Barcelona beaches are renowned the world over for being everything great urban beaches should be. Barcelona’s beach culture is as lively as its bar scenes, with clean stretches of sand offering sun, fun, food and drinks well into the evenings. The many kilometres of sand and ocean that run the entire length of the city and out the other side have been divided up into individual beaches, each with its own unique flavour.
Here are the spots that made our list:
Barceloneta Beach: In the heart of Barcelona beats Barceloneta Beach, infamous for its buzzing atmosphere and lively vibes. Popular with tourists and locals alike, it can get crowded, but this is still a great beach if you want to play some sports, relax on the sand, or have fun at one of the many seafront tapas bars. With its 6km stretch of beachside promenade from the W Hotel to Diagonal Mar, this is a popular beach for runners, cyclists, and anyone looking for a gentle stroll along the oceanfront. And there’s plenty of chiringuitos to stop in at along the way!
Locality: Barceloneta
Address: Playa de la Barceloneta, Barcelona
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Photo: Juanedc
Bogatell Beach: Generally regarded as a much calmer beach destination than the boisterous Barceloneta, Bogatell has plenty to offer with great little chiringuitos (beachside bars), cool restaurants, and pristine sands. It can get reasonably busy at the weekends, but you’ll always be able to find a spot.
Locality: Poblenou
Address: Platja del Bogatell, Barcelona
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Nova Icària: A wide expanse of clean sand at the edge of clear blue waters, it’s easy to see why this beach is a hit with Barcelona’s residents and visitors. As its further away from Barceloneta, Nova Icària feels more spacious due to fewer people, but still boasts a fun nightlife scene.
Locality: Outer Suburb
Address: Nova Icària, Barcelona
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Platja de Sant Sebastià: With a more laid back atmosphere than many of the Barcelona’s other beaches, this is arguably the best beach to set up with a good book and relax at. The adjacent boardwalk hosts a plentiful supply of low-key but quality food and drink options.
Locality: Barceloneta
Address: Platja de Sant Sebastià, Barcelona
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Nova Mar Bella Beach: Located further away from the centre, this beach is naturally a bit quieter and cleaner than those at the heart of the action. There’s still plenty to do, eat, and drink here, however, with beachside bars and activities like yoga and volleyball.
Locality: Poblenou
Address: Platja Mar de la Bella, Barcelona
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Sant Miquel Beach: Offering spectacular views of the city and some very good seafood restaurants, Saint Micheal’s Beach is near the centre of Barcelona and is a place to enjoy everything a great city beach has to offer: beautiful waters, beautiful weather, and beautiful sunsets.
Locality: Barceloneta
Address: Platja de Sant Miquel, Barcelona
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Litoral Beach: A tranquil stretch of coarse sands and palm trees, Litoral Beach runs adjacent to a disused power station, which adds an interesting urban element to a scene of otherwise untouched natural beauty. One of the less frequented beaches in Barcelona, Litoral is a great place to escape to for some peace and quiet.
Locality: Poblenou
Address: Platja del Litoral, Barcelona
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Somorrostro Beach: Once upon a time Somorrostro Beach was a part of the infamous Barceloneta beach, but now stands in a league of its own and hosts the ‘Beach Centre’. Its location makes it very popular with locals and expats, as its close to some of the city’s most well-known nightclubs and the Barceloneta bar scene.
Locality: Ciutadella / Vila Olimpica
Address: Platja del Somorrostro, Passeig Marítim, Barcelona
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Llevant Beach: Edging towards the quieter end of the Barcelona beach spectrum, Llevant can be popular with surfers and families wishing to relax for a casual day away from the hustle and bustle of the centre. It’s a perfect location to rent a bike on a weekend afternoon and ride along the seafront. There’s plenty to look at along the way, with some great views of both city and ocean.
Locality: Poblenou
Address: Platja de Llevant, Passeig Marítim, Barcelona
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Playa Cuitadella Olimpica: A modernized area of Barcelona that’s particularly good for entertainment, the Olympic Village houses the Villa complex, full of restaurants, shops, and even a large cinema. Previously the area was made up of docks and warehouses, but the 1992 Olympics brought about some significant changes and redevelopments. The beach is generally quite quiet.
Locality: Ciutadella / Vila Olimpica
Address: Playa Ciutadella Olimpica, Barcelona
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Fòrum Beach: Barcelona’s ‘sandless beach’, there is swimming at the Fòrum in a shallow saltwater pool, artificially created with concrete blocks and asphalt. However, it still has all the facilities you need, like showers and bathrooms, so it’s ideal for swimmers.
Locality: Outer Suburb
Address: Platja del Fòrum, Barcelona
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* Outer Barcelona:
El Prat Beach: A little off the tourist track, El Prat beach is actually part of a protected wildlife area, with marshlands housing many species of unusual birds. Perhaps a little conversely, it’s also very close to the airport, so you can see planes landing and taking off at any time of day. It’s easy to get to even by bicycle, although there are public transport options.
Locality: Around Barcelona
Address: Platja del Prat, Barcelona
Map
FREE Guide to the BEST of Barcelona
Wouldn’t you want to save time and discover the absolute BEST places in Barcelona? – Cafes, accommodation, coworking, gyms, yoga & more
There are many travel guides for tourists who want to visit Barcelona.
Barcelona Secrets is different. Get it here…
Author
Tal Gur is a world traveler and personal development enthusiast. An adventurer at heart, after trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, Tal spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey continues as a location-independent blogger, lifestyle entrepreneur, and coach. Tal’s published two books: One Year to Freedom, a 1-Year Roadmap to Living Life on Your Own Terms; and, his most recent book and bestseller, The Art of Fully Living – 1 Man, 10 Years, 100 Life Goals Around the World.
