. Serenity Point is surrounded by a park that allows for a casual beach and barbecue experience that you can follow up with an activity-packed evening. 

Ibiza is one of the first places that comes to mind when we think of partying on the beach, thanks to a Vengaboys song and the many celebrities who have been spotted having a great time at the ritzy Cala Jondal. Though this beach is more refined than others on the island, party hotspots like Blue Marlin remind you that you are definitely still in Ibiza, and with Ibiza Town only a 15-minute ride away, you have plenty more options for spots where you can dance the night away. For food, don't miss the experience of eating at the island's many "chiringuitos" (small bars selling drinks and tapas). 

Famous for its monthly "full moon parties," Had Rin is a peninsular beach area consisting of two main beaches: Sunset Beach and Sunrise Beach. The idea is that you should stay awake to see both, with no sleep in between. With the exception of the monthly party, the beaches are pretty calm, albeit not without the expected litter. But don't worry, partiers: the nearby bars are always ready to host wild nights. Head to Cactus Bar to dance and watch "fire shows" in which performers create fantastic formations out of fire.