BEST BEACHES in Spain

The ancient village of Tossa de Mar is located on the Costa Brava, halfway between Barcelona and the French border. There are several sandy beaches around the town, but the most beautiful is Playa Grande.

This horseshoe shaped bay is overlooked by a 14^th century castle with fortified walls and guard towers, giving the beach a special old European feel. Since the beach is located in the town, you have easy access to all the amenities and facilities such as sun beds, umbrellas, showers, etc.

Playa Grande in Tossa de Mar is one of the most charming Spanish beaches.

The Cies Islands are located off the coast of Galicia, close to the city of Vigo. Sometimes referred to as the “Galician Seychelles,” this island group is made up of 3 small bits of land with 7 main beaches.

With these exotic looking beaches full of powdery white sand and crystal clear waters, it’s easy to think you are in a far off tropical destination. But all you have to do to remind yourself where you are is to go for a swim in the chilly Atlantic water!

You can get to Islas Cíes by hoping on a ferry from Vigo. The trip lasts 45 minutes one way. Once there, you will find a few restaurants on the island but take note that facilities are limited – so make sure to bring enough water and sunscreen.

Cala Mesquida is located on the island of Mallorca. Mallorca is the largest and most developed of the Balearic Islands which as a whole are home to some of the best beaches in Spain. The 350 m long beach is surrounded by transparent waters, rocks and sand dunes that stretch over 1km from the water’s edge.

There are sun beds and umbrellas for rent, showers and a lifeguard. On the western side you will find a small development with a couple of hotels, bars and restaurants. On the eastern end, near the rocks, nudism is common.

Maspalomas beach is located in the south of Gran Canaria in the Canary islands. Its 6 km long stretch of beach sits alongside a huge area full of sand dunes. Walking through the dunes you don’t see anything else but more sand and more dunes – you might even think you are in the Sahara Desert.

The dunes themselves are part of a Nature Reserve, which means the beach of Maspalomas is still virgin. While both ends of Maspalomas are completely developed, the beach itself is an oasis of calm. The contrast between the action from the hotel strip and the solitude found in the dunes makes Maspalomas one of our favorite Spanish beaches.

Since the area of Maspalomas is so large, there are several isolated spots where nudism is common.

Cala Macarella and its little sister beach, Cala Macarelleta, are two picture perfect coves found on the southern end of the island of Menorca. The beaches can only be accessed on foot (or boat) and you will need to walk for 15-20 minutes to arrive to Cala Macarella from the parking area. But the short hike is well worth it!

To get to Cala Macarelleta follow the path that traverses along the rocky cliffs through a pine forest. Every once in a while you will get a glimpse of the incredible turquoise waters below – the views are amazing.

These beaches will blow your mind. But keep in mind that they can get quite busy during the summer months.

Playa de Bolonia is located 25 minutes west of Tarifa, the southernmost point of the Spanish peninsula. The beach is almost 4km in length, so finding a spot to yourself is not difficult. The western end of the beach has a gigantic sand dune known as the Bolonia Dune that is over 30m high and 200m wide. It is a beautiful spot that is surrounded by a pine forest and overlooks the entire length of the sandy bay.

Right on the beach you will also find the archeological site of Baelo Claudia, considered to be one of the most complete Roman city ruins to be discovered in Spain.

Take note that the winds are usually quite strong on Playa de Bolonia. But when the weather isn’t good for swimming, it turns Bolonia into one of the best beaches in Spain for wind- and kitesurfing.

The tiny Balearic Island of Formentera is only accessible by ferry or private boat. It’s a popular beach destination but is much quieter than its party-hard neighbor, Ibiza. Formentera’s spectacular coastline and brilliant turquoise waters attract celebrities and the jet set from all over the world.

Platja de Ses Illetes, located on the northern tip of Formentera, is the island’s best beach. A 450 m long stretch of fine white sand extends into the sea. You can actually swim on two different sides – it’s your choice! The water is super clear and it’s easy to bathe in it for hours.

Platja de Ses Illetes feels very isolated but in reality it is only 4 km away from the main port of La Savina. There is parking right next to the beach and a few restaurants and beach bars in the area.

Playa de la Victoria is located in Cadiz, one of the oldest cities in Europe. Although the city has several beaches, the 2.5 km long stretch of Playa de la Victoria is the most popular.

The gold sand beach is located in the newer part of the city and therefore has lifeguards, showers, sun beds & umbrellas for rent and much more. There is also a boardwalk full of beach bars – the perfect place to enjoy a cold beer and local fish specialities.

There are plenty of things to do in Cadiz besides just relaxing at the beach. The historic old town is just a 15 minute walk away from Playa de la Victoria.

Playa del Papagayo is located at the very south of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. This half moon bay is surrounded by hills which protect it from the wind and make it extremely calm and comfortable. The water is an intense emerald color which contrasts with the surrounding landscapes of the Ajaches Nature Park.

Although Papagayo beach was historically a nudist beach, today you will find a mix of people with clothes and without.

Since Playa del Papagayo is located in the Nature Park, you won’t find any amenities on the beach. However, there is a small beach bar called Chiringuito de Cala Papagayo that is located on top of the hill between the parking and the beach.

Praia das Catedrais (Cathedrals Beach) is located in Galicia, Spain’s northwestern most region. The beach is known for its monolithic rock arches that spring forth from the flat beach.

Some of the arches are 30 m (100 ft) high and it’s possible to walk through them, one after another. The arches look similar to those found on the inside of a real cathedral and this explains how the beach got its name.

Praia das Catedrais is best visited during low tide and in the summer months from mid June to mid September.

The small fishing town of Lekeitio is located halfway between Bilbao and San Sebastian in the north of Spain. The town has two great beaches – Isuntza and Karraspio – that are separated by the mouth of the Lea River.

What we love about the beach in Lekeitio is that when the tide lowers, a sandy strip of land is revealed and the beach is suddenly connected with the small island of San Nicolas. Visiting the island is a great little adventure but just make sure to make it back before the tide rises again – or you might have to swim back!