You are going to visit Spain in Summer and you don’t know where to enjoy the best beaches away from the crowd and thousands of tourists? Following is a list of top five beaches in Spain that you have to visit on your Spain holidays:
Zahara de los Atunes, Cádiz
A small fishing village with stunning beaches and world-class gastronomy, this is a laid-back, off-the-beaten-track place, visited mostly by locals. The beach is wide, clean and endless – you can stroll as far as more developed Atlanterra. I recommend Camping Bahia de la Plata 1km from town, where you can rent wooden bungalows or pitches overlooking the sea. It has a restaurant where you can enjoy superb mojama (salt-cured tuna) and a chilled beer.
El Palmar beach, Cádiz
El Palmar is a deserted stretch of sandy, wind-blasted beach that goes on as far as the eye can see. There are no high-rise concrete hotel blocks, no fancy restaurants, no full English breakfasts. There are a few chiringuitos (shanty-like bars) serving tinto de verano, a refreshing red wine and soda mix, boquerones (delicious deep-fried anchovies) and other tasty snacks. It’s always very, very windy here and there is little shade from the intense sun, except in the bar!
Salobreña
Salobreña is the jewel of the Costa Tropical and a world away from the faded glamour of Marbella and the all-day breakfasts of Torremolinos less than an hour down the coastline. It is made up of several beaches split in two by El Peñón – a huge rock that sticks out into the sea. Climbing the rock affords impressive views out to the sparkling Mediterranean or back towards the peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The deserted beach offers an afternoon dose of warm winter sunshine after a hard morning skiing in the Sierra Nevada, or in the height of summer you’ll share it with generations of Granadinos escaping the heat of the city. Salobreña beach is most famous for its chiringuitos – nothing beats a glass of cold Alhambra lager with a tapa of the freshest squid or whitebait that money doesn’t have to buy.
Playa de Rodas, Las Islas Cíes
This spectacular crescent of white sand sits off the coast of Galicia, accessible only by ferries, which run from early spring to late summer. There are no hotels, no litter bins and almost no development on these islands once treasured by Julius Ceasar. The stunning crystal clear waters, warm microclimate and soft white sands make this a heavenly escape from the mainland during the summer months. Just a short ferry ride from Vigo or Baiona.
Cala Gracioneta, Ibiza
A beautiful secluded cove just outside Sant Antoni de Portmany. It’s well hidden, so head for Cala Gració and on foot, follow the rocky headland around and into the next bay. Here you’ll find an interesting mixture of locals, but more importantly peace and quiet, fine golden sands, and clear, warm shallow water; ideal for kids learning to snorkel, or adults winding down from the previous night. As if you need another reason to spend the day here, El Chiringuito is an authentic cafe/bar serving seriously good cava sangria and the best paella on the island. Relax under the shade of the trees – eat, drink and enjoy the views!
