Barcelona has a whopping seven kilometers of sandy beaches, all perfect for a morning of splashing, but for a less urban backdrop and more towel space, there are dozens of easily accessible alternatives just north and south of the city. Train lines skirt the beaches in both directions, although you’ll need a car if you want to go north of Tossa de Mar to the wooded coves of the Costa Brava proper.
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Find a beach by area
In Barcelona
Platja Sant Sebastià
The southernmost tip of Barcelona’s beaches has changed in character since the construction of the towering sail-shaped W Hotel inspired a string of restaurant openings and amped up the glamor factor.. It’s still a good place for families though, with rock pools and a giant rope climbing frame.
How to get there: Take bus V15 from Via Laietana or it is a 15 minute walk to La Barceloneta metro.
Insider tip: Pez Vela is a sleek but airy restaurant for paella and Mediterranean dishes. Book early for a table on the terrace, next to the beach.
Platja Mar Bella
Barcelona’s beaches are very extensive, but generally you will have more sand to yourself the further north you go. In Mar Bella it is starting to become quieter and there are fewer hawkers, masseuses and so on. The area with a large sand dune behind it is generally used by nudists.
How to get there: Take metro L4 to Poblenou and walk about 10 minutes, or take bus H16.
Insider tip: For the sporty, there is a skate park behind the beach, table tennis tables and a water sports center (La Base Nàutica) on the south side.
North of the city
Montgat North
You don’t have to travel far out of town for softer, cleaner sand and clearer water, and Montgat, or the next stop, Montgat Nord, has these in abundance. The water gets deep quite quickly, so not ideal for smaller children, but otherwise makes for a relaxing day out.
How to get there: Trains run every 15 minutes from Plaça de Catalunya and take just over 20 minutes.
Insider tip: For no-nonsense tapas on a shady terrace, go to Banys Verge del Carme, which is located exactly halfway between the Montgat and Montgat Nord stations.
Caldes d’Estrac
Caldes d’Estrac, also known as Caldetes, is a former spa town, famous for its fin-de-siecle modernist and classicist noucentista buildings. Many of these are located along the coast, overlooking the Passeig dels Anglesos promenade which runs along a long beach of golden sand. In the warmer months you will find several xiringuitos (beach bars).
How to get there: There are between two and four trains per hour from Plaça de Catalunya (journey time is approximately 50 minutes).
Insider tip: In the summer months there is an area with inflatable rafts and slides in the water; perfect for older children.
Sant Pol de Mar
Sant Pol, a picture-perfect fishing village where the train stops right on the beach, is an essential day trip from Barcelona. Walk south for increasingly quiet beaches, looking out for the Civil War window (fortified enclosure from which cannons were fired) and the colony of cormorants along the way.
How to get there: There are between two and four trains per hour from Plaça de Catalunya (journey time is approximately one hour).
Insider tip: If you are there during the week, Restaurant Margot serves an excellent three-course lunch menu at a fixed price for € 17.
Tossa de Mar
Tossa is actually two towns in one: the medieval walled village with winding stone streets on a headland at the end of the beach, and the noisy seaside resort beyond. It’s a fun day out however you spend it, and despite its popularity, Tossa still has plenty of character.
How to get there: Buses from Estació del Nord run 16 times a day and the journey takes one hour and 20 minutes. See moventis.es for tickets.
Insider tip: The coastal path south of Tossa makes for a lovely walk, with small coves for swimming and many viewpoints.
South of the city
Castelldefels
Just south of Barcelona, Castelldefels beach is neither secret nor particularly beautiful, but it is long and above all wide, with plenty of space for volleyball and other sports enthusiasts, but also for sun worshipers. Rent sun loungers and parasols from one of the several xiringuitos (beach bars).
How to get there: Trains run approximately every ten minutes from Passeig de Gràcia, and the journey takes just under half an hour.
Insider tip: Castelldefels is the only place in the province of Barcelona where you can learn to kitesurf, with a specially designated area.
Garraf
A picturesque crescent of a bay known for its row of green and white wooden huts from the 1920s, which once housed fishing equipment and are now hugely sought after by beachgoers. An outpost of Soho House dominates the north end, but this is still a local family favourite, with warm shallow water.
How to get there: There are two trains per hour from Passeig de Gràcia (journey time 37 minutes), and the train almost drops you on the sand.
Insider tip: There are few places to eat and drink in Garraf, but hop back on the train and five minutes later you’ll reach the lively town of Sitges.
Sitges
This whitewashed coastal idyll is a party town at night, but a fairly cool place during the day, with several beaches. For a little more space, head to Aiguadolç, between wooded hills and the marina of the same name, but the best is Balmins, home to an enthusiastic (and mostly naked) LGBT community.
How to get there: There are four trains per hour from Passeig de Gràcia (journey time approximately 40 minutes). The beaches are a 10 to 20 minute walk from the station.
Insider tip: The GR92 coastal path covers a scenic 8km stretch from Sitges to Vilanova, from where you can catch the train back to Barcelona.
Cala Fonda/Waikiki
Colloquially known as Waikiki, this beach is perhaps the most beautiful beach in Catalonia and completely unspoilt thanks to the difficulty of getting there. Even with a car it is a 20 minute walk on a sometimes rocky path through the pine forest. Waikiki is predominantly a nudist beach and swimwear is not really encouraged.
How to get there: Park your car next to La Mora campsite and follow the path. You can also take the train to Altafulla or Tarragona (just over an hour from Barcelona) and walk about seven kilometers along a beautiful coastal path.
Insider tip: Bring plenty of water and food, and don’t expect beach bars, showers, lifeguards or trash cans.