beaches hotels

Beach area highlights

1. Recharging your batteries on a relaxing city beach
2. Sampling the delicious ice cream on charming Rambla Poblenou
3. Dancing the night away at a free concert in Barcelona's forum area
The seven beaches of Barcelona offer a total of 4.5 km of coastline. Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta beaches (both are over 1km long), are the largest, oldest and the most visited beaches in Barcelona, but a calmer alternative can be found in the hip new city beaches.
Constructed as part of the city’s hosting of the Olympic games in 1992, the new beaches are seperated from their older counterparts by the Hotel Arts and twin towers in the Olympic village.
The new beaches, Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella, Nova Mar Bella and Llevant, have replaced the industrial buildings and railway that used to dominate the coastline in this area. Where once there was the smoke of factory chimneys, there are now fancy shops, chic beach hotels and lively restuarants, as well as the golden sand and gentle waves that the Mediteranian is famous for. The beaches make for a great Barcelona base.
The beaches have been created by breakwaters in the sea as well as yearly topping up of the sand – and they are widely visited all year round. The city has embraced these beaches with open arms. You will too.

Sights and activities
The main draw of this area is the coastline which is best appreciated from the promenades and parks paralell to the sea. Parc Esportiu de la Mar Bella is a modern grassy park where you can watch urban youths do amazing jumps with their skateboards and BMXs. Behind the park, Nova Mar Bella beach is popular with nudists and gays and there are several bars playing chillout tunes.
Too hot for the beach? Friendly Rambla Poblenou take it's name from the more famous Ramblas in the old city, but the prices are lower and the crowd definately less touristic. Old ladies sit as benches eating ice creams as they roast in the Bareclona sun. And for good reason – the icecreams on this Rambla are famously tasty.
The 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures created a large seafront public space called Forum which plays host to a variety of events each year including free concerts. It also offers a large concrete bathing zone – located above a sewage treatment plant – with salt water drawn from the sea. Here is also where you’ll find Barcelona’s international conference centre, a new architectural icon shaped like a big flat triangle.

Eating and drinking in Barcelona beaches
Beach fiends will want to chill out over tapas and sangria at one of the many trendy bars dotted along the beachfront, while cheaper local options are on offer at Rambla Poblenou’s many good value bars and restaurants.

Hotels in Barcelona beaches
The classiest option is the skyscaper Hotel Arts with its stunning 360 degree views over the city and sea, but other new rivals are nipping at its heels, especially towards the eastern part in Diagonal Mar where great value new hotels are literally springing up.