The best part of spending your summer in Barcelona is going to the beach but with lots of people fighting for space, sellers trying to sell you beer, and coarse uncomfortable sand, relaxing on the beach in Barcelona is a challenge.
You can now use your regular T-casual or T-usual metro card to go to a nearby beach where it’s usually much quieter and cleaner with finer sand. Use your integrated metro or bus card to get to any of these beaches. If you don’t know what transportation ticket you need, check out our blog: Complete Guide to Barcelona’s Bus and Metro System
Badalona
This is an excellent beach next to Barcelona but it is much cleaner and more relaxing than the beaches in Barcelona. Here you can rarely find tourists. With 2 kilometers of shoreline, there is enough space for you to lie down, sunbathe and relax meters from anyone else.
How to get there: Take the metro L2 towards Badalona and get off at the Pep Ventura or Badalona stops and head towards the beach or take R1 from Plaça Catalunya towards Blanes and jump off at the Badalona stop
How long it takes: 25 minutes by R1 from Plaça Catalunya and 15 to 20 miutes by the metro line L2
Castelldefels
Located only 18 kilometers to the south of Barcelona, Castelldefels beach has a 5-km-long strip of fine sand. The Castelldefels beach has everything you can ask for: gaming rooms, beach bars, sport facilities, play area for children, showers and public bathrooms.
This is the perfect spot if you want to go to the beach with your family.
How to get there: Take the R2S train from Passeig de Gracia or Sants towards Vilanova i la Geltrú and get off in Castelldefels and then walk towards the beach. You can also take the L94 bus from Plaça de la Universitat and get off right at the beach
How long it takes: 55 minutes by bus L94 from Plaça de la Universitat and 45 minutes by R2S from Passeig de Gracia
Montgat
The coast of Montgat has become one of the favorite areas for everyone with two kilometers of shoreline and better sand than Barcelona. Here, there are no beer sellers or fighting over space. It’s also much quieter than Barceloneta. Montgat definitely is one of the best beaches near Barcelona.
Fun fact: while you are there check out the Tower of Ca n’Alzina, a historic defense tower dating back to the 16th century.
How to get there: Take the train R1 from Plaça Catalunya or Arc de Triumf towards Mataró (it takes about 25 minutes), jump off the train at Montgat Nord and go to one of Barcelona’s best beaches, Montgat’s beach.
How long it takes: 30 to 35 minutes from Plaça Catalunya
Sant Adrià de Besòs
This is the closest beach to Barcelona’s beaches and because there are fewer tourists here, it is less crowded and less noisy. Sant Adrià de Besòs is next to the Besòs river between Barcelona and Badalona. Here you can mostly find locals and those who prefer being away from the packed beaches of Barcelona.
Here you can’t find all the facilities you can find in Badalona or castelldefels like swimming schools or lots of outdoor bars and restaurants but still it’s a great spot if you want to sunbathe in peace.
How to get there: Take the R1 train from Plaça Catalunya and get off at the Sant Adrià de Besòs stop. Then walk for a couple of minutes until you get to the beach.
How long it takes: about 18 minutes from Plaça Catalunya
Keep in mind:
- Sometimes there are no station announcements on the trains, so it’s up to you to pay attention!
- Pick your return time carefully: trains back to Barcelona can get very, very busy, especially between between 6 and 8.30pm.
- Check out the trains timetable beforehand (http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/barcelona/index.html)
Tag us @studentfybcn in your photos of Badalona, Castelldefels, Montgat and and we will feature them on our social media.
Let us know in the comment section below what you favorite beach is near Barcelona.
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