Platja de la Mar Bella

Matt & Megan
Nude Beach Map. Visited 2023

Platja de la Mar Bella is a lively nude beach option in Barcelona, and in fact it is the only nude beach in this city, which can make it extremely busy. Mar Bella is easily one of the most popular nude beaches in Spain. When we visited on a hot summers' day it was absolutely packed, there was barely enough room to stretch out. It felt like we were walking on people trying to get to the ocean. Don't get me wrong - it is nice to see nude beaches so popular. But it is hard to relax when you're crowded in like sardines.

The party vibe normally picks up pace in the late afternoon. There is a large LGBTQ+ community and it is definitely an inclusive, accepting and safe environment to be in. Despite the booze flowing freely we never saw any aggressive or overly obnoxious behavior on the beach - almost exactly the opposite. Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming. Admittedly, we never came here in the morning when the vibe is much more chill and you're likely to snag a prime spot on the beach. The coarse sand is sometimes difficult to walk on, especially if you're walking on the concrete. So flip flops or shoes are a must. Generally the beach is clean and we didn't see much trash or pollution which is pleasing for a city beach.

The best thing about Mar Bella beach is the easy access and the amount of amenities on offer. How often do you get spotlessly clean bathroom and shower facilities on a nude beach? Add to that easy access on public transport plus a restaurant / bar with decent prices.. amazing! Bar BeGay is right on the sand and has a decent selection of drinks and food. Even on a busy day the bar seemed to power through the drink and cocktails at a speedy pace. They offer plastic 'to go' cups, so you can take your favourite beverage down to the sand. Beers and mojitos seemed to be the popular options. The only catch is that you need to pay a deposit of 5 euros, which you get back when you return the cup at the end of the day. There was some confusion when we thought the cup was a souvenir, only to be told by a friendly local that wasn't the case.. but I guess you could take it if you didn't mind parting with the cash!

Platja de la Mar Bella can be easily accessed by car, public transit, bike, or a leisurely stroll along the promenade (more information on getting there is provided in the section below). Strolling along the promenade is a great way to explore Barcelona and you'll appreciate the cool ocean water once you get there. The massive expansive beaches further along like Platja del Bogatell or Platja de la Nova Icària make the nude section feel a lot smaller than it is. Just don't make the mistake we almost made and confuse Mar Bella Beach with Platja de la Nova Mar Bella – these are two completely different beaches and one of them is absolutely a non-nude beach. It doesn't help that the non-nude beach with almost the same name is right next to Platja de la Mar Bella.

Overall, Platja de la Mar Bella is a great beach to visit in Barcelona and fits right in with the young, party vibe atmosphere that is prevalent in the city. Despite the fact we're in our 30's we felt 'old' being on the beach. Not to say we were out of place or felt unwelcome – because that absolutely wasn't the case. Just that a lot of nude beaches in Spain lean a little older or are more family orientated. Platja de la Mar Bella is one of a kind and a highly recommended nude beach in Europe. We'll definitely be back, probably to compare the vibe in the mid morning with late afternoon.