The 5 best beaches nearby and in Barcelona
1) Nova Icària
If you’re facing Frank Gehry’s Peix sculpture (you can’t miss it, it’s a 56-metre long goldfish), Nova Icària beach is behind you and to the right. This is a family beach, with volley fields and a ping-pong table.
![Nova Icária beach](https://images.the500hiddensecrets.com/2019-05/barcelona-discover-nova_icaria.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&h=1080&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1920&s=f72cbaa57844f8339547e3d97a54c331)
2) Mar Bella
Again, facing the Peix, Mar Bella beach is a ten-minute walk to the right. This is a beach with a younger crowd, mostly gay men but lots of women as well. It’s also a nudist zone. Mar Bella and Nova Icària are the best beaches in Barcelona. If you want something else, it’s not a bad idea to leave the city; there are beautiful beaches in the vicinity.
![Mar Bella beach](https://images.the500hiddensecrets.com/2019-05/barcelona-discover-mar_bella.png?auto=format&fit=max&h=1080&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1920&s=06c94c14a4b6c3989715e3c6d1d46063)
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3) Sant Pol de Mar
This seaside village is only a bit further away than better-known Sitges (65 minutes by train). You can stay close to the train station and enjoy the bars on the beach, or you can walk a bit further away and lay your towel in between the rocky formations. Great photo opportunities galore.
![Sant Pol de Mar beach](https://images.the500hiddensecrets.com/2019-05/6845614105_928cc576fc_b.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&h=1080&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1920&s=ef585cf8033d62f584f2261e42708347)
4) Playa Natural del Prat
Want to go where the locals go? Then go to Playa del Prat. You may recognise the name: your plane landed on Airport El Prat. The airport is close to the beach, but that doesn’t bother anyone. The beach consists of 5,5 kilometres of clean blonde sand, with a very mixed crowd. The train-ride from Barcelona to El Prat de Llobregat takes 11 minutes.
![sunset at Playa del Prat](https://images.the500hiddensecrets.com/2019-05/barcelona-discover-platja_del_prat.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&h=1080&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1920&s=41ba4a788ef485ed835775e6d45860bf)
5) Jardines de la Torre de les Aigües
You may think you’re trespassing, walking onto a private parking space or something, but this really is a public space. And a nice one: with a bit of water (around a water tower), sand and benches – an inner-city beach, but with more shade than on an actual beach, thanks to the trees. A great space for parents with small children.
![swimming fountain at Jardines de la Torre de les Aigües](https://images.the500hiddensecrets.com/2019-05/barcelona-discover-jardins_de_la_torre_de_aigues.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&h=1080&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1920&s=565b51327db35531d537e3549002c5cd)
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