Best Beaches on Granada’s Costa Tropical
Grab your beach bag and head off to discover the beaches and clear Mediterranean waters of the Costa Tropical de Granada.
The Costa Tropical
Named for its sub-tropical climate, a result of its unique position south of the Sierra Nevada mountains and so close to Africa across the Med, the nearest beaches of the Costa Tropical are only an hour from the city.
Situated between the Costa Almería and the better known Costa del Sol, this beautiful stretch of coastline boasts many great beaches ideal for swimming and water sports, including a few with ‘Blue Flag‘ status in Motril and Almuñécar.
La Herradura Playa | GranadaSpain
La Herradura | GranadaSpain
Find a beach by area
At the western end, Alumuñécar offers a large number of fabulous beaches to suit most needs including GranadaSpain favourite beaches, La Cabria and La Herradura. Driving east from there on the coast road towards Salobreña, you’ll enjoy fantastic views looking down on the sea and coastline ahead.
If you are coming from the city, or the ski slopes, Salobreña beaches are the closest and so a good choice if you’re on a day trip. You can actually see the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada from Playa de la Charca.
There is also a good choice for beach lovers around the town of Motril including three with Blue Flags, assuring clean beaches and great water quality.
The eastern end of the Costa Tropical, from Castell de Ferro to La Rábita, offers a variety of choice for all beach bodies. From popular urban beaches to secluded coves, you won’t be disappointed.
Barranco de Enmedio
A picturesque little cove, only accessible by foot in high season. If you don’t mind a bit of a walk, it's well worth it to enjoy calm clear waters great for swimming.
Cabria and Curumbico
One of our favourites. Easy to access, ideal for families, with two great restaurants and sunbeds and umbrellas to hire.
La Herradura
Sheltered La Herradura Bay is the place to go for water sports and also boasts and variety of restaurants along the seafront.
La Rábita
Located at the most eastern end of the Costa Tropical this urban beach is well maintained and quite popular with the Spanish in high season.
Playa Calabajio
Playa Calabajio - Easy access, fine sand and shallow waters make this a great child-friendly beach.
Playa Cantarrijan
The two beautiful sheltered bays of Cantarrijan are the most western beaches in Almuñécar and popular with nudists.
Playa Cotobro
This pretty bay offers restaurants and bars and the 4 Star Hotel Playa Cotobro. Calm protected waters make it ideal for family fun.
Playa de Carchuna
Just around the headland from Calahonda is Carchuna, a large semi-urban beach which is a popular spot for kite surfers.
Playa de Granada
Playa de Granada is a long narrow semi-urban beach and a favourite of ours. Quick, easy access with lots of free parking.
Playa de la Charca/Solamar
Known to some as Playa de la Peñon this is the larger of the two main beaches at Salobreña.
Playa de San Cristobal
Another lively and popular beach. The western end is known as La China and boasts a number of restaurants, bars, guest house and hotels.
Playa de Torrenueva
Popular Torre Nueva offers a long, wide urban beach with several bars and restaurants to choose from.
Playa de Velilla
Blue Flag. One of the main Almuñécar beaches, Velilla has numerous chiringuitos, restaurants, ice cream bars etc.
Playa el Muerto
A popular cove that attracts nudists and non-nudists alike in high season. You can get there on foot by the headland footway from Cotobro beach.
Playa el Ruso
A secluded nudist beach situated 1.5 km west of La Rábita. The remoteness means you won’t find any chiringuitos on this beach.
Playa El Tesorillo
Another good family beach with two Italian and Spanish restaurants to choose from.
Playa La Guardia
A great sunset beach. Separated from La Charca by El Peñon, a rocky promontory, is the somewhat wilder Playa de la Guardia.
Playa La Joya
This secluded, little-known nudist beach, not far from Torre Nueva is usually very quiet due to tricky access down a 500-metre stairway.
Playa La Rijana
For those who prefer something a little more secluded check out nearby pretty Cala de la Rijana. This is a very popular spot with scuba-divers.
Playa Pozuelo
This is another great family beach with beach restaurants, amenities, fine sand and safe shallow waters.
Puerta del Mar
Blue Flag. Typical urban beach and easily the most popular in Almuñécar, right in the town centre with easy access to to the shops, banks and eating and drinking holes.
Sotillo, Castell de Ferro
Castell de Ferro is a small fishing village with a well maintained urban beach with boardwalk that is popular in high season.
Find a beach that suits you
Whether you’re looking for a popular urban beach, with water sports and a choice of bars and restaurants, or you prefer something a little wilder and off the beaten track, you’ll find something you like on Granada’s beautiful costa.
Barranco de Enmedio
A picturesque little cove, only accessible by foot in high season. If you don’t mind a bit of a walk, it's well worth it to enjoy calm clear waters great for swimming.
Cabria and Curumbico
One of our favourites. Easy to access, ideal for families, with two great restaurants and sunbeds and umbrellas to hire.
La Herradura
Sheltered La Herradura Bay is the place to go for water sports and also boasts and variety of restaurants along the seafront.
La Rábita
Located at the most eastern end of the Costa Tropical this urban beach is well maintained and quite popular with the Spanish in high season.
Playa Calabajio
Playa Calabajio - Easy access, fine sand and shallow waters make this a great child-friendly beach.
Playa Cantarrijan
The two beautiful sheltered bays of Cantarrijan are the most western beaches in Almuñécar and popular with nudists.
Playa Cotobro
This pretty bay offers restaurants and bars and the 4 Star Hotel Playa Cotobro. Calm protected waters make it ideal for family fun.
Playa de Carchuna
Just around the headland from Calahonda is Carchuna, a large semi-urban beach which is a popular spot for kite surfers.
Playa de Granada
Playa de Granada is a long narrow semi-urban beach and a favourite of ours. Quick, easy access with lots of free parking.
Playa de la Charca/Solamar
Known to some as Playa de la Peñon this is the larger of the two main beaches at Salobreña.
Playa de San Cristobal
Another lively and popular beach. The western end is known as La China and boasts a number of restaurants, bars, guest house and hotels.
Playa de Torrenueva
Popular Torre Nueva offers a long, wide urban beach with several bars and restaurants to choose from.
Playa de Velilla
Blue Flag. One of the main Almuñécar beaches, Velilla has numerous chiringuitos, restaurants, ice cream bars etc.
Playa el Muerto
A popular cove that attracts nudists and non-nudists alike in high season. You can get there on foot by the headland footway from Cotobro beach.
Playa el Ruso
A secluded nudist beach situated 1.5 km west of La Rábita. The remoteness means you won’t find any chiringuitos on this beach.
Playa El Tesorillo
Another good family beach with two Italian and Spanish restaurants to choose from.
Playa La Guardia
A great sunset beach. Separated from La Charca by El Peñon, a rocky promontory, is the somewhat wilder Playa de la Guardia.
Playa La Joya
This secluded, little-known nudist beach, not far from Torre Nueva is usually very quiet due to tricky access down a 500-metre stairway.
Playa Pozuelo
This is another great family beach with beach restaurants, amenities, fine sand and safe shallow waters.
Puerta del Mar
Blue Flag. Typical urban beach and easily the most popular in Almuñécar, right in the town centre with easy access to to the shops, banks and eating and drinking holes.
Sotillo, Castell de Ferro
Castell de Ferro is a small fishing village with a well maintained urban beach with boardwalk that is popular in high season.
Find the best beaches on the map
| Title | Address | Description | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
Barranco de Enmedio | 18690, Granada, Spain | Directions | |
Cabria & Curumbico | Calle Barranco Cabría, 7, 18690 Almuñécar, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Calahonda | Calahonda, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa Cotobro | Paseo de Cotobro, 12D, 18690 Almuñécar, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa el Muerto | Poligono Pp S 1 Peñon del Lobo, 109, 18697 Almuñécar, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
La Herradura | Paseo Andrés Segovia, s/n, 18690 La Herradura, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
La Charca/Solamar | Playa de la Charca/Salomar, 18680, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa Calabajio | 18690 Velilla-Taramay, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa de San Cristobal | San Cristóbal/La China, 18690, Granada, Spain | Directions | |
Playa Cantarrijan | Almuñécar, 18690, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Carchuna | Playa de Carchuna, Spain | Directions | |
Playa de Granada | 18613 Playa Granada, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa de Torre Nueva | Playa de Torrenueva, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa de Velilla | Playa de Velilla, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa el Ruso | 18760 Albuñol, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa El Tesorillo | Calle Tesorillo Pozuelo, 2, 18690 Almuñécar, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa La Guardia | Playa de la Guardia, 18680, Granada, Spain | Directions | |
Playa La Joya | Playa de la Joya, 18600, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa La Rijana | Playa Rijana, 18614, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Playa del Pozuelo | Calle Tesorillo, 2, 18690 Velilla-Taramay, Granada, Spain |
| Directions |
Puerta del Mar | Puerta del Mar/Fuentepiedra, Spain |
| Directions |
Sotillo, Castell de Ferro | Playa del Sotillo, Spain | Directions | |
La Rábita | La Rábita, Granada, Spain | Directions |
