21 of the best beaches in Spain

From the Balearics to the Canary Islands, the famous golden sands of the Costas to the wild unspoiled north in Galicia, city beaches, secluded beaches, celebrity favourites and more, it’s hard to go wrong, especially if you lay your towel on one of our top 21 beaches in Spain.

You’re not short of breathtakingly beautiful beaches in Majorca (or Mallorca, to give it its Spanish name) but few are quite as spectacular as Torrent de Pareis. With the mountains rising up behind it and turquoise water that’s as clear as glass, even your arrival at this beach is memorable. 

For those travelling by car along the twisting mountain roads to Sa Calobra, you walk through a small tunnel before emerging onto the pebbly beach, cliffs rising up on either side of the water. If you don’t fancy that, you can take a boat from Port de Soller, which takes around an hour, letting you approach one of the best beaches in Spain from the waves – there is also a longer hike to get there but it’s a strenuous walk.  

Facilities are limited to some toilets, so come prepared. Then just relax and drink in those views, although if you want to explore further, there are walks in the canyon itself (best avoided in the heat though). 

It’s normally white-sand beaches or glorious sweeps of gold which get the attention, but the coppery cove of Cala Pregonda will make you think twice. Both the beach and the cliffs are a reddish shade, which contrasts with the azure sea, curving around the bay on Menorca’s north coast. 

Only accessible on foot or by car, unless you hire a catamaran from Fornells, it does mean it’s quieter than a lot of other beaches on the island. Swim out to one of the little islands, which help keep the water so calm, or you can hop from little cove to little cove around the bay to find your favourite viewpoint.  

Easily one of the more unusual Spain beaches on the list, and a very different experience to the stretches of white sand on Menorca’s popular south coast. 

A world away from the clubs and the bling you’ll find elsewhere in Ibiza, in the northern part of the island, Portinatx is a reminder of the island’s natural beauty. With calm water and pale sand, the largest cove of S’Arenal Gros (or S’Arenal Gran) is tucked away under the cliffs, shaded by pine trees. 

With watersports and lifeguards, as well as a separate swimming area, it’s perfect for easy snorkelling – you barely need your mask on to be able to see through the gin-clear waves. Add in restaurants, toilets, shops and (unless there are water shortages) showers, and you’ve got plenty of facilities too. 

Or follow the promenade along to S’Arenal Petit, or Playa Porto, the quietest beach making up Cala Portinatx. With something for everyone, it’s easy to see why this qualifies as one of the best beaches in Spain. 

Ses Illetes, Formentera 

Sometimes, getting to the top beaches in Spain is going to take a bit of work – and that includes Ses Illetes (or Platja Illetes). Unless you’re staying on Formentera to take the boat from La Savina, you need to catch the ferry from Ibiza to get to the island, then there’s a half-hour walk to reach the beach itself, through the protected Ses Illetes natural park. 

But the pay-off is worth every step, for a beach which will transport you straight to the Caribbean, without the long-haul flight. A 450m stretch of powdery white sand with sparking aqua waters, it’s no surprise it has been named one of the most beautiful in the world. 

In summer, you’ll find lifeguards on duty as well as watersports equipment to hire, from kayaks to Hobie Cats, plus a few cafes and a restaurant with toilets (although they may close outside peak season). Beyond sun-worshipping, there’s also the chance to see some of the birds and plants of the national park.  

Las Teresitas, Tenerife 

With its dramatic black-sand beaches, there are plenty of contenders on Tenerife for inclusion on a list of best beaches in Spain – but the island’s most outstanding stretch of sand is a golden gem, lined with palm trees and backed by mountains. 

Las Teresitas in the north of Tenerife, near the island capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife, gets its gilded grains direct from the Sahara, and with its deep blue water and eye-catching backdrop, it feels far from your average European resort. Less built up here than other parts of the island, it’s also the perfect place to escape the crowds and revel in the peace and scenery. 

You’ll still find the essential facilities for a day by the sea though, including toilets, showers, bars, restaurants, plus loungers, parasols and some watersports hire. 

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

At first glimpse, the huge undulating golden sand dunes of Maspalomas might make you think you’ve been transported to the desert – you can even spot camels plodding past. But in fact, the 1,000-acre dune system is only a stone’s throw from Gran Canaria’s main tourist resorts and the long stretch of sand running for almost two miles from the lighthouse to Playa del Ingles, making it one of the most unusual Spain beaches to visit. 

Unlike much of the volcanic black sand that you find in the Canary Islands, the beach here is a shining gold, just like the sun it’s bathed in almost year-round, against the deep blue of the Atlantic. 

At the Playa del Ingles end, you’ll find more facilities including showers, lounger rental, watersports and places to eat, while in the centre there are wilder sections closer to the protected dunes. Some areas are also for nudists as you get closer to the lighthouse. 

Away from the busier tourist resorts of Lanzarote, the curving crescent of white sand at Playa de Papagayo is an unspoiled gem. Protected by cliffs at the sides of the bay, the emerald-green water is often as calm as a swimming pool and great for snorkelling as well as swimming. 

Set in a national park, there’s a small fee to pay to access the beach, the last in a string of lovely coves facing the water to the south-west but it’s well worth the cost. Apart from a small beach café, there are no facilities so take everything you need to enjoy your time on this wonderful Spanish beach. 

Despite its secluded feel, Playa de Papagayo is an unsurprisingly popular spot, but the neighbouring beaches are similarly tempting and often slightly quieter. 

Costa Calma beach, Fuerteventura 

Set on one of the closest points to the African mainland in the Canary Islands, this remote beach lies at the end of the Jandia Peninsula on Fuerteventura, one of the less visited islands in the group. 

Winding paths lead between dunes lined with tropical plants to Costa Calma beach, with its powdery pale sand and glass-clear turquoise water helping make it one of the best beaches in Spain. Sun-loungers and umbrellas are available for hire, perfect to lie back and gaze out at the ochre mountains. 

If you’re feeling more active, the strong winds which give the island its name make this a perfect spot for windsurfing at the southern end, as well as trying your hand at surfing. While you’re still escaping the crowds, you’ll still find plenty of facilities, including lifeguards overseeing the beach, restaurants, toilets and showers. 

Calella de Palafrugell, Girona 

There are several beaches wrapped around this pretty town on the Costa Brava, with its attractive whitewashed houses clinging to the hills above the coast. Once a small fishing village, Calella de Palafrugell has kept much of its traditional charm, with a string of little coves dotted around the coast along the bay. 

Tucked among the rocks, you can easily walk from one to the other, with Port Bo closest the centre of town, and three other sandy beaches surrounding it, as well as pebbly coves slightly further down the seafront.  

The steeply shelving sea is perfect for those who love to swim or snorkel, with a chance to check out the marine life without going too far from shore, plus you can rent canoes or pick up a boat taxi at Platja Canadell. Both this beach and Port Bo have bars and restaurants practically tumbling on the sand, while there are showers and lifeguards at the central beaches as well. 

You could easily make a similar list of the top beaches on the Costa Brava, so there’s plenty of competition in this area alone to make the cut as one of the best beaches in Spain. But with its bright blue water, fringe of pine trees, and peaceful atmosphere, Playa de Sa Boadella deserves a mention. 

It’s not one of the biggest beaches at Lloret de Mar, set just outside the town itself, but it means you can often escape the crowds if you’re looking for somewhere to relax by the deep blue of the waves. And there’s nothing quite like emerging from the path through the trees to see the sea sparkling in front of you. 

Designated a Blue Flag beach, you do still have some facilities including showers and a bar-restaurant serving food. It’s worth being aware that nudism is allowed at the farthest part of the beach from the road too. 

There are countless reasons to visit Barcelona, but having a beach within walking distance of Gaudi’s architecture is easily one of the most persuasive. And while some city beaches can be less than impressive. Platja de Sant Sebastia is a worthy addition to a list of the best beaches in Spain. 

With its golden sands tucked away between the Port Vela and Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta (where it runs smoothly into neighbouring beach Platja de Sant Miquel), it’s a popular spot to escape between sightseeing, with calm water and a string of bars and restaurants. 

Once you’ve snacked and soaked up the buzz at the chiringuitos, as the beach bars are known, look out for the sculptures along the beach too, including the Olympic sculpture and the stacked cubes of ‘Tribute to Barceloneta’. 

What’s better than a great beach? A Blue Flag beach overlooked by an 11^th century castle, easily one of the most memorable beaches in Spain. Despite this, Playa Tamarit, on the Costa Dorada, also manages to avoid many of the bigger crowds of other local stretches of sand. 

With a mile of fine golden sand leading to the translucent aqua waves, it’s easy to while the day away just soaking up the sun and letting your imagination run free as you think of the times when the castle was inhabited and protecting the coast from invaders. 

Today, there are facilities on offer including an amphibious wheelchair for accessible bathing, water sports hire and sunbed rental. If you do want something even wilder, carry on past the castle to Cala Jovera, for a more rugged little cove as a bonus extra beach. 

Playa La Granadella, Javea 

While most people are searching for the perfect strip of sand when they consider their favourite beaches in Spain, the horseshoe-shaped bay of Playa La Granadella is so picture-postcard perfect that you’ll be ready to overlook the pebbles here. 

Curving around translucent water shading from turquoise to ultramarine, this lovely spot under the pines and the curving cliffs is easily one of the most enticing on the Costa Blanca. With guided kayak and paddleboard tours on offer, snorkelling amid the sea grass, as well as a hiking trail which leads to the remains of an old coastal fort, you needn’t be limited to swimming and sunbathing either. 

There are some loungers to rent and limited food on offer, but it’s better to bring your own (along with some water shoes). Do arrive early, especially in peak season, as this gorgeous spot isn’t a secret though. 

Calpe’s second-largest beach is also one of its loveliest, with over half a mile of pale sand stretching from the Penyal d’Ifach rock and nature reserve. When it comes to Spain’s beaches, it’s one of the best not only in the Costa Blanca, but across the entire mainland.  

With Blue Flag status, the waters are pristine, plus there are plenty of facilities including restaurants and bars lining the seafront promenade. And there’s often more going on during the summer months too, including cinema screenings in the evenings.  

Visitors looking for an accessible beach will find a special adapted section during summer for people with reduced mobility, including specially equipped amphibious seat, along with washrooms and showers. 

When you think of Spain beaches, it’s the golden sands of the Costa del Sol which come to mind first for many travellers. But if you’re looking to escape the big resorts, there are still quieter corners to be found, including Playa de Maro, just outside Nerja. 

This protected beach is set in the Cerro Gordo Area of Natural Beauty, snugly tucked between the lush hills and rocks of the Acantilados Natural reserve. A mix of golden sand and pebbles, the bay is popular with scuba divers and snorkellers for the rich marine life in its protected waters. 

You can also hire kayaks to head out around the headland and explore or relax on one of the loungers available to rent. This little beach might be compact, but there’s a reason they say small is perfect! 

In centuries gone by, an old cattle route led from Los Barrios to Estepona, now remembered in the name of one of the loveliest beaches on the Costa del Sol. Playa de los Toros, or Beach of the Bulls, is a stone’s throw from some of the most luxurious villas along the Andalusia coast, but the views are open for all. 

Looking out to Gibraltar and Morocco, it’s almost impossible to visit without taking at least one photo of the panorama seen over the sapphire sea. Set in the far south-west of Malaga province near Manilva, there’s a mile of shingly sand to wander along and comparatively few people to share it with. 

Facilities are limited, as this beach is more popular with locals than tourists (always a good sign) but you can find some loungers as well as beach bars nearby, and a picturesque walk to the old watchtower. 

Down at Spain’s southern tip, the Costa de la Luz might not be the best known of the country’s Costas but you can still find one of the best beaches in Spain here at Playa de Bolonia, just outside Tarifa. 

Backed by a towering dune of white sand and shady pine forests, the golden sand spills down to the Atlantic, with crystal clear water to swim and natural pools created at low tide. Part of El Estrecho Natural Park, the area is protected so there’s still a slightly wild feel about it. 

There are some simple beach bars, sympathetically built from natural materials to blend in to this spectacular spot, where you can relax with a drink and look out across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa. 

City beaches can often be unfairly overlooked when it comes to the best beaches in Spain, but some of the country’s most enticing stretches of sand are just a short stroll from the centre of town. And La Concha in San Sebastian is easily one of those, a shell’s throw from the pintxo bars and city’s landmarks. 

With the promenade hugging the curve of the beach, it’s as good for walking off the city’s famous foodie delights as it is for relaxing by the waves. Keen swimmers can venture out to the little island of Santa Clara, around 350m from the shore, but otherwise you can admire its unusual camel’s hump shape from the shallows or take a boat trip out during the summer. 

There are no bad views to be had though, with Mount Igueldo on one side and San Sebastian’s Alderdi Eder park on the other, plus facilities galore, including toilets, showers, changing rooms, lifeguards, canoe and SUP rental, along with loungers and parasols. 

A world away from the groomed golden sands of many of Spain’s better known coastal resorts, the wild and wonderful Playa de Berria in Cantabria is still one of the most tempting beaches in Spain to discover. 

Stretching for almost two miles, the breakers which crash onto the wide blonde sands make it ideal for surfers as well as swimmers – and if you visit out of season, it’s not uncommon to have the whole expanse all to yourself.  

Perfect for long walks on the sand, or watching the sun set behind the headland, it’s a very different side to the Spanish coast. 

It’s not only the sea and sand which helps Praia As Catedrais make the list of the top beaches in Spain, it’s the unforgettable setting with its towering cliffs and rock formations, including arches, towers and caves. 

Also known as Playa de Las Cathedrales, the beach near Ribadeo in Galicia is set on Spain’s green coast, where the wild and dramatic scenery is a world away from the gentle Mediterranean coast. 

Visit at low tide to get the best views of the rock formations, and marvel at the wonderful shapes carved out by tide and time – there are arches within arches, stone pinnacles tucked away in sea caves and structures soaring 30m high into the air. The sea here has a strong current, so swimming isn’t advised, but you’ll be too busy gazing at the scenery to miss having a dip anyway. 

Praia de Rodas has been named not just one of the most spectacular beaches in Spain but the “loveliest beach in the world”, in the national park of the Cies Islands, just off the coast of Galicia from Vigo. 

This is one beach which requires some effort to reach but rewards you in spades if you do. After a 40-minute ferry from the mainland to the national park, you’ll discover some of Spain’s most unspoiled natural landscapes, with dense forest and rocky cliffs rising up behind them. 

Praia de Rodas itself is a 700m curving sweep of white sand against the glimmering deep blue waters of the Atlantic. Unsurprisingly, facilities are very limited – there are only a handful of places where you can buy any food in the islands, and no hotels, while you’ll also be expected to take all your rubbish home with you. But for a little slice of paradise in Europe, this dreamy beach is hard to beat.