I hadn’t realized until recently, but the beaches of Spain proved to me how much I love the beach. The longer I live away from a beach the more I realize I miss it. Fortunately, living in Spain means I have access to tons of beaches, even on the mainland.

Costa Dorada (Gold Coast)

Just south of Barcelona, along the Mediterranean lies the Gold Coast of Spain, named for it’s golden sand. Not only that, they are also famous for being very clean beaches with clean sand and clear water. Along with pretty beaches, the Gold Coast also has several coves you can explore as well! I haven’t explored the beaches of the Costa Dorada, but they’re on my list!

Costa Blanca (White Coast)

If you’re from Europe, you’ve probably heard of the Costa Blanca. It’s incredibly popular as a tourist destination for Europeans looking to spend a long weekend in almost year-round sun, but who can blame them! The beauty of the White Coast, in my opinion, is that it belongs to the province of Alicante, which has some of Spain’s most quaint, fairy-tale towns. Some look like something out of a medieval history book, others look like the Spanish cousins to the white washed towns of Greece.

Costa Del Sol (Sun Coast)

Ok so the Costa del Sol, or Sun Coast, is probably the most famous coast of them all. You know when people think of the south of Spain and its beaches? Usually they’re referring to the coastal towns of Andalucia, pertaining to the sun coast of Spain. I’d explored them a little as a kid, but visited again recently on a trip to Malaga. I only saw the main city beach, but it was enough to make sure I visit again soon!

Costa de Galicia (Galician Coast)

Honestly, Galicia has kind of an odd reputation. People know it’s beautiful, green and lush, but because it’s isolated in the northwest corner of Spain it’s also prone to some pretty rough weather. Think winds and rain in the colder months and dry spells during the summer. It’s a gorgeous place to be in the summer and the beaches are stunning, but those beaches are stunning year-round. You guys already know how much I love La Coruña!

Costa Vasca (Basque Coast)

The Basque Coast is a more recent love of mine, after visiting Donostia / San Sebastian over a long weekend. It actually reminds me a lot of Galicia, with mountains covered in vegetation, plus rain and winds. It’s in the north of Spain, so some of the weather patterns and topography are very similar. San Sebastian reminded me of La Coruña in that people definitely take advantage of living in a beachfront city, even in cold weather! On stormy, windy fall days, surfers are out catching waves. As soon as the weather breaks, people are back out, enjoying picnics on the beach and even the occasional dip in the cold water. I mean, I could see myself living there.

So sure…I may have moved to Spain to improve my Spanish and live in Europe, but these beaches may just be the reason I stay…