Spanish beaches for sun, swimming and excursions
Are you looking for Spain's finest and best beaches, or perhaps the more hidden and less visited ones? There are many beaches in Spain and you will find incredibly beautiful beaches in the north, east and south. Here we go through a selected sample of all you can choose from.
Find your beach in Spain
Spain has 8000 kilometers of coastline with around 600 fantastic beaches, most of which have been awarded a blue flag, a certification that the beach is of a high quality in terms of cleanliness, facilities and comfort. Spain's various coastlines all have names starting with 'Costa' as costa means coast in Spanish. And historically, the beaches along the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca have been the most popular. But for those who move to Spain and have more time to spend, there are many more beaches and nature experiences to discover.
Spain's coastal cities
Spain is a country with a lot of coastline lined with seaside towns, always with at least one beach nearby. In the south we have Cádiz and the Spanish Costa del Sol with Marbella, Fuengirola, Malaga, Nerja and Estepona. On the east coast we find Alicante, Torrevieja, Valencia and Barcelona. And finally on the northern coast we find San Sebastián, Bilbao and Gijón. Just to mention some of the most popular coastal cities that Swedes choose when settling in Spain.
Best beaches on the Spanish Costa del Sol
Along the southern coastal strip you will find the popular Costa del Sol, also known as the Spanish Costa del Sol. Here you'll find an almost 20-mile-long strip of coastline stretching from Nerja in the east to Manilva in the west, so it's no wonder there are several beaches to choose from. If you are in the city of Malaga, Playa de La Malagueta is the closest beach, just outside the city center. If you're in the area around Nerja, you must visit Playa de Maro, one of the best and most popular beaches in the area. In luxurious Marbella you'll find Playa Nagüeles and Bounty Beach and if you're near Torremolinos, make an excursion to La Carihuela, formerly a fishing village that today offers a wide beach but with a slightly quieter pace. The most popular beach in Estepona is Playa del Rada, awarded the Blue Flag for its quality and cleanliness. Fuengirola has an eight kilometer long promenade with several different beaches to visit. There are various activities to enjoy while visiting any of the beaches, including an outdoor gym, miniature golf, various water sports and playgrounds for the little ones.
Spanish beaches in the east
On the south-eastern coast we find the Costa Blanca or "white coast" with Alicante, Torrevieja, Valencia and the popular resort of Gandia. There are many long white beaches with fine sand and a wide strip of beach with plenty of space. The Valencia region has a 25 kilometer long coastline that offers a wide variety of beaches. La Playa Norte is Gandia's main beach, it is three kilometers long and 150 meters wide, a very well-preserved and popular beach with all amenities. You will also find some smaller beaches around Gandia that are suitable for those with animals and those who want to experience more nature. Further south you'll find Playa de Levante in Benidorm, popular with Spaniards and tourists alike, or the tranquil Playa de San Juan just outside Alicante. For snorkeling and diving, visit Playa del Moraig, a little hidden gem near Javea.
The islands off the east coast
On the islands of Mallorca and Ibiza off the east coast of Spain, you will of course find many beautiful beaches of different natures. In Mallorca, you can't miss the "golden bay" Cala d'Or, which is actually five beautiful bays on the eastern coast of the island, perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Es Trenc may be worth a visit for its fine-grained white sand and crystal-clear waters that vary from turquoise to azure. This beach is now a nature reserve, so no water sports are allowed and facilities are limited, making it a beautiful and tranquil swimming experience. Ibiza offers both white beaches and white cliffs with turquoise waters. From the more lively beaches to the more quiet, hidden and picturesque ones. There is something for everyone!
Beaches in northern Spain
On the northernmost part of the eastern coast we find Barcelona, known for being both a big city with all its restaurants, shopping and nightlife and for having a really grand and popular beach right next to the city center - Platja de la Barceloneta. You'll also find some smaller, quieter beaches just outside Barcelona that may be worth a trip for those traveling with family or simply wanting to escape city life for a little while. North of Barcelona, closer to the French border, you'll find beaches like Platja Gran and Mar Menuda in Tossa de Mar, or the large, golden yellow sandy beach with shallow waters in the town of Roses. Perfect for those traveling with children or just want to enjoy a beautiful beach in one of Catalonia's smaller and more picturesque villages.
Where the Spanish coastline meets the Bay of Biscay, you'll find fantastic beaches that offer magnificent scenery and something for everyone - surfers, bon vivants, families with children or sun worshippers. There are beaches close to the city such as Playa de La Concha in the food mecca of San Sebastián, which has been voted Europe's best beach several years in a row. To smaller and more hidden beaches such as Playa del Sablón or the mythical Playa de Gulpiyuri - the world's smallest beach, with no sea! This part of the Spanish coast is called the Costa Verde, the Green Coast.
In the northwest of Spain, you'll find Galicia, whose coastline has many similarities to Norway, with two very different types of beaches: those facing the open sea with big waves and cool water temperatures, and those sheltered in a bay and more easily heated. Although you will find some of the most beautiful beaches here in the north, they are often completely deserted due to the fact that they face the Atlantic Ocean, which means that the beaches are not as bathing-friendly as those on the Mediterranean. But they are often real nature experiences! Many of the Spanish hiking trails that are part of the pilgrimage route also end here in the region.
More sheltered beaches can be found in the Muros region: check out Praia de San Francisco, Praia de Area Maior or Playa de Ancoradoiro, all unique beaches with turquoise water and a lagoon-like shape, sheltered by cliffs and coves.
Sunbathing and swimming in Spanish - words you need on the beach
Here are some sunbathing and bathing vocabulary that can be useful on Spanish beaches:
- Beach - playa
- Sunbathing (sola) - tomar el sol
- Sunburned - bronceado
- Bathing/Swimming in the sea - nada en el oceano
- Kiosk - quiosco
- Parasol - sombrilla
- Sun chair/sun bed - cama solar
- Sun cream - protector solar
- Sun protection factor - factor de protección solar
- Sun hat – sunbonnet
- Towel - toalla
- Sunglasses - gafas de sol