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Top 10 Beaches in Barcelona

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by Mihaela Schwartz (subscribe)
I am a freelance writer and an avid traveler.
Published January 17th 2013
Barcelona's Top Beaches
A popular tourist destination featuring many historical landmarks, architectural gems and interesting museums, Barcelona also attracts an important number of visitors, from all over span as well as from abroad because of its beautiful beaches.

No matter what your main reason for visiting the city is, take the opportunity to try its beaches. If you travel between April and September, you can also get some sun tan. If you are in Barcelona during the cold season, have a stroll on the promenade and admire the marine scenery.

In case this is your first time in Barcelona, here are the top 10 beaches we recommend:

1. Barceloneta Beach
Barceloneta is certainly the most famous of all beaches in the city. Top rated by all its visitors in terms of scenery, amenities and restaurants, it can be a buzzing hub during the high season. Therefore, if you want to have some quiet, Barceloneta is not the best option.

Barceloneta beach
Barceloneta beach - Flickr/boarderland


However, we strongly recommend it to party animals as well as to those who want to soak up some typically Spanish beach atmosphere and warm sun. If you thought that Barcelona's crazy architectural gems are limited to Gaudi's creation, you will see how wrong you were. While on the beach, look for "Homentage a la Barceloneta". There is no chance you miss as this weird block made up of four cubes whose design is signed by Rebecca Horn is located right in the heart of the beach.

2. Nova Icaria Beach
One of the most-visited beaches in Barcelona, Nova Icaria is situated in the center of the city and is 400 meters long. There are a lot of great restaurants and bars around the beach. Visitors can play volley ball or tennis here. The beach's amenities include boat rentals, drink and ice cream corners, sunshades and life guard stations. Nearby, you will find shopping malls, an English language cinema, an Olympic marina and an observatory. All this recommend Nova Icaria for a family day on the beach.

3. Mar Bella Beach
Created in 1992, when a plan was made to develop the city's areas located along the coastlines Mar Bella is the newest of all beaches in Barcelona. Tourists and locals alike are attracted by the great views the beach offers. After all, the name of the beach means "beautiful sea" in Spanish. Among the services available, there are some nice restaurants, public toilets, sunshades, a play area for children, a skating place, a 1.5 km long running track, and a library that works during the hot season.

4. Sant Sebastia Beach
Sant Sebastia beach
Sant Sebastia beach - Flickr/horitzons_inesperats
With a length of 1.100 meters, the Sant Sebastia Beach is one of the longest and most traditional beaches in Barcelona. It is popular with tourists because of its handy location (a few minutes walk from Barceloneta metro station). The locals also come to Sant Sebastia because many of the city's swimming clubs are located nearby. This is also a family friendly beach.

5. Ocata Beach
Another great beach outside the city, where you can enjoy some silence, Ocata Beach is popular solely with the true connoisseurs. After getting some tan on the wide strip of sand, and enjoying the calm waters of the bay, you can have a bite in one of the Chiringuitos along the sea shore, while admiring the view of the marina in Port Masnou.

6. Castelldefels Beach
This long strip of fine sand (4840 m) is not located inside the city, but it deserves being mentioned because of its wilderness. If you want to get away from the urban hustle and bustle, you will have to travel about 18 km South of Barcelona. If you did not hire a car, the best option is to take a train ride that will take about 15 minutes. You will certainly enjoy the views this Blue Flag beach located between two distinct natural systems (the Llobregat river delta, with its wetlands and reeds, and the limestone massif of Garraf) has to offer.

7. Llevant Beach
Opened to the public in 2006, Llevant has all the facilities a modern beach is supposed to. However, it succeeded to remain less noisy than the others. This is a true advantage for tranquility seekers. If the summer heat becomes unbearable, you can head to Diagonal Mar shopping center, located near by.
8. Somorrostro Beach

Located in what was once a slum area, with shabby houses, Somorrostro beach is Barcelona's phoenix bird. One could not imagine back then that one day this neighborhood would attract thousands of visitors, but this fabulous beach succeeded to turn the area into a trendy one. If you are looking for some good eateries, with plenty of exotic dishes, this is the place to go.

9. Bogatell Beach
Bogatell beach
Bogatell beach - Wikimedia Commons/Jordiferrer

Stretching along the seashore for 640 meters, Bogatell is a rather new beach as it was reconstructed during the 90s. Although it is equipped with modern amenities for beach activities, such as a volley ball court and water sports centers, it is advisable you avoid it if you are traveling with kids and you don't want to expose them to topless sights.

10. Sant Miguel Beach
Located in Puerto de San Miguel, this beach is bordered by hotels, holiday apartment buildings, restaurants and bars. During the summer season, this V-shaped sand strip turns into a buzzing place as thousands of people come here to enjoy a carefree swim in the clear Mediterranean waters and to get some sun tan. Other attractions of Sant Miguel beach include top class sea food restaurants, calm surroundings, and a sweet vegetal fragrance floating in the air.
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Why? Lie in the sun, relax, have fun, practice watersports
When: Summer
Where: Barcelona, Spain
Your Comment
I will keep these beaches in mind for when I visit Barcelona :)
by Former Writer (score: 3|1221) 2288 days ago
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