Beaches in Spain

Information about Spain’s beaches, Spain’s main types of beaches, the Balearic and Canary Islands as beach destinations, and tips for going to nudist beaches in Spain.

What comes to mind when you hear the words “Sunny Spain”? I’ll bet you probably thought about Spain’s seemingly endless stretches of beaches. In fact, Spain has almost 8,000 kilometers of coastline, and Spain’s geography and generally warm Mediterranean climate work well together to provide the perfect natural gift to locals and tourists alike: hundreds of beautiful, quality beaches of different types. As a result, Spain’s beaches are renowned the world over, even earning Spain the distinction of having the highest number of blue flag designated beaches in the world. (Blue flag designations are awarded by an international jury to beaches and marinas that meet high environmental and safety criteria.)

10 Types of Beaches in Spain

Looking for a beach now? Here are some of the major types of beaches to enjoy in Spain – and the ones we recommend for each category:

Beach Central: The Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands

The two most popular places for beach experiences in Spain aren’t on the mainland but on Spain’s two island chains.

The Balearic Islands are located east of Catalunya, south of France, west of Sardinia, and in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. They are composed of four islands – Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera – and boast more than 300 beaches combined, some of them located in intimate coves. Most of the islands’ beaches have smooth sand, but a few have small pebbles or large rocks. The busiest time of the year on the islands is during July and August.

The Canary Islands are located west of Morocco and the Western Sahara in the Atlantic Ocean and are composed of seven islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote, El Hierro, and La Gomera. The islands are volcanic in origin and some of the volcanoes are still active today. In fact, the island of Lanzarote is known for its volcanic landscape that is likened to that of a lunar landscape. Due to the warm, pleasant climate, the Canary Islands’ beaches are generally suitable for swimming year round.

Tips for Nudist/Nude Beaches in Spain

When going to nude beaches in Spain be sure to keep these tips in mind:

• Enjoy the feeling of being natural and don’t worry about the way your body looks. Not having to worry about sand in your shorts or up your bra can be good, and a nudist beach is not a beauty contest. Just enjoy the sand between your toes and the sun on your bum!
• You don’t have to be naked. Nudist beaches are about being comfortable and having fun in the sun. If in the end you decide that you don’t want to take it all off, then don’t feel like you have to.
• Don’t stare. That just makes people uncomfortable. Wear sunglasses if you’re concerned about your ability to keep your eyeballs in their sockets.
• Don’t take pictures. Just because people have decided to go to a nudist beach does not mean that they have given you permission to take pictures of them when they’re naked.
• Be aware that on most beaches in Spain – nudist or not – it’s okay to go topless, so you don’t have to go to a nudist beach if you just want to loose the strings of your bikini top.

Last updated 13 01 2013

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