5 Best Beaches in Barcelona

January 10, 2020 - Updated

There's nowhere better than the beach to spend a sunny day, and there are hundreds of gorgeous beach destinations to be found all around the globe. However, if you're looking for a beach trip with an edge, it makes a lot of sense of visit a major coastal city. These locations let you enjoy all kinds of fun in the sun down on the sand, including water sports, sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, and more, while also offering all the fun amenities of excitement of a built-up city, including museums, art galleries, bars, restaurants, shopping districts, live entertainment, and more. In essence, they offer the best of both worlds: the beauty of the beach and the liveliness of a big city.

1.Barceloneta Beach

Definitely the busiest beach in Barcelona, Barceloneta Beach is a big hit with locals and foreign tourists alike. Some people will prefer calmer, more secluded shoreline spots, but if you don't mind the crowds and the noise, it's easy to see why this is such a popular beach. For starters, it's a real feast for the eyes, with astonishing views, soft sands, and gorgeous waters. Another advantage of Barceloneta Beach is its amenities; this beach is served by a lot of great seafood restaurants, bars, nightlife spots, and more, so you can spend a full day here and never get bored or hungry. Lots of water sports can be enjoyed at this Barcelona beach as well, including windsurfing and kitesurfing.

2.Sant Sebastia

Sant Sebastia beach is almost a mile in length, making it Barcelona’s longest beach of all, and offers some stunning views in every direction, making it a lovely beach for couples or backpackers to simply stroll along and admire the scenery. It can get quite crowded in certain spots of this beach, but since it's so long, all you need to do is keep on walking to find a calmer spot to sit with your friends or family and catch a tan. Volleyball nets can be found here as well as various water sport companies and rental stores are found nearby, along with several highly-rated bars and restaurants.

3.Bogatell Beach

With a relaxing atmosphere and unbeatable views, Bogatell Beach is very popular with locals and experienced Spanish tourists who have spent a lot of time exploring the Barcelona coastline. It's quite a small beach, running for less than half a mile in total, but it never really gets noisy or busy here. Some volleyball nets are set-up around the beach for people who want to bounce around and have some active fun, but one of the best things to do on this Barcelona beach is simply sit or lie down and appreciate the beautiful sights and sounds all around you. It's a nice place to come when the sun starts to set as well, with the surrounding silhouetted landscape offering some nice photo opportunities.

4.Playa Mar Bella

Not to be confused with the Marbella resort town in Andalusia, Playa Mar Bella is one of Barcelona's prettiest big beaches and underwent big renovations in recent times to make it even better. If you're looking to engage in some exciting water sports in Barcelona, this is the place to be. Playa Mar Bella isn't the best spot for eateries or bars, but it has a lot of water sport rentals. Kayaking and windsurfing are very popular here, and if you're really up for an adventure, you can rent a sailboat and head out on the waves. The beach itself is also enormous, with lots of room for groups of friends to spread out and play games or enjoy picnics together.

5.Nova Icaria Beach

While some of Barcelona's beaches, like Barceloneta Beach for example, are quite busy and crowded all year long, Nova Icaria Beach is totally different. This is a very peaceful beach with a tranquil atmosphere where visitors can simply sit down and listen to the sound of the waves, feeling the warmth of the sun beating down on their skin. It's a super sunbathing spot and a prime place to visit if you've been spending time in the heart of the city and just need to get away from it all for a few hours. Another advantage of Nova Icaria Beach is that even though it's very peaceful, it's still conveniently accessible and closely situated to some good quality hotels, bars, and eateries. The beach is also home to a interesting little sporting area with ping pong tables and volleyball courts for groups of friends to have fun together.

6.More Info

Many major coastal cities can be found all around Europe, and Barcelona in Spain is a key example. Boasting world class beaches, awe-inspiring architecture, a myriad of attractions, museums, galleries, restaurants, clubs, and more, the capital of Catalonia is one of Spain's biggest cultural centers. The beaches of Barcelona can vary greatly, from major party locations with live music and constant excitement to more secluded, postcard-style locations with soft sands, warm waters, and calm environments for couples and families to take advantage of.

Barcelona Beach Guide

There are many beautiful beaches around Europe, but some of the very best coastal spots can be found in Barcelona. Looking out over the stunning Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona's beaches offer lots of warm sunshine, silky smooth sands, and warm waters, with all kinds of activities to be enjoyed including swimming, water sports, sunbathing, and more. If you’re planning a trip to Spain, read on to learn all about the best beaches of Barcelona.