Barcelona Travel

Barcelona Beaches

Barcelona has a much sought-after coastline, which include the city's beaches which run for about 4.5 kilometres in the districts of Ciutat Vella and Sant Martí. The mild Mediterranean climate means Barcelona's beaches can be accesed the entire year,  although the main demand starts in springtime and extends through the summer months.

Following are essential details of the beaches in Barcelona

Sant Sebastia Beach

Located in the Ciutat Vella district, San Sebastià is the beach closest to Barcelona city on the Eastern end of the coastline, and is a favourite amongst men, and seniors. This is also the most frequented beach by the Barcelona locals who account for 70% of beachgoers, particularly from Ciutat Vella. It is also the most commonly visited beach by international visitors.

Many locals and visitors come to the beach every day, or frequently. Groups such as Summer camps and school excursions also select this beach. There is a metro stop and several bus lines connecting with most parts of the city.

Area for disabled persons

The Sant Sebastia beach possesses an area for disabled persons with a swimmers assistance service. This service is available to disabled persons or people with reduced mobility and consists of assisting them to get in and out of the water and supervising their swimming time, using an amphibian bathing chair if necessary.

This area for the disabled is equipped with wooden walkways across the sand to the shore, an adapted changing room, a sit-down shower and lift. All of this equipment makes it possible for those who need assistance to reach the water easily with the help of volunteers who help the users and their companions to lift them from their wheelchairs into the amphibian chair and, if necessary, use the lift to do so. Thus the volunteers provide assistance to approach, enter and exit the water and also to accompany users whilst bathing.

This service is available every weekend and bank holiday during the months of June and the second fortnight of September and every day during the months of July and August and the first week in September, from 11 am to 2 pm.

Barceloneta Beach

Approximately 1,100 m long, together with the Sant Sebastià beach, Barceloneta is one of the biggest in Barcelona, and it is also one of the oldest and most traditional beaches in the city. It is a favourite amongst international visitors and it is commonly used by youth groups and for school activities.

Its dimensions make it ideal for leisure, including volleyball, a soccer area on the Eastern side, in front of the Hospital del Mar; a children's play area on the Western side of the beach, beside the Gas breakwater, where there is also a ping-pong table and a gym area. The Barceloneta beach is also equipped with a skating area.

The Beach Centre

One of the main features of the Barceloneta beach is the Beach Centre, located underneath its arcades, at the edge of the beach itself, in front of the Hospital del Mar.

The Beach Centre is a space dedicated to revitalising the the Barcelona coast and there you can access, not only information, but also a wide range of activities throughout most of the year, but particularly between the months of June and September.

Visitors looking for a quiet evening reading, will find the Beach Library here.

Nova Icaria Beach

This beach is is 400 metres long and is located in the middle of the city's coastline. A significant amount of the people who frequent Nova Icaria live outside Barcelona and many of them are international visitors. Nova Icaria is the beach where visitors stay the longest.

Together with the Bogatell beach, Nova Icària is the beach where visitors stay the longest, possibly because it is considered one of the quietest in the city, frequented mostly by families with children and also groups of friends. Many users go there on foot.

This is one of Barcelona's most diversely equipped beaches, with equipment for several different activities, a game area, a ping-pong table beside the Bogatell breakwater and two volleyball courts at the Olympic Port end.

Area for disabled persons

The Nova Icària beach possesses an area for disabled persons with a bathing assistance service. This service is available to disabled persons or people with reduced mobility and consists of assisting them to get in and out of the water and supervising their bathing time, using an amphibian bathing chair if necessary.

This area for the disabled is equipped with wooden walkways across the sand to the shore, an adapted changing room, a sit-down shower and lift. All of this equipment makes it possible for those who need assistance to reach the water easily with the help of volunteers who help the users and their companions to lift them from their wheelchairs into the amphibian chair and, if necessary, use the lift to do so. Thus the volunteers provide assistance to approach, enter and exit the water and also to accompany users whilst bathing.

This service is available every weekend and bank holiday during the months of June and the second fortnight of September and every day during the months of July and August and the first week in September, from 9 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm.

Bogatell Beach

Bogatell is approximately 600 metres long and is one of the beaches that was revitalised when the Barcelona seafront was restored during the 1990s. The Bogatell beach is one of the most appreciated by Barcelona coastal visitors, among other reasons, due to its safety.

The average age of the people frequenting Bogatell is the highest (between 37 and 38 years of age), and almost 30% of the users live outside Barcelona. Bogatell can be reached easily by bicycle as it is bordered by a cycle track.

In terms of recreational equipment, there is a ping-pong table beside the Bogatell breakwater and another one, plus a volleyball court at the other end of the beach, beside the Mar Bella breakwater.

Mar Bella Beach

Mar Bella beach is approximately 500 metres long, is located to the East of the Barcelona coastline, and is one of the beaches that came into existence after the urban redevelopment of the coastal area as part of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games preparations.

Users are mainly young people and a significant portion are residents in the Sant Martí district, under whose constituency this beach falls. The Mar Bella beach's public is loyal and numerous, returning every week to this beach which is easily accessible by bicycle, since it is bordered by a cycle track.

The Mar Bella beach has a designated nudist beach area. Next to the Bac de Roda breakwater there is a children's play area and a volleyball court. It is on this breakwater where the Beach Library is set up in July and August.

Other recreational facilities include a basketball net, a skating area, a ping-pong table located on the upper part of the Seafront Walkway, next to the Mar Bella sports centre.

At the Western end of the beach, there is a nautical base where all sea-related activities are performed.

Nova Mar Bella Beach

Nova Mar Bella Beach is approximately 500 metres long and, together with Mar Bella, it forms part of the beaches that were created when the Barcelona seafront was restored. It is, therefore, again a result of urban redevelopment as part of the 1992 Olympic Games.

This is the women's favourite beach, with women guests exceeding 60% of total users. Nova Mar Bella is also one of the beaches most frequently visited by people living outside Barcelona. The average age is a relatively young crowd, including mainly residents of Sant Martí, the district this beach is located in. This beach is best known for its peacefulness. Its users usually come back week after week.

Area for disabled persons

The Nova Mar Bella beach possesses an area for disabled persons. This equipment is available to disabled persons or people with reduced mobility and consists of assisting them to get in and out of the water and supervising their bathing time, using an amphibian bathing chair if necessary.

This area for the disabled is equipped with wooden walkways across the sand to the shore. All of this equipment makes it possible for those who need assistance to reach the water easily with the help of volunteers who help the users and their companions to lift them from their wheelchairs into the amphibian chair and, if necessary, use the lift to do so.

To make use of this equipment, please apply at the beach information centre, supplying proof of the adult age of the person making the application.

This service is available every weekend and bank holiday during the months of June and the second fortnight of September and every day during the months of July and August and the first week in September, from 11 am to 6 pm.

Llevant Beach

This is the last of the beaches on the Barcelona coastline. It is situated alongside the Mar Bella beach and was opened to the city in the summer of 2006. Its length is approximately 380 metres.

The Llevant beach was created when the Prim jetty was removed and the platform for the future marine zoo was built. It is fully equipped with the basic services and equipment for users to spend a great day at the beach.

More Information

For more essential information about Barcelona visit the following sites, which we have reviewed and have assessed as authorative, useful information portals that will assist those planning a visit to Barcelona:

City of Barcelona - The official Web site of the city, owned and operated by the Barcelona City Council

Barcelona Tourism - The official tourism Web site operated by the Barcelona City Council