Baisha (White Sand) Beach is the longest and most popular beach on the Kenting Peninsula, a broad crescent of pale sand backed by palm trees and resort hotels. It faces west into the Taiwan Strait, which means it gets good afternoon light and relatively calm seas on most days. Swimming is generally safe outside typhoon season, and the beach is large enough that even on busy summer weekends you can find a quiet stretch if you walk to the northern end.
The central section of the beach, opposite the main hotels, has sun lounger and umbrella hire and a row of seafood restaurants. The northern end near the rocks is quieter and a decent snorkelling spot — the reef begins in shallow water. On weekday mornings outside July and August, Baisha can be nearly empty. The surrounding area has a cluster of hostels and smaller guesthouses that are considerably cheaper than the large beach-front hotels.