Barcelona is surely up there with the most beautiful cities in the world. With arguably the world’s most famous football team, the Mediterranean lapping its shores, Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter and much, much more; it isn’t difficult to see why the city attracts so many visitors every single year.
Something that separates it from many of the world’s famous capital cities however, is Barcelona’s stunning beaches. Running along the Barcelona coast, there are several of these beaches to speak of and we often get asked about the best beaches in Barcelona here at Collegiate Spain. With this in mind, we have seen fit to bring you this guide to the Barcelona coast and the greatest beaches in the city, so you can take advantage of all that this awesome part of the world has to offer.
La Barceloneta Beach
It makes sense to start with Barcelona’s most famous beach, La Barceloneta. Admittedly this is somewhat of a tourist trap (but for good reason), as it is so easy to get to from a range of other Barcelona hotspots. This beach is located in a district of the same name, so it’s incredibly easy to get to and has some of the best seafood restaurants in the city.
There are seaside huts (or chiringuitos as the locals like to call them) running all along La Barceloneta beach, offering all manner of cocktails, merchandise and food. The views are amazing too as you can gaze down the Barcelona coastline and enjoy the almost faultless weather throughout the summer months. You can also enjoy some great water sports such as kite surfing during peak times and with the aforementioned location being so great, it won’t take you long to get back to campus or your student accommodation in Barcelona.
Nova Icaria
Almost completely in contrast to La Barceloneta beach, is Nova Icaria. With over 400m of sandy beaches and sea but without the hustle and bustle, this beach is often the choice of families or individuals looking to get away from city life for a while. There are still great facilities available at Nova Icaria however, and some excellent restaurants too making it a haven for those who like tranquillity and excellent cuisine.
You can also find some quirky features at Nova Icaria, such as volleyball nets and table tennis as the beach isn’t too far from the city’s Olympic Park; making it a versatile beach and one that has a bit of a cult favourite among Barcelona locals.
Ocata Beach
This beach is perfect for any students looking to get out of the city for a few hours and forget about their studies. Half an hour north of Barcelona via train is Ocata Beach which looks more akin to the kind of beaches you see in the Caribbean with its white sand and is well and truly away from the stresses of city life.
Fear not though, there are several chiringuitos at Ocata Beach so should you need some refreshments, you will be able to enjoy a typical Spanish meal in the most idyllic of settings.
Bogatell Beach
Bogatell Beach is one that was created back in 1992 as part of a huge regeneration of the city of Barcelona, one that transformed it significantly. This was done partly to cater for the Barcelona Olympic Games, which were a resounding success but also as part of a commitment provide safe facilities for the city’s tourists and residents. The result has been an incredible beach which still looks pristine even to this day.
This beach tends to be frequented by older clientele but is still perfect for any student looking to relax on a peaceful and aesthetically pleasing Barcelona beach. Like many of the beaches we have mentioned, one can still enjoy table tennis on the beach or a spot of volleyball but with Bogatell being smaller and more residential, the atmosphere is quite different.
There are also nearby parks and green spaces, so if you are looking to do a bit of exploring whilst enjoying one of the best beaches in the region, Bogatell Beach could well be the perfect choice.
These beaches are our top picks, but there are many more to explore, such as Mar Bella and Sant Sebastià. Should you be moving to Barcelona for your studies and are on the hunt for luxury student accommodation you can rely on, why not take a look at some of the latest Collegiate properties in the city?