Hola! Ready to explore some of the most beautiful coastal cities in Spain? Today, we’re taking you on a journey from vibrant Catalonia to sun-drenched Andalusia, following the beautiful coastline that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Golden beaches, breathtaking views, exciting experiences, delicious local food, fascinating architecture, and places full of history are waiting for you!
Whether you’re planning a road trip, a summer getaway, or just dreaming of future travels, this guide to coastal cities in Spain will help you find everything you’re looking for – from cosmopolitan Barcelona to laid-back Cádiz, and everything in between! Vamos, let’s hit the coast!
Note. For ease of use, we categorized the list based on Spanish regions. If you want to know more about a particular city, just hit the link to a specific post about it.
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Coastal cities in Spain: Andalusia
Cadiz
Cadiz is a charming and quaint coastal city in Spain, located in Andalusia. It’s located on a narrow slice of land, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Cadiz is one of the oldest and continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, first settled by the Phoenicians around 3000 years ago. Later, Romans settled there and built an impressive city. Over the years, Cadiz was one of the most important ports in Europe and also a starting point for Christopher Columbus’s travels. Nowadays, it’ll enchant you with amazing landscapes filled with blue water, fishing boats, and golden sandy beaches, as well as a charming old town full of history.
Almeria
Almeria is one of the most beautiful coastal cities in Spain, located in the warmest and driest region of Spain. It’s a city with a great vibe that will keep you entertained for a long time. Almeria is best known for its impressive Alcazaba, a unique-looking cathedral, a charming old town perfect for lazy strolls, and tranquil beaches with mesmerizing blue Mediterranean Sea waters. What’s more, it still isn’t a very popular travel destination, so if you hate crowd,s you’ll appreciate its calmness. Almeria is a great holiday destination all year round.
Malaga
Malaga is one of the oldest cities in Spain. It’s the capital of Andalusia and the birthplace of the famous artist Pablo Picasso. 300 sunny days per year, hot summers, warm winters, historic wonders, sun-soaked beaches, culinary delights, museums, and art galleries… Probably nothing else needs to be mentioned to convince you that Malaga is one of the best coastal cities in Spain. And a very popular destination, all year round! Whatever type of traveler you are, you won’t be bored there.
Roquetas de Mar
Roquetas de Mar is one of the most popular holiday resorts on the Costa de Almeria, where thousands of people flee to look for the sun and relaxation. And no wonder! Beautiful sunny weather all year round with little rain and an average temperature of 18°C, golden sandy Blue Flag beaches, mesmerizing blue sea waters, modern hotels, many restaurants, and a wide range of activities… All of that makes Roquetas de Mar an amazing holiday destination and one of the best coastal cities in Spain. It’s hard to believe that only during the last 50 years this town has evolved from a traditional fishing village into a modern holiday resort!
Tarifa
Tarifa is the southernmost point of Spain and mainland Europe. It lies right across Morocco, in a place where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet. It might not be the biggest coastal city in Spain, but it’s full of amazing things to do, especially for water sports lovers. Thanks to strong, constant winds, Tarifa is called Europe’s capital of the wind, and hence is one of the world’s most popular destinations for water sports. In Tarifa, you’ll also find one of the best and most beautiful beaches in Andalucia and a charming old town with a very chilled-out vibe.
Estepona
Estepona is one of the most colorful coastal cities in Spain. It’s an underrated gem, offering a quieter, more authentic alternative to its popular neighbors on the Costa del Sol. In Estepona, you’ll find a charming old town with a maze of whitewashed streets decorated with vibrant flower pots, many interesting street art, and sandy holiday-perfect beaches. It’s a perfect place to slow down for a moment and soak up the Andalusian vibe.
Marbella
Without a doubt, Marbella is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the Costa del Sol. This coastal city is most famous for its vivid nightlife scene with many nightclubs and bars. There are plenty of beautiful sandy beaches, an enchanting old town with a typical Andalusian vibe, delicious food, as well as golf courses, and luxury shopping. So if you’re looking for some fun and chic at the same time, Marbella is a place for you!
Coastal cities in Spain: Valencian Community
Alicante
Alicante is one of the largest coastal cities in Spain, population-wise. Thanks to a typical Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters with lots of sunshine, Alicante is a very popular travel destination all year round. And it offers plenty of things to do! From exploring the charming old town, the hilltop castle, and the unique Mushroom Street to many cultural attractions, vivid nightlife, delicious Mediterranean food, and great beaches. Alicante will be a great choice if you’re also looking for a lot of fun during your holidays.
Benidorm
Benidorm is quite a unique coastal city in Spain on the Costa Blanca. In just about 50 years, it evolved from a small, sleepy fishing village to one of the most popular holiday resorts on the Mediterranean coast. Benidorm is also often affectionately called the “Manhattan of Spain” – and one look is enough to tell that this city is totally different! Besides the unique coastline look with many skyscrapers, the town has a lot to offer – striking beaches, mountain views, vivid nightlife, and lots of attractions both for adults and kids.
Valencia
Valencia is the third-largest city in Spain and the birthplace of the world-famous paella dish. There, hundreds of years of fascinating history blend with modern times very smoothly. Even though Valencia offers striking architecture, magnificent beaches, a beautiful old town, and fantastic food, it’s often overlooked by many travelers. But some huge advantage comes with it – fewer tourists and smaller crowds! Doesn’t it sound like a perfect coastal city in Spain for holidays?
Coastal cities in Spain: Region of Murcia
La Manga del Mar Menor
La Manga del Mar Menor is a narrow piece of land that separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor Lagoon, stretching for approximately 22km. Until the 1960s, it was a natural and virgin area that was completely urbanized in just a few years. Nowadays, it’s considered one of the most renowned tourist destinations in Murcia for sun, beach, relaxation, and watersports. La Manga offers beautiful sandy beaches, stunning views on both sides, and many attractions for active travelers. It’s a place where you can choose if you want to take a dip into calm Mar Menor Lagoon waters or the little mightier Mediterranean Sea.
Discover more beautiful places in Spain ❤️
Coastal cities in Spain: Catalonia
Salou
Salou is best known for being one of the most popular holiday spots on the Costa Dorada, which offers a perfect blend of relaxation and excitement. In Salou, you’ll find nice views, sandy beaches, exciting attractions for people of all ages, and lively nightlife. If you’re looking for some thrill and adrenaline rush, be sure to visit PortAventura World – a world-renowned theme park featuring a diverse array of attractions from heart-pounding roller coasters to captivating live shows. Without a doubt, Salou is one of the most exciting coastal cities in Spain!
Sitges
Sitges is a small coastal city in Spain located close to Barcelona. If you’re looking for a place with scenic beaches, a delightful old town, a relaxed vibe, lively festivals, or fierce all-night-long parties, Sitges will be a fantastic choice for you. No matter if you’re a party-seeker or just looking for a picturesque getaway destination in Catalonia – this town should satisfy all your interests and needs. Also, Sitges is one of the most liberal and open-minded cities in the world, with an amazing LGBT-friendly atmosphere!
Tarragona
Tarragona is a real heaven for history buffs and those who want to escape the Barcelona crowds. It’s a place where history comes to life at its best and surrounds you wherever you go. Numerous Roman ruins and archeological sites, ravishing medieval old town, gripping festivals featuring human towers, and great beaches… Tarragona has it all and even more, and will keep every traveler entertained.
Barcelona
Barcelona, a jewel of Catalonia, is a city that probably needs no introduction. It attracts travelers with a captivating combination of history, architectural wonders, and vibrant Mediterranean life. It’ll be your perfect holiday destination if you love huge and lively cities with dozens of things to do. Wandering among old town streets, admiring surreal Antoni Gaudi’s masterpieces like Sagrada Familia or Park Güell, exploring the enchanting Gothic Quarter, tasting local delicacies, and relaxing on one of many magnificent beaches are just a few examples! No matter how long you’ll be there, you’ll always have something new to discover and do in Barcelona!
Coastal cities in Spain – Summing up
As you can see now, Spain’s coastline offers something for every kind of traveler – from peaceful seaside escapes to lively, culture-packed cities. Whether you’re dreaming of lazy beach days, tapas by the sea, or exploring centuries of history with ocean views, there’s a coastal city in Spain waiting for you. We hope this guide helped you get one step closer to choosing your perfect holiday destination along the Spanish coast. Wherever you go, enjoy your time!
Our opinion about coastal cities in Spain & our TOP5
Until now we’ve spent over 1 year exploring Spain, and out of it 10 months along the Mediterranean/Atlantic coast. We lived in each mentioned regions and during that time, we had a great opportunity to visit quite a lot of places and get to know them pretty well. Overall, we enjoyed all the mentioned cities (otherwise we wouldn’t recommend them to you!).
We think that coastal cities in Catalonia and Valencian Community are the wildest, perfect for those who love to party and have fun. Andalusia and especially Murcia Region were much quieter. But remember that it’s our subjective opinion based on observations from different times of the year, not only high season.
Our TOP5 coastal cities in Spain? Almeria, Sitges, Malaga, Cadiz and Estepona!
