There are several beaches that line the coastal sea front of the city of Barcelona, all of which have a very different feel although all are excellent in terms of quality and services and amenities on offer. To the northern end there is even a dedicated spacious dog beach with excellent facilities for dogs and owners alike.
All of the beaches are generally of a coarse golden sand which is impeccably clean as is the water. The individual beaches are separated with rock sea defenses and beaches at the northern end near Diagonal mar also have under water man made rock formations which dampen the surf, obviously these are often frequented with families with younger children and the water around the groins is usually calmer and of a shallower nature.
Parking is available along most of the beach front although this fills up extremely quickly. When these are full there are several underground Car parks along the main road, just look out for the large green P signs.
Sant Sabastia: Starting in the south next to the W hotel is the first of the Barcelona’s beaches which is almost certainly the busiest with a youngish vibe to the visitors. Located next to the W hotel is the water sports area offering parasailing, jet ski rentals, paddle boards and kayaks etc.
Sant Miquel: Again attracts more of a young tourist although as with most of the southern Barcelona’s beaches the areas are very well suited to families looking for a more lively beach day.
Barceloneta: Much the same as the previous two beaches however being further north it is starting to get quieter by comparison to the nearby beaches.
Somorrostro: One of Barcelona’s smallest and often quietest beaches the beach is popular with outdoor fitness pursuits. Visitors are often a mix of locals and tourists of all ages. The water also acts as the entrance to port olympic so be advise to be cautious when swimming
Nova Icaria: Another small beach located to the northern side of port Olympic where many restaurants can be found both on the beach and in the port. This is one of the first beaches where the water is slightly calmer sue to the extended break water.
Bogatell: Being close to the Parque del Poblenou this beach offers the best sports facilities view beach volleyball courts, running tracks and skate parks. There are also various bars available.
La Mar Bella: This is Barcelona’s official nudist beach. If this is what you are looking for then it is recommended to pursue you bathing here and here only. The beach is lined with a large man made sand dune to prevent accidental offense to any passers by. The area is clearly marked as a nudist beach. La Mar Bella is also a common hang out for the local gay community, if fact the restaurant on the beach is called Chiringuito BeGay.
La Nova Mar Bella: Generally a family beach with calmer waters than the others. Users with young children may wish to remember the Barcelona’s nudist beach is next door when choosing a area to lay the picnic blanket.
Llevant: This is one of the smaller and quieter beaches, often frequented by Barcelona’s locals it is more of a place to relax and swim. Llevant is also the location of Barcelona’s dog beach which has its own perimeter fence, dog showers and bathing stations and from spring through to autumn there is often a health and safety tent.
Finally there it’s what’s know locally as the family beach. Technically speaking it is not a beach as it inside the marina. However it is a man made lagoon with pontoons and ladders so if your not a fan of sand this may be the place for you. This is located with in the Forum Park or Parc Del Forum and access is by entering the park next to the Natural History Museum.
Facilities, Services, First Aid and Restaurants:
Toilets and Showers: All of Barcelona`s beaches have showering and bathroom facilities which in general are well maintained however, we would advise taking your own loo roll and some hand gel in with you if you can so you are not caught without. Toilets are also available at the restaurants but it is not taken to kindly if you try to use them without making a purchase.
First Aid: Life guards are on duty most of the year round during daylight hours and there are first aid patrols on ATV`s with almost everything that could be needed. First Aid areas are well sign posted.
Restaurants and Bars: These are to be found all along Barcelona’s beach front although they are more common towards the northern beaches. The southern end tends to be more frequented by mobile vendors. You will generally find that beach sellers will pass you frequently offering drinks both soft and alcoholic.
Most of Barcelona’s beaches can have a relatively steep entry which can vary with the recent weather and tides however, the waters are extremely safe and most of the beaches have beach patrols by lifeguards and warning flags view able from all areas to notify visitors to the current conditions. A tannoy system will also warm of any immediate dangers or recommendations.
Safety and Crime: As with most large city`s crime is present and Barcelona is no exception. The area is well know for pick pockets and sellers with fake and imitation goods, for which there is a fine for purchasing from. The general rule is be sensible, do not take or leave valuables to the beach and certainly do not leave anything unattended. Crime is more prevalent on the southern beaches as these are in general the busiest with the youngest crowds of tourists. That does not by any means you can let your guard down if you are at a quieter beach. Police patrol all of Barcelona’s beaches often in large numbers.
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The area surrounding the Marina includes various cafes and smaller snack bars along with a few more formal restaurants, of which may require reservations. The marina attracts some seriously large yachts which of course have often more to spend there fore some prices are slightly higher than other areas however it affords the perfect opportunity to dine al-fresco and watch daydream over the idea of sailing into the sunset.
