Running along Barcelona’s Mediterranean coastline and just a short walk from La Rambla is Barceloneta Beach. It’s the focal point of the Barceloneta neighbourhood and a place where locals and travellers alike come to experience a classic Mediterranean ambience.
This is Barcelona’s most-loved beach, so come early if you want to find a prime sunbathing spot. Sun loungers and beach umbrellas are available to rent and there are also showers and changing facilities. Volleyball courts offer sporting opportunities to active beachgoers while the warm Mediterranean Sea is ideal for swimming, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Lifeguards patrol the beach thus making it family-friendly.
Take a stroll along Passeig Maritim, a waterfront promenade popular with joggers, cyclists and rollerbladers. Check out the Homenatge a la Barceloneta, a leaning tower monument by German artist Rebecca Horn. In the distance you’ll see the unique fish sculpture Peix d’Or (Golden Fish) by Frank Gehry.
Barceloneta Beach offers many places to drink and dine. Visit one of the many chiringuitos (beach bars), well-known for serving sangria, seafood and paella. After sunset the chiringuitos often turn into beach parties with DJs and live music. Head to Passeig de Joan de Borbó to find cafés and fine-dining restaurants.
Don’t miss out on a night at the Port Olímpic, at the northern end of the beach. Originally built to host the 1992 Olympic Games, today it plays host to some of Barcelona’s most famous bars, nightclubs and casinos.
If you can tear yourself away from the beach then there are some interesting places to visit in the Barceloneta neighbourhood. Spot colourful tropical fish and watch shark feedings at l’Aquarium de Barcelona. Escape the heat at the tree-shaded Parc de la Barceloneta. See exhibits about the neighbourhood’s history at the Casa de Barceloneta, a house dating back to 1761.
Barceloneta Beach is about a 20-minute walk from La Rambla, Barcelona’s famous tree-lined promenade. Public buses and the metro provide easy access and a hop-on, hop-off tourist bus also stops nearby. The beach has designated bicycle parking areas too.
