One of the main reasons Barcelona is so popular all year round is for its beaches and its comfortable climate, which allows visitors to appreciate their time in the city at almost every moment of the year.
And here you have all of Barcelona’s best beaches in a comprehensive list.
All Barcelona’s Beaches
Whether you want to go surfing, sunbathe naked, or just go on a romantic picnic with your significant other. There are almost 5 kilometres of beaches in Barcelona that offer the perfect conditions to enjoy them all.
Here is a short video we made showing you some of our favourite beaches: Barceloneta, La Nova Icaria and La Mar Bella:
However, before heading towards the Mediterranean, we would like to advise you on what makes each beach unique, as each one offers different experiences to its visitors.
1. Sant Sebastià beach
This is one of the oldest and most traditional beaches of the city.
The famous “W Hotel” is located there, and surrounding it, there are a number of restaurants and bars to enjoy some drinks with friends.
Furthermore, this beach has its own commodities and utilities open for everyone, such as public toilets, sun loungers, kiosks, and even the Red Cross in case of any eventuality, among other things.
Right by the beach, you can find the Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta and Club Natació Barcelona, with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a closed solarium area, relaxation area, massages and a place to play different sports.
Also, there is a surfing school with surfing and paddle surfboards available for rent.
2. Sant Miquel beach
This beach is between the Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta beaches and takes its name from the church of Sant Miquel del Port that was built in 1755, located in La Barceloneta. It is next to the Plaça del Mar, which makes it one of the busiest beaches in the city. It also counts with basic services such as public toilets, showers, and even wifi!
3. Barceloneta beach
La Barceloneta is surely the most loved beaches. Located in the traditional fishing district, it’s surrounded by many gastronomic options for its visitors.
Its name is already famous on its own, and many times tourists and even locals assume that La Barceloneta beach stretches all the way from the W Hotel to the Port Olímpic.
In reality, La Barceloneta occupies only a small part of the coast, 422 metres to be precise.
The city visitors come to this beach for many reasons:
- offers the best places to have seafood in town,
- provides the opportunity to enjoy a variety of beach sports it has also got other leisure activities as, for example, the Espai de Mar shopping centre.
La Barceloneta is also believed to have inspired Miguel de Cervantes as the setting for the fight between “Don Quixote” and the “Knight of the White Moon”.
4. Somorrostro beach
This beach is probably the easiest to reach by walking, bike or public transport and is one of the most popular among young tourists.
The name was taken from a big settlement that once stood there, and from which the best flamenco dancer of all time was born: Carmen Amaya.
Somorrostro is very close to several nightclubs in the area, such as Pacha, Opium, Shoko, and the Casino of Barcelona.
Searching for ideas on what to do tonight?
Check our blog post about the best night plans in Barcelona
Here you can also find the Olympic Port and the famous golden fish created by Frank Gehry for the 1992 Olympics.
5. Nova Icària beach
Nova Icària beach is one of the most peaceful ones in the city, the reason why it is very beloved by residents and the visitors that know about it. It is located in the centre of the city’s coastline, near the Port Olímpic.
It offers a wide range of recreational activities: a playground, a ping-pong table, volleyball courts, and sailing courses, among others.
There are many good places to eat around too, that are located right by the beach and that offer vast choices, ranging from burgers to paellas and tapas.
It has one of the best atmospheres and is one of our favourite beaches!
6. Bogatell beach
The Bogatell beach is about 700 meters long and offers a number of great leisure facilities as well. It was upgraded when the seafront of Barcelona was redeveloped in the 90s for the Olympics.
This is another favourite of the locals, especially the ones coming from the nearby neighbourhoods.
The Bogatell beach reflects the city’s rethinking of urban spaces: here you will be able to see how they tried to integrate greenery and public spaces together.
The area provides a number of restaurants and lounge bars. So, in case you are hungry, we would recommend finding a place on the Rambla de Poblenou, the main avenue of the neighbourhood.
7. Mar Bella beach
One of the most inclusive beaches of Barcelona, where you can find something for everyone.
From a children’s game space to a nudist area, Mar Bella is the most diverse and cosmopolitan of all beaches in Barcelona.
If you are looking for more dynamic activities, next to the Bac de Roda breakwater you can find a playground, volleyball court, basketball hoop and even ping-pong tables, and so forth.
The area is very popular among skaters, because on the higher part of the promenade there is a skateboard rink, and in case you are interested in other sports, the Mar Bella sports pavilion is located at the Passeig Marítim nearby.
Plus, there is a nautical centre with water sports facilities at the western side of the beach.
8. Nova Mar Bella beach
This beach was also part of the city’s urban renewal for the Olympics of 1992 and has a special area destined for volleyball.
It’s less crowded than the rest of the beaches because it’s situated pretty far away from the city centre, so it’s more popular amongst residents.
9. Llevant beach
This beach is the newest of all the coastline, as it opened in 2006. Before, the factories and different facilities that surround it almost reached the shore, but now space is completely conditioned for the use of visitors. As the name suggests, it is the most easterly beach in all the city.
The area is perfect to bring your pets with you! We love that about it.
There is a volleyball court, located at the west end, near the breakwater separating it from Nova Mar Bella beach.
10. Fòrum Bathing Area
This area is not strictly a beach, but it’s still worth mentioning.
Within the Parc de Fòrum, there’s an enclosed area with a seawater swimming pool from which you can see the solar panels that makes up the Fòrum’s photovoltaic pergola!
As it’s not a beach, you need to consider it’s paved and the access to the water is through steps and not sand. Still, there are fewer people, which makes it more peaceful.
It’s also a very cool photo spot!
Notes for travellers
Note that during the summer season, the beaches of Barcelona get very busy with all the people coming over to the city to enjoy their holidays. If this makes you anxious, don’t worry, because you can still enjoy the beaches in other towns along the Barcelona coast.
More than 95 km of beaches of all kinds stretch both up and down the coast: big and small, with golden sands and little coves… To get there you just need to choose one and take a short train ride.
Beaches right outside Barcelona
During your stay in Barcelona, you should consider some time to spend visiting some beaches out of town.
1. Castelldefels beach
Going South, Castelldefels is one of the first beautiful beaches you will encounter: 5 km of thin sand and crystalline water make this place a sort of paradise in which you can relax peacefully and away from the stress of the city.
No crowds nor noises here, just silence, sun and peace. We also wrote a guide about this incredible place full of heavenly beaches.
How to get there:
- by train: linea R2 Renfe desde Sants Estacio.
- by car: highway C-32 exit Castelldefels Sud, motorway C-31 exit Castelldefels Platja.
- by bus: L94, L95, L96, L97.
2. Garraf beach
“The beach of the Little houses” is the full name of this curious place, and makes reference to the small white and green fisherman’s houses that surround the beach.
This site is very characteristic and quiet, perfect for a trip out of the city. All around you, you will be able to find restaurants or nice “chiringuitos” in which you can eat while having an amazing view of the sea.
Very close to the beach, you will be able to find the Garraf Natural Park, a natural paradise you shouldn’t miss.
How to get there:
- by train: line R2 Renfe from Sants Estacio.
3. Sitges beaches
Following Garraf, you will see this beautiful village made of little houses and small alleys, the perfect place to get lost.
In fact, Sitges is idyllic for a trip out of town, not only because of its nice beaches but also for its unfamiliar style. You can reach this place in 30 minutes from the centre of Barcelona, and spend the whole day at the beach or visiting the centre.
Around this area, you can find all kinds of beaches: big, small, naturist, urban, etc. Most of them are fully equipped and have different activities for both adults and kids!
We recommend you to visit during February, which is when the famous Carnival takes place: a parade of masks and decorated floats that fill the streets of the town, and that create a true atmosphere of celebration that can be felt through the air!
How to get there:
- by train: line R2 Renfe from Sants Estacio.
- by bus: Monbus from Plaza España and Ronda Universitat.
- by car: take the Pau Casals Motorway C-32 (toll charge). Follow signs to Sitges and Tarragona. Exit 30. Alternatively, take the C-31 (from which 18km cover the coastal corniche).
4. Badalona beaches
Going North, you will get to a little town called Badalona.
This place is only 20 minutes by metro from the centre of Barcelona. It is a good alternative if you don’t want to go so far as to escape from the stress and crowds of the city centre.
Here you will find beautiful beaches to spend a nice day in the Spanish sun.
How to get there:
- by metro: purple line L2, stop Badalona (end of the line).
5. Mataró beaches
A bit further from Badalona you will find Mataró, another good place to go, relax, and escape from the city.
It counts with 2.2 km of fully equipped beaches, covered with fine sand. We recommend Mataró to go and enjoy your holidays far from the bustle of the city.
How to get there:
- by train: rodalies Renfe C1.
- by car: highway C-32, exits: Mataró Sud, Mataró Oest and Mataró Nord, or by national road N-II.
We hope our guide is helpful! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate and write to us, and we will try to resolve any of your doubts!
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