Ahhh... el mar Mediterráneo. In the constant polemic - which is better, Madrid or Barcelona? - this is a category that gives Barcelona a huge boost. Land-locked Madrid can be pretty stifling, but Barcelona? Never.

You've got the cool seaside breeze, 5 km of beaches in the city center, plus all the elements of Mediterranean culture that make life a pleasure on a daily basis. Good food, good company, good weather... in short, the good life.

About Barcelona's Beaches

Barcelona's inner city coastline contains a surprisingly clean series of urban beaches. Thanks to the Olympic Games in 1992 and local incentives to clean the coastal area, visitors as well as locals can now relax, swim and enjoy the sun at any one of 6 beaches in Barcelona. All of them were cleaned up during the 1990s and the whole area is still undergoing continuous changes to become even more attractive and enjoyable. This is part of an urban development program to improve the Barcelona seaside for tourists and residents.

Barcelona’s beaches were transformed from industrial wasteland to one of the city’s most popular areas in time for the Olympic Games in 1992. This meant a massive clean up of Barcelona Beaches and the area now occupied by the Parc del Litoral. Now the clean and well tended beaches are in easy reach of residents and visitors who throng the nearly 5 kilometres of sandy stretches. The beaches in Barcelona are 6, two are located south of the Port Olimpic (St. Sebastià and Barceloneta) and four north (Nova Icaria, Bogatell, Mar Bella and Nova Mar Bella). This coastal area of Barcelona has been developed only recently, in occasion of the 1992 Olympics. All Barcelona beaches have good facilities, such as showers, disabled access, life guards (in season) and ping pong tables. Also, the quality of the water and of the beach is often monitored by the City Council.

All government-run Barcelona beaches dispose of free showers and toilets. Additionally, there is a life guard stand every few meters to ensure your safety.