Choosing the Best of Spain's Riviera

A Guide to Spain’s Top Beaches in the Costa Brava and Costa Blanca

May 18, 2009

Even on a weekend Barcelona's beaches have space, Stillman Rogers Photography

The Costa Brava and Costa Blanca are among Spain's most attractive Mediterranean beach areas, with a wide variety of coastal scenery, charming towns and activities.

Without the overcrowding of some of the better-known beaches, Spain’s northeastern shore is an inviting alternative for families, divers, golfers and those who love secluded beaches hidden under cliffs.

Costa Brava and Beach Resorts Around Barcelona

Costa Brava means “wild coast” and it’s a good description of the craggy shoreline near Barcelona, with little beaches backed by eroded cliffs. Along with its natural beauty, it is a cultural center, having strong associations with artists Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Marc Chagall.

Tossa de Mar is the prettiest town, with white houses on narrow streets inside the 12th-century walls and towers. Secluded coves and long sand beaches line the shore nearby.
Pals is another medieval village, with beautiful views from the 11th-century ruins of Sant Pere de Rodes monastery.
Caldes de Malavella’ s 36-hole PGA Golf Catalunya, named one of Europe's top 10 courses, hosts an event in the PGA's 2009 European Tour.
Calella de la Costa is on a less scenic stretch of coast just north of Barcelona, but has excellent sand beaches, and its low-key development keeps the charm of the old fishing village.
Sitges, on the Costs Daurada southwest of Barcelona, is known for its art, architecture and festivals. The modernista artists gathered there in the early 20th century.
Castellon de la Plana, on the Costa del Azahar, is a good beach surrounded by orange groves, near Valencia.
Peniscola, a fortified medieval town on the Costa del Azahar near Valencia, has a Knights Templar castle, and stands almost surrounded by sea, often compared to Mont St-Michele in France.
Islas Medes, a nature reserve off L’Estartit, has the most diverse sea life of any place on the Spanish coast, with crystal clear waters that have become a haven for divers

Costa Blanca, South of Valencia

Between Cabo de la Nao and Cabo de Palos, two capes that extend into the Mediterranean at either side of the city of Alicante, the Costa Blanca is known for its white sand beaches. But it also has areas with wildly eroded rock formations and sea caves.

Javea is surrounded by dramatic cliffs filled with caves, and has a golf course and a parador, an upscale government-owned hotel.
Benidorm is popular with international tourists and has a busy nightlife scene with bars, pubs and clubs.
Alicante retains its authentically Spanish character, with an atmospheric old quarter where there are a cathedral and a castle. An excellent museum has works by Picasso, Braque and Miro.
Eliche and other beaches near the city are popular with Spanish families, so there is a clear sense of being in Spain.
Collera has a good beach for families, and kids like the Safari Park Vergel at nearby Denia, a quiet resort with a ruined castle.

Getting to Spain’s Costas

Airports in Barcelona and Valencia are served by regular flights from Madrid, where there are non-stop connections to New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Washington, DC, on Iberia Airlines. There is a direct Iberia flight from New York to Barcelona

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