La Barceloneta
Barceloneta is Barcelona's seaside district. Once a fishing village, today it is an area with a dual soul, popular and fashionable. Everyone likes it!
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One of the reasons why Barcelona has such a strong international appeal is that this wonderful city, full of cultural and business buzz, is located in an enviable position along the coast.
This means that during a holiday in Barcelona you can combine visits to museums and monuments with relaxing afternoons at the beach. Just take the metro from the centre and in no time you will find yourself in a swimming costume under the sun or at one of the legendary chiringuitos, beach bars, for a mojito overlooking the sea.
Barcelona’s beaches are all sandy. There are no bathing establishments: all the beaches are public, with free access, but in some areas you can rent parasols and deckchairs at chiringuitos.
From south to north, here are all the beaches you will find along the Barcelona coastline:
Impossible to say which is the best, depending on what kind of atmosphere you are looking for. Below we present them divided into categories to help you choose the one that suits you best!
Tips for going to the beach in Barcelona
Apart from being all sandy and all public, Barcelona’s beaches unfortunately have another thing in common: they are very popular with pickpockets. Caution should therefore be exercised to avoid unpleasant situations that could ruin your holiday.
It is best to leave your original documents at the hotel and walk around with photocopies; if possible, avoid going to the beach with credit cards or lots of cash. Watch your bags: never leave them unattended.
If you only have time for one beach, choose Barceloneta, Barcelona’s most famous beach. It is divided into Platja de San Sebastià and Platja de la Barceloneta, both of which stretch along the edge of a district that was once a fishing village.
Two beaches that are always crowded and particularly suitable for young people and singles seeking summer adventures are Somorrostro and Nova Icaria.
The atmosphere is very similar to that of Barceloneta: a few (or zero) centimetres between one towel and the next, groups of friends, those who keep their stereos loud, those who play guitar or bongos. The girls try to get noticed in tiny swimming costumes or even topless, and the boys are generally not at all shy.
After bathing and sunbathing, a drink at the chiringuito (the mojito is legendary!) is a must. These beach bars are a true Barcelona institution and are the ideal pre-evening haunts, to get charged up for a night of movida.
These two beaches are located at the two skyscraper-icons of the Barcelona seafront: Somorrostra is to the left of the skyscrapers with its back to the sea, while Nova Icaria is to the right.
The noisy beaches of Barceloneta, Somorrostro and Nova Icaria are not suitable for those who do not like confusion and are especially not recommended for families with small children because it is not uncommon for bottle shards to be hidden under the sand.
Just move a little further and you will find beaches with the same golden sand but a completely different atmosphere. The Bogatell beach is quite crowded, but the people who come here mainly want to relax and so it is generally quite quiet.
The absolute quietest beaches are Nova Mar Bella beach and Levant beach, which are also the ones furthest from the centre. You can sunbathe without being disturbed and swim in a somewhat cleaner sea.
Nova Mar Bella is frequented mostly by women and is therefore an ideal place for tourists who want a relaxing afternoon by the sea in safety and tranquillity. Levant, the smallest beach in Barcelona, is part of a district that is undergoing a major urban renewal. It is becoming more and more fashionable: who knows how much longer it will remain a quiet beach!
Virtually all the beaches in Barcelona are suitable for those who enjoy sports activities by the sea. But which are the best beaches for sports?
Beach volleyball is popular almost everywhere, but the top area for this sport is from Nova Icaria upwards. For outdoor gymnastics, the best place is a corner between Barceloneta and Somorrostro that is equipped with muscle-building equipment.
You can cycle along a convenient cycle path from Barceloneta to Nova Mar Bella, while walkers can take advantage of a kilometre-long shoreline for a relaxing stroll along the foreshore.
If you’re a fan of skateboards, scooters and articulated bicycles, don’t miss the Skate Park at Mar Bella beach, popular with the more reckless youngsters.
Barcelona is a very modern and gay-friendly city so gay travellers generally don’t encounter any problems and can choose any of Barcelona’s beaches. However, if you want a predominantly gay beach, choose Platja de la Mar Bella, famous as the gay beach of Barcelona.
For naturism, on the other hand, we recommend Platja de San Miguel: although it is not a nudist beach, you will find other people who like to sunbathe and you will certainly feel comfortable.
All the beaches in the Barcelona urban area can be reached with the L4 (the yellow one) metro line. Stops are usually a 10-15 minute walk from the beach.
In the summertime, some hop on hop off tourist buses stop near the beaches, without the need to walk.
In addition to the beaches in the urban area from the centre of Barcelona, one can easily reach by bus or train some more distant beaches, which are generally less crowded and with a much cleaner sea.
The most popular beach around Barcelona is that of Sitges, a pretty seaside town along the Costa Dorada that can be reached by train in only 30 minutes. Although it is a city beach, it is washed by a surprisingly clean sea. The quality of services is also good, so much so that Sitges has been awarded the Blue Flag several times.
To find rocky beaches and coves you have to go further up the Costa Brava. By bus you can reach the quaint villages of Tossa de Mar and Lloret del Mar (journey time about one hour and twenty minutes). If you have the possibility, however, it is better to rent a car and visit some of the most beautiful places on the Costa Brava such as Palamos, Calella de Palafrugell, Pals, Cadaques, Begur.
Other beaches not to be missed around Barcelona are Calella, Casteldefells, Vilanova i la Gertrù or Calafell, Cala Llevadò and Salou.
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