The Ultimate Guide to Barcelonas Beaches
Did you know, Barcelona’s "beaches" did not exist before the Olympics in 1992? It used to be said that the city turned its back on the sea, as the lower class neighbourhoods used to be next to the water, whilst the more affluent barrios (Spanish for neighbourhoods) were at the top-side of the city. Regardless, the beaches of Barcelona are now an iconic part of the city and make it one of the few places in the world where you can go skiing in the morning and to the beach in the afternoon (if you are lucky with the snow).
Introduction
Did you know, Barcelona’s “beaches” did not exist before the Olympics in 1992? It used to be said that the city turned its back on the sea, as the lower class neighbourhoods used to be next to the water, whilst the more affluent barrios (Spanish for neighbourhoods) were at the top side of the city. Regardless, the beaches of Barcelona are now an iconic part of the city and make it one of the few places in the world where you can go skiing in the morning and on the beach in the afternoon (if you are lucky with the snow).
The beaches are not the best if you compare them to some of the other beaches on the doorstep of the city and up the Costa Brava, but given the fact they are moments from the heart of the city, the whole vibe is pretty special, as beachwear mingles with other clothes in the warmer months.
About the beaches
The beaches in Barcelona run from the W hotel down to the Port Forum, and each one has its unique vibe—from nudist beaches to beaches packed with volleyball nets. There is something for everyone along this 6km stretch, though there is a break around Port Olympic, which has the casino and a marina, plus a new development of restaurants. It’s a nice walk and bike ride if you fancy it.
The water is OK. Not the cleanest, not the worst—about what you’d expect from a city-centre beach that attracts so many people. During the high season, you can check the water quality here, a little hint from me - don’t swim after heavy rain.
General beach rules & guidelines
Cleanliness & Waste
The beaches are cleaned daily, but they can get dirtier as people leave their rubbish throughout the day. There are plenty of bins around, so don’t litter, floating plastic in the sea is not cool.
Vendors & Drinks
Expect to see people wandering around selling mojitos, beer (cervesa), and water. Indulge at your own risk—many cans are kept cool in sewers or other questionable places, so be sure to wipe them down first. Always question the quality of the alcohol in those mojitos. Getting some stuff from the shops before you go is always the best way.
Illegal Vendors
Fake handbags, trainers, football shirts, and beach sheets (2m x 2m) are regularly peddled. The sheets are handy if you don’t want to get too sandy and are great for a small group. My suggestion is not to pay more than €8. They might start high, so open with a low offer.
Petty Crime
Unfortunately, petty crime is rife. The beaches are “safe” in a general sense, but opportunistic thieves roam around. Keep your belongings close and never leave them unattended when you go for a dip, worst case is to ask someone who looks trustworthy to mind your things, but better not to risk it - it might be worth having a waterproof phone case to take it into the water with you.
Lifeguards
Lifeguards are present from April to the end of May on weekends, and then daily (10:30–19:30) until roughly the 2nd week of September. Check the calendar (once released) for the exact 2025 dates, which I will update when available.
Smoking Ban
Smoking on the beach is banned, and the beach police fine people for it (instead of dealing with the petty crime—joking, not joking). You can still smoke in the chiringuitos. Drinking is generally fine, but you might be moved on later in the evening. Sadly, portable speakers are still allowed, so be ready for other people’s music preferences being transmitted loudly (likely reggaeton ☠️) to you - bring headphones.
Showers & Toilets
Each beach has showers and public toilets (functional enough, though not luxurious or very clean). Note that in case of water shortages, the showers might be the first thing to be restricted.
Topless or less
Sunbathing topless is a regular thing in Spain so expect to see this on all the beaches, and if you prefer fewer clothes, there are two nudist beaches in Mar Bella and Sant Miquel (the first being a gay beach).
Shops & Supermarkets
In Barceloneta, there are many shops and supermarkets (i.e., Lidl) which will be local prices. Most other places along the first row and smaller supermarkets are going to be tourist prices, more or less. However, if you go a little deeper into Barceloneta’s buildings, you’ll find more local stores because it’s quite residential. It has an amazing bakery I can recommend called Baluards, which does the best sourdough bread (the pastries are ok but not amazing like Hoffman in El Born, but more about those in another post). Love pistachio-sweetened baked treats, then check out the bakery Vol A Vol.
Restaurants (Barceloneta)
Sharing some places that I recommend here that are not the regular tourist traps.
La Curandera “Cantina mexicana & Cocktail Beach Bar” Google Maps
La Cala Barceloneta brunch Google Maps
Entrepaneria Compá | Barceloneta Google Maps
La Granja del Barri Barceloneta Google Maps
Accessibility
Wooden walkways make several of the beaches accessible. Nova Icaria has specialist facilities for the less abled and a dedicated area where they get priority.
Watersports and other exercise
Barcelonas beaches are alive with activity, from roller skaters to surfers - you are likely to see many people enjoying sports and exercising along the beachfront. Closer to the city you have a number of watersport activity shops (especially in Barceloneta) which have offerings like bike hire and stand-up paddle board rental for enjoying the calmer conditions found closer to the W. Further down you will also find surfers waiting for that big wave (more about surfing here). In addition to the sports where you need equipment, there are also a couple of free outdoor gymnasiums along the beach, one in Playa de San Sebastian and the other one next to Mar Bella. There are also some exercise machines along the paved area of Bogatell Beach.
My one-sentence review of each beach
Barceloneta Beach ⭐⭐1/2
Petty thieves’ dream beach, close to the action, always busy.
Somorrostro Beach ⭐⭐⭐
A good balance of far enough away and not too far down the coast.
Playa de Sant Miquel ⭐⭐⭐
Always a strange naked man tanning himself, calm waters, slightly less crowded.
Playa de San Sebastian ⭐⭐⭐
Lost half a star when Bastian Beach Club opened, pain to get to, worse to get back but still better than Barceloneta.
Nova Icaria Beach ⭐⭐⭐1/2
Now we are on the more local side, less busy, and more chill aside from the constant threat of volleyballs.
Playa de Bogatell ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My favourite for location vs peace, expect it to still be busy in summer, but more locals and a better vibe, though not so close to many shops.
Playa de la Mar Bella ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As above, but less crowded and has a skate park nearby plus a sailing club.
Playa de la Nova Mar Bella ⭐⭐⭐1/2
Further away, slightly more peaceful, and further from shops and restaurants, Gay Central, nudist.
Playa de Llevant ⭐⭐⭐
Right at the end, not worth the effort if you’re staying central, go with the others, but still better than Barceloneta (can smell at times)
Bars & Restaurants
Along the way, you’ll find numerous restaurants and chiringuitos—the latter being semi-permanent beach bars that serve drinks and some food at tourist prices. However, considering the location, it’s not too bad compared to other cities.
The term chiringuito comes from the Spanish word chiringo, the name of a coffee served in Cuba. There are 13 in total along the route—if you’re feeling adventurous, you can try the Barcelona 13, which involves having a drink in each one. I’ve done it, and it was a blast, so comment below or sign up for our newsletter if you’re up for the challenge. Dates for opening vary from March to November, and the season keeps getting longer after COVID due to increased demand. My favourite one is Vaia Moana.
Plenty of restaurants also line the beach, and the clubs below the Casino offer food and drinks, although quite overpriced (the location is prime if you can snag a seat near the front). Sadly, many of these eateries are pretty average at best—think of them like Las Ramblas: you pay more for the view than for the food. If you want better quality and value, move back a couple of streets from the shoreline for more options.
Final Thoughts & Community
So there you have it. If you want anything else added to the post, let me know in the comments below, and I’ll revisit with more information from time to time.
If you live in Barcelona and speak English (it does not have to be great!) and want to be a part of our WhatsApp community (it might be full), then you can click here. We host regular meet-ups and are a friendly bunch (you can also join our Meetup Community here to be notified of our bigger meetups).
We are also creating a “what’s on” newsletter with more of a locals’ view -, so if that interests you, sign up here.
Thanks for reading!