Remember that song that goes, "
Grab your hat and put it on, let's go to the beach, let the sun be warm "? Maybe this year, more than warming us, the sun is scorching us all (
chi ri bi ri bi po po pom pom) . At Help Flash, we've heard your cries for help and the sound of fans waving in the air, and we felt it was urgently necessary for the well-being of everyone without air conditioning at home to prepare a list of beaches to escape to when the highest temperatures hit. And since we're not ones to mince words, we haven't chosen just any beaches; we've instead gone for the best in the entire country. So get your umbrella and SPF 50 sunscreen ready, and start the car (with your
Help Flash in the glove compartment, just in case), because we're going beach-hopping!
What are the most beautiful Spanish beaches?
Between the Mediterranean, the Cantabrian, and the Atlantic coasts, Spain has almost 8,000 kilometers of coastline. That's not bad at all, especially considering the number of Blue Flag beaches, which place Spain at the top of the list of countries awarded this distinction based on environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria. So we can say it without fear or modesty: in Spain, we are beach experts. And, what's more, there are beaches for all tastes: with warm or icy waters, with idyllic views and picture-postcard sunsets, hidden coves for nudists, sandy beaches perfect for going with children, seas with waves or calm waters. All that, and much more. Let's take a look at some of our favorite beaches.
Genoveses Beach
We begin our route through Spain's best beaches by stopping at the little paradise on earth that is Cabo de Gata. There's something about Almería that, although it sounds like a marketing slogan, makes it unique. Before reaching Mónsul and Media Luna beaches, the very long Playa de los Genoveses stretches out. It may be busier than its neighbors, but you'll never feel like you're in a sardine can thanks to its vast expanse. It's an
ideal beach for children , very accessible, with warm water that takes time to cover. However, go early to set up your umbrella because, as it's a natural park, capacity is limited. Although it requires you to get up early, it's also appreciated as it helps avoid overcrowding.
Figueiras
And from Almería we teleport (if only it were that easy and cheap) to Galician lands, to the
Cíes Islands , specifically. Rodas Beach is probably the most famous in
the Atlantic Islands Natural Park and one of the most spectacular in Spain. It's no wonder The Guardian newspaper once called it
"the best beach in the world." However, connected to it by a spit of sand and surrounded by emerald waters, Figueiras Beach has nothing to envy. At sunset, sheltered by the pine trees, you'll even need a cardigan, because we're in Galicia, and it gets cool here at night. Before then, you could have stripped down without a problem: the feeling of freedom on this beach is such that, for a moment, you'll almost forget that a ferry back to Vigo awaits you at nightfall. It doesn't matter much, does it? We're in
Galician territory, and we can always drown our sorrows among barnacles and scallops.
La Concha Beach
We've already seen a beach bathed by the Mediterranean and another by the Atlantic, but we were missing one located on the Cantabrian coast. There are dozens of beaches in Asturias and Cantabria worth visiting, such as Playa del Silencio in Cudillero or Covachos in Santander. We chose La Concha in San Sebastián for this list for several reasons. First, because it's conveniently located
within the city itself and, in addition to being accessible, incredibly clean. The second reason is because La Concha is truly picture-perfect. At La Concha, the scent of salt air permeates the air, children play with blocks and castles, blue and white awnings cover the sand, and the San Sebastián ladies stoically dare to take a dip every day in water that's far from warm. If you add to that the modernist promenade that runs behind the beach, it will come as no surprise that La Concha is considered the best urban beach in Spain and is ranked
fourth among the best beaches in the world , according to Tripadvisor.
Cofete Beach
Visiting Cofete is like visiting another planet. In fact, much of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote have that non-terrestrial, volcanic feel that transports visitors to a somewhat Martian space where they'd like to stay forever. An extraterrestrial paradise, one might even say, where not visiting Cofete Beach should be considered sacrilege. Cofete is as wild as its surroundings—getting there isn't easy for just any car, we warn you—but it's so, so worth it. And it's this difficult access that makes this beach even
more secluded from the crowds , where the average or occasional nudist will feel right at home.
Valdevaqueros Beach
If there's paradise on earth, it's very likely to be found in Cádiz. And if it were, its capital would undoubtedly be Valdevaqueros. Between the green meadows, the white rockroses, the blue sea, the fine sand dunes, and its sunsets, this Tarifa beach has become one of the meccas of Spanish tourism. It's also the preferred destination for kitesurfing enthusiasts because, let's face it, the wind blows in Valdevaqueros, and it blows well. But there are many more things to do along this
almost 4-kilometer coastline, such as savoring fried fish, enjoying a good cocktail in the
coolest hammocks in Cádiz, or visiting the winding streets of historic Tarifa.
It's an open secret:
driving in the summer isn't always easy . Between the heat, the loads of gear you have to pack in the trunk, and arguments over whether to listen to Bad Bunny, the Sex Pistols, or the Beatles, a summer
road trip can sometimes become complicated. So, let's be honest: the destination does matter, and it has to be worth it. We know the coast is a surefire way to unwind, and now that we've explored 5 of the best beaches in Spain, we can't forget the most important thing: getting there. So
remember to keep your HelpFlash in your glove compartment so that, in case you get a flat tire along the way or have to stop on the road due to an incident, you can get back on track to your favorite beach as quickly and safely as possible.
