The best beaches in Spain
Twenty beaches worth the trip, from Galicia to the Canaries, chosen for their scenery, their water and what makes them unique.
Key points
- Twenty beaches from every coast: Galicia, Asturias, the Basque Country, Catalonia, the Balearics, the east coast, Andalusia and the Canaries.
- Some have limited access in season (Cíes Islands, As Catedrais) or regulated parking: check before you go.
- Wild beaches (Cofete, Calblanque, Mónsul) have few or no facilities: bring water and shade.
Galicia and the Bay of Biscay
Playa de Rodas
Cíes Islands, Vigo (Pontevedra)
A crescent of white sand linking two of the Cíes Islands, in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park. You get there by boat from Vigo, Cangas or Baiona, and access to the islands is limited in season: you need an authorisation before buying your ticket.
As Catedrais
Ribadeo (Lugo)
Slate arches and vaults carved by the sea that you can only walk through at low tide. In the busiest months, and at Easter, access to the beach requires a free booking on the Galician government's website.
Praia de Carnota
Carnota (A Coruña)
One of the longest beaches in Galicia, with marshes and dunes at the foot of Mount Pindo, on the Costa da Morte.
Praia da Lanzada
O Grove and Sanxenxo (Pontevedra)
A long beach open to the Atlantic with dunes, next to the A Lanzada chapel, between O Grove and Sanxenxo.
Playa de Rodiles
Villaviciosa (Asturias)
Golden sand next to a eucalyptus wood at the mouth of the Villaviciosa estuary, with a wave loved by surfers.
Playa de Gulpiyuri
Llanes (Asturias)
A tiny beach in the middle of a meadow, about a hundred metres from the sea, which fills with seawater through a cave. It is a natural monument.
Playa de Torimbia
Llanes (Asturias)
A perfect shell between green cliffs that you reach on foot along a path. It has a nudist tradition.
La Concha
San Sebastián (Gipuzkoa)
The most elegant city beach on the Bay of Biscay: a shell-shaped bay with Santa Clara island in the middle, a promenade with its white railing and calm water.
The Mediterranean and the Balearics
Cala Macarella
Ciutadella, Menorca
Turquoise water between pine trees and cliffs on Menorca's south coast, with little Macarelleta next door. In high season the car park fills early: there is a bus and you can walk along the Camí de Cavalls.
Ses Illetes
Formentera
The sandy spit of Ses Illetes, in the Ses Salines Natural Park, is one of the most famous images of the Mediterranean, with turquoise water on both sides.
Es Trenc
Campos, Mallorca
Kilometres of white sand and clear water in southern Mallorca, with no buildings in sight, next to the Es Trenc salt flats.
Cala Formentor
Pollença, Mallorca
Fine sand lined with pine trees and crystal-clear water on the Formentor peninsula, in northern Mallorca.
Cala de la Granadella
Xàbia (Alicante)
Pebbles and clear water in a cove surrounded by cliffs and pine trees, ideal for snorkelling.
Calblanque
Cartagena (Murcia)
Unspoilt golden-sand beaches and fossil dunes in the Calblanque Regional Park, one of the last undeveloped stretches of the Murcian Mediterranean.
Andalusia
Playa de Bolonia
Tarifa (Cádiz)
Fine sand, clear water, a huge shifting dune and the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia by the shore, in the Strait Natural Park. The easterly levante wind can blow hard.
Playa de Mónsul
Níjar (Almería)
Volcanic sand, the famous «tongue» rock and film-set scenery in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. In summer car access is regulated and there is a bus from San José.
The Canary Islands
Dunas de Maspalomas
San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Gran Canaria
A small desert of dunes by the sea and the lighthouse, protected as a nature reserve, with kilometres of beach to walk along.
Las Canteras
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
A city beach over three kilometres long protected by a natural reef, La Barra, which turns it into a huge pool at low tide.
Playa de Cofete
Pájara, Fuerteventura
More than ten kilometres of wild sand at the foot of the Jandía mountains, reached along a dirt track. Open sea and strong currents: swimming can be dangerous.
Playas de Papagayo
Yaiza, Lanzarote
Several golden-sand coves with calm water in southern Lanzarote, inside the Los Ajaches Natural Monument.
Looking for something else? Browse beaches by coast, by type or find the ones nearest to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most beautiful beach in Spain?
There is no single answer: Rodas (Cíes Islands), As Catedrais (Ribadeo), Bolonia (Tarifa) and Macarella (Menorca) appear on almost every list. It depends on whether you want white sand, cliffs, dunes or turquoise water.
When is the best time to visit the most famous beaches?
June and September are quieter and the Mediterranean is already warm. In July and August some beaches limit access or parking: check the rules before you go.