Barcelona, like Los Angeles, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro, is one of the world’s best and most populated beach cities.
With so many architectural influences that are unique to the Catalan capital, as well as a lively nightlife and fantastic gastronomic culture, Barcelona has a lot to offer.
There you can find many excellent beaches too, so in order to help you, here is our list of the top beaches in Barcelona.
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Nova Icaria
Located north of the bustling Barceloneta Beach, Nova Icaria is a little less crowded but has just as much to offer as any other beach in Barcelona.
It is a wonderful destination with a lovely boardwalk and a lot of beach cafes and bars.
Mainly because of its volleyball courts, Nova Icaria is considered one of Barcelona’s top beaches.
Beach volleyball is very popular here and both professional and recreational players frequent the courts.
Bogatell Beach
Even though it is close to two metro stops, Bogatell, the neighbour of Nova Icaria and Barceloneta, does not get too crowded as the beaches nearby.
Bogatell is perfect for families because the waters are quite clean and shallow, making it ideal for little children and inexperienced swimmers.
However, if you are an adventurous person, paddleboarding and kitesurfing courses farther out to sea are available at the beach.
Barceloneta Beach
The city’s most popular beach, Barceloneta Beach, was given a makeover for the 1992 Olympic Games, which helped it gain international fame.
Being so close to the city centre and to many of the beach bars and clubs that make Barcelona’s nightlife famous, Barceloneta is active day and night.
While this is not a beach where you can find pristine white sand or crystal clear waters, it is a wonderful place worth a visit.
El Peix, a gigantic fish statue by Frank Gehry, marks the border of Barceloneta.
Mar Bella
The Mar Bella beach is just a 15-minute walk from the Llacuna metro stop.
It is a beach which is a little bit hidden behind a sand dune.
Due to its location, it is the most nude-friendly beach in the city.
There will be people enjoying full-body tanning, but also plenty of people wearing speedos, boardshorts or bikinis.
Mar Bella is also known as the most gay-friendly beach in the vicinity.
Sant Sebastia
At the far end of Sant Sebastia beach is the famous W Hotel, a massive building that is shaped like a sail and without a doubt the most iconic architectural landmark on the shoreline.
The beach is a popular hangout spot for both visitors and locals.
There you can see fancy guests of the nearby luxury hotels as well as locals who still embrace the bohemian past of the beach.
Long story short, Sant Sebastia is a great place to relax, because it is far less crowded than Barceloneta.
You can also ride a bike along Sant Sebastia’s promenade.
Nova Mar
According to many, one of the quietest beaches within the city limits is Nova Mar.
It may take a little longer to get there, but definitely, it is worth a visit.
Nova Mar is the ideal beach for you if you want to relax in the sand and read a good book.
Selva de Mar stop is less than 20 minutes away from Nova Mar.
The beach is also just near the Diagonal Mar shopping centre, one of the best shopping centres in Barcelona, where you can buy some snacks and cold drinks for a perfect day on a beach.
Barcelona Safety Overview
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Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
- SCAMS RISK: HIGH
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
