A beach is place next to the sea. It can have sand, rocks or both. People go to beaches to swim, play, walk or sit near the water. Some beaches are very big while some are small. Some have calm water while some have bigger waves. Beaches have shops, restaurants, toilets and other places.
Barcelona has many beaches. Some are in the city while some are outside the city. You can visit them by train or car. Some beaches are big and cover lot of area. Some are small and quieter. We picked five good beaches to visit when you are in Barcelona.
Best Beaches in Barcelona and Around the City
| Beach | Area | Best For |
| Sitges | South of Barcelona | Beach town and nightlife |
| Castelldefels | South of Barcelona | Long sandy beach |
| Garraf | South of Barcelona | Small beach and village |
| Ocata (El Masnou) | North of Barcelona | Quiet beach day |
| Tossa de Mar | North of Barcelona | Clear water and old town |
Beaches South of Barcelona
These beaches are in south of Barcelona. You can go to them by train or car. Some are close to the city and some are a little away.
1. Sitges
It is about 40 minutes from Barcelona by train or car
Sitges is a beach town in the southwest of Barcelona. It has many beaches and you can also walk around the old town. The old town has small streets and white houses. There are also many restaurants and bars. Sitges has around 4 km of beaches. There are many beaches to choose. Some are busy while some are quieter.
Sant Sebastian Beach is the beach near the old town. It is 205 meters long. You can see the Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla Church from the beach. There are the restaurants near the beach.
You can walk along the sea near the old town. The train station is not far from Sant Sebastian Beach. Sitges has many bars and clubs. It is known for its nightlife and LGBTQ+ friendly place. So Sitges is good if you want a beach but also want to see a town.
2. Castelldefels
It is about 25 to 30 minutes from Barcelona
Castelldefels is in south of Barcelona. It has a very big beach and almost 5 km of sand. The beach is also quite wide so there is lot of space. You can walk along the beach. There is a long road next to it called Passeig Marítim. There are also beach bars and places to eat.
The beach is good for families too. There are play areas for children. You can play beach volleyball and other sports.
Castelldefels is famous for water sports. You can do things like paddle surfing, windsurfing and kayaking. There is also a special area for kitesurfing. If you want a big beach, then Castelldefels is a good choice.
3. Garraf
About 30 minutes from Barcelona
Garraf is a small village south of Barcelona. It is near Sitges. You can go there by train or car. Garraf Beach is about 380 meters long. It has sand and some rocks. The beach is next to the small village. One thing that makes this beach different is the small green and white huts near the sand. There are 33 of these old huts. Fishermen and railway workers used them in the past.
There are restaurants near the beach. You can get food and then go back to the beach. The beach has showers, toilets and lifeguards too. The train station is very close to the beach. So you do not need a car to visit Garraf. Garraf is a good choice if you want a small beach with a small village next to it.
Beaches North of Barcelona
4. Ocata Beach
It is about 25 to 30 minutes from Barcelona by train
Ocata Beach is in El Masnou, north of Barcelona. It is a big beach. The beach is about 2.5 km long. The train station is close to the beach. So you can go there without a car. There are also buses to the area.
There are showers, toilets and beach bars. You can also find places for sports. There are volleyball courts and areas for children. The water is usually calm. This makes it a good place for swimming. The beach is also wide so there is a lot of space.
Ocata is a good choice if you want to leave the busy city and spend some time near the sea.
5. Tossa de Mar
About 90 minutes from Barcelona
Tossa de Mar is north of Barcelona. It is on the Costa Brava. It takes more time to get there than the other beaches. The main beach is Platja Gran. It is in the town and has clear water. You can swim there and sit on the sand.
There is also an old town next to the beach. It has old walls and small streets. You can walk there after going to the beach.
Mar Menuda is another beach near the town. It is smaller and you can walk there from the main area. There are also many places to eat in Tossa de Mar. So you can spend most of the day there. If you want a beach and an old town in the same place, then Tossa de Mar is a good option.
Which Beach Is Best for You?
| If you want… | Choose |
| A beach town | Sitges |
| A big beach | Castelldefels |
| A small beach | Garraf |
| A quiet beach | Ocata |
| A beach with an old town | Tossa de Mar |
For families: Castelldefels can be a good choice. The beach is big and there is lots of space.
For a day trip: Sitges is a good choice. You can go to the beach and walk around the town too.
For a quiet day: Ocata is a good option. It is away from the busy center of Barcelona.
For nightlife: Sitges is the best choice from these five. It has many bars and clubs.
For views and old places: Tossa de Mar is a good choice. You can see the beach and the old town on the same trip.
Best Time to Visit the Beaches
June, July and August are the hottest months. This is also when many people go to the beaches. May and September are less hot. There can also be fewer people. You can go in the morning if you want less people. The beaches can be more busy in the afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best beach in Sitges for a quiet day?
Sant Sebastian Beach is close to the old town. You can sit near the water and walk on the promenade. There are also restaurants close by.
Is Sitges good for nightlife?
Yes Sitges has many bars and clubs. The town can be busy at night. It is also known for its LGBTQ+ friendly nightlife.
Can you do water sports at Castelldefels?
Yes there are different water sports you can try. Kitesurfing is also popular there. You can also try windsurfing and kayaking.
Are there places to eat near Castelldefels Beach?
Yes there are restaurants and beach bars near the beach. You can find food and drinks without going far. This can be useful if you stay there for many hours.
What makes Garraf Beach different?
The small green and white huts make the beach easy to notice. They are close to the sand and the village. The beach is also much smaller than Castelldefels.
Is Garraf good for a short beach trip?
Yes the beach is next to the small village. You can spend some time at the beach and walk around Garraf. The train station is also close.
Is Ocata Beach good for a full day?
Yes the beach is wide and has lots of sand. There are places to eat and basic beach services. You can also walk along the beach.
Is Ocata Beach good for swimming?
The beach has calm water on many days. It has a wide sandy area too. It can be a good place to spend time in the water.
What else can you do in Tossa de Mar besides the beach?
You can walk around the old town and see the old walls. There are small streets and places to eat. You can also visit other beaches near the town.
Are there other beaches near Tossa de Mar?
Yes there are several small beaches around the town. Mar Menuda is one of them and it is close to the main beach. Some of the smaller beaches are also near the old town.
