Beaches
Blessed with sunny weather all year round, rugged islands and stretches of endless coastline, Spain attracts millions of beach lovers each year. Out of the 365 days in a year, Spain receives over 300 days of sunlight, especially so on the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and Costa del Sol. For decades, Spain has been known as the sun-and-sea destination in Europe thanks to cheap airfare to other European destinations. As a playground for holidaymakers, the Spanish coastline is strewn with miles of gorgeous turqoise waters and world-class Spain resorts. For some of the best shorelines in the country, check out our list of Top 6 Beaches in Spain.
Among the plethora of beach towns and islands in Spain, here are some of the most popular vacation spots for beach bummers and summer reveler.
Costa del Sol
The most popular string of beaches in Spain is undoubtedly Costa del Sol. Stretching east of Gibraltar, along the southern coast of Spain, the beaches run for miles of fine white sand, experiencing the Mediterranean weather at its best. Due to the smooth shoreline, the tidal condition along most parts of the coast is calm all year round. The most popular resorts on Costa del Sol are: Málaga, Marbella, Nerja and Torremolinos.
Some of the popular beaches include: La Malagueta, Caleta, Puente Romano and Torreguadiario.
Costa Brava
Costa Brava stretches from Barcelona to the French border, crossing through the northeastern end of Spain.
Equally as famous as Costa del Sol, Costa Brava still has some remote undiscovered beaches that veer away from the tourist crowds. Come during off-peak season and you’ll be able to have the whole beach to yourself.
Some of the popular beaches include: La Barceloneta (Barcelona), La Mar Bella (Barcelona), Playa de Blanes and Santa Margarida.
Costa de la Luz
Costa de la Luz stretches through southwestern Andalucia, and is blessed with sun almost throughout the entire year. With close proximity to major Andalusian cities, this region is best for travelers looking to explore historical sites and UNESCO monuments. The beaches
are sheer stunning while the waters can be sometimes rough. The area is less developed than the popular Costa del Sol, but offer more unique experiences.
Some of the popular beach towns include: Tarifa, Valdevaqueros, Los Lances and La Victoria.
Some of the popular beaches include: Punta Moral, Punta Umbria, Playa Chica and La Barossa.
Costa Blanca
Located near Valencia, Costa Blanca generally draws northern Europeans, mostly Germans and Scandinavians in search of the sun. Beaches here are best known for their party atmosphere – techno music pumping from the bars and packed-to-the-brim beach restaurants are a common sight here. Chances are you are in for a sunny beach vacation if you choose Costa Blanca as there is not much in terms of culture and history to experience in this area.
The most popular resorts are Benidorm and Alicante.
Some of the popular beaches include: El Perellonet / El Recati (Valencia), Playa de la Pinedo (Valencia), Playa de San Juan, La Fossa and Playa del Torres.
Costa Verde
The rocky Costa Verde has a much temperate climate during the summer when the rest of Spain is “boiling”, with temperatures soaring up to 50 degrees Celsius. Still not overwhelmed by tourists, this area is perfect for a vacation if you want to combine sun bathing with history.
The most popular resorts are: Gijón, Oviedo and Santander.
Some of the popular beaches include: San Lorenzo, Barro and Salinas.
The Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands include Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca. Just at a 45 minutes flight from Barcelona, the islands are filled with urban residents looking for the perfect place to enjoy their vacation.
Palma de Mallorca is most crowded and offers some of the best beaches and cheapest accommodation, while Ibiza is where the party people are flocking to – it is home to the biggest and hippest clubs in the world, if all-night-long partying is your thing, check out Privilege Ibiza and Cafe del Mar. If you want a more relaxed vacation, head to the sleepy Menorca where secluded bays and nude beaches await.
Some of the popular beaches include: Santa Ponca (Mallorca), Son Maties (Mallorca), Playa Pinet (Ibiza), Es Vive (Ibiza), Puna Prima (Menorca), Cala en Blanes (Menorca) and Cala Saona (Formentera).
The Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are surprisingly located nearer to the African continent than Europe. It’s therefore no surprise that they have some of the best weather in Spain, with the most pristine beaches and least commercialized beach towns.
Some of the popular beaches include: Playa Jardin (Tenerife), San Marcos (Tenerife), Playa des Ingles (Gran Canaria), San Felipe (Gran Canaria) and Bajamar (La Palma).