Barceloneta Beach

• Lifeguards and showers staffed through the summer season, with rinse-off taps and toilets along the promenade
• Closest big beach to the old town, a 10-minute walk from Barceloneta metro (L4) and the Gothic Quarter
• Rarely crowded before noon, even at the height of summer.

A wide stretch of sand running about 400 meters along the Passeig Marítim promenade, with the W Hotel sail at one end and the Port Olímpic towers at the other. There are lifeguards and showers in summer, sun loungers and chiringuito snack bars to rent from, volleyball nets, and an outdoor gym. Calm shallows make it easy for kids to paddle.