The beach coastline of Barcelona stretches for just fewer than 4 km and is famous for its soft, grainy sand and lively promenade. Here, everyone who came to have a rest in Barcelona will find something to enjoy, from lounging on the noisy terrace of a summer café with a great bar offering, to dreaming on a beach near the water, where Wi-Fi is also a common amenity.
Playa de Sant Sebastià - one of the oldest beaches in Barcelona
Sant Sebastià, located in the Old City in the northern part of the Olympic Port, is one of the oldest and largest beaches in the city. It is one of two nudist beaches in Barcelona to be frequented by tourists and locals alike, in a 2:1 ratio.
No doubt, the famous hotel W Barcelona, with its impressive architectural style, is the focal point of this beach. The magical panoramic view of the entire Barcelona coast is also a major attraction of this beach.
- Length: 1185 m
- Metro: Line 4 (Barceloneta)
- Bus: 14, 16, 17, 39, 40, 45, 51, 57, 59, 64, 157
- Address: Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 2
Playa de Sant Miquel – a Barcelona beach with an impressive city view
Sant Miquel beach of Barcelona is a small, sandy space of 430 m long and 70 m wide. Despite its small size, this beach is a popular destination among tourists for its central location and the availability of key amenities, including a parking lot, information boards, public bathrooms, a wooden deck leading to the water, a payphone, and garbage bins.
- Length: 420 m
- Metro: Line 4 (Barceloneta L4)
- Bus: 10, 14, 16, 17, 36, 39, 40, 45, 51, 57, 59 and 64
- Address: Passeig Marítim Barceloneta, 10
Playa de la Barceloneta - the trendiest beach in Barcelona
At Barceloneta beach, a favorite spot in Barcelona for locals and tourists alike, life seems to continue in a non-stop mode. Here, morning serenity along the coast transforms into a vivacious evening feast. The explanation for this striking metamorphosis can be found in the coastal bars located in the sand along the beach, which are extremely popular among tourists.
The beach infrastructure of Barceloneta has been developed to account for even the most minute details, including showers, public restrooms, bike and car parking lots, lifeguard stations, volleyball courts, children’s playgrounds, police and ambulance stations, and Wi-Fi. Tourists are also welcome to take advantage of sunshades for their cars and the built-in wooden decks that facilitate walking on the sand. This beach pays close attention to accessibility for those with disabilities. During the morning hours, and in the summer during the afternoon hours as well, there is a service desk for assistance.
- Length: 422 m
- Metro: Line 4 (Barceloneta L4)
- Bus: 14, 16, 17, 36, 39, 40, 45, 51, 57, 59
- Address: Paseo Marítimo de la Barceloneta / Andrea Dòria i Passeig Marítim 11
Playa de la Nova Icària - a place of beautiful people
The Barcelona beach called la Nova Icaria is a territory of beach volleyball and beautiful people. Although volleyball is the primary leisure activity at this beach, one can play tennis as well. Tourists enjoy their time here: affordable restaurants with delicious Spanish menus and the placement of important amenities nearby (including showers, bathrooms, and lifeguard stations) help to create unforgettable, carefree vacations.
- Length: 400 m
- Metro: Line 4 (Ciutadella or Bogatell)
- Bus: 6, 36, 41, 92, 141
- Address: Pg Marítim de Nova Icària, 60
Playa de Bogatell – a territory for beachgoers over 30
700 meters of the cleanest sand, tranquility, people over thirty years old, and kiosks with the coldest ice cream are the major factors that shape the experience at Playa de Bogatell. Here, as in most of Barcelona’s coastal areas, one can find the key amenities, including bathrooms, showers, cabins for changing, and lifeguard stations. The major landmark of this peaceful beach is L'Escamarlà restaurant, known for its special atmosphere, splendid sea views, high-quality food, and average prices of € 25-40.
- Length: 715
- Metro: Line 4 (Llacuna and BogatellBus)
- Bus: 6, 36, 41, 92, 141
- Address: Paseo de Garcia Fària 21
Playa de la Mar Bella – both nudist space and world of sports
This beach ranks second on the list of nude beaches in Barcelona, chosen not only by nudists. The beach is frequented by diverse groups; it is preferred by local residents, sports fans, nudists, and members of the gay community and has semi-private areas separated from the general space by a sand dune. The residents of Sant Martí like to relax on this beach, and Playa de la Mar Bella is an ideal place for active people. The beach is equipped with such amenities as showers, bathrooms, information stands, and Wi-Fi.
- Length: 512 m
- Metro: Line 4 (Selva de Mar)
- Bus: 36, 71, 141
- Address: Passeig Marítim del Bogatell, 142
Playa de Nova Mar Bella – far from the noise of the capital
The 420 meter-long beach, Playa de Nova Mar Bella, stretches alongside tall buildings and a large construction site used as a parking lot that serves as an identification marker for this beach. Playa de Nova Mar Bella offers all the amenities as well as a couple of bars in the open air. La Oca Mar is the focal point of this magical place: the small restaurant takes the shape of a ship and is located, unusually, directly on the breakwater rocks, making this beach stand out among the coastal areas.
- Length: 420
- Metro: Line 4 (Selva de Mar and El Maresme)
- Bus: 36, 43, 141
- Address: Avinguda del Litoral, 108
Playa de Nova Llevant – a final destination on Barcelona’s sunny coast
Playa de Nova Llevant is a well-furnished beach at the foot of futuristic skyscrapers, famous for being the youngest and the most northern beach on the sunny coast of the city. Nova Llevant was inaugurated as a recreational area in 2006, and before that it looked like an abandoned space with industrial buildings scattered along the coast. When standing on the sandy coast, an impressive construction is always in sight: Blau, the building of the Museum of Natural Sciences.
- Length: 380 m
- Metro: Line 4 (Selva de Mar)
- Bus: 7, 36, 41, 141
- Address: Av. del Litoral, 64
Zona de baños del Fórum
On the last outskirts of Barcelona’s coast, one can find another popular place for sunbathing, called zona de baños del Fòrum by the local people. This serene area, scarcely populated, functions as a beach, although instead of soft sand it has a smooth, concrete surface. Zona de baños del Fórum is very popular among those with disabilities due to its convenient water access, but it may not be the best option for those with small children.
- Length: 385 m
- Metro: Line 4 (Maresme/Fòrum)
- Bus: H16, 7, 143
- Address: Ronda Litoral, 15