Spain actually boasts more Blue Flag beaches than any other country in the world – 642 at the last count – so picking just five here is no mean feat. Throw in the fact that British travellers spent over €2.2 billion here in the first two months of 2024 alone, and you can see why the coastline gets busy.
But to narrow things down for would-be expats or anyone just looking for a holiday, we’ll be focusing on details like:
There’s really nowhere better to start than in San Sebastián, with la Concha beach. This is the classic postcard view of the Basque Country. You’ve got roughly 1.3 km of coastline, and it’s bookended by Monte Urgull and Monte Igueldo.
For UK expats eyeing the north, this Atlantic Ocean gem gives you an almost London-style buzz – pintxos bars double as neighbourhood hang-outs, and there’s a decent car park just behind the promenade, though you’ll need sharp elbows in August.
You’ve got surfing opportunities just a short stroll away at Zurriola, so you can combine beach time with city life without even moving the car. But other than that, families here love the sheltered water, and there are plenty of cafés on Calle Zubieta that stay open late, which digital nomads rave about.
Drive twenty minutes south of Cádiz city and you’ll hit Playa de la Barrosa in Chiclana de la Frontera, which is a long strip of soft sand that’s full of low dunes and pines. It’s consistently listed among Spain’s best beaches, but it still feels local once you leave the hotel zone.
The breeze you’re getting from the Atlantic keeps the temperatures bearable in July, and there are plenty of low-key chiringuitos (beach bars) nearby, so a cold cerveza is never far away – what else is there to say?
There’s ample parking near the Novo Sancti Petri golf course, but it can get a bit more intense in the evenings as people turn up to watch the sun set.
Want dunes without any ugly tower blocks nearby? Playa de Bolonia in Cádiz province is your ticket. It’s set inside El Estrecho Natural Park, and the beach looks straight across the Strait of Gibraltar. In fact, on clear days, you’ll actually spot North Africa.
There’s a 30 metre shifting dune at the western end that’s basically begging for a barefoot clamber, while the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia sit just behind the sand.
The facilities here are admittedly a bit basic – single car park, a few beach bars powered by generators – but that’s half the charm. And Bolonia is ideal as a day trip from Tarifa.
This one’s based right on Tenerife’s northeast coast – Playa de las Teresitas. While black sand beaches cover much of the archipelago here, we feel like Teresitas actually has more Caribbean vibes than Canary, and it’s only a ten-minute bus ride from Santa Cruz.
There’s a breakwater here that keeps the waves calm, so it’s a great place for novice swimmers on a family beach day.
Then you’ve got plenty of snack kiosks that serve fresh seafood, and the promenade’s free parking rarely fills before 11 AM.
Lastly, we want to talk about the opposite side of Spain and the Mediterranean Sea, where we’ve got Cala Aiguablava. This is a tiny little cove near Begur that proves the Costa Brava is far more than mass-market resorts.
You’re getting everything from stunning turquoise water to cliffs covered with pines. There’s a tidy little car park that sits a bit further uphill (we’d suggest arriving by around 9 AM in August), and a couple of nice beach bars that let you get stuck into some arroz caldoso while the kids build sandcastles.
This one’s a lot smaller than some of the other entries on this list, but it’s absolutely still worth a look.
There’s a well-marked coastal path that links out of season, the cove is near-empty, which is definitely a perk for semi-retired expats avoiding school-holiday crowds.
As you’ve probably noticed throughout this list, Spain’s coastline is pretty varied. You’ve got everything from Atlantic options in the north and south-west and Mediterranean vibes on the east to island micro-climates further afield.
There are always the popular tourist destinations like Marbella or Benidorm, and while they certainly have their perks, the five picks above have both the liveability and wow factor.
So, if you’re still a bit unsure what you’re looking for, we’d recommend starting by asking:
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