Hundreds of kilometers of coastline and sunny days all year round: theAndalusia it is the ideal destination for a splendid seaside holiday. But which ones beaches choose? Which are the most beautiful in all of Andalusia?
La Andalusian coast it is divided into four areas: one of these, the Costa del Sol, is very famous all over the world and with its tumultuous development it has become a symbol of seaside tourism in Europe.
The Costa de la Luz, the only one bathed by the ocean rather than the Mediterranean, is ideal for surfers and for those who want remote and pristine beaches. The less touristy Costa Tropical and Costa de Almería reserve unexpected surprises and are recommended for those who love beaches surrounded by nature.
To help you find the ideal beach for you, we have created a guide to best beaches in Andalusia with the list of the 10 most beautiful beaches of all and the 5 most beautiful beaches for each stretch of coast.
The 10 best beaches in Andalusia
What are the most beautiful beaches in Andalusia by far? For those who have not yet decided on their holiday itinerary and are willing to move throughout southern Spain, here is the list of 10 top beaches in Andalusia to choose where to go.
A true legend for windsurfing and kitesurfing enthusiasts and for those who want to feel at the edge of the world, Los Lances beach it is the beach that made the quiet town of Tarifa famous all over the world and one of the most beautiful in southern Spain. It is a very wide beach, 10 km long and wide, with very fine white sand and incredibly soft to the touch.
The beach is constantly beaten by winds, which create ideal conditions for surfing but make it almost impossible to lie down and sunbathe. Despite this, the Tarifa's most famous beach it is one of the busiest in Andalusia and leaving without seeing it would be a real shame.
In many respects similar to the Playa de los Lances, Beach of Bologna it is a little less crowded and perhaps more impressive. At one end of the beach stands an immense sand dune, known as Duna de Bolonia, which has been declared a Natural Monument.
Torremolinos it is by far the best place in Andalusia for those looking for fun. Considered the Rimini of Southern Spain, it has several beaches that actually represent a single long sandy coast with large equipped areas behind which there is an endless row of hotels with hundreds of rooms.
Of all Playamar, one of the most central, is the one that offers the most opportunities for sports and the one with the largest number of beach bars. It is not suitable for those who love nature and tranquility, but it is an excellent choice for those looking for services, sports equipment, clubs directly on the beach or nearby.
With the name of Roche coves we mean a series of coves and inlets that open along the cliffs near the town of Conil de la Frontera. They are usually sandy beaches framed by rocky headlands of reddish color which at sunset are colored with extraordinary colors.
Difficult to reach and therefore generally not crowded, Canuelo Beach in Nerja is a mixed beach of sand and pebbles surrounded by a natural setting of extraordinary beauty. Bathed by a crystal clear sea, it is one of the best beaches in Andalusia for snorkelling.
Between Two Towers Beach (sometimes called Playa de Cabo de Gracia) is an enchanting beach of fine sand 1,5 km long and 50 meters wide in the locality of Zahara de los Atunes, which fascinates for the contrast between the golden color of the sand and the green of the hill surrounding and the blue of the sea.
At one end of the beach stands the faro Camarinal, a XNUMXth century defensive tower which has been used as a lighthouse since the XNUMXs.
Located within the protected natural area of Cabo de Gata, Beach of the Dead can boast the most crystalline sea in all of Andalusia. Despite its name (which translates to "Beach of the Dead"), it has nothing gloomy about it, on the contrary it is one of the places where you will feel happiest and most vital.
It can only be reached on foot, and the walk of about 10 minutes discourages many tourists, which instead makes the happiness of those who arrive to spread their towels on this sandy beach sheltered by a high cliff.
Playa de la Rihanna is a jewel set among the cliffs along the coast of Granada. Bathed by an emerald sea, this remote dark sand beach is enclosed within two rocky promontories, in a natural setting of extraordinary beauty. Although it is not easy to reach, it is often crowded in the warmer months.
It is not equipped and there are no bars or kiosks nearby, so bring everything you need for the day with you.
Nagueles Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Marbella, the chic resort on the Costa del Sol, frequented by celebrities and those who would like to be.
More than a kilometer long, it is a sandy beach surrounded by palm trees and other trees in an area of exclusive villas. It is trendy but not noisy, perfect for those who want to feel a little VIP.
Another great beach in the Cabo de Gata area is Monsul Beach, whose peculiarity is a rock with a bizarre shape that looks like a petrified wave. This beach is also bathed by a very transparent sea.
The best beaches on the Costa del Sol
La Costa del Sol it extends from the tip of Tarifa in the east to the Cabo de Gata in the west and corresponds almost entirely to the coast of the province of Malaga. It is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea.
The area is almost completely urbanized and travel is easy thanks to the A7 expressway and the AP-7 coastal highway. You will find many equipped beaches equipped with all services, but also some more wild-looking beaches.
If your holiday focuses on the Costa del Sol, here are the beaches not to be missed:
- Playamar, Torremolinos
- Nagueles Beach, Marbella
- La Carihuela Beach, Torremolinos
- La Caleta Beach, Malaga
- Los Boliches Beach, Fuengirola
The best beaches on the Costa de la Luz
La Costa de la Luz it is the west coast of Andalusia: it extends from the Punta de Tarifa to the mouth of the Guadiana river and is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean. From an administrative point of view it falls into the provinces of Cadiz and Huelva.
Although touristy, it is less crowded than the Costa del Sol and it is easier to find free beaches surrounded by nature.
If your holiday is concentrated on the Costa de la Luz, here are the beaches not to be missed:
- Los Lances beach, Tarifa
- Beach of Bologna, Bologna
- Germans Beach, Zahara of the Tuna
- Roche coves, Conil de la Frontera
- San Bruno Beach, Cinnamon Island
The best beaches of the Costa Tropical
Many people are convinced that the whole coast of Andalusia is divided into the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz; in reality there are two other less known coastal stretches.
One of these is the Costa Tropical, which corresponds to the coastal area of the province of Granada and is therefore also called Costa Granadina. Small and not very touristy, it hides some unmissable treasures for sun and sea lovers.
Here are the most beautiful beaches of the Costa Tropical:
- Canuelo Beach, Nerja
- Playa de la Rihanna, Calahonda
- Calahonda Beach, Calahonda
- La Guardia Beach, Salobrena
- Grenada Beach, Motril
The best beaches of the Costa de Almería
The other little-known coast of Andalusia is the Costa de Almería, which falls entirely within the province of the same name. It represents the easternmost part of the region and extends from the town of Pulpí, on the border with the Murcia region, to Adra, on the border with the province of Granada. It is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea.
It certainly deserves to be considered as a possible destination for a seaside holiday. Among its unmissable beaches we point out:
- Beach of the Dead, Cabo de Gata
- Mónsul Beach, Cabo de Gata
- San Pedro Beach, Niger
- Lead Cove, Bitter water
- Genoveses beach, Saint Joseph
