The Best Andalusia Beaches

• Costa de Almería
• Costa del Sol
• Costa Tropical

• 16. Playa del Cristo // Costa del Sol

  

  Great for:

  • Swimming

  Stretching around a small bay immediately to the west of Punta de la Doncella and the attractive marina of Puerto Pesquero de Estepona, Playa del Cristo is approximately 700 metres long. Combining stone-free dark sands with calm shallow waters, protected on one side by a sea wall, amenities include several play areas. As a result, it's a beach that has become popular with families with young children.

  Accessible on foot and… read more »

• 17. Playa La Rada // Costa del Sol

  

  Great for:

  • Swimming

  Situated on the eastern side of Estepona, Playa de la Rada runs for over two kilometres. Although not the calmest of beaches on the Costa del Sol, with moderate waves, its deep grey sands and long beachside promenade makes Playa de la Rada an excellent all-round option favoured by locals and visitors alike.

  Accessible for those with disabilities, and in close proximity to the heart of Estepona, Playa de la Rada… read more »

• 18. La Caleta // Costa del Sol

  

  Great for:

  • Swimming
  • Kitesurfing

  Facing roughly south into the bright waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Malaga's La Caleta beach is located in the upmarket area of the city that goes by the same name.

  Situated between Baños del Carmen and La Malagueta, its darker sands have a width averaging 25 metres, and a length stretching to a kilometre.

  Among the sands, visitors will find areas with palms and grasses offering natural… read more »

• 19. Playa Burriana // Costa del Sol

  

  Playa Burriana is a large sandy beach in Nerja that stretches for around 800 metres in length, and averages 40 metres in width. It has been awarded the European Union's Blue Flag for cleanliness and facilities on multiple occasions, as well as being a repeat recipient of Spain's equivalent Q for quality award.

  Seeing thousands of local and foreign visitors each year, Playa Burriana has excellent facilities, including showers, children's play… read more »

• 20. Malagueta Beach // Costa del Sol

  

  Great for:

  • Swimming

  One of the closest beaches to Malaga, Malagueta Beach sits comfortably within the city limits, just five minutes by car, or a 20-minute walk from the centre of the city. Buses also regularly ply the route, although there's a good amount of parking nearby.

  Running parallel to the promenade named after Malaga native Pablo Picasso, Malagueta lies east of the port, and boasts an area where visitors are able to… read more »

• 21. Playa Los Lances // Costa de la Luz

  

  Great for:

  • Surfing
  • Kitesurfing

  A vast curving section of pale sand running for seven kilometres in length and with an average width of 120 metres, Playa Los Lances is one of the largest and most impressive beaches in the region. Starting within the city limits of Tarifa, where it is known as Los Lances Sur (or South), it continues west all the way to the protected landscape of Parque Natural del Estrecho. Here… read more »

• 22. Playa de Pedregalejo // Costa del Sol

  

  Great for:

  • Swimming

  Located a few minutes' walk from Malaga's port, Playa de Pedregalejo is an urban beach that sits between Baños del Carmen and El Palo Beach. Though relatively narrow, with an average width of around 20 metres, it's dark - almost brown - sands stretch on for more than a kilometre, ensuring space for all its visitors. Awarded a Q Quality Seal in 2018 by the Spanish authorities as… read more »

• 23. Playa de Santa Maria del Mar // Costa de la Luz

  

  Great for:

  • Swimming

  Andalusia's Playa de Santa Maria del Mar faces west, with a pair of crab claw-like breakwaters embracing this fine sand beach at either end, sheltering it from the winds and strong waves they produce.

  Nudging the ancient glories of the Old Town of Cadiz, recognised as one of the oldest settlements in western Europe, Playa de Santa Maria del Mar may be the smallest beach in the city at only… read more »

• 24. El Playazo de Rodalquilar // Costa de Almería

  

  Great for:

  • Snorkeling

  El Playazo de Rodalquilar is a wide, unspoiled beach set in Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. It is known for its golden sand, clear waters, and scenic backdrop. The beach is about 400 metres long and has shallow waters, making it a good spot for swimming and snorkelling.

  Unlike more developed beaches, Playazo has no bars or restaurants, so visitors should bring their own food and water.

  One of its… read more »

• 25. La Rijana // Costa Tropical

  

  Great for:

  • Snorkeling
  • Fishing

  Accessed via a stepped path running down through coastal cliffs, Playa La Rijana is made up of a small stretch of dark – almost grey – sand and pebbles roughly 250 by 50 metres in size. Otherwise entirely enclosed by the cliffs that surround it and hold the road, its attractive situation among rocky coastline offers a feeling of seclusion.

  Located between the small towns of Calahonda and Castell del… read more »

• 26. Playa Cantarriján // Costa Tropical

  

  Situated just west of La Herradura, Playa Cantarriján is comprised of two areas of sand divided by a large formation of rock that looks almost as if it has tumbled from the surround of stunning tree-covered cliffs.

  One of Andalusia's more virgin beaches, Playa Cantarriján lies within the boundaries of the Paraje Natural de los Acantilados de Maro Cerro Gordo nature reserve, limiting the amount of development that can take place… read more »

• 27. Playa del Cañuelo

  

  Great for:

  • Snorkeling

  Playa del Cañuelo is a shingle beach some 400 metres in length. Situated on the border between Malaga and Granada, it is within Acantilados de Maro Cerro Gordo nature reserve. It's location within this protected region of coastline ensures there's no rampant development. Instead, visitors to the beach will find a couple of well-regarded restaurants catering for all your food and drink needs, as well as an improving lot of… read more »

• 28. Playa de Artola // Costa del Sol

  

  Playa de Artola lies at the eastern end of Marbella, running west away from the elegant Cabopino Marina on an area of coast known as the Punta Ladrones (Thieves' Point). However, unlike most beaches in Marbella, Playa de Artola is not surrounded by large hotel complexes. Instead, it sits among rolling dunes that have been a protected Spanish national space since 2001.

  Though quite narrow, the gently-curving sands of Playa… read more »

• 29. Vera Playa - Playa El Playazo // Costa de Almería

  

  Vera Playa is located at the northern end of Playa El Playazo, a beach measuring two kilometres in length and up to 100 metres wide. It fronts a relatively developed and well-catered for section of Spain's eastern Almeria coastline.

  The first official site for nudists in Europe, it has developed into something of a naturists resort, as well as holding the Guinness World Record for the largest mass participation skinny dip… read more »

• 30. Cabo de Gata (San Miguel) // Costa de Almería

  

  Great for:

  • Kitesurfing

  Playa de San Miguel is a located in the town of the same name in Cabo de Gata. It is one of the more accessible beaches in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, and offers a mix of natural beauty and convenience. The shoreline is long, with fine pale golden sand mixed with some pebbles, and the Mediterranean waters are generally calm, making it a good spot for taking a… read more »

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