Sun & Sand: Explore Barcelona's Beaches

There’s really something for everyone on Barcelona’s beaches, from early morning yoga, water sports and volleyball, to trendy beachside bars and traditional restaurants for a hearty paella.

• Platja de Sant Sebastià

  An old favorite with locals and visitors alike, Sant Sebastià is (along with Barceloneta) the city’s oldest beach. Since the building of the W Hotel at its far end it has also enjoyed a new-found glamour and is home to a number of places to eat and drink. Sant Sebastià beach is ideal for people with limited mobility. It has reserved parking within easy reach of the beach, adapted showers and restrooms, and wooden paths to the edge of the water.

  How to get there: Bus lines: 39, 64 and V15.

• Platja de Sant Miquel

  Just next to Sant Sebastiá beach, Sant Miquel beach is one of the busiest stretches of sand and located very close to bus stops straight from the city center. It’s also within handy distance of all the shops, bars and restaurants in Barceloneta. This is a popular beach for water sports and is used by the nearby paddle surf schools.

  How to get there: Bus lines: 39, 45, 59, 64, D20 and V15.

• Platja de la Barceloneta

  Lively and accessible, this popular beach attracts big groups during the summer months. Home to the Espai de Mar center, which runs sport and leisure activities, the beach-side cafes offer lots of possibilities for snacks or a leisurely paella. 

  Besides excellent facilities for people with limited mobility, Barceloneta beach also has a volunteer-run area for disabled people to help them access the sea. Facilities include an amphibious chair. This service is available daily (11:00-14:00) from the beginning of July until mid-September.

  How to get there: Bus lines: 45, 59 and D20.

• Platja del Somorrostro

  The newly-named Platja del Somorrostro lies between the Espigó del Gas and the Olympic Marina. Until the mid-20th century it and neighboring beaches had been home to over 15,000 people living in the impoverished shanty-town that stood there. Barcelona City Council decided to rename this stretch of beach Somorrostro in memory of all those who once called it home.

  It is one of the most centrally located beaches in Barcelona, with excellent access to public transport, a reserved parking area, and facilities for those with limited mobility. It also houses the Centre de la Platja (Beach Center), an environmental education center that also lends out newspapers, magazines, games and sporting equipment.

  How to get there: Bus lines: 36, 45, 59, 92, D20, V21 and V27, Metro: L4-Ciutadella Vila Olímpica and Tram: T4-Ciutadella Vila Olímpica

• Platja de la Nova Icària

  Just beyond the Olympic port is the Nova Icària beach. This is a great place for families and people who want to do more than just sun themselves, as it has the most leisure amenities, including a playground and volleyball courts. It also tends to be quieter than some of the other beaches. Its proximity to the Olympic port means that there is no shortage of places to eat, from fast food joints to fresh seafood restaurants. Just across the road is the Nova Icària shopping mall, with a supermarket, several shops and a multi-screen cinema with films in original language.

  During high season Nova Icària beach has an area dedicated to helping people with reduced mobility access the sea, including wooden walkways and the use of an amphibious chair.

  How to get there: Bus lines: 36, 92, H16 and V27.

• Platja de Bogatell

  Like its neighbor, Nova Icària, Bogatell beach tends to be quieter and attracts a slightly older crowd. It’s also one of the prettier beaches, flanked by a promenade that offers plenty of green space and shade for picnicking. The beach has a football pitch, volleyball court and ping-pong tables. The chiringuitos (beach-side snack bars) and bars on the boardwalk provide refreshments and lunch options, as well as a good place to hang out for evening cocktails.

  How to get there: Bus lines: 26, H16 and V27 and Metro: L4-Llacuna.

• Platja de la Mar Bella

  This beach is popular with locals from the nearby areas, and what it lacks in eating and drinking options, it makes up for with its peacefulness. It also has Barcelona’s only nudist beach, with some privacy provided for the more modest by the sand dunes. Popular with the LGBT crowd, there’s also a skate park on the promenade area, as well as a nautical center with sailing, windsurf and kitesurf. A 1.5 km running track along the promenade to Nova Icària beach begins here.

  How to get there: Bus lines: 26, H16 and V27 and Metro: L4-Poblenou, L4-Selva de Mar.

• Platja de la Nova Mar Bella

  Located in front of the modern high rise buildings of Diagonal Mar, the Nova Mar Bella beach is used mostly by local residents and enjoys a laid back vibe. This beach and the neighboring Mar Bella are two of the beaches that were created when the seafront was redeveloped for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

  How to get there: Bus lines: 26, H16 and V27.

• Platja de Llevant

  Opened in 2006, Llevant beach was the last beach to be created in Barcelona and is much loved by local dog owners for the special area set aside for canine friends.

  This beach also has a volleyball court, located at the west end near the breakwater that separates it from Nova Mar Bella beach.

  How to get there: Bus line: H16, Metro: L4-Selva de Mar and Tram: T4-Diagonal Mar.

• Banys del Fòrum

  If sand is your main stress at the beach, you can enjoy the sea with out it at the Fòrum Bathing Area, an enclosed section of the Mediterranean next to Parc del Fòrum. It's quieter than all the surrounding beaches, and access to the water is via steps that lead directly from the paved surroundings. The water itself is deep and suitable for diving, while the size of the pool, 350 meters long by 30 meters wide, allows for some serious swimming.

  Ideal for people with disabilities or reduced mobility, the bathing area is equipped with a hydraulic chair, a section designed for wheelchair use and a bathing support service. Other facilities include showers, toilets and a lifeguard service, and both the Diagonal Mar shopping center and Rambla del Prim are within walking distance. The area is somewhat isolated but can be accessed by bus (H16), tram and metro (L4, Selva de Mar). 

  Given it is publicly owned, the Fòrum Bathing Area is free to access.

  How to get there: Bus lines: 7, 143 and H16, Metro: L4-El Maresme Fòrum and Tram: T4-Fòrum.

  Originally pubished May 2018, updated July 2021.