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Barcelona Beaches: Bathing and Swimming Season 2023/24

Barcelona’s wide beaches are one of the biggest recreational hotspots for locals and visitors alike with excellent amenities and services along 5 kilometres. They’re easily accessible by public transport and for people with reduced mobility.

Barcelona Beaches
BATHING AND SWIMMING SEASON CALENDAR

Mid-beach Season

From 1 to 10 April and weekends; May, until the 26th; from 12 to 26 September. All public lavatories are open, apart from ones on the Sant Sebastià and El Fòrum beaches, from 10.30 am to 6 pm. First-aid and rescue facilities on Barcelona’s beaches are open to the public from 10.30 am to 6.30 pm. Information facilities are open on the La Barceloneta, El Bogatell and Nova Mar Bella beaches.

High-beach Season

From 27 May to 11 September. Public opening times are from 10.30 am to 7.30 pm at all establishments. Public lavatories are open from 10.30 am to 9 pm.

Low Season

The rest of the year. Only the Integrated Beach-Management Plan’s offices and the Espigó del Gas, Somorrostro and Bogatell public lavatories are open.

Life Saving Service and Life Guard Service

As there is no Life Saving Service or Life Guard Service outside the bathing season or the established timetable, all beach users are responsible for their own actions.

Beach Warning Flags

Red flag: No bathing

Yellow flag: Bathe with caution

Green flag: Safe to bathe

Pets

The area marked out for dogs at Llevant beach will be open over the high season for bathing, from 1 June to 25 September 2017. Dogs are still banned from other areas of the Barcelona shoreline during the bathing season, except for guide dogs, which are always allowed on the beach.

Barcelona old picture Barceloneta

BARCELONA BEACHES
Here is the list of Barcelona beaches:

  • Sant Sebastià: Along with Barceloneta beach, Sant Sebastià beach is the oldest and most traditional. It accommodates sports clubs that offer nautical activities of great importance to the city. It is also one of the longest, measuring approximately 660 metres.
  • Sant Miquel: Sant Miquel beach is one of the oldest in the city and is about 420 metres long. Located just near the Plaça del Mar, it is one of the busiest on the Barcelona seafront.
  • Barceloneta: Barceloneta beach is 422 metres long and is one of the oldest and most traditional in the city. It is a favourite amongst foreign visitors, and also youth groups and schools, who often use it for activities. An arcade runs the length of the top of beach. It accommodates the Espai de Mar (Sea Space) centre, a facility designed to facilitate access to the beach and marine environment through the inclusive practice of sport and leisure.
  • Somorrostro: Among other values this beach exemplifies the recovery of historical memory on the city seafront. Not long ago, this stretch of coastline, together with part of Barceloneta beach and the beaches now known as Nova Icària and Bogatell, was the site of the Somorrostro shanty town, where some 15,000 people lived in very precarious conditions. Somorrostro beach is currently one of the most emblematic beaches in the city.
  • Nova Icària: This is one of the beaches where users spend more time, possibly because it is one of quietest in the city. It is also one of the beaches in Barcelona with the widest range of leisure amenities: a playground and a ping-pong table by the Bogatell breakwater and two volleyball courts near the Olympic Harbour. On the beach of Nova Icària is flying the Ecoplayas flag as recognition of its quality and services.
  • Bogatell: Approximately 702 meters long and one of the beaches that were upgraded when the Barcelona seafront was redeveloped in the 1990s. There are various recreational facilities on Bogatell beach. These include two ping-pong tables, a football pitch on the beach and a volleyball court at the far end by the Mar Bella breakwater.
  • Mar Bella: Mostly used by residents from this area, who go there regularly and in large numbers. The beach has a designated nudist area. Near the Bac de Roda breakwater there is a children’s playground and a volleyball court. Other recreational facilities on Mar Bella beach include a basketball hoop, a skateboard rink and a ping-pong table located on the higher part of the promenade (Passeig Marítim), near the Mar Bella sports pavilion. There is also a nautical centre with water sports facilities at the western end of the beach.
  • Nova Mar Bella: It is considered one of quietest in the city. This beach also has a volleyball court located halfway along. It is approximately 420 metres long and, together with Mar Bella beach, is one of the beaches that emerged from the redevelopment of the Barcelona seafront in the 90’s.
  • Llevant: This is the last of the recently created beaches on the Barcelona seafront. Located next to Nova Mar Bella beach, it was completed in summer 2006. It is approximately 375 metres long.
  • Banys del Fòrum: The Fòrum bathing area can host the most common beach activities, such as sunbathing or swimming. However, it is important to remember that there is no sand and the water is reached by means of steps that descend directly from the paved area. The Fòrum bathing area is 375 metres long and about 30 metres wide.

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More information & Source: Bathing in Barcelona Beaches

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