Sant Sebastia(San Sebastian Beach, Platja de Sant Sebastia)

Located in the southernmost part of the Ciutat Vella district in the city of Barcelona, Sant Sebastia - also known as Sant Sebastia Beach, San Sebastian Beach, and Platja de Sant Sebastia - is a 1,100-meter-long and 81-meter-wide golden sand beach, which is recognized as one of the oldest as well as the longest beach in the city.  The beach is tucked between the Sant Miquel Beach and the opulent W Barcelona Hotel.  It has a beautiful backdrop of many oceanfront buildings, including homes, apartments, upscale restaurants, luxurious hotels, the famous Sant Sebastia Tower, a surf school, a diving center, two sports clubs, and a movie theater, which together provide incredible views of the city skyline and the vast Mediterranean coast.  The beach has been awarded the Blue Flag certification due to its cleanliness and water quality standards.

The beach is home to the city’s two renowned sports clubs, namely Club Natacio Atletic-Barceloneta and Club Natacio Barcelona, which offer many amenities, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a solarium, an aquatic area for relaxation, changing rooms, lockers, and sports areas including pelota, table tennis, beach tennis, beach volleyball, and a fitness center.

Sant Sebastia has many amenities, including lifeguards, the Red Cross, local police, beach information points, showers, restrooms, changing rooms, shady areas, restaurants, hotels, snack kiosks, parasols and sunbed rental facilities, lockers and water sports rental facilities, bicycle parking areas, two sports clubs, a paved promenade, Wi-fi, a large playground, a first-aid point, a nearby public transportation facility, and trash cans.  It is important to remember that the beach is designated as a non-smoking area, and we encourage that you respect this.

Sant Sebastia offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, snorkeling, diving, and picnicking.  If you are planning to go into the water, it is a naturally sheltered bay, making it a safe swimming area.  It is a fascinating spot for snorkelers, divers, and nature enthusiasts, as the beach offers amazing opportunities to explore the underwater world and the depths of the ocean.  Sant Sebastia is often considered a nude beach – there is a designated clothing-optional area on the beach.   The beach attracts a large influx of visitors due to its convenient location. Dogs are allowed if they are on a leash, and the beach is open from sunrise until sunset.

Sant Sebastia offers many amenities for people with disabilities, including an access path, an assisted swimming area, an adapted changing room, a shower with a chair, and an amphibious chair.

Getting to Sant Sebastia is easy - the beach has a large parking lot located at Passeig de Joan de Borbó, 78, which provides easy access to the beach.  

Alternatively, visitors can reach Sant Sebastia Beach by metro (Barceloneta Metro Station L4) or a public bus (lines 14, 16, 17, 39, 40, 45, 51, 57, 59, 64, and 157), which stops near the beach.

During the 19th century, there were baths, swimming pools, and solariums on this part of the beach, which were private and reserved for wealthy families.  At that time, bathing in public was very restrictive.  Despite that, Sant Sebastia Beach was the first to permit both men and women to swim in the same area. 

In 2004, sculptor Alfredo Sanz created a statue honoring swimming sports near the western end of the beach.

There are many attractions near Sant Sebastia.  Aquarium Barcelona has a wide collection of marine life from around the world, with over 11,000 animals representing 450 different species.  It is home to the Oceanarium, a massive tank that holds 4 million liters of water and features an 80-meter-long underwater tunnel where visitors can walk through and observe sharks, rays, and other large marine species swimming overhead.  In addition, the aquarium regularly hosts many interesting educational programs, special events, temporary exhibitions, and themed activities for visitors of all ages throughout the year.  Montjuic Castle is a 17th-century military fortress perched atop Montjuic Hill that plays a pivotal role in the city's history, as it served as a key defensive point for the region, witnessing numerous sieges and battles.  Over the years, the castle has been used as a political prison and a military museum.  Visitors can explore its historic walls and enjoy interesting exhibits that showcase its historical significance with panoramic city views.   It also hosts many cultural events, exhibitions, and outdoor concerts that attract a large influx of tourists throughout the year.  

La Sagrada Familia is one of the largest but unfinished Catholic church in the world, designed by the renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.  Its construction began in 1882 and continues to this day, making it one of the longest-running architectural projects in the world.  This basilica is a fusion of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, characterized by its intricate facades, soaring towers, and organic motifs inspired by nature, which is a remarkable representation of the architectural marvels of the modernist era and the city's unique history.  Barcelona Zoo is spread over 13 hectares and is home to over 4000 animals from 350 different species, including lions, tigers, chimpanzees,orangutans, elephants, giraffes, and various species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians.  It offers interesting educational programs, guided tours, animal encounters, interactive animal feeding, and petting sessions.  If you are looking for another nearby attraction,  Placa de Catalunya is a bustling plaza with a large open space, tree-lined walkways, fountains, and sculptures, including the monumental statue dedicated to Francesc Macia, former President of Catalonia.  It is home to upscale retail stores, theaters, restaurants, cafes, and hotels.  In addition, it also hosts many cultural events, concerts, holiday markets, and festivals throughout the year.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants within a six-minute drive of Sant Sebastia.  Peix Vela is an upscale restaurant that serves salads, paellas, seafood, pork, meat, and poultry dishes.  Barceloneta serves amazing seafood, paellas, and classic Catalan dishes.  Mana 75 serves delicious salads, paellas, clams, mussels, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  Gallito serves amazing salads, tacos, paellas, pasta, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.   If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, FOC Barcelona serves salads, nachos, tacos, burgers, ceviche, paellas, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Sant Sebastia, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star W Barcelona is right on the beach and offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, a spa, a fitness center, and three upscale restaurants.  A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star Duquesa Suites Barcelona, which offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a lounge with a rooftop terrace, a fitness center, a hot tub, and a Mediterranean restaurant.   Another moderately priced option is the 4-Star Hotel Arai, which has many amenities, including a rooftop pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a fitness center, and a restaurant.  A more reasonably priced option is the 3-Star Hotel 54 Barcelona, which offers a few amenities including a rooftop seating area and a restaurant.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Hotel Arc La Rambla offers a few amenities including a rooftop seating area and a dining room.