8 Amazing Beach Towns near Barcelona

I’ll admit, the first time I set out to explore the beaches near Barcelona, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d seen the crowded city beaches before, but I was curious if there were quieter, more charming towns just a short train ride away.
Once I started hopping from one coastal town to another, I quickly realized there’s a lot more to Catalonia’s coastline than the city’s main beach. From laid-back fishing villages to lively towns with buzzing nightlife, each place had its own personality and little hidden corners to discover.
If you’re looking to escape the crowds or find the perfect spot to relax by the sea, I’ve put together my favorite beach towns near Barcelona. These are the places that left a lasting impression on me—and that I think you’ll love exploring too.

Pineda de Mar

Let’s start our journey in Pineda de Mar. This is one of our favorite recommendations among the beach towns near Barcelona. It is right next to the train track, it has a superb beach, and it has amazing hotel prices.

See, the thing is, Pineda de Mar is far enough from Barcelona that the city’s high pricing does not affect this region. You can snatch up a good bed and breakfast offer at half the price of what you would get in Barcelona.

It becomes even more attractive when you realize: Pineda de Mar is a beautiful seaside town in itself. It has small pedestrian streets, great restaurants, and interesting buildings to see. Of course, there is also the beach where you can spend hours relaxing and swimming.

The railroad line means easy and cheap access to Barcelona itself for the days when you are planning sightseeing. If you are looking for a place to stay instead of Barcelona then Pineda de Mar should be very high on your list.

However, if you are looking for a place to spend a day at the beach outside of Barcelona, then Pineda de Mar is an okay choice. Yes, the beach is beautiful, but it might be too similar to Barcelona in the general atmosphere.

Vilassar de Mar

Vilassar de Mar is located 40 minutes by train from Barcelona station. It’s a small fishing town with a reasonably sized beach. We are absolutely in love with the small streets and old buildings of Vilassar de Mar.

Here as well the hotels are quite cheap especially as the town has no beach-facing property. Yes, this is probably the biggest downside of choosing Vilassar de Mar. The small town is separated from the beach by a major road and railroad tracks.

If you want a beachfront hotel then this town is not for you however in reality we didn’t have a problem with this separation. There are pedestrian tunnels to access the beach so you don’t have to cross above ground and the sandy beach is actually very pretty in this town.

Sant Pol de Mar

There is another town between Vilassar de Mar and Pineda de Mar and it’s one of the smallest on the list. Regardless of the size, it’s also one of the most authentically Spanish on the list.

The travel time is around 1 hour by train to Barcelona and the two towns are very different in feeling. Sant Pol de Mar is a true coastal village. It’s one of the most picturesque places you can reach from Barcelona within a short time. In fact, if you are looking for a beach day out of town we highly recommend Sant Pol de Mar.

Those who are looking to stay in town won’t be disappointed either. The charming atmosphere will pull you and you’ll enjoy each day you spend in this amazing beach town. Speaking of the beach, Sant Pol de Mar has a pretty big beach for a small town and it can accommodate most tourists who visit.

Being only an hour away from Barcelona proposes great opportunities for visiting the city while having the ability to relax on the beach if you choose to do so.

One thing to keep in mind: Sant Pol de Mar really is a small town. While most of the places we select are great for strolling around the evening and trying different restaurants each night, Sant Pol de Mar can actually feel small.

If you plan to spend a lot of time in town you will run out of things to do quickly. Of course, the views are beautiful and the beach is inviting but some people are looking for a bit more.

Sitges

Sitges is a town southwest of Barcelona. It started out as a small fishing town but today it’s a bustling beach spot for locals and tourists alike.

The picturesque whitewashed buildings do attract a crowd and it has a reputation for being a luxurious place. From villas to clubs to the local party community this is a great town for young people.

As far as beaches go the town officially has a lot of them but as most are on the same stretch of land we kind of think of them as one huge beach interrupted by rocks and buildings. In any case, there are plenty of spaces to get into the water but you will actually need those places as the town fills up during summer.

We particularly recommend Sitges for those who are looking to meet other young people and looking to go out a lot. There is plenty to do in town but Barcelona is just a short town ride away as well.

Cubelles

We love Cubelles for being one of the most laid-back and quiet towns along these parts of the coast. That doesn’t mean it’s not a great beach town, in fact, there is a big beach available for those who want to dip in the Mediterranean.

However, Cubelles is more residential than touristy. It is a great choice for anyone who wants to be among the locals and not among other tourists. Of course, you’ll still meet a lot of tourists, but much fewer than in the two places we’ve chosen.

Segur de Calafell

Segur de Calafell is actually a choice of many locals during the summer. It’s got an amazing beach that attracts the local population among tourists.

This is one of the towns if you want to experience what summer is like in a typical seaside town in this region. You can relax on the beach, take it slow, and not worry about the thing. It is a nice experience but this town is missing some historical attractions that you will find in other places.

Of course, with Barcelona being highly accessible you won’t really run out of things to do. You can hop on the train and travel to Barcelona anytime and then spend some days on the beach to relax and swim.

A huge advantage of Segur de Calafell is the price. It’s one of the cheapest places on this list. You can grab some great hotels with breakfast to start your day at an affordable price here.

Francàs

We love Francàs as it has one of the most dramatic beaches among the beach towns near Barcelona. The town is a few meters above sea level so there is a picturesque rock wall that separates the city from the beach.

Francàs itself is a very nice area. It reminded us a lot of a US Suburban town. There are some huge villas and a lot of local holiday homes here.

This means that if you manage to book one of the few available rooms in the town you will be among some of the most laid-back areas near Barcelona.

It really is similar to a US suburb: for the most part, nothing happens. It’s just the slow passage of time that you’ll notice if you look hard enough, but is that really a bad thing when the beach is just a stone’s throw away? We don’t think so.

Barcelona is still very accessible via trains and we absolutely loved this area. However, similarly to an American suburb, your best bet to enjoy this town is to actually rent a car. You can do fine without one but it doesn’t have as many restaurants and shops within walking distance as other places.

Lloret de Mar

Lloret de Mar is kind of the crown jewel of Costa Brava. It is just the right mix between a sleepy fishing town and a vibrant seaside resort. The architecture is great at reflecting the town’s past, meanwhile, as the sun settles the town comes alive and you will be able to find countless bars and parties to join.

As one of our favorite beach towns near Barcelona, we can highly recommend Lloret de Mar to anyone visiting. If you like to party there is a place for it but if you would rather skip the busy nights then there are areas in Lloret de Mar that present peace and tranquility.

It’s full of great restaurants and the beach is quite excellent. It’s an overall nice choice along the coast.

+ Costa Brava

If you like the idea of spending some time in Lloret de Mar, then we strongly recommend that you take a proper look at the Costa Brava itself. Lloret de Mar is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this region of Catalonia.

Costa Brava has tons of amazing beach towns and luckily, we have already selected the best Costa Brava beach towns for you. So if you are planning to spend a few days on the beach during your stay in Barcelona, be sure to check out our other guide.