Catalonia is for many reasons one of the most beautiful autonomous communities in Spain. And, without a doubt, one of those reasons is its magnificent beaches. The Catalan coastline is divided into four coasts that have nothing to envy to the Côte d’Azur, the Almafi or the Adriatic: the Costa Brava, the Costa del Maresme, the Costa del Garraf and the Costa Dorada. The beaches of Catalonia have a special charm that will make you want to buy a house on the seafront.
With the characteristic Mediterranean colours all over the territory, the Catalonia beaches are real gems where thousands of holidaymakers enjoy themselves every year. If you also want to know them, here is a list of some of the best beaches in Catalonia. Although we know that each of the four coasts that make up the Catalan coastline deserves its own publication, we have selected two or three of each so that whichever area you travel to, you’ll have one close by.
Which are the best beaches on the Costa Brava?
1. Cala Sa Boadella in Lloret de Mar
The cove of Sa Boadella is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful corners of the Costa Brava. It is 200 metres from the urban area and is surrounded by a rocky environment full of vegetation. Lloret de Mar is known for being one of the most touristy destinations, always full of people. However, on this beautiful beach you can disconnect and isolate yourself from the world for a few hours.
In the residential area closest to the beach, parking is usually good in the low season. From there it’s just a 200-metre walk along a path down the left-hand side of the beach, from where the views are wonderful. The right end of the beach is reserved for nudists. Whatever your tastes, you cannot miss the cove of Sao Boadella.
2. Cala Aigua Xelida in Tamariu
This cove is probably one of the most charming places on the Costa Brava. It shares characteristics with other beaches in the area, such as crystal-clear waters, the steep cliffs that border it and the pine trees that cover it all. In addition, Aigua Xelida cove is a perfect place for snorkelling and diving among colourful fish.
The best way to get there is by taking a walk from Tamariu. As you can imagine, the views are incredible and well worth the hike. If you prefer to go directly by car, there are stone stairs leading down from the road.
3. La Jugadora Cove at Cap de Creus
Between Cadaqués and Creus lies the Natural Park of Cap de Creus, whose coastline is characterized by the capricious forms that the rock has acquired through erosion by the sea and the wind over the years. That is why in the area around Creus there are numerous beaches and coves that are worth seeing. The cove of La Jugadora is one of the most famous in the area for the incredible landscapes that protect it from the waves.
The cove is very small and not exactly easy to access. There are two options for getting there. You can park your car on the side of the road near the Creus lighthouse, or walk from Cadaqués, which is 7 km away. The latter option is a good way to spend the day.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What are the best beaches on the Costa del Maresme?
1. Morer Beach in Sant Pol de Mar
The beach of Morer is one of the best beaches in Catalonia for its coarse golden sand, clean and transparent waters and all the amenities offered to visitors. The beach offers several services such as showers, footbaths, red cross, lifeguards and wooden walkways for people with reduced mobility. It is also located next to Sant Pol de Mar, where you will find a wide variety of restaurants and bars.
To get to Sant Pol de Mar, you can choose to go by car or by train. Depending on where you’re coming from, the train can be an easy and comfortable way to get there, as the station is very close to the beach. If you prefer to come by car, there is a car park next door. There you can park all day for €5.
2. The coves of the Parc Natural del Montnegre i el Corredor
In the Parc Natural del Montnegre i el Corredor, which covers the coastline located between Arenys de Mar and Calella, we find beautiful coves surrounded by cliffs and vegetation reminiscent of the beaches of the Costa Brava. These small coves, hidden from civilization, are the perfect place to lose yourself and relax on a summer’s day.
The most beautiful beaches are Rocapins, La Vinyeta, the nudist beach of Cala d’en Pere and Roca Grossa, probably the most spectacular. All of them are close to the lighthouse of Calella, from where you will be able to see the best sunsets.
To organize your trip we recommend using the website or app de Passporter where you can get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most to add them to your route map.
Which are the best beaches on the Costa del Garraf?
1. Cala del Gat and other beaches in Sitges
In Sitges, as well as having a beautiful beach of 200 white sand in the middle of the town, there are several coves in the surrounding area that are worth visiting. Some of them are the cove of L’home Mort, known for being one of the first LGTBI beaches in the world, or the Ginesta cove, an intimate and uncrowded place to disconnect.
The Gat cove is however one of our favourites in the area. It’s located near Port de l’Aiguadoç and is characterised by its crystal-clear water and the pine forest that surrounds it. It is not easy to get there by car as there is no parking. So the best way is to walk from Sitges in the direction of Castelldefels. There you will find a chiringuito (beach bar) with a cold drink as a reward for the excursion.
2. Les casetes del Garraf, a very quiet beach
Garraf is a picturesque fishing village near Sitges. Here you will find a pleasant beach of 400 metres of white sand, ideal for relaxing or going with children. Around the beach, you can see old wooden huts (casetes) that used to be used for fishing and today serve as restaurants. It is also worth mentioning the beautiful mountainous landscape surrounding the beach.
Which are the best beaches on the Costa Dorada?
1. La Pineda, one of the largest Catalonia beaches
La Pineda is a beach of more than 3 km of fine golden sand which is divided into three areas: the Meadows, La Pineda and El Rincón. It is an extensive and perfectly equipped beach, ideal to go with children as the waters are usually calm. The beach is clean and has a lifeguard service, toilets, bars and wooden walkways. Some of the reasons why it has earned the Blue Flag award.
The beach is located in the municipality of Vila Seca and is easy to get to as there are several car parks in the area and several public transport routes that take you there. The only drawback to this wonderful beach is its high occupancy during the summer months.
2. Cala de los Vienesos
The Vienesos cove is located in the municipality of Montroig, a very touristy area due to the beauty of the coastline. However, this cove is a little more secluded and therefore less frequented. Access is easy from Avenida del Doctor Gil Vernet. It is worth spending the afternoon enjoying its waters in a natural environment where pine trees abound.
In the surroundings you will also find other beautiful coves and beaches such as Penyals beach, Misteri beach, Cristal beach, Solitari beach or Mermaids beach.
3. The beach of Altafulla
The beach of Altafulla is one of the few in the area that has been able to avoid the tourist crowds. This excellent beach is 1 km long and 20 metres wide and surrounded by small houses. It is the perfect place to relax or travel with children, as the beach is usually very quiet. It is also very well-equipped with lifeguards, showers, beach bars and medical service.
Next to the beach is the neighbourhood of Les Botigues de Mar, where, as well as having a beautiful promenade, you will find numerous restaurants where you can eat deliciously after a day of sun and beach. It looks like a good plan, doesn’t it?
What should I know before travelling to the beaches of Catalonia?
- Catalonia is a very safe area. However, watch out for pickpocketing and pickpocketing in crowded areas
- There are two official languages in Catalonia: Spanish and Catalan. However, in the more touristy areas you’ll have no problem communicating in English.
- Emergency cover:Travel insured
- Respect the beaches and natural surroundings on your trip to Catalonia.
- Book well in advance if you are travelling in high season.
- If you’re travelling in summer, in addition to cool clothes and sunscreen, bring something warmer for the evenings. Temperatures cool down.
- Don’t forget your sunscreen before heading to the beach.
How to organize a trip to the beaches of Catalonia
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app, and recommend the best beaches in Catalonia to other travellers.
If you have any doubts about how to do this, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to the beaches of Catalonia
Catalonia has a mainly Mediterranean climate, with mild temperatures throughout the year and little rainfall. Temperatures in the coastal areas are around 19°C minimum in summer and 27°C maximum; and 5°C minimum in winter and 13°C maximum.
If you are looking to relax in the sun and bathe in the turquoise waters of the Catalan beaches, the ideal months are July and August, although it should be remembered that these months are the high season months, so prices are higher and accommodation sells out months in advance. If you want to visit and enjoy the less crowded beaches, June and September are also very good options and occupancy is lower.
It is best to have a car as some of the beaches mentioned in this post are not easily accessible and cannot be reached by public transport. Also, if you want to go from beach to beach you won’t have to depend on bus schedules and you will be able to move around freely.
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