25 Best Nude Beaches in Spain

Spain is a country that, despite the outward appearance of being very traditional, is in fact pretty socially liberal. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the many nudist beaches to be found around the coast. But what a lot of people may be surprised by is that there are no laws against public nudity in Spain, and that means anywhere!

Of course this does not mean it is a good idea to parade along the local high street naked or dine out in the nude. Whilst being tolerant to removing one's clothes in the appropriate place, the Spanish generally appreciate it if you keep the beachwear (or no wear!) to the beach. In Barcelona it is actually illegal to wear just your swimwear in the city. However, this is not to say going nude is frowned upon as there 14 naturist beaches in Barcelona alone.

So, whilst going "au naturel" is widely accepted, it is best to keep it to the appropriate beaches; those that are officially designated nudist, or some of the many unofficial, secluded spots around the coast.

  • Aguas Blancas Beach // Ibiza

    Aguas Blancas Beach
    © lunamarina / CanStockPhoto

    The often quiet, secluded Aguas Blancas beach is a far cry from the resort towns on the south of the island. This long beach of fine sand gets its name (meaning "white water") from the white horse's that frequently crest the waves on choppy days. However, these prevailing winds that blow throughout the year become a welcome breeze in the summer months when this beach… read more »

  • Bolonia // Costa de la Luz

    Bolonia

    In the province of Cadiz in Andalucia are the white sands of Bolonia beach which stretch out far along the coastline. Untouched and secluded, the soft sandy beach is backed by the remains of the Roman city of Baelo Claudia, which are worth exploring.

    There is also a nudist section of the beach at the southern end of the bay.

    read more »
  • Playa de Ses Illetes // Formentera

    Playa de Ses Illetes
    © Tono Balaguer / 123RF

    Located just a stones throw away from the party island of Ibiza is the small island of Formentera. Despite its proximity Formentera can only be reached by boat and feels like a different world. There are several beautiful beaches around this unspoilt island but the Playa de Ses Illetes is the best of the bunch with its fine white sand and crystal clear turquoise waters.… read more »

  • El Cofete Beach // Fuerteventura

    El Cofete Beach
    © eyewave

    Cofete Beach is located just around the headland from the southern tip of Fuertaventura. The bright lights and resorts to the north of the island will do nothing to prepare you for the awe-inspiring scale and wildness of this beach. The beach is a wide expanse of golden sand that continues for as far as the eye can see. Directly behind the beach the dramatic… read more »

  • Maspalomas Beach // Gran Canaria

    Maspalomas Beach
    © Tono Balaguer

    Set on the southern tip of the island of Gran Canaria is a little slice of the Sahara Desert. Over the centuries the fine golden sand here has been sculpted into an extensive network of dunes extending several hundred metres back from the beach. With a landscape like this you won't be surprised to know it hardly ever rains and the temperature rarely dips below… read more »

  • Playa de Las Conchas // Lanzarote

    Playa de Las Conchas
    Gonzalo Serrano Espada

    Playa de las Conchas lies on the northwest coast of the little island of La Graciosa, five kilometres along a gravel road from the ferry departure point back to Lanzarote. Its almost white sand stretches for 600 metres beside shallows the colour of turquoise. Reaching a maximum width of around 100 metres, Playa de las Conchas is surrounded by the red-tinted foothills of the volcano… read more »

  • Playa de la Tejita // Tenerife

    Playa de la Tejita
    Jose Mesa

    Southward facing, Playa de la Tejita is located immediately to the west of the hill called Montana Rosa, a short distance from Tenerife Sud International Airport. One of the island's clothing optional beaches, the dark coloured sands run for around a kilometre, giving plenty of options for seclusion for those looking to go au naturel. Away from the tide line it is edged by shingle.

    At… read more »

  • Sotavento // Fuerteventura

    Sotavento
    © Dirk Vorderstraße / CC BY

    Situated on the "Calma Costa" which runs along the south east coast of Fuerteventura is Sotavento beach. A vast tract of golden, windswept beach this stretch of coast is about one of the most remote areas on the island.

    Sotavento is a collection of beaches which together create a virtually unbroken stretch of sand from Playa Barca right down to Morro Jable on the… read more »

  • Playa de Esquinzo // Fuerteventura

    Playa de Esquinzo
    Iván Hernández Cazorla

    Not to be confused with the beach of a similar name in Fuerteventura's south, Playa de Esquinzo is a relatively remote stretch of soft golden sand on the northwest coast, six kilometres from El Cotillo. It lies within a small horseshoe shaped bay at the end of a gravel road and beyond a footpath leading from the car park down the dark cliffs to the… read more »

  • Playa Del Matorral // Fuerteventura

    Playa Del Matorral
    Dirk Vorderstraße

    Curving around the southernmost point of the island, the three-kilometre-long Playa del Matorral can be roughly split into two equal parts. Its rich golden sands have been awarded Blue Flag status for cleanliness time and time again over the years, while the waves that come ashore are also normally calm.

    The section closest to the city of Morro Jable is where you'll find the majority of… read more »

  • Playa de Benijo // Tenerife

    Playa de Benijo
    busbusbus

    Forming a part of Parque Rural de Anaga, Playa de Benijo lies on Tenerife's northern coast close to the island's easternmost point. It runs without break into the neighbouring beach of Playa de Fabin although its widest point sits at the base of the curve of the bay.

    Because of its location within the reserve, Playa de Benijo is one for lovers of nature and… read more »

  • Playa del Águila // Fuerteventura

    Playa del Águila
    Sebastian Köttinger

    A wild and relatively wind-swept section of Fuerteventura's northwest coast, Playa del Águila also goes by the name of Playa de la Escalera, or Stairs Beach. A beach for a romantic sunset stroll rather than family day out, its orange-gold sands are backed by high sheer cliffs and lack any kind of facilities.

    To reach it, visitors must travel a short distance along an unsurfaced road… read more »

  • Cala Escorxada // Menorca

    Cala Escorxada
    MontanNito

    You would expect a beach this beautiful to get pretty busy in the summer, but this is not the case with the exquisite little cove of Cala Escorxada. It is just that bit too far off the beaten track for its pristine white sands and clear blue waters to ever get crowded.

    If you don't have a boat getting to Cala Escorxada involves at least an… read more »

  • Cala Mesquida // Mallorca

    Cala Mesquida
    dronepicr

    Located on a remote stretch of the rugged north-eastern coast of Mallorca is an oasis of beautiful soft, white sand lapped by crystal-clear turquoise waters. The beach of Cala Mesquida is a true gem with the perfect balance of a stunning setting and all the facilities you'll need for a family day at the beach.

    The beach of Cala Mesquida is set in a small bay… read more »

  • Es Trenc Beach // Mallorca

    Es Trenc Beach
    Greg_Men

    Set in the far south of Mallorca, Es Trenc is a large stretch of unspoilt white sand with clear turquoise waters reminiscent of the Caribbean. Despite its remote, wild character this is still one of the best-known beaches on Mallorca and is popular with locals and visitors alike.

    Es Trenc is a great family beach as the water is shallow and tends to be calm. There… read more »

  • Caló des Mort // Formentera

    Caló des Mort
    © jimmy di lorenzo

    The tiny yet idyllic cove of Caló des Mort is situated at the eastern end of Playa de Migjorn. A picture perfect semi-circular cove backed by steep rocky cliffs this is one of Formentera's worst-kept secrets.

    Besides its diminutive size and rocky backdrop, what gives Caló des Mort its special feel is the colour of the water. It is almost as if somebody has turned… read more »

  • Playa de La Cantería // Lanzarote

    Playa de La Cantería
    MoveinBlue

    Facing north, Playa de la Cantería is Lanzarote's most northerly beach and has something of an edge of the world feel to it. Located close to the village of Órzola, it is a beach made of pale yellow sand, although at high tide it can look black because of a ribbon of loose volcanic rocks further back.

    Surrounded by a typical Lanzarote landscape of steep, bare… read more »

  • Playa Famara // Lanzarote

    Playa Famara
    Victor R. Ruiz

    Playa Famara faces out into the waters of Bahia de Penedo on Lanzarote's northwest coast. Part of the Chinijo Archipelago Nature Park, it offers excellent views of La Graciosa island, which sits off Lanzarote's northern tip.

    Stretching for an incredible five kilometres, Playa Famara's yellow sands never get crowded, though in places they are mixed with ancient volcanic pebbles from the massif of rock that overlooks… read more »

  • Playa del Inglés // Gomera

    Playa del Inglés
    © Jörg Bergmann

    This volcanic, black sand beach is nestled along La Gomera's western coastline, just a couple of miles north of Valle Gran Rey.

    Like most of the island's beaches, there's a shortage of facilities and amenities on the sands, which helps to keep them unspoilt. Like you'd expect though, the scenery is stunning and the sand is scattered with volcanic rocks.

    As for the waters, they're very calm… read more »

  • Playa del Confital // Gran Canaria

    Playa del Confital
    Bengt Nyman

    This laid-back spot is Gran Canaria's most northerly beach and is fairly off the beaten track. The vast majority of beachgoers who come here are locals, and it's a popular spot for sunset picnics and family barbecues.

    In terms of facilities, there aren't any, and that's how the locals like to keep it. There's a tiny town with a supermarket and a handful of restaurants that's… read more »

  • Playa de las Gaviotas // Tenerife

    Playa de las Gaviotas
    Beneharo Hdez.

    Located among the bare cliff faces of Tenerife's north, Playa de las Gaviotas is a nudist friendly beach with charcoal grey sand on a small curve of coastline. Although just a short distance from Playa de la Teresitas, Gaviotas is altogether a much more relaxed affair.

    Almost disappearing entirely with the waves of high tide, the beach is backed by a sloped retaining wall, which… read more »

  • Mar Bella Beach // Catalonia

    Mar Bella Beach
    Markus Tacker

    This semi-urban beach on the coastal reaches of Barcelona is located between Bogatell and Nova Mar Bella beaches. Like its neighbouring areas of golden sand, Mar Bella Beach has a good number of public facilities, including toilets, showers, a children's play area and beach volleyball courts.

    On Passeig Marítim, the promenade that runs behind Mar Bella, visitors will also find table tennis tables,… read more »

  • Sant Sebastià Beach // Catalonia

    Sant Sebastià Beach
    MARIA ROSA FERRE ✿

    Noted for its modern tower and integrated cable car station (for trips up to Mount Monjuic), Sant Sebastià Beach lies in the Cuitat Vella district of Barcelona immediately along the coast from Sant Miquel Beach. One of the city's oldest and best loved beaches, Sant Sebastià comprises biscuit-coloured sands that continue for around a kilometre in length and average widths of 80 metres.

    Sant… read more »

  • Platja de la Bassa Rodona // Catalonia

    Platja de la Bassa Rodona
    Jorge Franganillo

    Located in Sitges, roughly 20 minutes from Barcelona, Platja de la Bassa Rodona is best well known as the region's premier gay-friendly beach. As one of the most central, it's here that many gay couples choose to sunbathe, although increasingly relaxed attitudes towards the gay community mean many happily bathe on beaches closer to the Catalonian capital.

    As a result of its history, visitors can… read more »

  • Playa de los Muertos // Costa de Almería

    Playa de los Muertos
    isol

    Situated between two coastal villages, Carboneras and Agua Amarga, and roughly 55 minutes by car from Almeria, Playa de los Muertos has appeared more than once in lists of not only the best beaches in Spain, but also the best beaches in all of Europe.

    Despite its sinister name, the "Beach of the Dead", which stems from the time of pirates and shipwrecks, Playa de los… read more »