Best beaches to visit from Barcelona

When people travel to Barcelona they often ask me which beaches are the best on the city. Insider’s tip here: there are no good beaches in Barcelona. If you want to go to the beach for half an hour then, the Barceloneta, Barcelona’s beach, would be fine. But if you really want to enjoy a day at the beach, these are the best beaches to visit from Barcelona.

Geography of the Catalan coastline

Barcelona is basically in the middle of the Catalan coast. North from Barcelona, there is the Maresme, an area of relatively flat beaches. This is not a very large section of the coastline. It only covers about 55km of golden sand (34 miles). North from there, there is, what in my opinion is, the best section of beaches in Catalonia: the Costa Brava. The beaches in the Costa Brava are wild beaches, with rocky sand, and deep waters. These beaches are fantastic if you like to swim in the sea, scuba diving or you just hate sand.

South from the capital, the first section of the coast is known as Costa del Garraf, and South from there, there is the Costa Daurada. The Costa del Garraf is a beautiful alternative if you want to take a short trip from Barcelona. Beautiful fish towns and typical Mediterranean landscapes. Beaches are short but not as small as in Costa Brava. Past this section of the coast, there is the Costa Daurada.  There, you can find endless flat beaches that are perfect for children and people who don’t want to swim. This area limits with Delta de l’Ebre in the South. Another beautiful area of Catalonia that I will cover in more depth in another post.  

How to get to the best beaches to visit from Barcelona

Most of Spain is well connected with public transport. The exception are the areas with lots of mountains or protected by National Parks. Unfortunately, these two characteristics coincide in part of Catalan littoral. While traveling South from Barcelona (to Garraf or Costa Daurada) is easily done by train, passing the Maresme and heading to the Costa Brava can become a challenge. Also, to visit some of the nicest beaches in Catalonia, the most secluded and private ones, you will need a car. Depending on your limitations, transport wise, you may decide how you will move around.

Best beaches in Maresme

Just North from Barcelona is the Costa del Maresme. This area comprises a few kilometers of flat coast with white sand and shallow water. The best way to visit this section of the Catalan coastline is by local train. Within less than 45 minutes you can reach almost any section of this area from Barcelona Sants Estació. Take there the R1 (Rodalies 1), and you will be able to stop in multiple areas of the Maresme.

Because the Maresme is so close to Barcelona and the airport, these beaches are some of the most popular destinations for local tourism. And for British teens. In my opinion, they are not the best beaches to visit from Barcelona, but they are a very comfortable option to just spend one day or morning relaxing under the sun.

Montgat

Only 30 minutes away from Sants Estació, in the center of Barcelona, there is Montgat. This small town has one of the best beaches to visit from Barcelona if you only want to be there for a few hours. It is almost as close (in time) from anywhere in Barcelona as the local Barceloneta is. You will find thinner crowds and many less pickpockets than in the city beaches.

Read here more on how to avoid pickpockets in Barcelona (city)

Regarding the geography of the beach in Montgat… let’s just say that it is quite boring. Flat beaches, one “chiringuito” here and there and not much more. And chiringuitos are the typical beach bars that don’t serve a lot of food but have cold drinks and beers.

Vilassar de Mar

Unlike Montgat, Vilassar de Mar has more to offer as a town. From there it is possible to hike the small tiny mountains that follow the coast. Or visit two of the local beaches, the one with the same name, or la Platja de Ponent. Both beaches are also flat but the sand is a bit thicker than in Montgat.

Sant Andreu de Llavaneres

Sant Andreu de Llavaneres hosts one of the nicest beaches to visit from Barcelona. Besides the beach and a cute little harbor, next to this town there is also a national park where you can explore and get yourself lost for hours. If you want more cultural activities, there is also an interesting little church and a few different hotels and rural houses. This beach is also flat, but not as long as the previous two.

My choice: Sant Pol de Mar

Every time I want to take a slightly longer trip and enjoy a really nice beach I visit Sant Pol de Mar. This town is beautiful on its own. Typical Mediterranean white buildings, extremely clear greenish water and lots of fish. It is one of the best beaches to visit from Barcelona because it is close to the city (within one hour of train) and far enough that usually tourists do not arrive there. Also, this beach is a far deeper one than any of the previous. Because of this, the water is clearer and also much colder. There is also a deep fishing tradition to the area that translates into very nice restaurants with lots of seafood.

Best beaches in Costa Brava

This section of the Catalan coast is characterized for rocky landscapes and deep water. Because of this, the most common types of beaches in the area are what we call “calas”. These are very small (a few feet long sometimes) beaches. Here is a small list of the most beautiful calas in the area. Instead of telling you about these, I will tell you about larger beaches. Even though they may have a bit more people, they are also easier to reach and they are still as beautiful.

Aiguablava

Aiguablava is one of the most beautiful beaches to visit from Barcelona. It is located near Begur, one of the most exclusive and cute towns in the Catalan coast and almost the definition of Costa Brava. The name of this beach literally means blue water and it is a lovely small beach hidden by small cliffs and rocks. This beach has fine sand and is quite small. So, if you decide to visit make sure you leave early or you may find it packed. Most beaches and towns around the Costa Brava are quite isolated. While you can always visit them with public transport, it may take you up to 4h, so it is recommendable that you rent a car.

If you are visiting Barcelona during the summer make sure you visit “Les Festes de Gracia“, one of the most authentic and captivating celebrations in Barcelona!

Lloret de Mar

This town is for massified tourism. I include it in this list because it is widely popular and many people have a summer house there. It is also a place where millions of teens and early tweens from all around the globe come to party every summer and every spring. This town of course has a lot offer in the party scene, and while the beaches are nice, there are other options that, in my opinion are nicer. This town is closer to Girona than to Barcelona, but it is well connected. If you are also planning to visit Girona, Lloret de mar is an interesting stop to have halfway there. Also, because it is a large town in the area, it is well connected from both Barcelona and Girona with public transport.

Platja Fonda

Platja fonda is also located in the cost of Girona. It is located a bit North from Aiguablava but it is still one of the best beaches to visit from Barcelona. It is one of those beaches that have no sand, just some smaller rocks and it is surrounded by small cliffs. It is also a short beach so a few people will make it feel crowded easily. Thankfully, not many tourists visit Platja Fonda from Barcelona since it is a bit isolated and a few hours from the capital. If you have the time to invest to get there, I promise you you won’t regret it. Maybe combine this trip with a night in Begur?

My choice: Tossa de Mar

Just this past summer I decided to visit Tossa de Mar again. It had been years since I was there for the last time but I wanted to revisit the town and the Castle. Because even though Tossa has a beautiful beach with tones of restaurants and small cafés, the nicest part about this town is its fortress. Built in the 12^th century, it is a beautiful sight overseeing both the town and the two beaches in Tossa de Mar.

These beaches are a bit longer than others in the Costa Brava but both are still some of the best beaches to visit from Barcelona. Halfway between Barcelona and Girona (about 100km – 62mi of each city), it takes about 3h driving to get there by car. It is worth it, but a lot for a couple of hours at the beach. The trip by public transport is not any shorter.

Best beaches in Costa del Garraf

Moving back closer to Barcelona, these are the beaches right South from the city. I think some of the next locations are the best beaches to visit from Barcelona. Especially for a daytrip. They are nearby and a bit wilder than the ones in the Maresme. Moreover, some of them are accessible by car, which makes them more secluded, while others are reachable by public transport (train).

Cubelles

Starting with this section of flat beaches there is Cubelles. Even though this would not be my ideal choice as one of the best beaches to visit from Barcelona, it still nearby and an interesting choice for a limited time. This beach is long and you can walk the seaside for miles at a time. It is also easily reachable by train from Barcelona in less than one hour.

Vilanova i la Geltrú

This is another example of flat beaches to visit from Barcelona. Not too far from the city, this is an interesting alternative to the Maresme. There are some areas that have some rocks here and there, but mostly, this town hosts only flat and (in my opnion) boring beaches. The interesting part about visiting this town is that the town itself is quite nice. There is a beautiful center square and the streets are the typical of the Catalan landscape.

My choice: Sitges

One of my favorite beaches to visit from Barcelona is Sitges. I usually go there every summer a couple of times a month during the warm months. It is a lovely town, easily reachable from Barcelona in about 40 minutes by train and the beaches are long and nice. The town also is one of the most beautiful of the Spanish coastline, while little houses and a palace/castle built right next to the beach. There as in important cinema festival going on there every year and it is also one of the most LGTB towns in the world.

The town of Sitges has basically a small beach hidden between two cliffs one side of the church. And two long and flatter beaches at the other side. There is a street following the sea that is beautiful, and strolling through town to end the day is the best option after a gorgeous day in the beach.  

Best beaches in Costa Daurada

The Costa Daurada is the Southernmost section of coast in Catalonia, ending right before the Delta de l’Ebre. Beaches from la Costa Daurada are usually very very flat, long and with the finest sand out there. These beaches are especially good if you enjoy walking around the water without going any deeper. So, if you are looking for the best beaches from Barcelona to visit with children, these are your best options.

Because the landscape is much flatter, there are better roads to the South of Catalonia than to the North. That means that it is possible to reach the Costa Daurada in an hour and a half to two hours depending on your destination by car. It is also more easily reachable by train, although add an additional hour to your trip if you decide on this option.  

Salou

Not too different from Lloret the Mar, Salou is also a popular destination for young Brits and Germans. Also, many people from around Spain have a house in this town, as a summer house. All of this adds up to a destination that is not very rich in terms of culture, but the beach is nice. In addition to the beach, Salou also has de advantage of being very close to both Port Aventura and Ferrari Land, two of the main amusement parks in Spain.

Cambrils

Following up the previous dynamics, the beach in Cambrils is also quite flat. This town caters to budget travelers and there are plenty of local options for camping and bungalow accommodations. The vibe is quite relaxed but there is nothing out of the ordinary there.

My choice: Ametlla de Mar

This is a beautiful town a bit far from Barcelona, but worth the visit. This small fisher’s town actually has the biggest float of tuna fishing boats in Catalonia. It is really close to the Delta de L’Ebre, and from Barcelona it takes about three hours by car to get there. And almost the same time to get there using a combination of trains.

While the town is beautiful on its own, there are several beaches that you can visit there that are the exception of the Costa Daurada. While most beaches are flat, in this section of the coast, there are a few smaller beaches (aka Calas) that are much more interesting and beautiful. Surrounded by greenery, and small rock formations, these beaches are a visual delight. Also, even though there are some of the nicest beaches to visit from Barcelona, they a bit far away, so they do not get as many tourists.

Some of the calas you can visit from L’Ametlla de mar are: Cala Forn, Cala Vidre or Beach de l’Estany Podrit (very curious name if you ask me). They are all small and beautiful, highly recommended.

Best nudist beaches to visit from Barcelona

I decided to give you one option of nudist beaches to visit from Barcelona in each one of the areas I previously described, starting from the North (Costa Brava), to the South (Costa Daurada). These are my favorite choices.

Cala Estreta (Costa Brava)

This is a beautiful small beach perfect for people who love naturist beaches but don’t want to be in a very crowded place. The only way to arrive to this beach is by car. From the parking spot until the beach there is a walk of about 25 minutes. But do not let that discourage you from visiting this beach. The place is beautiful and being so secluded it feels as if you are almost on your own.

Platja de la Murtra (Maresme)

Closer to Barcelona, this is a flat beach in the Maresme area. It is a bit isolated from the whole Maresme area, which makes the nudist experience more comfortable for some. You can reach this beach from Viladecans (town), or with one of the local buses that go from Barcelona to this area of the Catalan coast (L94).

Cala Morisca (Costa del Garraf)

Less than 15km (9mi) away from the city, Cala Morisca is one of the best beaches to visit from Barcelona. If you want to visit a naturist beach near the city but with a more private feel, this should be your go-to choice. The parking is close to the beach but it is a but pricy.

Torrent del pi (costa daurada)

This beach is also near the town of l’Ametlla de Mar, where I recommended you to go if you wanted to visit the Costa Daurada from Barcelona. This little beach is a bit North from this town and the perfect spot to do some snorkeling. Because of its reduced size, the parking is limited and it can get a bit crowded over the weekends. Especially in summer. Most of the beach is made out of rocks, and very small parts have some sand.

What are the best beaches to visit from Barcelona?

Well, it will depend on the type of beaches you prefer. If you like white sand beaches that extend for miles into the sea, the Costa Daurada is your go-to. If possible, give yourself a full day there since from Barcelona is a bit of a long trip. Maybe you can combine it with a visit to the local amusement park, Port Aventura.

If you prefer colder waters and the chance to see amazing sea wildlife with non-sticky sand… Well, the Costa Brava should be your first option. This area is the farthest from Barcelona and so it receives less tourists. Expect tiny small fisher towns that still keep their authenticity. And not many people speaking English. But believe me, it is worth it.

If you just want to take a small trip from Barcelona for a morning, my advice would be to just take the train and go to either el Maresme or Costa del Garraf. I personally usually go to Garraf, maybe Sitges for a day on the beach. Or, for a shorter half-day excursion I go to Montgat in the Maresme.

Independently of your choice, Catalonia has so very different landscapes that it caters to the taste of everyone. I hope you find this post useful when you decide the best beaches to visit from Barcelona. And once you do, why don’t you come back and tell me all about it?