Blue flag

With 100 kilometres of beaches on the Costa Barcelona, choosing one is no easy task. Where to go to enjoy some sun and sea? One factor that may help you decide is knowing which beaches hold the Blue Flag seal of quality. Well, in 2021, the blue flag is flying at 31 beaches along our coastline. Problem solved!

Maresme, on the Costa Barcelona, is one of the regions of Barcelona with the most Blue Flag beaches. They’re located in Malgrat de Mar, Calella, Sant Pol de Mar, Canet de Mar, Caldes d'Estrac and El Masnou, and they've been awarded the seal for the quality of their water, their cleanliness, their safety, their accessibility and the improvements they’ve made in terms of environmental management. If you're looking for the perfect beach, this is a great area to start exploring.


Meanwhile, in the region of Barcelonès, plenty of beaches have met the stringent standards of the Association of Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC) and the Environmental Education Foundation. Three of them are in the city of Barcelona, while Cristall Beach is located in Badalona. These urban beaches offer facilities and activities to suit all the family, such as children’s play areas, beach volleyball pitches and clubs where senior citizens can play dominoes and cards.


Do you feel like heading to the beaches further south? Go for it! There are lots of Blue Flag beaches in the region of Garraf. Sitges is the town with the largest number of Blue Flag beaches on the Costa Barcelona. It has nine of them altogether, one more than last year thanks to a new addition: L’Estanyol Beach. Meanwhile, Ribes-Roges, Ibersol, D'Adarró and Sant Gervasi in Vilanova i la Geltrú, and Llarga in Cubelles, have all retained the seal. As well as relaxing in their calm, crystal-clear waters, you have the chance to enjoy a tapa of delicious prawns on a beach bar terrace.


Other towns that have been awarded this seal of quality are located in the region of Baix Llobregat: La Pineda and Lluminetes in Castelldefels and Gavà Mar in Gavà. These are beaches in natural areas that will appeal to water sports enthusiasts, since they boast several schools offering sailing (optimist and catamaran), windsurfing and kitesurfing classes.


More information:

List of beaches awarded the Blue Flag
Blue flag
Maresme Tourist Board 
Badalona Tourist Board
Barcelona Tourist Board 
Garraf Tourist Board
Baix Llobregat Tourist Board