Europe Chevron. Spain Chevron. Catalonia Chevron. Barcelona Chevron. Barceloneta is the coastal celebrity here, famously lively and convenient, but there are many more less populated spots to spread your beach towel on.
Where first? Read on to discover lesser-known beaches that will whet your appetite for getting your toes wet. Click the link to read our complete Barcelona guide. Situated just 24 miles south of Barcelona, Sitges consists of 17 sandy beaches. Although everywhere in Sitges is LGBTQIA-friendly, Bassa Rodona is considered the main gay beach; located in the very center, it features clusters of umbrellas, multicolored towels, and the best physiques around.
Fragata is great for families, thanks to its volleyball nets and pedal boats. As for Sitges town itself: It's a maze of idyllic cobbled streets, flower blooms, and white-walled villas with Juliet balconies. Love the beach but hate sand?
Zona de Banys keeps the best parts of the experience—sunshine, water, and outdoor sports—but does away with the gritty stuff. Rocky outcrops and floats "fence off" an area of ocean into a large-scale outdoor pool and wakeboarding zone.
Think basics rather than five-star—showers, toilets, lifeguards. The assisted bathing service begins on 1 June though the exact hours vary by month and day—check here. Barceloneta is the high-school jock of beaches: loud, popular, and boisterous. Its version of a buff torso?
