12 Beautiful Beach Towns to Visit in Spain

These are the best places to enjoy the stunning Spanish coastline.

It's no secret that Spain is home to miles of stunning coastline. In southern Andalusia, you have two distinct resort areas on the Costa de la Luz and Costa del Sol; in Alicante, there's the Costa Blanca; and from Barcelona, a short drive can take you to the Costa Brava (to the north) or the Costa Daurada (to the south). And that’s just the Mediterranean side of the country. In northern Spain, you also have to consider the wild, empty stretches of Galicia’s Costa da Morte and the natural splendor and cultural charm of the Basque Coast — and off the mainland, there are the Balearic and Canary Islands to consider. We’ve gathered some the top choices in every region to round up the best beach towns in Spain, with the help of some travel experts.

Virgi Schiffino Kennedy is the founder of the travel consultancy Lux Voyage.

Briana Peterson is a travel advisor at Fox World Travel.

Cadaqués, Costa Brava

Three hours north of Barcelona and a stone’s throw from the French border, Cadaqués is one of Spain’s most enchanting seaside villages, with dark cobblestone streets and whitewashed buildings. Surrounded by the rocky beaches of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, this isolated beach town owes its fame to one of the most famous artists of the 20th century — Salvador Dalí. In addition to visiting the artist’s home, visitors can dine at Compartir, the sister restaurant of Barcelona’s Disfrutar, which was recently voted No. 1 in the world. Virgi Schiffino Kennedy, founder of the travel consultancy Lux Voyage, suggests that the best way to see the area is to get on the water. She notes: “There are many small coves and beaches around Cap de Creus and Cadaqués, and some of them can be accessed only by boat.”

Cudillero, Costa Verde

Like a mini Cinque Terre, the pastel houses of the small fishing town of Cudillero seem to hang from the cliffs above the small harbor. In the town, you can visit the churches and the fish market or get a table by the lighthouse at El Faro and enjoy the best views while sampling Asturian seafood. The restaurant El Pescador serves fresh-caught shellfish delivered straight from the family boat. This pretty town will be your base for exploring the incredible beaches and cliff landscapes that surround it, like Playa del Silencio, a crescent-shaped beach surrounded by a high rock wall.

Sitges, Costa Daurada

If you're looking for a Spanish beach town with miles of sand, buzzy nightlife, and nearby wine tasting, Sitges is a great pick. It also happens to be the unofficial LGBTQ+ holiday capital of Spain. By train from Barcelona, you can get to Sitges in less than an hour, which makes it a great day trip choice, but you should stay longer if you want to explore the old town and visit museums like the Museu del Cau Ferrat. Sitges is always popular, but with one long promenade connecting the 17 consecutive beaches, you should be able to find your own spot on the sand.

Xàbia, Costa Blanca

Between the big city of Valencia and the tourist hotspot of Alicante, Xàbia is a resort town (with a big population of expats) positioned at the base of the impressive Montgó Massif. You can find hiking trails in this nearby park, but most visitors tend to prefer beachgoing with a sunny spot on Platja de l’Arenal. There is a small old town you can explore, as well as a port that makes a good launching point for seafaring adventures and boat tours along the coast. “Almost everything is within walking distance of the beach, enabling you to shop, dine, and enjoy Spanish music and nightlife all in one place,” says Briana Peterson of Fox World Travel, who spent a year traveling Spain. “The stunning beach offers water activities and accessibility options for people with disabilities, including beach wheelchairs that glide over sand and float in water.”

Comillas, Costa de Cantabria

If you loved the architect Antoni Gaudí’s work in Barcelona, it’s worth visiting one of his further-flung creations, El Capricho, in the Cantabrian beach town of Comillas.  “Comillas is a picturesque coastal town on the northern coast of Spain, known for its stunning architecture and historical significance,” says Schiffino Kennedy. After your visit to El Capricho, visit the town’s main beach or venture further for more space on the enormous Playa Oyambre, part of a natural park just a few miles from town.

Llanes, Costa Verde

Llanes is a scenic coastal town in the Asturias region of northern Spain. As Schiffino Kennedy points out, "It’s known for its dramatic cliffs, beautiful beaches, and historic medieval architecture.” The former whaling port on the Atlantic Coast has a small harbor and medieval center within driving distance of beautiful beaches. Between Llanes and the nearby town of Ribadesella, there are over 20 golden beaches, including Playa de Toranda, surrounded by lush green hills, and Playa de Gulpiyuri, a beach formed around a sinkhole yards away from the coast.

Nerja, Costa del Sol

On Andalucia’s Costa del Sol, many beach towns are burdened by eyesores caused by overdevelopment, but between Malaga and Granada, Nerja resists. Between rocky coves that jut out into the sea, its charming old town has been well-kept — including the Balcón de Europa, a romantic palm-lined promenade built on the foundations of the historic fort, from which you can get a fantastic panoramic view of the sea and the nearby mountains of the Sierra de Almijara. The main beach here is the Playa Burriana, but you can also find a unique adventure on an excursion to the Cueva de Nerja, an enormous three-mile-long cave that was only discovered in the 1950s.

Pollença, Mallorca

Between the foothills of the Tramuntanas and the brilliant lighthouse of Cap de Formentor, Pollença is one of the most interesting historic towns in Mallorca. Like many of the island’s antique villages, the old town was founded a ways inland from the sea to keep safe from pirates, so it’s a short drive to get to the Port de Pollença, where you can walk the promenade along Platja de Can Cap de Bou. However, staying in the old town offers more opportunity to bask in the charm of its elegant old quarter, which has served as a font of inspiration to the many artists who have found their muse in Mallorca.

Mundaka, Costa Vasca

The Basque country is renowned for its delectable gastronomy — the town of San Sebastian has the most Michelin stars in Spain — but the coast is beloved by surfers for the epic waves that break along the Bay of Biscay. One of the best waves (for pros only) is located in the town of Mundaka, a small beach town inside the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. You can watch the experts show off in the clean left-hand barrel while exploring this cozy port town turned surfer’s paradise. If you’re not into surfing, Mundaka resident Aritza Mencha recommends paddleboarding. “Exploring the Mundaka estuary on a paddleboard is an experience of peace and harmony with nature — if you are lucky you can even see flamingos,” he tells Travel + Leisure. For lower-adrenaline beach days, the estuary beach Playa de Laida is preferred. Mencha adds that this beach “is spectacular at low tide, allowing you to walk for kilometers with water at your ankles.”

Peñiscola, Costa del Azahar

Between Barcelona and Valencia, you can find the castle-topped old quarter of Peñiscola sitting perfectly on the horizon from its rocky perch that stretches out toward the Mediterranean. On one side of the old town, you have the small crescent beach of Platja del Migjorn, and on the other you have the ample and rambling Playa de Peñiscola that connects to the neighboring town of Benicarló.

Fisterra, Costa da Morte

For some of the best sunsets in Europe, you can travel to Spain’s westernmost cape and stay in the sweet town of Fisterra alongside the white sands of Praia de Langosteira. Long hiking trails stretch up and down the cape, leading to the lighthouse — which houses a romantic boutique hotel, O Semáforo de Fisterra — and panoramic points over the dramatic cliffsides. But you can also enjoy the views from the Praia do Mar de Fora, a spectacular (though not swimming-safe) oceanside beach that is only reachable via downhill walk.

Fornells, Menorca

Of the four Balearic Islands, Menorca is among the quietest and most laid back — not as large and busy as Mallorca and nowhere near as party-crazy as Ibiza. There are two main cities on this island, but you can find a peaceful retreat between them in the tiny fishing town of Fornells. Shining with white-washed buildings set upon turquoise waters overlooked by a historic lighthouse, the town sits on the port side of the small peninsula it occupies, while the Platja de Fornells is a mile west on the other coast. This calm and quiet beach is bordered by a cluster of sea-perched vacation homes.

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