Top Spanish beaches

We possibly take for granted the top spanish beaches we enjoy in all the main resorts. However if we just pause for one minute and reflect on the sheer quantity of fantastic playas in Spain it is no wonder that the country is the top holiday destination for many europeans. The Spanish certainly appreciate their beaches and ensure that they are regulary cleaned and are supported by all the modern facilities that tourists now expect to enjoy. We have selected a number of these beaches and have added some personal experiences from each one.

Posiblemente damos por sentado que las mejores playas españolas que disfrutamos en los principales centros turísticos. Sin embargo si sólo hacemos una pausa de un minuto y reflexionar sobre la cantidad total de fantásticas playas en España no es de sorprender que el país es el destino de vacaciones superior para muchos europeos. El español sin duda apreciar sus playas y asegurar que son limpiados y son compatibles con todas las modernas facilidades que los turistas esperan ahora para disfrutar. Hemos seleccionado una serie de estas playas y agregaron algunas experiencias personales de cada uno.

Cadiz - El Puerto de la Santa Maria

The town has a number of golden beaches of clean fine sand along its entire length. Valdegrana beach is a bustling resort area with the whole range of activities, restaurants, discos and bars. Fuentebravia is also next to a tourist area which caters for thousands of holidaymakers every year. It is particularly well known for its sea sports: scuba-diving, windsurfing and fishing. The playa de los Torunos is away from the busy tourist areas, and is found next to the Parque Natural de la Bahia de Cadiz. It is a protected area so you need to be careful with BBQs, but the natural beauty is stunning. The winds are always strong in this area, so ideal for kite flying and windsurfing.

Valdegrana beach

La ciudad tiene un número de playas de arena fina limpia a lo largo de toda su longitud. Playa de Valdegrana es una bulliciosa zona turística con toda la gama de actividades, restaurantes, discotecas y bares. Fuentebravia también está cerca de una zona turística que atiende a miles de turistas cada año. Es particularmente conocida por sus deportes náuticos: buceo, windsurf y la pesca. La playa el de los Torunos está lejos de las áreas turísticas ocupadas y se encuentra al lado del Parque Natural de la Bahia de Cadiz. Es un área protegida por lo que hay que tener cuidado con barbacoas, pero la belleza natural es impresionante. Los vientos son siempre fuertes en esta zona, por lo que es ideal para vuelo de cometas y windsurf.

Tenerife - Playa de las Vistas

This is the largest beach in between Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos. It has a kilometre of golden sand with plenty of facilities and safe water in a sheltered bay. The surrounding views are quite stunning with Mount Chayofita in the central view of this image, with the residential developments all around its slopes. The other mountain on the right separates the resort from the town of Guaza in the east.

Benidorm - Playa Levante

There are some good reasons why Benidorm has been a favourite destination for so many holiday-makers over the last 30 years. One of the main ones is the Playa Levante, which has got to be one of the best beaches in Europe.

Observation - despite the popularity for Brits and other foreigners, the main language you hear is Spanish!

Hay algunas razones buenas por qué Benidorm ha sido un destino predilecto para tantos turistas sobre los últimos 30 años. Uno de los principal es el Playa Levante, que tiene que ser uno de las mejores playas en Europa.

Benidorm

The Levante playa is so big that onlookers from the promontory in the Old Town can spend ages gazing on all the activities and sights in front of them. You do need to get a little nearer to see and appreciate some of the excellent sand sculptures on the beach.

El playa de Levante es tan grande que espectadores del promontorio en el Pueblo Viejo pueden gastar las edades mirando en todas las actividades y vistas delante de ellos. Debe conseguir un poco más cercano para ver y apreciar parte de las excelentes esculturas de arena en la playa.

Benidorm

Levante at night is stunning. The local authority has ensured the beach is well illuminated to create this wonderful aura. Also the sand cleaner machines work well into the night to preserve the freshness of the beach for the following day.

Levante de noche aturde. La administración local ha asegurado que la playa fuera iluminada bien crear esta aura maravillosa. También las máquinas de limpiador de arena trabajan bien en la noche para preservar la frescura de la playa para el día siguiente.

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

There are sand dunes and sand dunes, but the dunes in Maspalomas are just incredible. This mini wonder of the world separates the elegant Maspalomas resort of luxury hotels and villas from the more downmarket but popular resort of Playa del Ingles.The dunes are a natural protected area and habitat for a number of rare plant species some of which are unique to the Canaries. If you walk into the middle of these dunes you could imagine being in the deserts of Africa, so take care and plenty of water and hats!

Hay dunas y dunas, pero las dunas en Maspalomas son sólo increíbles. Esta maravilla mini del mundo separa la estación elegante de Maspalomas de hoteles y casas de campo de lujo de la estación más popular pero popular de Playa del inglés. Las dunas son un área y el hábitat protegidos naturales para varias especie rara de planta que algunos de los cuales es extraordinarios a los Canarios. ¡Si anda en el centro de estas dunas que podría imaginarse ser en los desiertos de Africa, así que toma cuidado y mucha agua y sombreros!

Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria

This popular resort in Gran Canaria is aptly named because the beach is impressive. Unlike most of the beaches in the Canaries, this playa is of golden sand not the usual volcanic variety. This must be influenced by the adjacent sands of Maspalomas. Does anyone know if this is true?

Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria

La Manga del Mar Menor

La manga has two sets of beaches, one on either side of the strip. However, the Mediterranean facing beach is by far more impressive. In fact, this is probably the longest stretch of continuous beach in Spain. At 22 km. long this must be a record.

La manga del mar menor

Majorca, Palma

Just a few kilometres south out of Palma is the vast expanses of the playa c`an pastilla. The beach has a marvellous golden colour as you can see and is bordered by an equally impressive promenade.

Palma de Majorca - Playa c`an pastilla

Majorca, Cala d`Or

Not all special beaches are large ones. The cove beaches in Cala d`Or are all quite small but exceptionally friendly! The geography means they are all very sheltered, so good on windy days.

Majorca - Cala d`Or Gran Playa

Denia playa

On the carretera marines going out of the north side of Denia the beach is continuous soft sand for kilometres. This playa supports a large amount of holiday residences for good reason - it`s an excellent spot.

Torrevieja, La Mata

Torrevieja has at least five good beaches, but the pick of the bunch is the La Mata playa to the north of the town. It boasts at least 1km. of broad golden sand with oceans of space for beach activities of every kind. The bus from town only takes 15 minutes and costs 1.15 euros.

Torrevieja - la mata playa

Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote

The sand colour is not great in Puerto del Carmen because of the volcanic rock. However the main beach is an impressive 300m long and 100m deep - plenty of room for sunbeds and ball games. This beach is across the road from a great selection of restaurants.

Lanzarote puerto del carmen playa

Alicante - San Juan Playa

This beach, at 5 km. is one of the largest on the Costa Blanca, yet in May it`s one of the most unoccupied. Actually it`s so empty that it is almost eerie! We took the train from Le Postiguet beach in Alicante to the terminus at San Juan. However, it is then a twenty minute walk to the beach! So better to take the bus. There did not appear to be many restaurants but I noticed on Trip Advisor, that several people report that there are many! We did not see them. The beach though is phenomenal - clean, fine sand. The sea was clear and shallow, and therefore ideal for children. Does anyone know if it is full in August?

Esta playa, a 5 km. es uno de los más grandes de la Costa Blanca, sin embargo, en mayo es uno de los más desocupadas. En realidad es tan vacía que es casi misterioso! Tomamos el tren de la playa del Postiguet en Alicante a la terminal en San Juan. Sin embargo, entonces es un paseo de veinte minutos a la playa! Asi que mejor tomar el autobús. No parece que hay muchos restaurantes pero noté en Trip Advisor, que varias personas informan que hay muchos! No les vimos. La playa es fenomenal - limpia, arena fina. El mar era clara y poco profundas y por lo tanto ideal para los niños. ¿Alguien sabe si está ocupado en agosto?

Alicante - La Postiguet playa

If you are lucky and visit Alicante in May, you will see the festival de cometas (kites).

Santander, Cantabria - Sardinero Playa

The south of Spain does not have the monopoly on great beaches. The Sardinero playa in Santander is extremely popular and has a beautiful setting.

Sardinero Playa

Nerja - Burriana playa

There are some good beaches in Nerja on the Costa del Sol and Burriana is certainly one of them. It serves the population of local apartments and hotels as well as discerning visitors.Sheltering between headlands it is always warm and inviting. There is the added benefit of Ayo's famous paella eatery on the adjacent promenade - not to be missed!

Comillas, Cantabria

Although a small town, Comillas has a super little beach with fantastic surrounding shoreline. Any visit to Cantabria must include a look at this.

Playa d`en Bossa, Ibiza

On the eastern coast, Playa d'en Bossa is one of the longest beaches and hosts the famous party on the beach Bora Bora.

San Tomas, Menorca

The southern resorts of Menorca are the main tourist areas and the more popular towns include: Santo Tomas, Cala en Porter, Binibeca, Punta Prima and S`Algar. At 2.5 km long, Son Bou is the largest beach on the island. Walk just a few minutes from the parking and you will have the beach to yourself.

La Pineda, Salou

This is a view looking south towards Salou, but northwards there is an identical attractive beach. This resort seems to have been kept a secret by the Spaniards, because you don`t see many foreigners on the paseo.