6 beaches near Madrid: Where to go for sun, sand, and surf
There are lots of reasons that you might have come to Madrid, and many people think about visiting historical sites, learning about the culture of the city, and maybe eating fancy dinners every night. You can also add heading to beautiful beaches near Madrid if you want to have a day of peace and relaxation in the sun during your trip. The nearest beach is never far when you are in Madrid, and you should have no trouble adding a beach day to your plans during your stay in this part of Spain.
Before you pick from the best beaches near Madrid, you will want to ensure that your luggage will be safe and secure while you are having fun in the sun. Head to a Bounce luggage storage in Madrid before you hit the beach, and all you'll have to worry about is your tan lines.
Here are our favorite beaches near Madrid:
Santander Bay Beach
All of the beaches in the Santander area are really lovely, and there are many choices to make in this region if you take the time to travel here for your beach adventure. You can enjoy both Playa de Langre in this area and Santander Bay Beach if you wish. Both are ideal for nearby food, fun in the sun and quiet time with the sound of the waves.
This is a common choice for locals when planning weekend getaways, and there are many really nice beach resorts that you can stay at, as well as hotels back off the water that are affordable. Due to its distance from Madrid, you'll want to stay in the area for at least one night.
Santander Bay Beach travel distance from Madrid
This beach is about five hours from Madrid by car and half a day away by train. However, this is such a nice beach area that the trip is worth it. You might consider this beach area as an option for a weekend getaway that offers something that a city beach cannot.
Activity recommendations
When you head here, be prepared to enjoy some beach volleyball or to engage in water sports with locals. You can also rent an umbrella and chairs and sunbathe for an entire day. While it can be busy here, there is a festive and fun atmosphere that is still welcoming and enjoyable. People are often really friendly at this beach, and you might make new friends.
There are lots of nice restaurants nearby for meals, and you can also wander over to little food stalls and get snacks and drinks to enjoy under your umbrella. This is also a really nice area for swimming or wandering in the surf. The festive atmosphere here is really memorable and fun, and you will have a great time here with kids as well as if you are traveling with a group of adults.
La Malvarrosa Beach
If you are looking for lovely beaches near Madrid, there are few beaches more special than La Malvarrosa. This beach is a blue flag beach, and it is kept very clean and pristine year-round. There are restaurants and shops all along the beach, and you can choose to head here for sunbathing, water sports, or just a walk along the sand. Being that this beach is so close to a train station, you can also easily get to this location without having to rent a car.
La Malvarrosa Beach travel distance from Madrid
This beach is about a two-hour drive by car, or you can get on the train at a place like Madrid Atocha Station and head here in a couple of hours as well.
Activity recommendations
The fine sand here makes walking along this beach really pleasant. You can rent an umbrella and some chairs almost as soon as you walk out of the train station and start your day off right. This is one of the most pristine beaches near Madrid, and you will be able to swim, sip on a cocktail, or shop in the area with ease.
While river beaches in the area offer a very different feeling, this lovely beach location is a classical beach that looks like it should be on the front of a postcard.
Madrid Rio Park
This is one of the unique beaches near Madrid because it is actually a park that serves as a skating rink in the winter. In the summer months, it is turned into an area for locals to get a tan and swim in the water. This is the closest beach area to the city center, and you will find that various train stations will drop you off here if you want to get to the beach right away.
This beach spot is located between two bridges, the Puente de Toledo and the Puente de Praga. The area boasts wading pools, grassy areas, and picnic tables as well.
Madrid Rio Park travel distance from Madrid
You can get on the train straight from Madrid Airport if you want and be here in a matter of ten minutes. It takes about eight minutes to drive here to this beach area.
Activity recommendations
This is one of the river beaches in Madrid, and it is a great way to enjoy a cool break from the heat in the summer. You can snack on street vendor food here, or you might want to wander in the wading pools with your socks off before heading on to your next fun tour or museum visit. You should not let the size of the park worry you either. While not the biggest beach area near Madrid, this location offers a lot to do, and many people can have fun here at one time.
If you have never been to a river beach, you should give this kind of experience a try. You might be surprised at all the lovely qualities of a beach location like this.
Alberche Beach
The Alberche Beach area is a really popular river beach that allows you to get a break from the urban landscape without having to travel too far from the city center. This is one of the best beaches for a quick trip to greenery, cool water, and delicious snacks and drinks. You can easily spend most of the day here, and if you visit during the week, you will have great luck finding a place to lay out in the sun. It can be pretty crowded here on weekends, so you might want to avoid this beach on those days if you want a really quiet beach day.
Alberche Beach travel distance from Madrid
It will take you about an hour to drive here, or you can take an hour and a half train ride to arrive at this beach location.
Activity recommendations
The water is really shallow near this beach, making it ideal for water sports and for wandering with bare feet in the water. You can hike in the green spaces around the beach as well, or you might want to sit down at a picnic table and just watch the world go by. The entire area feels tropical here, and you will love that there are so many amenities nearby to enjoy.
This is a location that is actually the juncture between the Alberche River and the Perales River, so renting a boat and rowing out to see what the rest of the river looks like is easy. There are many people who head here for picnics every weekend, and you can also pack up a boxed lunch and make your way to this peaceful location to get away from the city for a bit.
San Sebastian Beach
The San Sebastian beach areas are well-known by locals, and many people will tell you that heading to Santa Clause Clara Island is a must-do activity when you are in Madrid. This is one of the best beaches for a really unique experience, and you will be able to enjoy access to concerts and other fun events at this location as well if you are in town at the right time. Water sports and various other activities are entirely possible here, and you will find that the shopping in San Sebastian is excellent as well.
San Sebastian Beach travel distance from Madrid
This beach area is about five and a half hours away by car or about six hours away by train, so it's great for a weekend getaway but not really doable as a day trip.
Activity recommendations
If local Madrid beaches are not doing it for you, consider heading to this really cool beach area that has exciting nightlife, concerts and live music, and great shopping and food. You can head here to lay in the sun on the beach or wander to beach bars and get a cocktail to enjoy the view as the sun is going down. This is an area that offers a beach person the perfect experience in so many ways, and it can be well worth the trip to head to this unique area.
La Concha Beach
La Concha Beach is part of the beach area that is found in San Sebastian, and you will want to consider this location if you are looking for a lot of fun at a beach resort location. This is one of the best party beaches near Madrid, and it is the home of one of the concert venues that boasts a stage in the water. A younger crowd spends time here, but you can still have a lot of fun here if you are not looking to party all day and night.
La Concha Beach travel distance from Madrid
This beach is also about five hours away in the car or six hours away on the train. It is connected to the San Sebastian beach areas mentioned above and takes the same amount of time to get to.
Activity recommendations
This beach is ideal when you want beach bars, concerts, and surfing lessons. Snorkeling is possible here as well, and you can rent an umbrella and chairs and just park out in the sun all day long if that is more your speed. You can be as adventurous or as mellow as you want to be here because there is so much to do in this beach area.
For divers, there are lovely coral reefs and other things to see beneath the waves near La Concha Beach. Tides can be quite high here, which makes surfing more fun than swimming on most days. The upbeat atmosphere and fun charm of this location will make you instantly happy and relaxed, making this an ideal weekend getaway for those in the mood for a tropical adventure.
Conclusion
While some of the best beaches near Madrid are a bit far away, it's the perfect excuse to go on a fun weekend trip from the city. Also, once you get to any of the beaches in this guide, your costs will be minimal, so any of them is the perfect addition to your itinerary when you're doing Madrid on a budget.
No matter what beach area you want to visit or what city in the region you head to, you can trust us to help you keep your bags safe and secure as you have fun. Traveling with peace of mind is always lots more fun than struggling to have a good time because your hands are full of bags and personal items that should be in storage.
