La Barceloneta

"Barceloneta is the high-school jock of beaches: loud, popular, and boisterous. Its version of a buff torso? A strip of sand that’s no less of a showoff; at one end, there’s the metallic, sail-like silhouette of the W Hotel , at the other, the blinding gold sculpture of a fish by architect Frank Gehry. When you’ve arrived at Barceloneta, you know it. If you’re looking for the whitest sand and the most azure waters, you won’t find them at Barceloneta. But it is convenient, chaotic, and a must-see carnival." - Gemma Askham

"Give us the wide-angle view: what kind of beach are we talking about? Barceloneta is the high-school jock of beaches: loud, popular, and boisterous. Its version of a buff torso? A strip of sand that’s no less of a showoff; at one end, there’s the metallic, sail-like silhouette of the W Hotel , at the other, the blinding gold sculpture of a fish by starchitect Frank Gehry. When you’ve arrived at Barceloneta, you know it. Lovely. How accessible is it? Access is key to its popularity: Barceloneta is seriously convenient. From the waterside end of La Rambla, it’s a 15-minute walk. Or, take the yellow L4 metro to the Barceloneta stop and it’s about a 10-minute walk from there. If you’ve got a Bus Turístic ticket, use the Port Olímpic stop. Got it. Decent services and facilities, would you say? Barceloneta has every service you do need, like showers, changing rooms, and Wi-Fi, and many others you don’t, like fake soccer shirts. The ramshackle xiringuito beach bars were cleared out for the 1992 Summer Olympics and replaced by a more upscale set of restaurants and cafés. What that means for the beach is that it’s a street vendor’s paradise: your sunbathing will surely get interrupted by the constant cries of “cervezas!” and “mojitos!” When it gets a bit much, walk up Carrer de L'Almirall Aixada to Surf House Barcelona, a Californian-inspired brunch spot and surf school offering beach yoga and paddleboarding. How’s the actual beach stuff—sand and surf? The sand is golden (albeit gritty) with SUP-able surf. But in high summer, the fallout from throngs of visitors has always been questionable cleanliness. Thankfully, measures are now in place to stub out the littering, such as a smoking ban.  Excellent. Can we go barefoot? Prepare for a Tango-style dance around other people’s limbs as you make your way back to your towel. Anything special we should look for? Keep an eye out for a sculpture that looks like a leaning tower of Doctor Who’s Tardises. Known to locals as The Cubes, its official name is L’Estel Ferit—or "The Wounded Shooting Star"—and it was installed by German artist Rebecca Horn. And whatever you do, be sure to keep an eye on your belongings; never leave unguarded anything on your towel. If we’re thinking about going, what—and who—is this beach best for? Barceloneta is convenient, chaotic, and a must-see carnival. But it’s increasingly proving its mettle as an LA-esque outdoor lifestyle destination. Take the promenade running towards the W Hotel. It’s a-buzz with joggers and inline skaters; there’s an outdoor pool that’s serious about laps not lazing; while outdoor gyms contain a spaghetti tangle of lithe limbs that raise weights and the impressed eyebrows of people walking by. At the walkway’s very end, a new elevated viewing platform (that opened in 2022) presents a sweeping perspective across the Mediterranean and Barcelona’s urban center. We’re calling it: this is Barceloneta, rebooted." - Gemma Askham

"Barceloneta is the high-school jock of beaches: loud, popular, and boisterous. Its version of a buff torso? A strip of sand that’s no less of a showoff; at one end, there’s the metallic, sail-like silhouette of the W Hotel, at the other, the blinding gold sculpture of a fish by architect Frank Gehry. When you’ve arrived at Barceloneta, you know it. If you’re looking for the whitest sand and the most azure waters, you won’t find them at Barceloneta. But it is convenient, chaotic, and a must-see carnival." - Gemma Askham

"Barceloneta’s pervasive beach culture is a paradise for tan addicts, rollerbladers, and volleyball enthusiasts. Bike down the boardwalk, have a volley at Nova Icaria, then go for a swim in the bath-like water. While we wouldn’t recommend staying there because it can get crowded and pricey, you won’t find a better neighborhood to party in at night. Partiers come from all around the world to throw down to some reggaeton, and they have an entire row of beachside clubs to choose from, starting with Shôko and ending with the W Hotel. While many offer free entry, expect to pay 12 euros for those vodka Red Bulls." - MATADOR_NETWORK

"Barceloneta’s pervasive beach culture is a paradise for tan addicts, rollerbladers, and volleyball enthusiasts. Bike down the boardwalk, have a volley at Nova Icaria, then go for a swim in the bath-like water. While we wouldn’t recommend staying there because it can get crowded and pricey, you won’t find a better neighborhood to party in at night. Partiers come from all around the world to throw down to some reggaeton, and they have an entire row of beachside clubs to choose from, starting with Shôko and ending with the W Hotel. While many offer free entry, expect to pay 12 euros for those vodka Red Bulls." - MATADOR_NETWORK