General tips for the beaches in Andalusia
Let’s start with a few general tips to help you plan your vacation and get you in the mood for your upcoming Andalusian vacation. Let’s get going!
Costa de la Luz beaches vs. Costa del Sol beaches
Andalusia can be divided into two coastal areas: the Costa de la Luz and the Costa del Sol. Both undoubtedly have beautiful beaches, but there are a few differences.
The Costa de la Luz is located on the Atlantic coast and stretches roughly from Huelva to the southernmost tip of Spain in Tarifa. One of the most famous cities on the Costa de la Luz is Cádiz, but Seville is also just a short distance inland.
As you are on the Atlantic here, the water is a little colder and the winds and waves are rougher. So if you want to do water sports, you’ll feel right at home here. There are miles of sandy beaches with dunes and often a quiet pine forest behind the beach.
The Costa del Sol, on the other hand, is located on the Mediterranean and stretches from Gibraltar to Nerja. In addition to Málaga, the top city destination in Andalusia, there are many smaller seaside resorts here, such as Marbella.
The coast is mainly characterized by small, quiet bays that are perfect for a beach vacation. In addition, the beaches on the Costa del Sol usually have better infrastructure for holidaymakers, such as toilets, showers and beach loungers for rent.
Useful gadgets for your Andalusia vacation by the sea
The flights are booked and the suitcases are almost packed. Leave a bit of space, because we have a few tips for useful travel gadgets for your beach vacation.
#1 Mobile beach safe: Pack your valuables in the small safe and attach it to your sun lounger. So you can finally go swimming worry-free.
#2 Microfiber towel: Microfiber towels dry much faster than normal towels. You can also pack them very small, perfect for the beach bag.
#3 Reef-safe sunscreen: Good sun protection is super important for your skin. However, the environment must not suffer from the ingredients. So look out for the reef safe label.
The most beautiful Andalusian beaches on a map
Before we go into detail with the eleven most beautiful beaches in Andalusia, we have prepared a map to give you an overview. This will also give you an idea of where the Costa de la Luz and Costa del Sol are located.
Download map of the 11 most beautiful Andalusian beaches as PDF
#1 Playa de Bolonia
The 4-kilometre-long Playa de Bolonia is one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain and yet it is not overrun by tourists. This is because the beach is quite remote and Tarifa, the nearest town, is around 25 kilometers away.
Playa de Bolonia is perfect for those who don’t feel like partying and hustle and bustle and just want to relax.
The 30-metre-high shifting dune behind the beach is also particularly worth seeing. Not only can you take beautiful photos here: from the top, you can also enjoy a fantastic view as far as Africa and count the wind turbines on the Moroccan side.
And someone else is very enthusiastic about Playa de Bolonia, because on some days cows make themselves comfortable on the warm sand – of course, who can resist a day at the beach? But don’t worry, the animals are peaceful. Nevertheless, you should of course treat them with the necessary respect.
Our Playa de Bolonia hotel tip: La Posada de Lola – just 400 meters from the beach
#2 Playa de Zahara de los Átunes
Near the small village of Zahara de los Átunes lies the dream beach of the same name: six kilometers long, white sand and crystal-clear water!
Of course, the name of the beach is not without reason, as the place is primarily known for its fishing. We can therefore only recommend that you combine your day of swimming with a trip to one of the beautiful chiringuitos on the beach. Chiringuitos are beach snack bars with typical Spanish delicacies. The fish is super fresh and delicious!
Playa de Zahara is perfect for a family outing with the kids. The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag for particularly good water quality and environmental protection. There is also a good infrastructure with showers, toilets, sun lounger hire and lifeguards.
Our deluxe hotel tip: Villa Mathesis – pool with sea view
Our good and affordable hotel tip: Hotel Almadraba – stay in a flower paradise
#3 Playa de Matalascañas
A good hour’s drive from Seville you will find Playa Matalscañas: a great destination for a day at the beach if you want to take a break from sightseeing in Seville.
On the other hand, Playa de Matalscañas is also a great place for a beach vacation where you can make a detour to Seville.
The beach borders directly on the Coto do Doñana nature park, so you can usually watch beautiful birds while sunbathing.
Probably the most photographed motif at Playa de Matalascañas is a huge stone, the only one that appears out of nowhere in the middle of the kilometer-long sandy beach.
Behind the dunes there is a hustle and bustle, as there are many restaurants and stores here. The entire beach is also lined with a promenade, the Paseo Maritimo. Perfect for long walks along the beach.
Our hotel tip: On Hotels Oceanfront – adults-only hotel on the beach
#4 Playa El Parador
Playa del Parador is the perfect mix if you are looking for a natural beach in Andalusia that still has a certain amount of infrastructure.
El Parador is about half an hour from Huelva and you can reach the beach via a gravel road that ends in a small parking lot right on the beach.
Behind the golden sand dunes rise steep cliffs and behind them lie lush pastures and pine forests, which are part of the Coto de Doñana Natural Park.
There are toilets and showers, beach loungers and water sports equipment for hire. In addition, wooden walkways make access to the beach easier and lifeguards ensure safety in the water. Perfect for a day at the beach with the family.
Incidentally, the beach takes its name from the Parador de Mazagón nearby. Paradors are special state-run hotels in Spain that are considered the icing on the cake in the hotel industry and leave nothing to be desired.
Our hotel tip: Parador de Mazagón – luxury hotel in the nature park
#5 Playa El Palmar
Water sports fans take note, because our #5 beach in Andalusia is a real Eldorado for wind and waves. Playa El Palmar offers great conditions all year round for windsurfers, kitesurfers and surfers of all abilities. If you don’t have any equipment with you or have never stood on a board before, you can simply pop into one of the surf stores.
Behind the beach you will find lots of nice stores and cafés and there is a relaxed surfer vibe everywhere. If you are traveling with a camper, you will be in good company on the beach promenade. There are always lots of vans and camper vans here.
But even if you’re not into water sports, you’ll love it here. El Palmar is one of the least crowded beaches in Andalusia. You can also take endless walks along the beach and collect beautiful shells.
Our hotel tip: Hostal El Alférez – beach hotel in maritime style
#6 Playa La Caleta in Cádiz
Why not combine your beach vacation with a city trip to Cádiz? Cádiz is one of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia and is also located right by the sea.
Playa de la Caleta is located directly in front of the old town and you can spend whole days swimming here or just take a short detour to watch the sunset.
On both sides of the beach rise impressive buildings, namely the Santa Catalina fortress and the Castillo de San Sebastián castle, which floats like an island in the sea.
Playa de la Caleta is not particularly large, so it is best to visit during the week when it is a little emptier. After the beach, you can enjoy delicious tapas in the numerous restaurants and beach bars.
Our deluxe hotel tip: Parador de Cádiz – modern 4-star hotel
Our good and affordable hotel tip: Convento Cádiz – boutique hotel in a historic old building
#7 Playa de Maro
Playa de Maro is less than ten minutes away from the beautiful seaside resort of Nerja and yet: if you don’t know the beach, you won’t get lost here. A real insider tip for explorers!
And that is exactly what makes Playa de Maro so charming: no hotel castles, few tourists and lots of nature.
The bay is surrounded by rugged cliffs and lots of greenery. The water is so clear that you can see fish in the water from above. So make sure you pack diving goggles and a snorkel! You can also hire a SUP or kayak in the bay and explore the coast.
Even though the beach is a bit remote, there is a normal road leading to it and a small parking lot. However, you should set off early, as spaces are limited and can be snapped up quickly.
Our hotel tip: Hotel Paraíso del Mar – beach hotel with pool
#8 Playa de Puerto Banús in Marbella
You may have read about Marbella in a tabloid, as it is the place for the rich and famous in Andalusia, where celebrities flock.
Playa de Puerto Banús is therefore well worth a visit, especially for its glamorous ambience. The beach is located very close to Marbella’s top attraction, the port of Puerto Banús, where one luxury yacht follows the next.
The harbor district is full of high-end boutiques, luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants. A look into this somewhat different, very chic world is definitely interesting, but you can also simply spend a nice beach vacation in Marbella. However, you will probably have to plan a somewhat larger budget for this.
Our Puerto Banús hotel tip deluxe: Boho Club – 5-star luxury hotel
Our Puerto Banús hotel tip good and affordable: B&B Boutique Tribeca – individual furnishings
#9 Playa La Malagueta in Málaga
Málaga is one of the most interesting cities in Andalusia and Playa La Malagueta is probably the most popular beach for both locals and tourists in Málaga.
Admittedly, Malagueta cannot compete with most of the natural beach beauties on this list of the most beautiful beaches in Andalusia. However, the beach is located directly in front of the city center of Malaga and somehow the list would simply not be complete without the Malagueta.
You can spend a great day at the beach here and take a break from sightseeing in Málaga. The shallow water, a children’s playground and the numerous chiringuitos also attract many families with children to the beach.
In the background you can see the city skyline and many of the top Málaga sights such as the Alcazaba or the cathedral are just a few minutes’ walk away.
Our deluxe hotel tip: Gran Hotel Miramar – palace hotel with wellness center
Our good and affordable hotel tip: La Casa Azul B&B – guesthouse in an ideal location
#10 Playa de la Chullera
Playa de la Chullera is actually quite atypical for Andalusia: instead of the characteristic dark brown sand, the beach is surrounded by bizarre rock formations. Even though we love sandy beaches, it’s a pleasant change to come home without sand in our shoes.
The stony ground also has another effect, as it ensures incredibly clear visibility under water and makes Playa de la Chullera a real paradise for snorkeling.
There are three bays in total, one of which is a little more touristy and has a chiringuito. The other two are quieter and particularly popular with locals.
Nearby you can also see the remains of two towers from the Nasrid dynasty, the Torre de la Chullera and the Torre Almenara.
Our hotel tip: Villa Erina – boutique hotel with palm garden
#11 Playa de Cabopino in Marbella
Like our #8, Playa de Cabopino is also located in Marbella. However, Cabopino couldn’t be more different from Puerto Banús, as the beach is known as one of the quietest and most natural in the region.
The Dunas de Artola of Cabopino are even an official natural monument. Many native plants also grow here, such as sea daffodils and red juniper.
Cabopino has also been awarded the Blue Flag and there is a good infrastructure for bathers with toilets, showers, many chiringuitos and lifeguards.
If you need a little break from sunbathing, you can explore the Torre des los Ladrones – a fortified tower on the beach that dates back to Roman times.
Our deluxe hotel tip: The Residence – beach hotel with pool and garden
Our good and affordable hotel tip: El Nácar B&B – finca in a quiet location
Do you know any other Andalusian beaches?
These were our tips for the most beautiful beaches in Andalusia. Have you been to the sea in Andalusia yourself and do you have any more beach tips? Tell us more in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!