Hot beaches, hotter guys. If you want the perfect mix of architectural, natural, and human beauty, look no further! Barcelona is a populous urban destination in Spain, located on the coast between the Llobregat and Bezòs rivers. It is a major global city and one of the world’s leading tourist centres. Barcelona is known for its architecture, heritage, and beaches.
Did you know?
Barcelona beach was listed as number one in the list of top ten city beaches in the world according to National Geographic and Discovery Channel.
Barcelona is home to 7 different beaches, covering roughly 4.5km of coastline. These beaches are located right next to Olympic Harbour, as a few were built to accommodate the 1992 Summer Olympics. These beaches are famous for their must-see views of both nature, and man's beauty.
Some of our favourite beaches are:
- Mar Bella Beach
- Barceloneta beach
- Bogatell beach
Mar Bella Beach
Overview
Imagine yourself comfortably relaxing on a sandy beach with a drink in your hand, soaking in the sun and the sea while enjoying the beautiful image of the boys. Mar Bella beach is a nude beach in Barcelona and conveniently happens to be the gayest beach of them all. What could possibly be better than chilling at a beach surrounded by nude gay men? Located in the beach section above the Olympic Harbour, Mar Bella beach is only a 10-minute drive away from the City Centre. Buses also take you close to the entire Barcelona beach area, if you aren’t driving.
Things to do
Chiringuito BeGay is an openly gay beach bar located on Mar Bella beach. They serve a variety of Mediterranean and international dishes and serve tasty, refreshing mojitos. You can enjoy their menu items on their covered terrace, chill-out space, or in on of their exclusive hammocks. They enjoy recognition in the International gay scene as a meeting point during the Circuit Festival, an annual LGBTQ+ celebration in Barcelona. At this beach, you can also play beach sports like beach volleyball, as well as participate in sea sports such as kayaking, sailing, and catamaran excursions.
Chiringuito BeGay Photo credit: gotaki.com
Barceloneta Beach
Overview
You know what they say - “the bigger the better”. Barceloneta beach is one of the biggest beaches in the area, roughy 1,100m in length. A walk along this beach in the serendipitous presence of tan, muscular men wearing bathing suits is every gay’s dream come true. Located in the beginning of the beach section before the Olympic Harbour, Barceloneta is the closest beach to the City Centre, and is easily accessible by public transportation.
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Things to do
Barceloneta beach is one of the best places to try fresh fish or paella in Barcelona. Tapas are also ordered quite frequently with beer for a beach-worthy meal. La Guingueta is one of the most popular chiringuitos in the beach area, small shacks selling seafood menu items like the ones mentioned above. The beach also contains a boardwalk filled with Spanish street vendors selling food and tourist items. Aside from the beach and boardwalk, there’s an aquarium with a transparent tunnel that allows visitors to discover marine life in the Mediterranean Sea.
La Guingueta Photo Credit: tripadvisor.co.za
Bogatell beach
Photo Credit: barcelona-home.com
Overview
Tired of watching younger gays strut around in speedos? If you’re looking for a more mature crowd, Bogatell beach is the one for you! As an “adult beach” on the Barcelona coastline, with an average age of around 35-38 years old, the crowd here is a little different from the ones at Mar Bella and Barceloneta. Furthermore, Bogatell beach attracts a high presence of foreign visitors. Bogatell beach is located right under Mar Bella beach, therefore also relatively easy to reach via public transportation.
Things to do
The area close to Bogatell beach includes many restaurants and nightlife. Some of the biggest clubs are Gehry’s “Golden fish”, Shoko, Catwalk, and Opium. Popular restaurants in that area include Xiringuito Escribà for traditional paella, L’Escamarlà for fish and seafood, and Can Dendê for Brazilian classics. Opposite from the beach stands Pablenou, a neighbourhood filled with pop up art studios and craft beer breweries. Take a stroll through Pablenou for a break from the beach, before returning to swim in the ocean or play a round of beach volleyball.
Pablenou Photo Credit: onestep4ward.com
Lastly, a shout out to Llevant beach for allowing dogs access during the summer. Feel free to head there after checking out the bears and otters on the beaches recommended above… the human ones of course!
Where to stay
In terms of proximity, Hotel Espana is the closest LGBTQ+ friendly hotel near the beaches. Located in Gothic Quarter, a single bus can take you to the beaches in 15 minutes. Besides enjoying your time at the gay-friendly beaches of Barcelona, there are countless other activities to experience. Book a hotel now and have the time of your life at the beautiful beaches of Barcelona. Click here to check Hotel Espana's prices and availability!