Playa de la Mar Bella
Playa de la Mar Bella
4
About
Created for the 1992 Summer Olympics, this city beach is a lively spot that's especially popular amongst younger locals and travelers. You can sunbathe on the beach or swim in the cool waters, and even play some beach volleyball, basketball, and table tennis at the facilities provided. Water sports lovers can also visit the nautical center at the western end for sailing or windsurfing. There's even a designated nudist area, one of the only ones in the city. End your day at the beach after going on a coastal tour of Barcelona, which might pass by Playa de La Barceloneta and Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Sant Martí
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6,978 within 5 kms
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1,580 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
101 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
36
Average
16
Poor
5
Terrible
4
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Marianne N
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Family
Beach and sea are always great. But if you don't want to lie here on your towel in the sun, you have to dig deep into your pocket. An umbrella costs 20 €, a lounger also 20 € and that even if you only come in the afternoon. At these prices, I think it's a rumor that mostly locals are there, only tourists pay. It will be tough for the couchman if the tourists leave Barcelona as requested. I prefer to keep quiet about the trash on this beach.
Automatically translated
Written August 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alice J
2 contributions
Jun 2022
This beach is good. I've been about 20 times and usually it has a good mix of genders. 70 percent of the people are fully nude and you will see the odd male with an erection so need to be adult minded. I have also seen people just walk right near the entrance of the beach cafe without a bit of clothing on. Just standing there as nude as the day they where born in front of all the diners, but no one cares. There are warning signs showing the nude area so people know what they will see.
Written December 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark
17 contributions
Sept 2022 • Solo
Unlike many naturist beaches which are in less accessible locations, this beach is as easy to reach as any other beach in Barcelona. Nice sand, clean, warm sea water. And unlike some clothing optional beaches, this was indeed optional with no apparent pressures. Some in full swimwear, some topless, some naked. Nobody seemed bothered by the options people took. And fair balance of men and women, clothed or not.
It was also much more easy going than I had expected. Part of the beach was shielded from view, but most of it was not. Passers-by could easily see the beach was clothes optional. Many people walking to the bar/showers/toilets were naked and nobody was bothered. So a place that seemed open and accessible to all. Worth a visit if only because it is easy, different and accommodates all.
It was also much more easy going than I had expected. Part of the beach was shielded from view, but most of it was not. Passers-by could easily see the beach was clothes optional. Many people walking to the bar/showers/toilets were naked and nobody was bothered. So a place that seemed open and accessible to all. Worth a visit if only because it is easy, different and accommodates all.
Written September 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gregory K
Gloucester, UK210 contributions
Aug 2022
My wife and I headed for Mar Bella on a scorching hot afternoon looking to enjoy a nude swim. But we arrived to find the site crowded by several hundred young men, most of whom were wearing speedoes rather than being naked. We looked around but didn't see a single woman sunbathing naked, giving the impression that this was a gay beach rather than a naturist one. If that is the case, the council really ought to advertise it as such.
Written August 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William Hazeltine
Edgerton, WI15 contributions
Aug 2021 • Friends
Playa de la Mae Bella didn’t disappoint. Went mid-afternoon so the sun was shining and the water was warm. Definitely a nude beach, but after 5 minutes of being there my party decided to strip down too. A good mix of clothed and non-clothed locals and tourist. The beach was a bit crowded since it seems smaller, yet there was still plenary of room to lay out.
Written August 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter S
Warwick, UK1,187 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
My wife and I came here without knowing it was a naturist beach. It’s a really nice clean sandy beach with some racks you can lean against if you want some shelter. It only took us a few mins to realise it was a naturist beach for obvious reasons. We were about the only ones clothed. If you’re open minded and it’s not busy it’s a real nice beach. Some naked guys were getting a bit friendly with each other in view of everyone so if you can turn a blind eye you’ll be fine. If not, definitely go to the beach up the road 5 minute away.
Written March 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Letty M
London, UK20 contributions
Sept 2016 • Solo
The beach is very beautiful, the sand is not very white, but the water is amazing: blue and green, very clean and transparent!
Although nudism is optional and not everybody goes for it, you can take out your swimsuit and relax, none will stare at you. You can even go naked to the bar to buy a beer and some crisps, (almost) none will notice! It is a great feeling of freedom!
Although nudism is optional and not everybody goes for it, you can take out your swimsuit and relax, none will stare at you. You can even go naked to the bar to buy a beer and some crisps, (almost) none will notice! It is a great feeling of freedom!
Written September 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gabrielle H
Barcelona, Spain101 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
Mar Bella beach is known as the nudist beach, but it’s more of an “optional clothing” beach….clothing and nudity – they are all acceptable. The water is lovely and warm, but the waves can be choppy when it’s windy. The beach bar is great. You can the rent sun loungers and sun umbrellas in front of the beach bar for the day (sun loungers are €6 each (€8 each with top mattress) and the sun umbrellas are €5). The bar serves food and drinks to the sun loungers – drinks are a bit pricy, but you’re on the beach. You can use your T10 to take the metro to Poblenou (Line 4 – yellow line) and walk straight down Carrer Bilbao to Mar Bella beach….past the skateboard park. Definitely worth a visit.
Written August 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
47davef2016
The Villages, FL4 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
Spent a wonderful day at this beautiful beach, Warm, smooth water, hot sand (it's August, after all!) and all types of people mixed together--all shapes and sizes, ages, suited up, unsuited (nude or partially nude), singles, couples, families, gays, straight, newbies, tourists,and regulars...all smiling,enjoying the freedom and joys of the sun and water. Total relaxation. Ahh, can life be any better?? I took a taxi from the historic old city center, for about 10 euros. Snacks and drinks available from roaming vendors as well as at food stands. Restrooms and outdoor showers near the beach. Lots of room (it was a Monday) if you want to spread out, or be closer to others if that is your preference. Everyone is friendly and respectful. Ahh, can life be any better??
Written August 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin K
Paris, France21 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
Playa de la Mar Bella is an easily-accessible beach, and the clothing-optional area spans roughly between the signs 30 and 31. When I got close to the area heading down from Nova Mar Bella beach, a friendly guy gave us a hand-out that said, "Welcome to Mar Bella Beach. This is a clothing-optional beach so take your swimsuits off!"
As many nudist beaches in major cities are, it's also a gay beach, meaning that there are a lot more men than women. That said, everybody was respectful and there were no obscene PDAs in sight, just simply FKK.
There was one restaurant/bar where they rented out parasols and sunchairs. Water was warm enough to get in and cool enough to help you cool down. There are shower stations (no foaming products) and toilets nearby.
If you want to spend some time in the sun, all natural, this is the perfect beach for you.
As many nudist beaches in major cities are, it's also a gay beach, meaning that there are a lot more men than women. That said, everybody was respectful and there were no obscene PDAs in sight, just simply FKK.
There was one restaurant/bar where they rented out parasols and sunchairs. Water was warm enough to get in and cool enough to help you cool down. There are shower stations (no foaming products) and toilets nearby.
If you want to spend some time in the sun, all natural, this is the perfect beach for you.
Written July 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, we are a nudist family with a 3 y.o. Kid, can we get naked in the family section of the beach?
Written November 21, 2018
Yes nudism is absolutely fine- there were whole families.
Written March 2, 2019
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