8 Most Charming Beaches of Granada and What Makes Them Special

The Granada coast has highly popular tourist beaches offering a wide range of services, and also small, quiet beaches without services, and small coves with difficult access.


In total, Granada's beaches span about 19 kilometers of tropical coastline, each with its own unique charm and distinct characteristics.

It's difficult to find beaches with fine white sand, unlike other parts of Andalusia. Granada's beaches are mostly rocky, characterized by dark stones rather than sand.


This makes them ideal beaches for snorkeling and diving, thanks to the clarity of their seabed. Additionally, they are perfect for birdwatching, as many birds nest in the rocks along the coastline.

Many of these beaches are surrounded by rocks and cliffs, offering numerous caves and exotic plant species to explore.


The principal towns near the Granada coast are Motril, Salobreña and Almuñécar, known for their rich historical and cultural heritage, dating back to ancient times.

Apart from the 8 best beaches of Granada listed below, in these pages, you can find detailed information about the top beaches in each of these villages:


Here, we've brought together a selection of top beaches in Granada, including their location, services, facilities, type of sand, dimensions, dining options, and directions.


This map displays all the beaches of Granada, highlighting the top 8 in orange.

1. La Rijana Beach (Gualchos-Castell del Ferro)

La Rijana is a small isolated bay situated in a Special Conservation Area within the town of Castell de Ferro.

This beautiful Granada beach is known for its clean, natural beauty and gorgeous water colors. It's a great place for diving and snorkeling.

At one end of the cove, you'll notice a protruding rock extending into the sea. Just above it, along the mountain, are the remnants of the 16th-century Rijana Tower and some remains of a much older well.

While this beach isn't urbanized, requiring a short walk to reach, it remains well-known and popular.

Rijana Beach is typically quiet; however, it can become overly crowded, especially in August, due to its small size.

It's a cove with coarse sand and stones, usually featuring calm and transparent waters.

The Rijana spans about 250 meters in length, with a width ranging between 10 meters at its narrowest point and 30 meters at its widest part.

The area is highly valued by divers for its exceptional biodiversity.

At the beach, there's a small beach bar where you can rent hammocks, kayaks, and paddle surfboards.

There are no other types of infrastructure available: no toilets, showers, or lifeguards.

La Rijana Beach is situated between Calahonda and Castell del Ferro, approximately 18 kilometers from Motril, adjacent to the N-340 national highway.

To reach the beach, you need to park near the Zacatín ravine and descend a steep slope on foot, covering about 700 meters through a tunnel under the N-340 national highway.

The parking area is situated on an esplanade with enough space for approximately 80 vehicles.

Parking is also available along the slope, but spaces tend to fill up rapidly. It's advisable to arrive early to secure a parking spot.

At La Rijana, there's only one small beach bar offering basic amenities.

They don't serve hot homemade meals; only sandwiches and canned drinks are available. Therefore, if you're seeking a beach with upscale dining options, this place may not be suitable for you.

2. La Joya Beach (Torrenueva)

This small cove, just past Torrenueva, is an almost untouched area where many visitors practice naturism.

La Joya is a secluded, pleasant, and tranquil beach that was previously predominantly nudist. Now, there's a mix of textile and nudist beachgoers.

Due to its challenging access, Joya Beach has a relatively low occupancy level. To reach it, you must descend approximately 200 steps.

La Joya is a small beach comprised of stones and coarse sand, interspersed with dark-colored gravel.

It stretches approximately 255 meters in length and is relatively narrow, ranging between 6 and 11 meters at its widest point.

La Joya is an almost untouched beach, devoid of any services. There are no beach bars, showers, toilets, hammocks, or any other amenities. Additionally, there is no surveillance or maritime rescue available.

La Joya is located 1 km after Torrenueva on the N-340 road towards Almería. Upon parking, you'll need to walk approximately 500 meters down a stone staircase to navigate the significant difference in altitude.

While not far from the parking lot, navigating the stairs can be a bit challenging, especially if you're carrying a lot of belongings.

The parking lot accommodates only about 50 cars and is situated approximately 20 meters from the N-340 road. Arriving early is advisable to secure a parking spot.

3. Calahonda Beach (Motril)

This beach is situated in the urbanized section of an old fishing village of the same name.

There's a promenade along the beach, where you'll find hotels, beach bars, and some parking spaces.

Calahonda is an ideal beach for those seeking proximity to restaurants, shops, ice cream parlors, and other amenities, as well as comprehensive security and surveillance services on the beach.

Calahonda beach is quite spacious and maintained in excellent condition. It's one of the beaches in Granada that receives recognition from the Blue Flag of the European Union.

It's an ideal beach for water sports enthusiasts, snorkeling, and diving.

Calahonda is a beach with a significant influx of people due to the numerous apartments and tourist accommodations nearby. However, despite its size, it doesn't feel overcrowded.

It's an urban beach, broad and lengthy, featuring thick, dark sand.

It spans approximately 1200 meters in length and 55 meters in width at its widest point. Typically, it experiences considerable waves, with significant depth near the shore.

Exercise caution when entering the sea, as the water becomes deep quite rapidly.

It offers a comprehensive range of services, including umbrella and sun lounger rentals, a children's area, petanque field, showers, toilets, lifeguards, and a Red Cross post.

Calahonda is also an accessible beach, featuring an assistance service for individuals with reduced mobility to facilitate their access.

This beach in Granada is renowned for its excellent snorkeling conditions, particularly around the rocky areas.

Adjacent to a rock, there's a small natural harbor for sports and fishing boats.

At Calahonda beach, you'll find a wide variety of dining options.

There are numerous beach bars and restaurants where you can try the typical dishes of the area. Furthermore, in the town, you'll find highly popular bars offering delicious tapas.

While there are many parking spaces next to the main road N-340, due to the beach's popularity, it can be challenging to find a free space.

Parking near the promenade can be more challenging, as most of the streets are restricted and parking is limited. However, the area is serviced by a city bus for convenient transportation.

4. Cantarriján Beach (Almuñécar)

This beach in Granada is one of the closest to the province of Malaga, with the next beach belonging to Malaga.

Cantarriján is one of the oldest nudist beaches in Spain and considered the best in this area of Andalucia.

It's divided into two parts by a rock: the first part is textile, and after the rock, it's entirely nudist.

Its waters are calm and crystal-clear, making it an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. Additionally, there are many beautiful hiking routes nearby.

It's a secluded beach with challenging access. However, it's frequented by people seeking tranquility, relaxation, and contact with nature. Typically, it has a moderate occupancy level.

Cantarriján is situated within the Maro-Cerro Gordo Natural Park, about 16 km from Almuñécar.

There are approximately 50-60 parking spaces along the national highway. However, you can't access the beach by car; you'll need to park and then descend on foot.

If there's space available, you would need to park near the main road and then walk down on foot. However, it's a considerable distance, approximately 1.4 km, from the parking lot to the beach!

A better option might be to take the minibus, which costs 2 euros. However, please note that this bus service only operates during the summer months.

Cantarriján is a stone beach with thick, dark sand.

It stretches approximately 380 meters in length, with a width ranging from 25 meters at its narrowest point to 40 meters at its widest.

There's only one beach bar, La Barraca, located at the beginning of the beach. It offers a wide variety of food options, including fresh fish, meat, tapas, and more.

The menu consists of homemade dishes, including excellent fried foods and flavorful rice dishes. Live music is occasionally featured in the evenings, adding to the experience.

Only basic services are available, including hammock and umbrella rentals, as well as access to toilets, showers, and maritime rescue.

5. La Herradura Beach (Almuñécar)

This urban beach is situated in the quaint fishing village of the same name.

Its beautiful bay stretches for 2 km and is bordered by Punta de la Mona to the east and Cerro Gordo Natural Park to the West.

You can explore the entire area walking along its scenic promenade.

La Herradura is a beach nestled in a Natural Park and boasts one of the most stunning and biodiverse seabeds of all the beaches in Granada.

As an urban beach with numerous apartments and tourist accommodations, occupancy is typically high.

The beach mainly consists of stones, dark sand, and pebbles.

La Herradura is a very spacious beach, stretching over 2 kilometers in length and approximately 40 meters in width.

You can enjoy various water sports activities such as paddle surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, and also rent small boats.

There are numerous diving companies offering baptism experiences for around 60 euros.

Thanks to its stunning seabed and abundance of caves, it's a highly sought-after destination for diving, snorkeling, and kayaking.

It offers a wide range of services including hammock and umbrella rentals, toilets, showers, children's areas, accessibility for people with reduced mobility, shops, and more.

La Herradura beach is located 7 km from the town of Almuñécar, heading towards Málaga.

Along the promenade, you'll find many parking spaces, which during the summer and Easter seasons become part of a blue zone. Additionally, there is a city bus service available.

La Herradura is filled with excellent beach bars, restaurants, bars, and ice cream parlors.

6. Calabajío Beach (Almuñecar)

Calabajío is a small cove located a bit away from Almuñecar, surrounded by palm trees and lush Mediterranean vegetation.

Its promenade extends to a large park on both sides of the beach.

If you want to take a walk and go up the hill, there is a viewpoint with beautiful views from which you can see the stunning beach of Cabria.

Being a semi-urban beach located away from the city center, it is quieter, and the influx of people is moderate.

There are parking spaces on the promenade, but they are limited, only around 40. During high season, it's advisable to arrive early as they fill up quickly.

Access is easy from the N-340 highway. This beach can be reached on foot, by intercity bus, or by car.

This is one of the beaches in Granada with the most palm trees and vegetation. The sand is coarse and gravelly. Its length is about 350 meters, and it is approximately 35 meters wide on average.

At Calabajío beach, you will find services such as umbrella rental, showers, maritime surveillance service, and a restaurant with a chill-out area. However, there are no rental services available for kayaks or paddle surf boards, etc.

On this beach there are two places to eat: Chiringuito Piliki Beach and Restaurante Calabajio. Both are good options.

There is a 4-star hotel, the Playa Calida Spa Hotel, located above the cliffs with a large swimming pool from which you can see the sea, as well as other accommodations in the area.

7. La Guardia Beach (Salobreña)

La Guardia, although an urban beach, is quiet and beautiful. This is due to its special location within the town of Salobreña.

This beach extends from the famous rock of Salobreña to the fishing neighborhood of La Caleta, where the old sugar factory is located.

Most of La Guardia has a unique element behind it that makes it very special: the Salobreña plain. Sugar cane and tropical fruits are traditionally grown here.

Also it has impressive views of the Salobreña Castle, from which you can walk down to this beach on a long and unforgettable walk.

Among all the beaches in Granada, this is one of the most emblematic, ideal for people looking for a quiet beach with all the necessary services.

Its occupancy level is usually medium to low.

Thanks to the absence of buildings behind most of El Palo, just countryside, it doesn't feel like an urban beach, making it less prone to overcrowding.

La Guardia is a beach with thick, dark sand, typical of the beaches of Granada. It's quite long. It measures one kilometer long by 25-45 meters wide. La Guardia features thick, dark sand, typical of Granada's beaches, and it is quite long. It measures one kilometer in length and spans 25 to 45 meters in width.

It typically experiences moderate waves, especially near the Rock, and its waters are clear and clean.

On this beach, you will find many amenities and services, including maritime surveillance and rescue, toilets and showers, as well as rental options for hammocks and umbrellas.

There is also a rental service available for pedal boats, kayaks, or paddle surf boards.

La Guardia is a popular site for angling, as it is permitted after 10:00 p.m.

On La Guardia beach, you will find several good restaurants and beach bars on the waterfront, such as Bahia, where you can enjoy a tapa or order some fish skewers.

There are plenty of parking spaces on the seafront or nearby. As on other beaches in Granada, in summer and Easter is blue zone and you have to pay.

Salobreña has a city bus that will take you to this and other beaches.

8. Granada Beach (Motril)

This is the closest beach to Granada capital and one located almost in the center of the Costa Tropical.

Playa Granada has all the necessary services and amenities and usually receives recognition from the European Blue Flag program.

Here, we find the only golf course on the Costa Tropical and it was the official summer residence of the kings of Belgium, Baudouin and Fabiola.

It is an ideal place for families and older people, given its easy access to the shore.

As a semi-urban beach, it attracts a large number of bathers due to its many services and amenities.

Playa Granada has fine and coarse sand with moderate waves. It measures almost 2 kilometers in length and has a width ranging between 30 and 50 meters.

Playa Granada offers all types of hospitality and tourist services.

Here you'll find the Los Moriscos Golf Club, where you can enjoy golfing year-round, every day.

At the Awa Surf Center, you can rent equipment for all types of water sports, including kayaks, paddle surf boards, windsurfing, and catamarans. They also offer beginner or advanced courses as well as children's camps.

Along its promenade, there are many trendy beach bars where the atmosphere is youthful, and music takes center stage.

On the other hand, if you feel like making a cultural visit, take a stroll through the famous Villa Astrida.

It has recently been opened to the public, converted into a memorial to King Baudouin, who loved this land so much that he decided to come here to spend the last days of his life.

Playa Granada beach can be a little difficult to find, as it is not well signposted.

If you're coming from Granada on the A44, take exit 183 to the A7 towards Salobreña/Málaga. Approximately 4 kilometers later, take exit 899 to the GR-14 towards Motril/Puerto/Salobreña.

At the roundabout take the 1st exit passing under the road and after about 200 meters take the Camino de Río Seco, you will see a very small sign that says Playa Granada.

Continue straight for a long time, passing another roundabout, then continue straight. At the next roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Rector David Aguilar Peña street. You will soon see the restaurants and the boardwalk.

This is one of the beaches in Malaga with the most free parking, but it also fills up during the high season.

---

Was this information helpful? Have you visited these sights? We'd love to

hear your thoughts.

© Copyright • LoveGranada.com • Any use of the content, including copying of it in whole or in part is prohibited.

Follow us on our social networks

If you find this information useful, please share it