Barcelona Beaches Guide: Where to Swim, Sunbathe & Relax

The most popular of all Barcelona beaches, Barceloneta is a must for beautiful views and a cafe-filled boardwalk. It is adjacent to the historic 18th-century neighborhood of the same name with a triangular shape and ultra-narrow streets. Easy access makes it the most popular beach in the city—the metro station is nearby and there’s a bus stop next to the sand. In other words, no matter when you come, it will be crowded. It’s also usually the only beach tourists visit, so Barceloneta is rarely calm. However, with fully accessible facilities, free WiFi, children’s play areas and volleyball courts, Barceloneta is also among the most equipped in Barcelona.

Local Tip: This beach works best for lazy lounging on the sand and hanging out in one of the seaside bars.

Located at the “tip” of the Barceloneta neighborhood, Sant Miquel is the continuation of the eponymous beach. The stretch is immediately recognizable by L’Estel Ferit (or the Wounded Shooting Star) sculpture by German artist Rebecca Horn. Locally referred to as “cubes,” the 10-metre-high artwork is an ode to xiringuitos (traditional beach bars). Sant Miquel has the Blue Flag certification so swimming is definitely an option here. It’s as crowded as Barceloneta but gets more spacious as you go toward the tall W Barcelona hotel. There’s a designated area for people with disabilities, too.

Local Tip: Mar and Buenas Migas are two great cafes to have a meal or enjoy the sea vistas with coffee.

Set under the 324-foot-high W Barcelona hotel, Sant Sebastià is among the longest (almost 1 kilometer) and most traditional Barcelona beaches. While it gets crowded in summer, there’s more space here than in neighboring Barceloneta and Sant Miquel. If you are determined to take a dip without getting too far from the city center, Sant Sebastià is the spot. The beach has showers, toilets and a lifeguard tower. It’s also family-friendly and comes with a children’s play area.

Local Tip: Don’t be surprised to see people baring it all, Sant Sebastià is a popular choice for naturists. In Spain, public nudity isn’t legally prohibited so there are many topless beachgoers and it’s not only reserved for naturist beaches.

Located next to the contemporary Olympic Marina with the mesmerizing Frank Gehry’s El Peix (Golden Fish) sculpture, Somorrostro is among the coolest beaches in the city. During the day, it’s the classic Barcelonian golden sand stretch with busy volleyball courts, pleasant surf and a fitness area. As dusk falls, Somorrostro becomes a stunning backdrop to stylish Barcelona nightlife as waterfront Passeig Marítim restaurants and cocktails get filled with a cosmopolitan crowd.

Local Tip: The beach is right under some of the most iconic city nightclubs like Pacha, Shôko and CDLC.

Flanked by the Olympic Marina, Nova Icària is Barcelona’s favorite beach for many. Families will love the kid-friendly amenities and quieter vibe compared to central Barceloneta and Sant Sebastià. Locals come here to play: the beach has arguably the best collection of activities including ping-pong tables, two volleyball courts and an open-air gym. Lifeguards make sure everyone is safe and there’s a special area for disabled people with assisted bathing service. If you were to choose the most easygoing beach in Barcelona, make it this one.

Local Tip: Nova Icària is also closer to the metro station (Ciutadella Vila Olímpica) than Barceloneta.

Located in the Poblenou district, Bogatell is just a great Barcelona beach with everything you need to have a good time by the sea. With Blue Flag certification, this 702-meter-long stretch is perfect for swimming and water activities. You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas on the spot. A football pitch, basketball hoop, volleyball field and table tennis are among the sports facilities you’ll find. During the season, pop-up xiringuitos provide snacks and drinks directly on the golden sands. Bogatell is fully equipped for people with disabilities and has wooden walkways up to the water for wheelchair users.

Local Tip: There’s a long-running seafood establishment, Escribà, where you can try one of the best paellas in Barcelona.

Not every big city has a designated naturist beach. In Barcelona, it’s Mar Bella—a pretty sandy stretch behind the skyscrapers of the Poblenou neighborhood. The part of it close to Bogatell Beach is officially clothing-optional. While located directly next to the promenade, a small hill protects the privacy of beachgoers and makes Mar Bella the most intimate of all Barcelona beaches. Not all of Mar Bella is nudist as the wide section behind the Municipal Sports Complex is a classic Barcelona beach with sports facilities, water sports rental and a skateboard rink.

Local Tip: The stretch is a go-to beach for the local LGBTQI+ community.

If you want to go where locals go, that’s Nova (or “new”) Mar Bella.  It’s among the most chill and family-friendly beaches in Barcelona. The stretch serves the contemporary Diagonal Mar i el Front Marítim del Poblenou neighborhood with tall residential buildings and hip sea-facing hotels such as Occidental Atenea Mar and Hilton Diagonal Mar. It’s good for a hassle-free, quiet beach experience that feels worlds away from the busy central stretches. You’ve got plenty of facilities here like showers, toilets, wooden walkways and a volleyball court.

Local Tip: There’s a relaxed xiringuito to have a drink with a view (eat elsewhere, though, as the food it serves is bland and overpriced).

The last beach of Barcelona’s seafront, Llevant is a small strip next to the sprawling Parc del Fòrum complex. For Barcelona locals, it’s the dog beach with a designated section for four-legged friends. If you don’t mind sharing sand with canines, Llevant is a laid-back back stretch perfect for lounging, playing volleyball or surfing when the waves are high. It is also a Barcelona beach closest to the big city bustle: no park or green area divides the surf and the busy Ronda Litoral Avenue. But while Llevant may be the noisiest and least intimate beach in the city, it’s also a vibrant place with great sea views.

Local Tip: Barcelona’s prime shopping destination, the Diagonal Mar shopping center, is just a short walk away.

Some Barcelona beaches are more unconventional than others. The idea of sunbathing with a cyberpunk view of a gargantuan waste-to-energy plant may sound unpleasant, but Fòrum Beach somehow makes it work. Connected to the Parc del Fòrum complex by a scenic footbridge, this stretch is the calmest Barcelona beach. The many palm trees in the beachside park juxtapose the steel chimneys of the power plant and it’s quite an experience. Different from other Barcelona beaches, Platja del Fòrum has small pebbles serving as an alternative to golden sands. If you’re into industrial beaches, Fòrum is the one. If not, it’s better to choose classics like Sant Sebastià or Bogatell.

Local Tip: The biggest surprise for first-time visitors will probably be the view of Les Tres Xemeneies, a former electric power station-turned-art-space with three skyscraper-like chimneys.

The beach stretches as far as eyes can see, the mountains rise in the distance and the warm golden sands feel good on your toes. All of it is just 11 miles south of Barcelona. Connected by express regional train to the Catalonian capital’s center, Castelldefels is the best beach to visit outside the city. You won’t even have to walk too far from the station as Platja de Castelldefels stop is five minutes away from the sand. It has a Californian flare stretching for 3 miles and offering plenty of space for any beach activity you’re after. It’s the ultimate fresh air escape from beautiful, but busy Barcelona streets and tourist sights.

Local Tip: Make sure to try kitesurfing here, hang out in one of the beach bars and stay for the gorgeous sunset before returning to big city buzz.

There are two amazing reasons to visit Sant Pol de Mar, a tiny whitewashed beachside town on the Maresme Coast north of Barcelona. First, the journey itself is among the most scenic in Spain. The regional train rides next to the sea with excellent window views as you go. Then, Sant Pol de Mar is a hidden gem of Maresme Coast with fantastic beaches like Barques and El Morer, a small but cozy old town and the historic church of Sant Pau.

Local Tip: The train station is right at the beach and the whole journey on the R1 train from Plaza Catalunya takes only about an hour.