Barceloneta beach has one thousand and a hundred metres of thin, white sand and calm waters that make it suitable for swimming. The peak season takes place in the summer because of the flood of tourists Barcelona receives between the months of June and September. Anyways, the activity in Barceloneta beach never ceases, no matter the time of the year, the time of the day or the meteorological conditions.
How to get to Barceloneta beach
In order to head for Barceloneta beach on foot we must go to the Paseo de Colón, situated at the end of the Ramblas of Barcelona. Then we need to go down a square called Plaza de Pau Vila on the right following the path marked by the Museo de Historia de Cataluña and skirting Port Vell. The Juan de Borbón walk will lead us to the Barceloneta esplanade.
If we choose the option of travelling by tube, we have to get on line 4 and get off either at the Barceloneta or Ciutadella – Villa Olímpica station. Both are pretty close to the beach.
Moreover, there are many metropolitan buses of Barcelona (the red ones) which have stops in Juan de Borbón walk as well as near the beach esplanade, like, for instance, lines number 14, 16, 17, 36, 39, 40, 45, 51, 57, 59, 64 and 157.
Useful information about Barceloneta
As a capital and cosmopolitan city that welcomes thousands of tourists every year, Barcelona has the responsibility of providing safety and comfort in public places with a tendency to get crowded like its beaches. Thus, Barceloneta beach offers:
- Access for disabled people.
- Police surveillance and lifeguards.
- Deck chairs and umbrellas hire.
- Ice cream stands and water, soft drinks and beer vendors.
- Showers.
- Public toilets.
- For women, topless sunbathing is commonly practiced and allowed in Barceloneta beach, as it is in other beaches of Barcelona.
Eating in Barceloneta beach
Barceloneta beach has numerous seaside restaurants, where you can have lunch in the shade, without moving too far from the sand nor losing the sight of the sea. Indeed it is one of the most well-known gastronomic zones in Barcelona, for those who spend the day at the beach as well as for those who choose it for family gatherings or romantic dinners.
Among the most popular restaurants are:
- The Arenal restaurant, where you can enjoy all kinds of “tapas”, rice, fish and meat dishes. It offers various set menus of different price ranges and a wide wine list.
- The Xup Xup, a vanguardist establishment for Mediterranean food lovers, where catalan dishes are reinvented. They also have set menus available.
- The Sal Café, where asian and mediterranean cuisines merge into one. It also offers set menus specially designed for children.
These and many other gastronomic businesses of Barceloneta beach in Barcelona turn into terraces, pubs and clubs after the sunset.
Daytime activities in Barceloneta beach
Barceloneta is not all about lying on the golden sand to sunbathe and swimming in its calm waters, though; the liveliness of this area is highly contagious.
As soon as the nice weather comes, the esplanade of this catalan beach gets crowded with joggers, skaters and cyclists, who go from the Olympic port – with Arts Hotel and “peix d’or” sculpture as background – to the impressive W hotel, also known as the “sail” hotel, in Rosa de los Vientos square.
In Barceloneta beach there are establishments where bicycles can be hired, and also places where they hire equipment for water sports practice – like surf or kite suf – or, if you prefer, you can sign up for a course.
Besides, the beach has beach volley courts, beach football pitch, ping pong table and a playground.
For reading enthusiasts, a beach library is installed in Barceloneta during the months of July and August, in which books, magazines and newspapers in several languages can be borrowed.
Barceloneta beach nightlife
Barcelona nightlife is nothing more than a prolongation of the daytime activity. Barceloneta beach atmosphere transforms after the sunset giving way to seaside terraces where there were restaurants and to “mojitos” where there were “tapas” and beer.
Some of the coolest clubs in Barceloneta beach are Opium Mar – discotheque, terrace and bar -; Suite Royale, with diverse musical environments; The Red Lounge – bar, restaurant, chill out and music -; and Shoko, offering house and r&b music, another restaurant which turns into a night terrace.
If you are looking for a select environment, the Eclipse, on floor 26 of W Hotel Barcelona, designed by arquitect Ricardo Bofill, represents the most exclusive night leisure option of the area with spectacular city views.
