A day at the beach - Barcelona´s favorite summer activity

Barcelona´s seven beaches span 4.2 kilometers, all of which are surprisingly clean thanks to local incentives to improve the coastal area and an urban development program focused on making the beaches more attractive for residents and visitors.

The locals will tell you that the best beaches are either up or down the coast, away from the city, but the Barcelona beaches have come a long way in recent years. In fact, all but one beach (San Sebastià) have received blue flags, an eco-label awarded based on high environmental standards and water quality. With 493 awarded beaches, Spain has become famous in the last few years for having more blue flag beaches than any other country.

All of Barcelona´s beaches have toilets, free showers, and life guard stands ever few meters. Keep an eye out for colored flags indicating swimming condition. A green flag means that conditions are normal, and you can swim without danger. A yellow flag indicates no immediate danger, but caution should be taken when swimming. Exercise extreme caution when you see a rare red flag, as sea conditions are dangerous. A black flag means sea conditions are so dangerous that you should not enter the water – an extremely uncommon occurrence on Barcelona´s beaches.

As in many European countries, going topless is somewhat common in Spain and generally not considered taboo.

Throughout Catalonia, chiringuitos are a common sight. A chiringuito is a beach bar, essentially a hut on the sand with some tables and chairs. While drinks can be pricey, chiringuitos are ideal if you want to get out the sun and enjoy some music. Many of them also serve sandwiches and snacks, and they tend to be open until 1am or 2am - perfect for an after dinner drink on a hot night.

If you don´t want to sit at the bar, chips and even coconuts are sold by many of the vendors who make their way through the sunbathers. Carrying goods in bags, these vendors call out what they sell. “Agua, beer, coca cola!” is a typical refrain. If you want to purchase something, simply raise your hand to call them over, and be prepared to barter. A drink should cost around €1.50 and definitely not more than €2.

The two beaches closest to the city center are Platja de Sant Sebastià and Platja de Barceloneta. Their proximity makes them the most accessible but also the most crowded and touristy, which means in high tourist season they may not be your best option. Sant Sebastià has services for disabled persons from June until September and is closest to city center (Barcelona metro stop).

Platja de Barceloneta is located between the metro Barceloneta and the metro Ciutadella. The latter has facilities available for leisure activities, including ping-pong tables, an area for skateboarding, volleyball courts, and a children´s play area. Visit the Beach Centre at Barceloneta for information on activities, the state of the beaches, and a beach library. With its many amenities and excellent accessibility, Barceloneta tends to be the most popular beach for foreigners.

For a wonderful lunch by the water, head north to Barcelona´s next beach Nova Icària. It is full of chiringuitos and restaurants. Under the orange awning, Mango has very reasonably priced paellas and a friendly staff. Moncho´s and others in the area are also great options. Beyond its many eating establishments, Nova Icària also has plenty of space for playing on its ping-pong tables, volleyball courts, or in the children´s play area. This beach also has services for disabled persons. Nova Icària also gets quite crowded in summer, so you may have to arrive a bit earlier in the day to claim space.

Further north is Bogatell, bordered on either side by stone breakwaters. Its nearest metros are Poble Nou and Llacuna. Beyond its available ping-pong tables and volleyball court, beach goers can rent chairs and parasols at Bogatell.

Located between the Bac de Roda breakwater and the Mar Bella breakwater is Mar Bella. Barcelona´s only designated nudist section is on Mar Bella (look for the area protected by bamboo). There is a children´s play area next to the breakwater as well as a volleyball court. In July and August a beach library is set up. Nearby you will also find a basketball hoop, ping-pong tables, and a skateboarding area. There is a beach chair and parasol rental available as well.

Nova Mar Bella is considered one of Barcelona´s most peaceful beaches. It attracts a relatively young crowd and is one of the most popular for Catalans living outside of Barcelona. It has services for disabled persons from June to September as well as a parasol and beach chair rental and a beach library.

The last – and latest- beach is Llevant, which opened in 2006. It has shower facilities but no toilets. The nearest toilets are in close by Nova Mar Bella, and the closest metro is Selva del Mar.

The bottom line? For the clearest water and the cleanest beaches it´s best to go outside of the city, and if you plan to make a day of it then a short train ride will be worth it. However, you should certainly not leave Barcelona without taking a dip in the Mediterranean, and if you only here for a short visit then it´s probably easiest to stay in the city.

In order to make the beach experience more enjoyable, there are a few general precautions that all visitors should take.First, make sure to check the flag´s color and whether or not a lifeguard is on duty before swimming. If you plan to spend time in the sun, be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. As in any public space, keep a close eye on your children. Do not to leave valuables unattended. And of course, don´t forget the sunscreen!