The Best Beaches in Barcelona
The Mediterranean attracts millions of tourists each year, thanks to the sunny weather, gorgeous scenery, and of course, the spectacular beaches. Out of all the coastal beach destinations on the Mediterranean, Barcelona is by far one of the most frequented, most highly regarded, most modern cities in all of Europe. But why is that exactly? Aren’t all the beach towns in the Mediterranean idyllic? The answer is no – not by a long shot.
In this article, we will look at why Barcelona is famous for its beaches, and we’ll go over some of the very best beaches that you simply can’t miss.
Why is Barcelona such a great beach destination?
The relatively low cost of living (by European standards anyway) in Spain, year-round sun, and sublime beaches make Barcelona stand out from the crowd. So much so in fact that it's safe to say Barcelona is the very best beach destination in all of Europe. The truth is that if you love hanging out at the beach, swimming, enjoying world-class amenities, and meeting new people, then Barcelona truly is second-to-none.
So, without further ado, let's jump right into it and look at a few of the very best beaches in and around Barcelona.
Barceloneta Beach
If you ask someone to close their eyes and picture a beach in Barcelona, almost everyone will immediately imagine Barceloneta Beach. Barcelona's namesake stretch of sea and sand has captured the hearts and minds of beach-faring tourists all over the world. With local musicians, numerous food and beverage spots, and no short supply of souvenir shops, this is the quintessential tourist beach that you don't want to miss.
Nova Icaria Beach
Next to Barcelona's famous Olympic Port, Nova Icaria Beach is one of Spain's best beaches and is undoubtedly the best Beach for watersports in the city. The beach offers plenty of activities, making it a fun day out for those who are traveling or just love having some fun in the water. Activities you can find on Nova Icaria Beach include swimming, riding jet skis, boat tours, and so much more. Basically, if you have your heart set on doing something special at the Beach, then Nova Icaria is the place to be.
Bogatell Beach
Considerably cleaner and much more relaxed than Barceloneta or Nova Icaria, Bogatell Beach is about twenty minutes outside of the downtown area, and as such comes with much less crowding, lower prices, and a more serene and peaceful type of experience. So, if you like to relax on the beach without having to worry about vendors bothering you constantly, consider heading to Bogatell Beach or one of the other beaches on this list away from the main tourist areas.
Mar Bella Beach
In recent years, Mar Bella has become one of the most famous beaches in the world, thanks to its long stretch of the nudist beach area. That said, there are plenty of other, more family-friendly reasons to head to Mar Bella. First of all, contrary to what some people believe, the nudist portion of the beach only occupies a relatively small area of the beach, and it can be avoided by simply staying on the other end of the Beach. Mar Bella also happens to be a well-known hang-out spot for the LGBT community in Barcelona, making it a great place to meet new people if that's your scene.
Final Thoughts
Given all of the fantastic beaches in and around Barcelona, it's no surprise that tourists flock here by the millions each year. A world-class city in and of itself, Barcelona is the highlight for many travelers in the region and offers some of the best gastronomy, art, and of course, leisure scenes in all of Europe, If not the world. So, if you want to have the best possible day out at the beach in Barcelona, then be sure to stick to the spots mentioned above, and most importantly, have fun – that's what Barcelona is all about.
