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Spain may have just lifted the World Cup, but football isn’t the only reason this country keeps coming out on top. It’s a short flight from most UK airports, and many of its beach resorts are close enough to the arrival airport that you can catch a morning flight and be tucking into freshly grilled prawns at a beachside chiringuito (traditional beach bar) by late lunch. With colourful harbours, lively tapas bars and miles of stunning coastline to choose from, we’ve rounded up our top 10 Spanish beach resorts.
If you’d like us to help craft your own multi-centre beach holiday to Spain, please get in touch with our team.
Tucked into a rocky bay on Catalonia’s Costa Brava, Tossa de Mar has everything you could wish for in a Spanish resort: a beautiful sandy beach, clear water, excellent seafood restaurants, a medieval old town, and lots of atmosphere. Platja Gran, the main beach, offers a lovely stretch of golden sand right in front of the town. Just a little bit further north, you’ll also find Platja Mar Menuda, a quieter cove that’s great for snorkelling.
The Vila Vella, the old fortified town perched on the headland above the beach, is home to 12th-century walls and towers, with narrow lanes and the glistening sea below. Climb up to the lighthouse (Far de Tossa) for some wonderful views and, when it reopens following renovation work, visit the Museu Municipal, set in a 14th-century mansion, which displays mosaics from a local Roman villa and holds an original 1934 Chagall, painted after the artist called the town his ‘Blue Paradise’ for its luminous Mediterranean light.
Being an old fishing town, the seafood is delicious, with grilled monkfish and turbot, squid-ink rice, fideuà (made from short noodles) and Cim i Tomba (a local stew).
Recommended Itineraries: Valencia, Barcelona & Beach | Barcelona, Girona & Costa Brava
Nerja sits at the eastern end of the Costa del Sol and has a very different feel to the larger resorts to the west, such as Torremolinos. Instead of high-rises, you’ll find traditional Andalusian buildings and small, sheltered coves tucked beneath dramatic cliffs, with exceptionally clear, calm water.
Playa Burriana is Nerja’s largest and most famous beach, lined with shops and traditional chiringuitos. From here, you can rent a kayak to paddle east along the cliffs toward the Maro coves, passing hidden sea caves and a coastal waterfall. If you prefer staying closer to the town centre, Calahonda and Carabeo coves sit just below the cliffs. They can get busy, though, so head to the Maro coves if you’re after more seclusion.
Overlooking the coastline is the Balcón de Europa, a wide clifftop promenade that juts out into the sea, offering fabulous views along the coast in both directions.
The town itself is lovely and full of character, with narrow streets around the main square that are lined with tapas bars and authentic Spanish restaurants. Just outside of the town, make sure you visit the Nerja Caves, an impressive underground cave system with dramatically lit chambers. Also visit Frigiliana, a beautiful, whitewashed hill village that is often described as one of the prettiest villages in the region.
Recommended Itineraries: The Best of Andalusia | Málaga, Nerja & Marbella
Conil de la Frontera sits on Spain’s Atlantic coast, offering a wilder, more unspoilt alternative to many of the Mediterranean’s better-known beach resorts. Its coastline is made up of sweeping stretches of pale gold sand, clear turquoise waters and dramatic dunes, while the refreshing Atlantic breeze keeps temperatures comfortable even at the height of summer.
The town’s main beaches are Playa de los Bateles, which stretches alongside the seafront and is famous for its magnificent sunsets, and Playa de la Fontanilla, with calmer, clear waters. If you’re looking to escape the crowds, Cala del Aceite is a picturesque sheltered cove with sparklingly clear water, while nearby El Palmar is a favourite with surfers thanks to its consistent Atlantic waves and laid-back atmosphere.
Conil’s old town is a maze of narrow whitewashed streets, shaded squares and lively terraces, and it feels relaxed and authentic. It’s also renowned for its bluefin tuna, so make sure you try the local atún rojo, which you’ll find everywhere from tapas bars to fine-dining restaurants. Head up to the medieval Torre de Guzmán for a great view, and pop into La Chanca, the tuna museum in an old salting factory. If you want to explore further afield, the city of Cádiz and the windsurfing and kitesurfing hotspot of Tarifa are both within easy reach.
Recommended Itineraries: Seville, Jerez, Cadiz & Beach
Sitges is one of Spain’s most stylish seaside towns, with beautiful beaches and an old quarter that is full of 19th-century mansions built by the ‘Americanos’, local residents who made their fortunes in Cuba and came home to spend them. Although it’s just a short train ride from Barcelona, and often a popular day trip from the city, Sitges is very much a destination in its own right.
With 17 beaches to choose from, you’re never short of somewhere to relax. A palm-lined promenade links the beaches, making it easy to wander from one to the next before stopping for a leisurely lunch overlooking the Mediterranean. Our favourite beaches include Platja de Sant Sebastià, a small calm bay; Platja de la Ribera and Platja de la Fragata for sunloungers and beach bars; and Platja de la Bassa Rodona, which has long been the heart of Sitges’ LGBTQ+ scene.
Sitges is renowned for its artistic legacy, and the Cau Ferrat Museum, once the home of painter and writer Santiago Rusiñol, is a must-see. The collection includes works by Rusiñol, Casas and El Greco. While you’re there, also head next door to the Maricel Museum and Palace, which has a fantastic setting overlooking the sea. The town itself is a pleasure to wander around with narrow streets, little boutiques, tapas bars and the distinctive Church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla, perched on a rocky headland.
After dark, Sitges has a lively social scene, with everything from relaxed cocktail bars and beach clubs to late-night clubs where you can dance well into the night if the mood takes you.
Recommended Itineraries: Valencia, Barcelona & Beach | Barcelona, Girona & Costa Brava
While the Costa Blanca is often associated with lively resorts such as Benidorm, Villajoyosa offers something much gentler and more charming. It’s best known for its rows of brightly painted houses in shades of pink, yellow, blue and orange, traditionally used by fishermen to help them find their way home from the sea.
The beach is lovely, with a wide stretch of golden sand backed by the colourful old town, but the real appeal of Villajoyosa is its authenticity. It still feels like a proper Spanish seaside town, where everyday life carries on much as it always has. Wander around the fish market, enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants and join the locals for their traditional paseo along the seafront in the early evening before heading to the main square (Plaça de la Generalitat) for a drink. At sunset, the waterfront is particularly beautiful, with the colourful houses reflected in the calm sea.
The town is also home to one of Spain’s best-known chocolate makers, Chocolates Valor, and the family-run company still has its factory here, where you can visit the chocolate museum, learn about the history of cocoa and, of course, sample some of the chocolate.
Villajoyosa also makes a perfect base for exploring this stretch of the Costa Blanca. Altea is only a 20-minute drive away, with its pretty whitewashed old town, cobbled streets and distinctive, blue-domed church. You can also continue a little further to Calpe, where you’ll find a busy fishing port, excellent seafood restaurants and the dramatic Calpe Rock, also known as Peñón de Ifach, a limestone rock that rises 332 metres above the Mediterranean Sea, with incredible views of the surrounding area.
Recommended Itineraries: Valencia, Alicante & Beach
For many people, Marbella is synonymous with the glamour of Puerto Banús, with designer shopping, superyachts, celebrity sightings and exclusive beach clubs. But that’s only one side of it. The old town (Casco Antiguo) is gorgeous. Centred around the Plaza de los Naranjos, its labyrinthine streets are lined with whitewashed houses, orange trees, bougainvillea and authentic tapas bars. It’s genuinely one of the prettiest old quarters on the Costa del Sol.
The beaches are just as lovely, with wide stretches of sand, a long palm-lined promenade, stylish beach clubs and great chiringuitos. For something quieter, head east to Playa de Cabopino, where the beach is backed by rolling sand dunes. And, of course, if it’s glamour you’re after, spend a day at Nikki Beach in Elviria, with DJ sets, day drinking and unapologetic posing.
Marbella is also a fantastic winter-sun destination. Sheltered by the mountains, the coast enjoys a mild climate, with January afternoons often reaching the mid-to-high teens, which is perfect for a relaxed long lunch overlooking the Mediterranean.
Recommended Itineraries: The Best of Andalusia | Málaga, Nerja & Marbella
Cambrils, on the Costa Daurada, doesn’t have the same profile as nearby Salou, but that’s exactly why many people love it. The beaches are wide and sandy, the water is calm, and the promenade runs for miles. Its real draw, though, is the old fishing harbour, the heart of the town, with outstanding seafood restaurants and a refined, relaxed atmosphere. The quality of the fish and rice dishes in particular is exceptional. The historic old town area still retains segments of medieval walls, ancient defensive watchtowers, good bars and independent shops.
Cambrils is also well-placed for exploring the wider area. The Ebro Delta, one of the most important wetland nature reserves in the western Mediterranean, is an hour to the south, and the UNESCO-listed ancient Roman city of Tarragona, with its incredibly well-preserved amphitheatre overlooking the sea, is just 20 minutes up the coast. For thrill-seekers, PortAventura theme park is only 15 minutes away.
Recommended Itineraries: Valencia, Barcelona & Beach
On the north coast of Mallorca, Alcúdia combines some of the island’s best beaches with one of its loveliest old towns. The historic centre sits a mile or so inland and is enclosed by medieval walls. Inside the walls, you’ll find narrow cobbled streets, excellent restaurants, shady squares and one of Mallorca’s best twice-weekly markets.
Down on the coast, a palm-lined promenade follows the shoreline, with plenty of cafés, chiringuitos and watersports along the way. Closest to the town is Port d’Alcúdia, where a magnificent sweep of soft, pale sand curves around the Bay of Alcúdia, with calm, shallow water that’s perfect for swimming. A little further along is Playa de Muro, a quieter stretch of beach backed by dunes and pine trees. It feels altogether more natural than the resort beaches, with powder-soft sand, clear turquoise water and plenty of space to relax. At its far end lies S’Albufera Natural Park, the largest wetland in the Balearic Islands and a haven for birdlife.
For a spot of exploring, Cap de Formentor, with its dramatic cliffs and spectacular sea views, is around 45 minutes away. You can also easily reach the northern edge of the Serra de Tramuntana, where winding mountain roads lead to beautiful villages and impressive scenery.
Recommended Itineraries: Barcelona & The Balearics | Exploring the Balearics
The beauty of Santa Eulària is that it allows you to experience Ibiza entirely on your own terms. If you fancy a big night out, the island’s famous clubs are within easy reach. If not, it’s a fabulous destination in its own right, and you’re perfectly placed to enjoy long evenings over dinner at one of the town’s excellent restaurants or a quiet drink by the marina instead.
Located on the island’s quieter eastern coast, it’s a relaxed, pretty town with good beaches, a small marina, and a promenade lined with cafés and restaurants. The beaches nearby, including Cala Llenya, Cala Martina and Es Canar, are among the nicest on the island, with clear water and a more local atmosphere than the bigger beaches further west. Nearby, you’ll find two of Ibiza’s famous hippy markets. Punta Arabí, in Es Canar, is the original and largest, while Las Dalias, just inland, is perhaps the most iconic. Browse the colourful stalls, then stay into the evening for food, drinks and live DJs under the fairy lights.
Of course, if you do want a proper taste of the island’s legendary hedonistic side without actually staying in the thick of it, the clubs are a scenic cross-island taxi ride. Or treat yourself to a night at Pikes, the wonderfully eccentric hotel in the hills near San Antonio where Wham! filmed Club Tropicana.
Recommended Itineraries: Barcelona & The Balearics | Exploring the Balearics
Fuerteventura is home to some of the best beaches in the Canary Islands, and the beaches around Corralejo are genuinely impressive, with vast white-sand beaches and turquoise water that wouldn’t look out of place in the Caribbean. The great dunes of the Parque Natural de Corralejo stretch south of the town for miles, creating a landscape of Sahara-like windswept dunes. There’s also a wide range of water sports on offer, including windsurfing, kitesurfing, snorkelling and diving.
Corralejo is one of the prettiest resorts on the island, with a fishing harbour, some lovely independent restaurants, a lively centre and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s also a fantastic winter-sun destination, with daytime temperatures often around 20°C even in the colder months. If you want to venture a little further, take the 15-minute ferry to the tiny, uninhabited island of Lobos. With no roads or hotels, and capped visitor numbers, it’s a peaceful nature reserve with walking trails, volcanic landscapes, crystal-clear lagoons and some of the best snorkelling in the Canaries.
Recommended Itineraries: Fuerteventura & Lanzarote | Exploring the Canaries
Three other beach resorts just missed out on our top 10, two of them in the Canaries, which makes them a good choice if it’s winter sun you’re after. Cala Galdana in Menorca is one of the prettiest bays in the Balearics with a wide horseshoe of sand, calm water and pine-covered cliffs. Costa Adeje in Tenerife is great if you want a luxury hotel with plenty on your doorstep. It even boasts a beach with golden sand that is imported from the Sahara, so it looks nothing like the volcanic sand other beaches are famous for. Meanwhile, Playa Blanca in Lanzarote has a series of lovely sandy bays, a fabulous promenade, and low-rise whitewashed buildings.
Spain’s best beach resorts are even better when combined. Pair lively coastal towns with quieter, lesser known spots, add a few days in a bustling city, or build in a little adventure with a road trip or island hopping. We have many multi-centre itineraries featuring the resorts in this guide, or our team can create a completely tailor made trip around the places you most want to see.
Inspired by the guide? We’ve handpicked a few holidays that bring it to life—perfect for turning travel ideas into reality.
