The enjoyable Mediterranean coast, a real balance between sea and sand, is considered a valuable treasure by millions of people, especially as soon as early summer starts. Let´s get to know the beaches of Barcelona.
Together with the modern architecture of the city, some places have become a hot spot for international visitors. Beaches of Barcelona are open-air spaces where people can enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle, including sand, sun and beach.
Along 4 kilometres of coast, there are beaches for all and every taste and available all year long. You just need to move about 15 minutes away from the city centre to reach some of them.
Apart from sunbathing, beaches of Barcelona offer endless activities to enjoy, such as sea baths, sailing, swimming or any trendy water sport.
Visiting beaches in Barcelona is a really cosmopolitan adventure, as the city itself, a place where people from every corner of the world are more than welcome.
- Metropolitan beaches
- Barceloneta Beaches
- New beaches in Barcelona
- An adventure along the Catalan coast
- Costa del Garraf
- Costa Dorada
- Maresme
- Costa Brava
Away from the city centre, the Catalan coast has incredible beaches to visit. Towards the south of Barcelona, Garraf and the charming Costa Dorada offer nice weather and environment. Towards the north, Maresme and the well-known Costa Brava offer clear water and dreem-like coves to explore. Sea life and landscapes are also found in all the beaches of Barcelona.
Metropolitan beaches
Barcelona is one of the cities with more tourist flow in the world due to its amazing sights and its beaches, which offer clear water and fine sand mixed with urban life and architecture.
The beaches of Barcelona along the coast are all connected by Paseo Marítimo. The first to appear, and the most popular ones, are Sant Sebastià and Sant Miquel, after Port Olímpic, Nova Icaria, Bogatell and Mar Bella. Finally, the most modern ones are Llevant and Sant Adrià-Forum.
Barceloneta Beaches
Barceloneta Beaches are quite near the city centre and are the perfect combination of sea and gastronomy, with original works of art and a cosmopolitan environment. This is the perfect place to enjoy the sea while drinking a glass of wine just metres away from the sand.
In the past. that area used to be a fishermen harbour and now it is a place where tourists and locals live together. Barceloneta Beach is a place where you can taste exclusive dishes at its restaurants and have some drinks at its fishermen bars.
A place you can´t miss? Oi Real Estate recommends Mercat de la Barceloneta.
Next to Barceloneta, there is Sant Sebastià Beach, one of the largest beaches in Barcelona. What really calls people´s attention here are Club Natació Barcelona and also a small and exclusive nudist area, where the most uninhibited people of the city usually spend some time.
Located a bit further, Sant Miquel Beach is one of the oldest beaches in Barcelona and is named after Sant Miquel del Port Church. This is a metropolitan, small beach with a comfortable environment and one of the most visited in the city. Hotel W, which seems to be standing on the water, gives this beach its vanguard touch.
New beaches in Barcelona
The 1992 Olympic Games have contributed to the development of new beaches in Barcelona, such as Nova Icaria, Bogatell, Mar Bella and Llevant. The latter of them, in Forum area, was developed together with the reforms made to Diagonal Mar.
Nova Icaria Beach, more popular among young people, offers a shopping centre and a cinema just some metres away from the sand. It is a great place to enjoy sunset from the so-called “Chiringuitos” (snack bars) while listening to some good music.
Bogatell Beach is a bit quieter than the rest of the beaches in Barcelona and it is popular among sports lovers. Here, it is possible to rent kayaks and take some surfing or sailing lessons.
Mar Bella Beach is located some more minutes away and is also common among the young, especially gay-friendly people. There is a nudist area, only available for some exclusive visitors, sports equippment, such as volleyball courts and a windsurfing centre, and even a private area just for kids.
Llevant Beach is one of the newest ones and, thus, the quietest for those who just want to sunbathe.
Finally, the newest artificial beach is called Sant Adrià Beach, located near Forum area and Diagonal Mar and surrounded by both Forum building and a huge photovoltaic panel, which provide some privacy and quietness to the area.
An adventure along the Catalan coast
The Catalan coast is a real paradise that is not limited just to the metropolitan area. There are both tiny and huge beaches just some kilometres away from the city of Barcelona, where it is possible to get by car or train. Their high quality is accounted for by the 89 blue flags along all the Catalan coast.
Towards the south of the city, there are beaches, such as Sitges, Vilanova and Calafell, connecting Costa del Garraf to Costa Dorada. Towards the north, we find Maresme and the well-known Costa Brava, two places worth visiting. This variety of choice makes it easier for people to find their dreemlike beach.
Costa del Garraf
Costa del Garraf includes about 24 beaches distributed along 25 kilometres and characterized by fine sand and warm temperatures. This is the perfect area to spend a relaxed time and enjoy several water activities.
Two of them are the most popular. On the one hand, Castelldefels Beach, a common spot for those who want to escape from the city because it is located just 20 minutes away from it. Its fine sand and soft waves are present along its 5 kilometres of beach.
Nothing is missing here, from a quiet walk to kids games and the best gastronomic choice.
Following the coast, we find Sitges Beaches, located 30 minutes away from Barcelona. Here, the offer is totally different, including several stores, restaurants and bars, together with warm weather all year long. Its nightlife is famous, its carnivals, mythical and its cinema festival, a glamour party.
However, Sitges would not be as attractive as it is without its charming and extensive beach, a metropolitan one where sand, houses and sea form a unique landscape worth seeing.
Costa Dorada
Before arriving to Tarragona, Costa Dorada offers its visitors kilometres of beach, lightblue waters, dunes and hidden coves. With its shallow waters and warm weather, Costa Dorada is a perfect vacation spot for families.
In Costa Dorada, there are lots of fishermen towns with white sand and original landscapes, such as Altafulla or Cambrils. Another example is Torredembarra, a little hidden treasure in an area with blue flags.
However, Costa Dorada offers much more than an idyllic landscape. It is equipped with campings, recreational areas by the beach, workshops or sailing schools, perfect to spend a good time with the family.
For adventure lovers, Port Aventura is the most successful park in all Spain and the second in all Europe.
Maresme
Towards the north of Barcelona, there is a narrow coastal area, protected by northern winds and the Mediterranean Sea. We are talking about Costa del Maresme, with huge and sandy beaches. Its weather is charming and bright and its inhabitants are famous for their kindness.
Among its beaches, the most famous ones are Santa Susanna Beach and Malgrat de Mar Beach, focused on youth tourism and water sports.
Besides, La Musclera Beach or La Picordia Beach (Arenys de Mar) offer a more private place for nudists. Mataró has a coastal esplanade and a harbour that make it enjoyable all year long. This is a place you can visit during the day or at night, offering shows and live concerts.
Costa Brava
After passing Maresme, we find one of the most idyllic places of Catalonia, Costa Brava. The coast of Girona (Costa Brava) used to be an inspiration for artists and travellers during decades. Examples are some of the works of art of the well-known Salvador Dalí and the great literary work, Truman Capote.
We find a rocky coast with hidden coves, connected by a magnificent GR footpath (Camí de Redós), and impressive cliffs. Its vegetation includes pines that seem to touch the clear waters, transforming its blue colour into an intense turquoise. Its natural beauty and weather make this place a must for international tourists.
In Costa Brava, there is a huge variety of activities available for visitors. Some locations offer entertainment, such as Blanes and Lloret. Some others are known as the perfect places to spend relaxed holidays, for instance, Sant Martí d’Empúries, Roses or Cadaqués.
Its gastronomy is an added value of international fame. Moreover, Catalan dishes, hotel excellence and the increasing interest from cruises in stopping here make Costa Brava a place of rising tourist demand.
Catalonia has 547 kilometres of coast, including beaches and coves both in Barcelona and on its outskirts. Come and see them!
