11 Blue Flag beaches in Spain

The Blue Flag is a quality certification only the best beaches are awarded with. For a beach to obtain a Blue Flag, it must not only stand out for its innate features, but also according to the services that are offered there, and other aspects such as security or accessibility. Spain is the country with most Blue Flag beaches in the whole world. Indeed, 15% of all the Blue Flag beaches in the entire planet belong to Spain. As of today, in Spain there are 621 beaches that have this certification, which makes it pretty hard to choose which one to visit first! Nonetheless, this list of 11 fantastic beaches might help you decide.

Silgar in Pontevedra

A white sand beach with calm waters

The beach of Silgar in Pontevedra. | Shutterstock

Pontevedra is one of the Spanish provinces with most Blue Flags in the country. Silgar, a fine sand beach with a 600 metres’ length, is one of them. It’s located in the municipality of Sanxenxo, and it’s an urban beach, perfect for those who love cool water. Moreover, if we avoid going during holiday periods, we’ll find ourselves in a really quiet place, where one can enjoy the calm and peacefulness of the beach while swimming or sunbathing. To end with, the beach provides plenty of services, like eating in the beach bars and renting sunbeds or hammocks for a nice rest, listening to the pleasant sound of the waves.

The beach of La Albufereta in Alicante

A view from above displaying a beautiful beach with palm trees

The beach of La Albufereta in Alicante. | Shutterstock

This beach lies between the neighbourhoods of Serra Grossa and Tossal de Manises, right in the city centre of Alicante (or Alacant in Valencian). It is said that this is the area where the city was born originally, since there are remarkable archaeological remains nearby. Likewise, about 800 metres away from the beach rest the remains of a sunken Roman ship.

La Albufereta, with its calm waters and the 400-metres-long sandbank, is the perfect spot for swimming and sunbathing. When it comes to the services, the beach has toilets, showers, walkways for disabled people, and rentable parasols and pedalos, as well as a few places to eat.

The beach of Sancti Petri in Cádiz

A beautiful sunset with shades of purple and orange seen fron the beach

Playa de la Barrosa. | Shutterstock

Sancti Petri is an old fishing town in Chiclana de la Frontera. Hence, we can see multiple wall paintings celebrating the sea in Sancti Petri’s streets. The beach is crossed by many sand dunes, and one can even see the castle of Sancti Petri from there. Another aspect worth mentioning here is the fact that the beach rests in the Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park, surrounded by a spectacular landscape. Next to it there is Playa de la Barrosa, a beach offering a different setting and longer walks. Regarding gastronomy, this area hosts several fishermen restaurants where one can taste the best delicacies of the sea.

The beach of Isla Canela in Huelva

A close picture of the seashore in a long beach

The beach of Isla Canela in Huelva. | Shutterstock

Isla Canela is a Blue Flag beach we can find only 5 kilometres away from Ayamonte. Its golden fine sand extends for more than 5 kilometres in a setting full of marshes, natural gullies and dunes, all those elements that define a paradisiacal beach. Its waters are blue and crystalline, and the soft waves invite us to swim. We can also have a great time snorkelling, kitesurfing or windsurfing there.

La Concha de Artedo in Asturias

A beautiful beach with pebbles

The beach of La Concha de Artedo. | Shutterstock

The peculiarity of this beautiful beach in Cudillero lies on the fact that it comprises two different sections. The first one is made of boulders, and the second one is covered by sand, hence there’s a beach for every taste. With a length of 700 metres, this beach feels sheltered and it’s framed by a breathtaking landscape.

Fishing and scuba diving are two considerably popular activities in the area. The walls of Punta Austera are a perfect scenery for the latter, since one can always find sea sponges and soft corals there. Moreover, this beach is a key stop in the Way to Santiago, more specifically in the section between Cudillero and Luarca.

The beach of Galdana in Menorca

A view from above of a sea framed by nature

The beach of Galdana. | Shutterstock

This heavenly Blue Flag beach can be found in the south of Menorca, in the municipality of Ferrerías. With a length of 400 metres, this is the largest beach in the island, and the perfect opportunity for enjoying the finest sand in the Spanish territory. Likewise, if they wish to find themselves in paradise, the travelers may rent hammocks and parasols, as well as other services that make our stay on the beach a nicer experience. Last but not least, we can also rent items for water sports.

Butihondo in Fuerteventura

Some people walking on a beach

The beach of Butihondo. | Shutterstock

For those who have a preference for nudism, Butihondo is one of the best Blue Flag beaches that allow said practice. It lies next to Morro Jable, in the south of the island. Butihondo spreads for three kilometres, and it’s divided into different sections. The turquoise waters and golden sand reminisce the Caribbean coast. There are plenty of touristic services, including beach bars, apartment houses, hotels, car parks, and water sports companies.

The beach of Comillas in Cantabria

A view from above of a beach surrounded by a green landscape

The beach of Comillas. | Shutterstock

Right at the heart of Comillas, this beach offers a wide range of services for the visitors. The fine golden sand spreads for almost a kilometre, and it’s accessible for disabled people. Really close to the beach we will find the Oyambre Natural Park. In addition, one can make the most of the day and visit some of the most interesting spots in Comillas, such as Gaudí’s El Capricho.

Platja del Cavet in Tarragona

A beach with golden sand and turquoise waters

Platja del Cavet. | Shutterstock

This beach is a little far from Cambrils, hence it’s usually less crowded that the others —a positive quality for those who seek quiet and peacefulness. This Blue Flag beach extends for 700 metres, and even though it’s widely referred to as a sandy beach, it also encompasses rocky areas; this is probably why snorkel is so popular there. Just like the other beaches, Platja del Cavet provides a wide range of services, like hammocks, parasols, toilets, lifeguards and water sports training schools.

The San Juan reservoir in Madrid

A beach in a lake, surrounded by mountains

The San Juan reservoir. | Shutterstock

It might seem difficult to believe, but there are also inland beaches that have been awarded with the Blue Flag certificate. We will find one of them in the Community of Madrid, more precisely in the San Juan reservoir. Indeed, we don’t need to travel to the coast in order to enjoy the sun and go for a swim. Water sports are also quite common in this reservoir all over the year, and there are some nice beaches in Madrid that come in handy to escape the hustle and bustle of the city in summer.  There are also inland Blue Flag beaches in Extremadura, where we can find eight of them.

The beach of Poniente in Murcia

A close view of the seashore in a blue beach

The beach of Poniente. | Shutterstock

Poniente in the village of Águila in Murcia is an urban beach made up of gravel and sand. It extends for over a kilometre and it’s the perfect spot for those who don’t really like bathing in cool water. Besides, it provides all the services needed for having a great time, including beach bars, showers, walkways, lifeguards or changing rooms, among other things. To end with, it’s a good thing that this beach is made accessible for disabled people.

All in all, in Spain there is a large number of Blue Flag beaches. We just have to do a bit of research and choose the one that better suits us.


About the author