5 Best Granada Beaches and 4 Beautiful Hidden Bays

Some Granada beaches are busy and offer everything you might need, while others are much quieter and have no services at all. There are also small bays hidden between rocks where getting there takes a bit more effort, but that's part of their charm.


Granada has about 19 kilometers of coastline. It's not very long, but every beach has its own character.

If you're looking for fine white sand, like in other areas of Andalusia, you won't find any. Most of the beaches here have dark pebbles and stones instead of sand, and the water is usually very clear. That's why many people come here to snorkel or dive.


The rocky areas are also home to many birds, which nest along the cliffs and stone formations. There are also plants growing in unexpected places, making the area feel even more natural.

Here's a map showing every beach in Granada province, and the top ones are marked in orange. Apart from the top 9, there are many other places worth a visit. We cover each one in the other sections.


The best Granada beaches are mainly found near the towns of Motril, Salobreña and Almuñécar. All three have a long history with a local character that dates back centuries.

Below you'll find a selection of the best beaches in Granada, with details about their location, what services they offer, what the beach is made of, their size, nearby places to eat.

Calahonda Beach (Motril)

The Calahonda Beach is situated in the urbanized section of an old fishing village with the same name. There's a promenade along the beach, where you'll find hotels, beach bars, and some parking spaces.

Calahonda beach is ideal place for people who want to be close to restaurants, shops, ice cream stands, and other services. It is one of the few beaches in Granada with a Blue Flag from the European Union.

It is an urban beach, about 1200 meters long and 55 meters wide at its widest point, and is quite deep near the shore. Be careful when entering the sea, as it gets deep quickly.

Calahonda is a busy beach because of many nearby apartments and tourist places, but it still doesn't feel crowded.

This beach is a good place for water sports, snorkeling, and diving, especially near the rocks. Next to a rock, there is a small natural harbor for sports and fishing boats.

It has a wide range of facilities, including umbrella and sun lounger rentals, area for a children, petanque field, showers, toilets, lifeguards, and a Red Cross post.

Calahonda is also an accessible beach. It has a service to help people with reduced mobility get into the water.

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. Also, in the town, there are popular bars serving tasty tapas.

If you are coming from Granada, take the road toward Motril, not Málaga, after Belez de Baunadalla. There are many parking spaces next to the main road N-340. However, because Calahonda Beach is popular, it can be hard to find a free spot.

It's even more difficult to find parking near the promenade as access to most of the streets is restricted. Getting around is easy, and a city bus goes through the area.

La Rijana Beach (Gualchos-Castell del Ferro)

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

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

At one end of the bay, there is a rock that stretches into the sea. Just above it on the mountain are the remains of the 16th-century Rijana Tower and parts of a much older well.

Rijana Beach is in a remote location and about an 800-meter walk from the parking area, but it is still well-known and popular. It is typically quiet, however, it can become overly crowded, especially in August, due to its small size.

La Rijana Beach is about 250 meters long and 10 to 30 meters wide with coarse sand and stones, usually with calm, clear water.

The area is highly valued by divers for its exceptional biodiversity. On the beach, there is a small bar where you can rent hammocks, kayaks, and paddleboards.

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

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

They don't serve hot meals, only sandwiches and canned drinks. So, if you're looking for a beach with restaurants and bars, this is not the place for you.

La Rijana Beach is situated between Calahonda and Castell del Ferro, next to the N-340 national highway. When coming from Granada, follow the signs for Motril, not Málaga. Taking a wrong turn is common.

To get to the beach, park near the Zacatín ravine and walk down a steep path for about 800 meters, going through a tunnel under the N-340 highway.

The parking area is situated on an esplanade with enough space for approximately 50 vehicles. There's a small additional space for parking along the slope, but not much.

La Herradura Beach (Almuñécar)

La Herradura is an urban beach in the fishing village of the same name. Its beautiful bay 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 inside a Natural Park and has one of the most beautiful and diverse seabeds among all the beaches in Granada.

As it's an urban beach surrounded by apartments and tourist areas, and usually quite busy.

The beach is mostly made up of stones, dark sand and pebbles.

La Herradura is a very big beach, about 2 kilometers long and around 40 meters wide.

You can try out different water sports here like paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, and even rent small boats.

With its beautiful seabed and many caves, it's a popular spot for diving, snorkeling, and kayaking. There are numerous diving companies offering baptism experiences for around 70 euros.

There are many services, like hammock and umbrella rentals, toilets, showers, children's areas, accessibility for people with reduced mobility, shops, and more.

La Herradura has many excellent beach bars, restaurants, and ice cream shops. More information at: La Herradura Restaurants.

When coming from Granada, follow the signs toward Malaga, not Motril. La Herradura beach is located 7 km from the town of Almuñécar.

There are many parking spaces along the promenade, which become part of a paid blue zone during summer and Easter. There is also a city bus service.

La Joya Beach (Torrenueva)

La Joya is a quiet small hidden beach, near Torrenueva, where you can just relax and enjoy the peace, and is popular with naturists. It used to be mostly a nudist beach, but now it has both regular visitors and nudists.

Because of its difficult access Joya Beach is not very busy. To get there you need to walk down about 200 stairs.

La Joya a small beach made of stones and coarse sand, mand also some dark gravel. It is a narrow 255 meters long beach, between 6 and 11 meters wide.

La Joya is an almost untouched beach with no services. There are no beach bars, showers, toilets, hammocks, or any other facilities, no lifeguard or rescue services.

When traveling from Granada, follow the signs for Motril, not Málaga. It’s easy to take a wrong turn.

La Joya is located 1 km after Torrenueva on the N-340 road towards Almería. After parking, you need to walk about 300 meters and than go down a stone staircase to reach the beach.

Although the parking lot isn't far, the stairs can be tricky, especially if you have a lot of things to carry.

The parking lot holds about 50 cars and is about 20 meters from the N-340 road. Getting there early is a good idea to find a parking spot.

Calabajío Beach (Almuñecar)

Calabajío is a small bay located not far from from Almuñécar, surrounded by palm trees and vegetation. Beside it, there is a large Mediterranean park.

If you want to take a walk up the hill, there is a viewpoint with beautiful views of the stunning Cabria beach.

As a semi-urban beach away from the city center, it is quieter, and not too crowded.

This beach stands out for its many palm trees and lush vegetation. It is roughly 350 meters long and 35 meters wide on average. The beach has coarse, gravelly sand.

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 also Pizzeria la Galera near the parking area, offering some of the best pizza and ravioli in the area.

The 4-star Playa Calida Spa Hotel is located above the cliffs with a large pool with sea views. There are other places to stay in the area.

If you are coming from Granada, follow the signs for Malaga, not Motril.

There are only about 40 parking spots, so during peak season, it's recommended to arrive early as they fill up quickly. The beach is easy to reach from the N-340 road. But you can only get there by car.

Cantarriján Beach (Almuñécar)

The Cantarriján Beach is the last beach in Granada along the N-340 toward Malaga, and the next beach el Cañuelo is part of Malaga.

Cantarriján is one of the oldest nudist beaches in Spain and probably the best in this area of Andalucia. The beach is divided by a rock: the first part is textile, and beyond the rock, it is fully nudist.

Its waters are calm and crystal-clear, making it a good place for snorkeling and diving. There are also many beautiful hiking routes nearby.

It's a hidden beach that's difficult to reach, but it can still get busy. People come here to relax, enjoy the peace, and connect with nature.

Cantarriján is a stony beach with dark, heavy sand. It is about 380 meters long and between 25 and 40 meters wide.

There are only two beach bars, La Barraca and Bola Marina, at the start of the beach which serve variety of dishes, including fresh fish, meat, tapas, and more.

You can find homemade dishes on the menu, including fried foods and rice dishes. Live music is sometimes played in the evenings.

The beach has only basic facilities, including hammocks, umbrellas, toilets, and showers.

Cantarriján is situated within the Maro-Cerro Gordo Natural Park, about 16 km from Almuñécar. If driving from Granada, look for signs to Malaga, not Motril. There are about 50–60 parking spaces next to the N-340 highway.

During summer, the beach is not accessible by car, so you have to park and go down on foot. However, the distance from the parking lot to the beach is roughly 1.4 km.

A better option is to take the minibus, which leaves from the parking lot. It costs 3 euros one way. This bus only runs during the summer months.

La Guardia Beach (Salobreña)

Although La Guardia is an urban beach, it is quiet because of its special location in the town of Salobreña.

The beach begins at the famous rock of Salobreña and extends to La Caleta, the fishing neighborhood where the old sugar factory is located.

What makes La Guardia special is the Salobreña plain by the beach, where sugar cane and tropical fruits are traditionally grown. Also it has impressive views of the Salobreña Castle, from which you can take a nice walk down to this beach.

Of all the beaches in Salobreña, La Guardia stands out for being quiet and having all the facilities you might need.

Because there are no buildings nearby, it doesn't look like an urban beach, so it's usually less crowded, mostly a medium to low.

The beach is made of pebbles, so it might not be for everyone. It is quite large, around a kilometer long and 25–45 meters wide. The beach usually has moderate waves, especially near the Rock, and the water is clear and clean.

On this beach, you will find many facilities and services, including lifeguard service, toilets and showers, and you can also rent hammocks and umbrellas.

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

La Guardia is a popular spot for fishing, allowed 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 order a tapa, or some fish and meat dishes.

If your trip starts in Granada, follow signs directing you to Motril, not Malaga.

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 beach from the centre of the village, but they don't run very often.

Granada Beach (Playa Granada, Motril)

This is the closest beach to Granada capital located almost in the centre of the Costa Tropical.

Playa Granada has all the essential services and facilities and often receives the European Blue Flag award.

Here yo'll find the only golf course on the Costa Tropical, and the Villa Astrida, that it was the summer residence of the kings of Belgium.

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

It attracts many visitors because of its proximity to Granada and wide range of services, but it never feels crowded as it's very large: nearly 2 kilometers long and 30 to 50 meters wide.

It is a semi-urban beach, has both fine and coarse sand and moderate waves.

Playa Granada has a wide variety of services for tourists. Here you'll find Los Moriscos Golf Club, open for golf every day of the year.

At the Awa Surf Center, you can rent kayaks, paddleboards, and catamarans, also windsurfing equipement, and take part in beginner or advanced courses, as well as children's camps.

Along the promenade, you'll find some trendy beach bars with a lively, youthful atmosphere and life music.

On the other hand, if you feel like making a cultural visit, don't miss the famous Villa Astrida, official summer residence of the kings of Belgium, Baudouin and Fabiola. Open to the public, the villa is a memorial to King Baudouin, who loved this land and came here in 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, 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 and after about 200 meters you will see a very small sign that says Playa Granada.

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

Velilla Beach (Almuñécar)

Velilla Beach is located in Almuñécar. It's about 1.5 km long and covered with dark sand and pebbles. Even though it's outside the town center, it has all kinds of services and a long, wide promenade.

It's a peaceful beach, yet lively. It's great if you want easy access to all the stuff you need.

There are beach bars, swings, lifeguards, showers, and access for people with disabilities. You can rent sun loungers and parasols, and try freshly grilled fish skewers at the nearby bars and restaurants.

Here you can try water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding. The beach is easy to reach with parking nearby, though it gets full in summer.

Also, right next door is the Aquatropic Water Park, perfect for a fun time with the family.

Page Updated: Mar 24, 2026

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