Best Sandy Beaches in Spain

We rank the top 40 of 70 sandy beaches in Spain. Cala Macarella (Spain) comes first with 4.8 / 5, followed by Cala Macarelleta, Cala Pregonda.

The sea reaches about 22 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 19 of the 40 have easy access, and 14 are hidden gems.

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1Cala Macarella

Ciutadella, Menorca, Spain · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A pale sand cove with turquoise water, enclosed by pine-covered cliffs on the south coast of Menorca.

2Cala Macarelleta

Menorca, Spain · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A tiny turquoise cove tucked below pine-covered cliffs, a short coastal walk from its bigger neighbour.

3Cala Pregonda

Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A wild north-coast cove of reddish-gold sand framed by rust-coloured rocks and clear green-blue water, with no buildings behind it.

4Praia de Rodas

Cíes Islands, Galicia, Spain · 4.8 / 5 · Moderate access · about 17 °C

A pale sand crescent between two islands in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, with cold, very clear water.

5Ses Illetes

Formentera, Spain · 4.8 / 5 · Easy access · about 25 °C

A long strip of white sand and shallow, almost Caribbean-coloured water on the northern tip of Formentera.

6As Catedrais

Ribadeo, Galicia, Spain · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 18 °C

Towering sea arches and caves carved by the Atlantic along the coast of Galicia, walkable only at low tide.

7Cala en Turqueta

Ciutadella, Menorca, Spain · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A small sandy cove with clear green-blue water and pine trees reaching down to the shore on the south-west coast of Menorca.

8Cala Varques

Manacor, Mallorca, Spain · 4.7 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A small sandy cove with clear turquoise water in a pine lined inlet on the east coast of Mallorca, with no bars or other services.

9Es Trenc

Mallorca, Spain · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

Mallorca's finest untouched beach — miles of pristine white sand, turquoise shallow water, and no high-rise hotels in sight.

10Maspalomas Dunes

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A protected field of golden dunes at the southern tip of Gran Canaria, running down to a wide Atlantic beach.

11Playa de Bolonia

Tarifa, Andalusia, Spain · 4.7 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A wide, wind-swept Atlantic bay on the Costa de la Luz with a huge sand dune at one end and the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia just behind the beach.

12Playa de Sotavento

Jandia, Fuerteventura · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A very long beach of pale sand on the south of Fuerteventura, with a shallow turquoise lagoon and a sandbar that changes with the tides.

13Playa de Torimbia

Llanes, Asturias · 4.7 / 5 · Moderate access · about 19 °C

A beautiful, unspoilt cove of golden sand backed by green meadows and cliffs on the Asturian coast.

14Cala Galdana

Cala Galdana, Ferreries, Menorca · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °C

A half-crescent cove of white sand and calm, shallow water on the south coast of Menorca, ringed by pine-covered cliffs.

15Cala Mitjana

Ciutadella, Menorca · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A small, sheltered cove of white sand and clear turquoise water, framed by pine trees and low cliffs on the south coast of Menorca.

16Cala Santanyi

Santanyi, Mallorca · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A small sandy cove tucked between pine-covered cliffs on the south-east coast of Mallorca, with calm turquoise water.

17Cala Saona

Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A sheltered sandy cove on the west coast of Formentera with clear shallow water and traditional boat houses on the rocks.

18Cala Torta

Arta, Mallorca · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 23 °C

A wide, undeveloped sand beach on the north-east coast of Mallorca near Arta, with golden sand and clear water.

19Calo des Moro

Santanyi, Mallorca · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A very small sandy cove squeezed between rocky walls on Mallorca south-east coast, known for its turquoise water.

20Formentor Beach

Pollensa, Mallorca · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A sheltered bay of pale sand and shallow turquoise water at the foot of the Formentor peninsula in northern Mallorca, backed by pine trees.

21Los Genoveses Beach

Cabo de Gata, Almeria, Spain · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A broad, undeveloped sandy bay inside the Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park, backed by dunes and low hills.

22Playa de Calblanque

Cartagena, Murcia · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A string of sandy coves inside Calblanque Regional Park on the Murcia coast, with dunes and low hills and no buildings behind the beach.

23Playa de Cofete

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain · 4.6 / 5 · Challenging access · about 20 °C

A wide, wild beach of golden sand below the Jandia mountains, with strong waves and very few facilities.

24Playa de la Concha

San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A sheltered, shell-shaped city beach with fine golden sand, a long promenade and a small island in the bay, a short walk from the old town of San Sebastian.

25Playa de Monsul

Cabo de Gata, Almeria · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 22 °C

A wide golden beach of fine sand backed by dunes and a striking volcanic rock, set inside the Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park.

26Playa de Papagayo

Playa Blanca, Lanzarote · 4.6 / 5 · Moderate access · about 21 °C

A golden cove at the foot of dark volcanic cliffs on the south coast of Lanzarote.

27Playa de Valdevaqueros

Tarifa, Cadiz, Andalusia · 4.6 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A long open beach west of Tarifa, backed by the large Punta Paloma dune.

28Cala Comte

Sant Josep, Ibiza, Spain · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

Small sandy coves with very clear water and low islets offshore, on the west coast of Ibiza.

29Cala del Plomo

Cabo de Gata, Andalusia · 4.5 / 5 · Challenging access · about 24 °C

A remote cove on the Cabo de Gata coast in Andalusia, with pale sand, rocky outcrops and clear water far from the main resorts.

30Cala des Matzoc

Arta, Mallorca · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A quiet sandy cove on the north-east coast of Mallorca near Arta, with clear water and low cliffs behind the beach.

31Cala Llombards

Santanyi, Mallorca · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 24 °C

A small sandy cove on the south-east coast of Mallorca, set between low rocky cliffs and pine trees with clear shallow water.

32Cala Mesquida

Capdepera, Mallorca · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A wide sandy bay in the north-east of Mallorca, backed by dunes and low hills.

33Cala Mondragó

Mallorca, Spain · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °C

A sheltered turquoise cove backed by pines inside a natural park, with the sandy bay of S'Amarador alongside.

34El Cotillo Beach

El Cotillo, Fuerteventura · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A wide sandy beach near the fishing village of El Cotillo on the north-west coast of Fuerteventura, known for clear turquoise water, steady wind and windsurfers.

35Itzurun Beach

Zumaia, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country · 4.5 / 5 · Moderate access · about 20 °C

A golden-sand beach of about 270 m in Zumaia, backed by the layered rock cliffs of the Basque flysch coast.

36Playa de Berria

Santona, Cantabria · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 20 °C

A broad, golden beach of about 2 km with dunes, a nature reserve behind it and views to the Monte Buciero cliffs.

37Playa de Famara

Caleta de Famara, Teguise, Lanzarote · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A long, wide sandy beach on the north-west coast of Lanzarote, framed by the dramatic Famara cliffs and popular with surfers and kitesurfers.

38Playa de la Barrosa

Chiclana de la Frontera, Andalusia · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

An 8 km sweep of fine golden sand on the Costa de la Luz, backed by pine woods and a low red cliff at the north end.

39Playa de las Canteras

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 22 °C

A long, sheltered city beach in Las Palmas, protected by a natural offshore reef that keeps the water calm for most of the year.

40Playa de las Teresitas

San Andres, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain · 4.5 / 5 · Easy access · about 21 °C

A long curved golden beach on the northeast coast of Tenerife, with the Anaga Mountains behind and a breakwater that calms the water.

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How we picked these beaches

Included when the shoreline is mostly of this type, then ranked by our editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.

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