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Spain’s best beach towns and cities

By Always Spain editors · Updated · About Always Spain

Nerja, Andalusia
Photo: Tuxyso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Some of Spain’s best beaches are right in its cities. These towns combine a good beach with a place you would actually want to stay for more than a week.

The full list

Most beautiful city beach

Basque Country

San Sebastián (Donostia)

La Concha, with pintxos a block away.

€€€€ 2 to 3 days

Best Atlantic city beaches

Andalusia

Cádiz

La Caleta in the old town, Playa Victoria beyond.

€€€€ 1 to 2 days

Best city beach in the south

Andalusia

Málaga

Walk from the cathedral to the sand.

€€€€ 2 to 3 days

Best coves on the Costa Blanca

Valencian Community

Jávea (Xàbia)

Granadella and Cala Portitxol.

€€€€ 2 days

Best for wild coves

Balearic Islands

Mahón (Maó)

Menorca’s protected coastline.

€€€€ 2 days

Best beach town near a big city

Catalonia

Sitges

40 minutes from Barcelona by train.

€€€€ 1 to 2 days

Best in the north-west

Galicia

A Coruña

Two city beaches on a peninsula.

€€€€ 2 days

Best for empty beaches nearby

Andalusia

Almería

Cabo de Gata’s unspoilt coast.

€€€€ 2 days

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