Hola! Are you planning a Spanish beach getaway? If so, then Southern Spain should be at the top of your list! With sunshine year-round, a diverse coastline from golden sandy beaches to wild coves, and charming beach towns, this part of Spain is a beach lover’s paradise! Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxing day under the sun, a scenic coastal walk, or a swim in crystal-clear Mediterranean waters, Southern Spain has it all!
We’ve been lucky to call this region home for over a year. And during that time, we’ve explored its many beaches – from windsurfing-friendly ones on Costa de la Luz in the west, through those loved by many on Costa del Sol, to the hidden gems of Costa de Almeria in the east. In this post, we’re sharing our favorite beaches in Southern Spain, the ones that enchanted us with their beauty, vibe, and views. Vamos, the coast is calling!
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Beaches in Southern Spain – Costa del Sol
Playa de Santa Ana in Benalmádena
Playa de Santa Ana is one of the main beaches in Benalmádena Costa and a favorite among both locals and visitors. It’s wide, sandy, and has calm waters – perfect for soaking up the sun and taking refreshing dips during your holidays.
The beach is well-equipped with amenities like toilets, showers, sunbed rentals, and lifeguards during summer. Just above the sand stretches a lovely promenade filled with restaurants, cafés, beach bars, and small shops. It’s the perfect place for a scenic morning or sunset walk.
Just a heads-up: it’s a popular spot and can get busy in the high season! But even so, it quickly became one of our favorite beaches in Southern Spain – it’s simply beautiful.
Playa del Lido in Torremolinos
Playa del Lido in Torremolinos is another example of a stunning beach. Located right along the town’s lively promenade, it offers fantastic views of the coastline and is one of the central beaches in town.
Playa del Lido is clean, wide, and covered with dark golden sand. You’ll find all the essential amenities there – sunbed and umbrella rentals, toilets, showers, parking, beach bars, and restaurants. It’s also a great spot for water sports enthusiasts, with plenty of options available.
It’s one of the most popular beaches in Southern Spain (and for good reason!), so expect lots of holidaymakers during the summer months.
Playa de la Malagueta in Malaga
Heading to Malaga, one of the most vibrant cities in Southern Spain? Then you can’t miss spending time at Playa de la Malagueta, the city’s most iconic beach, located just a short walk from the historic center.
Playa de la Malagueta is a long and wide sandy beach lined with palm trees and a lovely promenade filled with restaurants, and beach bars selling a local dish named espetos (Malaga’s famous grilled sardines). Amenities like sunbeds for rent, toilets, showers, parking garage, children’s playgrounds, or lifeguards in the summer months are there too.
With calm waters, a great location, delicious food, and a laid-back vibe, Playa de la Malagueta is loved by both locals and tourists. It’s definitely one of the coolest urban beaches in Southern Spain.
Playa de Burriana in Nerja
Looking for another fantastic beach on the Costa del Sol? Say hello to Playa de Burriana in Nerja, a charming white village in Andalusia. It’s the most popular beach in town – and it’s easy to see why! Playa de Burriana is large and sandy with stunning views of the surrounding cliffs and plenty of space for sunbathing and swimming.
Behind the beach, you’ll find a promenade filled with beach bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops. And you’ll find some great fresh seafood there too! Playa de Burriana also has all the usual amenities, including toilets, showers, sunbeds, and jet ski rentals.
Playa de Burriana is easily accessible by car or on foot from Nerja’s old town. If you’re visiting the famous Balcón de Europa, the beach is just a short walk away.
Playa de Torrox in Torrox Costa
Playa de Torrox is the main beach of Torrox, a small Andalusian town known for having the “best climate in Europe”. It’s a long, wide, sandy beach ideal for relaxing in the sun. And it has been awarded a Blue Flag for cleanliness and safety.
Above the beach, there’s also a lovely promenade stretching for about 2 kilometres – perfect for nice walks or enjoy a tasty meal at one of the many beachfront restaurants or bars. There you’ll also find a wide range of amenities, including showers, toilets, lifeguards, and parking – everything you’d expect from a resort-style beach.
Playa del Cristo in Estepona
Playa del Cristo is a small, sheltered beach located on the western edge of Estepona, just next to the marina. Its curved bay shape makes the waters here calm and shallow, ideal for families with young children or anyone looking for a peaceful swim. The sand is soft, and the surroundings are scenic and lovely.
There are a couple of beach bars right on the beach, as well as sunbeds and watersport rentals. Parking is conveniently located nearby too. Playa del Cristo is a great place to enjoy a relaxing beach day away from the crowds of Estepona town center. And it’s a great spot to watch the sunset too!
Getting to Playa del Cristo is easy: you can choose between a beautiful coastline walk, driving by car, or taking public transportation.
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Beaches in Southern Spain – Costa de la Luz
Playa de Bolonia near Tarifa
In Andalusia, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean lies Playa de Bolonia that quickly became one of our favorite beaches in Southern Spain. It’s a 4km long and 200m wide golden sandy beach, one of the last wild and unspoiled beaches in the country.
There you won’t find any hotels and only a small number of facilities like beach bars, restaurants, and water sports equipment rentals are available. Bolonia Beach is most famous for the stunning Bolonia Dune, a 30m high and 200m wide sand formation. Behind the beach, you’ll also find ruins of the Roman city Baelo Claudia.
Playa de Bolonia is located about 25km from Tarifa. The most convenient way to get there is by car, but there’s a bus too (although it doesn’t run very often).
Playa de Los Lances in Tarifa
Beaches on Costa de la Luz are one of the best in the entire Southern Spain, and Playa de Los Lances in Tarifa is without a doubt one of them. It stretches for around 7km and features soft golden sand and clear blue waters.
From the beach you can admire amazing views over the Straits of Gibraltar that connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, and the African coast. When it comes to amenities you’ll find many of them along Playa de Los Lances and promenade behind it – there are restaurants, bars, windsurfing schools, toilets and more.
Thanks to constant winds Tarifa is also one of the world’s most popular destinations for practicing water sports like kitesurfing or windsurfing. So no matter the time of the year, Playa de Los Lances is always filled with water sports lovers (and people who love to watch them). If you’re one of them, you’ll be in heaven!
Playa de Santa María del Mar in Cadiz
Playa de Santa María del Mar is one of the most peaceful beaches in Cadiz, located just outside the old town walls. It’s a beautiful stretch of soft sand with calm waves and fewer crowds than the city’s main beach, Playa de la Victoria.
The views from Playa de Santa María del Mar are fantastic too! From the shore, you can admire the cathedral and the skyline of the historic old town. Oh, and if you love swimming, little heads-up – Atlantic Ocean waters are refreshingly chilly all year-round!
As for amenities, there are showers, sunbeds, and a few beach bars nearby, making it a comfortable spot to spend the day. If you’re exploring Cadiz or spending a holiday there, and want a scenic beach that feels close to the city but not too busy, Santa María del Mar is a fantastic choice.
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Beaches in Southern Spain – Costa de Almeria
Playa de los Genoveses in Cabo de Gata
Playa de los Genoveses is one of the most popular beaches in Cabo de Gata Natural Park near Almeria. It’s a wide and long beach, filled with dark golden sand, calm shallow crystal clear waters, and pristine landscapes completely untouched by humans.
There you won’t find any amenities so don’t forget to bring any stuff you might need. It’s really hard to deny that Playa de los Genoveses is one of the most beautiful beaches in Southern Spain.
To get to Genoveses Beach you need to follow a gravel road that starts near San Jose town. You can do that by car, bike, or on foot. During high season you can also reach the beach by bus, which runs every 30 minutes from 9AM to 9PM. If you travel by car, keep in mind that during summer months access to the beach by car is limited and as soon as the parking is full, the road is closed to cars.
Travel tip. Only 4km from Genoveses Beach you’ll find Playa de Monsul, another popular beach in Cabo de Gata. It’s about 300m long pristine beach featuring characteristic standalone rock and no amenities.
Playa de los Muertos in Cabo de Gata
Playa de los Muertos, the Beach of the Dead, is one of the most iconic beaches in Cabo De Gata Natural Park. It’s a 1.2km long unspoiled beach, mostly filled with small pebbles, featuring a huge standalone rock formation resembling a reptile’s face.
The waters are crystal-clear with a beautiful light blue shade, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving. On Los Muertos Beach you also won’t find any amenities – there are no bathrooms, no restaurants or shops, and no lifeguards. So be sure to bring everything you might need for a great day on the beach.
The beach is located under a high cliff and access to it isn’t very easy. From the parking lot, you need to walk down for about 15 minutes. You can choose between two paths – one is easiest and longer and the other steeper and shorter. Unfortunately, if you have mobility issues, you probably won’t be able to go down.
Travel tip. Before you head down to Playa de los Muerto we suggest you admire it from the Mirador de la Playa de los Muertos, located near the parking lot. In our opinion, the beach looks most impressive from that spot and you can clearly see why it holds the title of one of the best beaches in Southern Spain!
Playa la Romanilla in Roquetas De Mar
Playa la Romanilla is one of the main beaches in Roquetas de Mar, located close to the town center. It’s a long, spacious beach with fine golden sand and plenty of room to unwind. Above it, there’s a well-maintained promenade lined with restaurants, cafés, and small shops. No wonder it’s loved by families, locals, and tourists!
On Playa la Romanilla, you’ll find essential amenities like sunbeds, showers, and toilets. The sea here is usually calm and great for swimming. If you’re staying in Roquetas or passing through the Almeria area, Playa la Romanilla is a great choice for a laid-back beach day. And if you’re planning a longer stay, it’s even better for a full Costa de Almería holiday experience.
Playa del Zapillo in Almeria City
Playa del Zapillo is the main beach of Almeria, stretching along the city’s waterfront and offering easy access from almost anywhere in town. It’s a wide sandy beach, perfect for a morning swim, sunbathing, or a relaxing sunset stroll. The lively promenade behind it is lined with tapas bars and restaurants, making it a great spot to soak up the local atmosphere.
Thanks to its location in one of the warmest regions of Spain, Playa del Zapillo is popular year-round. But thankfully, it rarely feels overcrowded! You’ll find all the essential amenities here, including showers, sunbeds, playgrounds, and even volleyball courts. If you’re visiting Almería and looking for a beach that’s both convenient and full of local charm, Playa del Zapillo is an ideal pick.
Best beaches in Southern Spain – Summing up
There you have it – some of the most stunning beaches in Southern Spain that we’ve had the pleasure of exploring. And to think this is only a small glimpse of what the Andalusian coastline has to offer! We hope this guide helps you plan your next sunny escape and that you’ll have a fantastic beach holiday! Whether you love wild, remote places or lively beach towns full of energy, Southern Spain has something special for you.
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