Ibiza, Majorca, Tenerife, the Costa del Sol. Spain is just filled with superb beaches, which has made it such a popular holiday destination. But have you ever thought of spending your beach holiday in one of Spain’s biggest cities? Well, in Barcelona you can do just that, where one of Europe’s most important cities and seven beaches await you.

Since the Olympic Games in 1992 sparked a rejuvenation of Barcelona’s beaches, their number has grown from one to seven. They are situated along a 5km stretch of the city’s coastline, from North to South. Manned by lifeguards from June to September, they cater for a growing number of tourists and can be accessed in only 20 minutes from the city centre.

The city council is on a mission to make the beaches cleaner and safer. As they are continually improving services, the number of people now visiting the beaches every year is in the millions. But they don’t only come to see the sea. The Barcelona beach centre is also on-site. In it you’ll find lots of exhibitions and activities to do.

All along each of the beaches, you’ll be able to order drinks and food at the ‘chiringuitos’. These are beachfront bars which cater for all of the needs of beach users. The only downside is that they are a bit more expensive than places selling food off the beach.

After day is done, the chiringuitos turn into night bars, where people come to party on the sand. You can dance to the music from local DJs with the sand between your toes, or simply have a few drinks. And if you are a bit more adventurous, you can even take a dip in the sea.

But dancing isn’t the only physical activity that you can do on Barcelona’s beaches. During any visit to the sandy shores you’re bound to see joggers and walkers. The promenades are also always busy with skaters, rollerbladers and cyclists looking to keep fit. And, of course, no beach in Spain would be complete without teams taking part in a volleyball match.

The water itself is somewhere that people just love to work out. With no strong currents, swimmers are always to be seen making a splash or two. And there is nothing to worry about in the cleanliness of the water, all of Barcelona’s beaches have the EU Blue Star rating. If you are not a confident swimmer, however, stay close to the shore. This is good advice to take especially if it is windy and the waves get up.

This fact has made Barcelona’s beaches very popular with surfers. You can see surfers taking their boards to the beaches all through the year. One reason for this is the cleanliness of all of the city’s beaches. A clean beach campaign was started in 2006 to raise pollution awareness among bathers and the water quality has improved no end.

Depending on what kind of beach experience you are looking for might affect where you decide to stay. As always, renting an apartment is the cheapest way to stay in Barcelona. The beaches at the southern end of the city – Sant Sebastia and Barceloneta – are closest to its centre and are livelier. For students and young travellers, these are the places to pick out an apartment.

For those looking for somewhere a bit quieter, the beaches to the North will suit better. These include Nova Mar Bella and Llevant, which are further from the city centre. They are much less busy and are used more often by families and residents looking for peace and quiet. For easy access to these you will want to find an apartment around Poblenou or Selva de Mar.

Another advantage of being away from the city centre is that you can get a cheaper Barcelona holiday apartments. This could be music to the ears of a young group that will, effectively, only be using their rooms as a place to sleep.

Barcelona, you might be surprised, boasts some of Spain’s most sensational beaches. As a holiday destination, there can be few that offer a greater variety of things to see and do. Not only do you have stunning seaside, but there is also the potential to experience the city itself. This means you have lots of selection when it comes to apartments, as well. Indeed, Barcelona ranks alongside Spain’s more traditional holiday resorts for a great vacation. Why not find this out for yourself this year?

Spain, with its sunny climate and plentiful attractions, offers something for every traveller whether they enjoy shopping, golfing, sunbathing, water sports, nightlife, or immersing themselves in art and culture. With a wide variety of Spain hotels available, holidaymakers will be able to find their perfect fit, whatever their tastes or budget.

City Splendour: Madrid

With a wide array of historical and cultural attractions, Madrid is a popular destination for holidaymakers looking for a vibrant getaway. Be sure to check out the Royal Theatre, the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Prado Art Museum in particular. The entertainment does not stop there, however. The shopping and nightlife in Madrid is second to none. Holidaymakers can find unique locally-crafted gifts at shopping malls such as El Flamenco Vive, Palomeque, Puck and Casa Yustas. Those looking for designer clothes and shoes will find plenty of vendours in this area.

On the weekends, Madrid turns into party central where locals can often be found dancing into the wee hours of the morning, only stopping for a bite to eat and a morning nap before starting all over again. Some of the city’s most popular nightclub destinations include the neighbourhoods of Tribunal, Bilbao, Huertas and Alonso Martinez or Moncloa, where you’ll be able to find a range of Spain hotels, suitable for any budget.

Sea, Sun and Golf: Costa del Sol

Boasting over 60 golf courses, it’s no surprise that the Costa del Sol is often referred to as the ‘Costa del Golf’. The courses boast beautiful and varied settings, many with views of the ocean or the mountains. The offerings range from Sotogrande in the West to Velez Malaga in the East. Golfers can enjoy teeing off all year round, thanks to Spain’s sunny dry climate. Those that don’t fancy a go on the green can enjoy the area’s beautiful beaches as well as a large selection of water sports including sailing, waterskiing and scuba diving.

Beach Time: Benidorm

Benidorm is perfect location for families looking for a budget-friendly beach break. Located on the eastern coast of Spain, known as the Costa Blanca, Benidorm welcomes over five million visitors a year. While its beaches remain a popular draw, it also boasts four large theme parks-Terra Mitica, Terra Natura, Aqualandia and Mundomar. Benidorm is most commonly known as a fun, family-friendly resort, but the city has expanded it cultural offerings and now guests can also visit Aiguera Park and a large amphitheatre that regularly holds free concerts and performances. Regardless of your holiday budget, you are certain to find numerous hotels in Spain that accommodate your price level and allow you to maximize your holiday funds.

Nerja is one of the resort towns along Spain’s Costa del Sol or Sun Coast, aptly named for its clement weather and beautiful beaches. Because of this, it is a good idea to stay in a Nerja apartment and spend your holidays in Nerja while trying out the exciting activities it has to offer, like those listed below.

Explore the Caves of Nerja

With its remarkable stalactite and stalagmite formations and prehistoric wall paintings in halls with names like Hall of the Waterfall, Hall of Phantoms and Hall of the Lance, as well as the largest calcite column in the world, the caves of Nerja are truly worth exploring during your holidays in Nerja. You can also see the skeletal remains excavated from the cave in the museum just outside the caves or attend a concert or ballet performance in one of its large chambers.

Watersports at Burriana Beach

It goes without saying that one of the things to do in Nerja is to relax or have a splash at its idyllic beaches. In fact, many tourists rent apartments in Nerja just for this purpose. The most popular beach is Burriana Beach, which is also the largest in town, as well as the most commercialized. This means that you can easily find sun beds, palm umbrellas, shower facilities and restaurants on this beach or take advantage of its watersports centre and go surfing, jetskiing or scuba diving.

Savor the Views from the Balcony of Europe

Like King Alfonso XII, you are sure to be captivated by the scenery you will see from the Balcony of Europe or Balcon de Europa, a promenade lined with palm trees and exotic plants built on the site of an old castle and looking over the ocean. This is the perfect place for a romantic stroll, whether by day or by night, as well as a great place to dine. If you look closely, you might even catch a glimpse of the coast of Africa on a clear day.

Visit the Nerja Donkey Sanctuary

Donkeys are known for being stubborn but they can also be loving, as you will see when you visit the Nerja Donkey Sanctuary, one of the things to do in Nerja. You will also see some mules and horses here, and even some dogs and goats. For a truly unique and rewarding experience, lend a hand at feeding, grooming and even walking the animals. You can even adopt one of the donkeys for a year by making a contribution to help out.

A Night on the Town

Nerja may not be known for its nightlife but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any clubs or bars. In fact, you will find several as you go around the city during your holidays in Nerja. Most of them can be found around the Plaza Tutti Frutti and Antonio Millon, where there are occasional flamenco shows and parties that run until four in the morning, so no matter where your Nerja apartment is, make your way here for a taste of Nerja at night.

Learn Spanish in Nerja

Like many towns and cities in Spain, Nerja has several language centres where you can learn Spanish. This is an opportunity you should seize during your holidays in Nerja since this will help you understand and get along with the locals better. Some language centres even offer excursions at the end of the course, which gives you a chance to practice your Spanish as you tour the town and the best attractions around.

There are certainly many activities you can do during your holidays in Nerja which will help you truly enjoy your vacation. To have more chances of trying them out or make your own discoveries to add to the list, stay at a Nerja apartment during your stay. There are many great ones available, all of which can help you make the most of your trip.

Marbella enjoys high popularity as a tourist destination among most of Spaniards in Costa del Sol and the entire Spain.Annual festival Feria de San Bernabe in June catches huge tourist traffic. 

Though the feria will likely take up most of your time, take a moment away from the feria frenzy and catch a glimpse of Marbella as it really is. Those fascinating gardens and plazas filled with sweet smelling blossoms quickly give a picture of beautiful Marbella, while many Moorish monuments scattered throughout the city are evidence of a rich past.

Marbella honeymoon or family vacation doesn’t limit your wishes whether you stay in a hotel, a villa or a camp.Quench your thirst at one of the many beach bars called “Chiringuitos” and afterwards take a stroll along the beach or a dip in the ocean! 

A few moments away you can lose yourself in the maze of side streets with its whitewashed shops and houses with lovely handcrafted pottery and arches of bouganvillae.You will feel as if you have stepped back in time

The historic facts of Marbella take it back to 1600 BC with the name “Salduba” under Roman Empire, when it was an agricultural town and trading centre. Moors conquest of Spain in 711 AD established Marbella, a prosperous town with the name “Marbi-la”.

While in Marbella, you can really have a great sightseeing tour..that is, if you can be torn away from the sun, sea and sand!Tourist attractions in Marbella guide you to the Baroque style 18th C Incarnation Church and the tower which used to surround the town, and those numerous historic monuments in Plaza de Naranjos, including the Town Hall, Magistrate’s House, Santiago’s Chapel and the town’s first Christian temple. 

There are few other places to visit in Marbella which include a Castle, the 16th century Gothic style built Saint John’s Chapel and the Contemporary Spanish Engravings Museum located inside the Bazan Hospital.

It’s not just sightseeing; you can try a wide range of recreational facilities and adventure activities like horse riding, surfing, sailing, trekking, etc.Marbella hosts its own open markets alongside the streets from where one can buy a variety of materials. 

There is no shortage of shopping in Marbella, that is for sure.Spanish equivalent of Beverly Hills, Puerto Banus is just another colorful shopping paradise to look for.The resort-like marina harbors numerous boats{Puerto Banus} displays fine facilities for water sport enthusiasts with herds of boats~Hundreds of yachts and marine vessels dock in Puerto Banus~Many boats and vessels are docked in Marbella~The marina and resort is host to million dollar yachts~Yachst and boats in the marina Puerto BanusEmerald water of marina gives refuse to number of boats and yachts.Out on the waterfronts, visitors take pleasure from those fancy restaurants and clubs while looking at those luxury yachts.

After finishing your 7 euro cup of coffee in Puerto Banus, you should try and visit Marbella or some inland towns.Few more beach towns are easily accessible from Marbella in as little as one hour, including Torremolinos, Malaga, Mijas, Estepona.Spanish towns are known for their distinctiveness.

Marbella is not only a tourist paradise but also a welcome place for culture lovers while visiting those ancient villas or observing Picasso’s paintings and Roman mosaics or praising traditional custom and modern dance!