The best beaches in Galicia in 2018

Choosing the best beaches in Galicia is not an easy task. We enjoy a privileged geography, a rugged coastline with a multitude of inlets and ledges, thanks to which we have almost 1,500 kilometers of coastline in the peninsula alone. To this we should add our islands: we have the luxury of enjoying the Maritime-Terrestrial Natural Park of the Atlantic Islands – composed of the Cíes Islands (Vigo), the Archipelago of Ons (Bueu) and the islands of Sálvora and Cortegada – as well as other important islands such as the Sisargas, the Malveiras or the island of Arousa. In addition, the entire coastal map is surrounded by more than 300 islands, islets and rocks.

All this makes Galicia a region dedicated to the sea and makes the ocean and the estuary the axis of the lives of millions of people, their customs, activities, culture and gastronomy. Most of the Galician population is located around the Atlantic estuaries, where the largest urban centers are located. The Galician coast is one of the most important fishing areas in the world, highlighting the port of Vigo, created in Roman times and from which fish and seafood is distributed to anywhere in the world.

Among its thousands of kilometers of coastline, its fertile estuaries and its hundreds of coastal corners, Galician beaches usually appear on any list of the best beaches in Spain.

Do you already have plans for this summer? And for the rest of the year? From Piratas de Nabia we present you a selection of some of the most beautiful beaches in Galicia . We are sure that you will want to come and visit them all.

THE BEST BEACHES IN GALICIA. PROVINCE OF A CORUÑA.

The province of A Coruña is the most populated of all the Galician community, with more than one million inhabitants, and its most populated municipalities are A Coruña (capital of the province), Santiago de Compostela (capital of the Xunta de Galicia) and El Ferrol. It is also the province with the longest coastline, 956 km. Thus, it is not surprising that it has some of the best beaches in Galicia. Here are some of them:

• Carnota beach. Carnota (A Coruña)

In the municipality of Carnota, in the region of Muros (A Coruña) is the longest beach in Galicia. More than 7 km of fine white sand and crystal clear waters with a width that can reach 500 meters at low tide.

It is one of the most spectacular beaches on the entire Galician map, and is usually included among the 10 best beaches in Spain. A paradise that has nothing to envy to any Caribbean sandy beach. Surrounded by mountains in the heart of the Costa da Morte, in Carnota Beach you can enjoy a unique place, formed by the mouth of the river Valdebois, where you will want to stay for the day, even all week. Carnota, the longest beach on our map, is also undoubtedly one of the best beaches in Galicia.

The trip offers a range of activities from water sports to hiking. It has different areas for the practice of climbing in the nearby mountain and its spectacular sunset attracts a multitude of photography enthusiasts. The beach has all the services: information booth, lifeguards, public toilets, bars and bars, etc..

Although the low waves and calm waters invite us to a relaxing swim, in Carnota Beach it is advisable to take special care with the sea. Winds and waves are not very strong, but the undertow is, and the tides are very rough. It is not advisable to walk to uncovered islets at low tide, because they can be covered in a matter of minutes.

• Pantín Beach and A Frouxeira Beach. Valdoviño (A Coruña)

Pantín Beach is one of the best beaches in Galicia and Spain for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Located in the province of A Coruña, Pantín Beach (Valdoviño, in the region of Ferrol) hosts every year one of the world surfing championship events, the Pantín Classic.. The wave break is consistent and varied thanks to its cliffs, and, although its waters are very cold, with a good wetsuit you can surf even in winter.

Also in Valdoviño is the beach of A Frouxeira, historical reference of the sandy beaches of Galicia, which got its Blue Flag in 1993. This sandy area is about 3.5 kilometers long and alternates a semi-urban area with wide spaces of fine white sand ideal for walking or practicing sports such as bodyboarding. As it faces the open sea, it usually presents a constant wind and strong waves.

The natural environment is complemented by the Laguna de A Frouxeira, an outstanding ornithological habitat for being a resting and breeding place for different species of birds. Already in the municipality of Valdoviño, we can visit the Ocean Surf Museum, where we will find interesting information about the star activity of the area.

• O Vilar beach. Corrubedo (A Coruña)

The most varied beaches can be found in Galicia, and O Vilar Beach, in the parish of Corrubedo, in the municipality of Riveira, is an example of the great diversity of habitats and natural environments in which the best beaches can be found in Galicia.

O Vilar Beach is an open sandy area about 1.2 km long, although it is part of a total of 5 km of adjacent sandy areas: Anguieiro, o Vilar, A lagoa, Río do mar, and a Ladeira. The entire area is within the natural park of the Corrubedo Dunes.located between the Ría de Arousa and the Ría de Muros y Noya. It is a natural park with different ecosystems, including the mobile dune, unique in the map of our region, with an extension of 1 kilometer long, 250 m wide and 20 m high.

In addition, the beach of O Vilar is part of the Way of St. James along the Route of the Sea of Arousa and Ulla, the maritime and fluvial itinerary that starts at the entrance of the Ría de Arousa through the ports of Riveira and O Grove and runs through a total of 22 municipalities of the Galician estuaries to reach Santiago de Compostela.

In addition, among the 10 most representative beaches of the province, it is also worth mentioning:

• Mar de Fora beach, in Fisterra, a virgin cove somewhat dangerous for bathing but with spectacular natural surroundings and views. The beach of Mar de Fora in Finisterre (A Coruña) is an obligatory stop on our trips along the Route of the Lighthouses to the mythical Fisterra Lighthouse.
• Area Maior beach, in Muros (A Coruña). In the middle of a wild environment, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Galicia, framed between Monte Louro and the Xalfas Lagoon.
• Plaza del Castro de Baroña, in Puerto do Son. Considered one of the best nudist beaches, access is free to any bather who wishes to enjoy this privileged enclave. A virgin sandy beach from which, sometimes, we can see dolphins. It is located next to the famous Castro de Baroña, a Celtic settlement with more than two thousand years of history and with an enviable state of preservation in 2018.
• Razo beach, in Carballo, is one of the largest in the province, with six kilometers of extension. It offers all kinds of activities, being at the same time a quiet beach with a very good atmosphere. The ponds that form at low tide make it an ideal place for families with small children. If this is your case, do not hesitate to write it down in your agenda.
• Riazor, Orzán, Matadero, San Amaro, As Lapas and Oza, in A Coruña. The city has more than 2 kilometers of urban beaches, all with their own particular charm, crowded atmosphere and a wide range of leisure activities for everyone.

THE BEST BEACHES IN GALICIA. PROVINCE OF LUGO.

Lugo has 144 km of coastline, belonging to the Rías Altas (Barquero, Viveiro, Foz and Ribadeo) and forming what is known as the mariña lucense. Traditionally a fishing area, it is home to some of the best beaches in Galicia and perhaps the most famous.

• Beach of Las Catedrales. Ribadeo (Lugo)

Unanimously considered one of the best beaches in Galicia, Playa de las Catedrales, also called Playa de Aguas Santas, belongs to the Cantabrian side of the Galician coast.

Located in the north of the province, about 10 kilometers west of Ribadeo, this beach has been declared a Natural Monument by the Xunta. Not in vain, it receives its name due to the monumental appearance that can be seen in its arches and cliffs, reminding us of pillars and flying buttresses of the stone cathedrals. It can be appreciated in all its splendor if the trip is made when the sea is withdrawn, since when the water descends it reveals its arches and caves.

Before visiting it, bear in mind that, due to the high influx due to its growing fame, access is restricted, and it is necessary to request a pass, which can be complemented with passes for overnight stays in Ribadeo.

Ribadeo is one of the most touristically active municipalities of Lugo and has a multitude of accommodation options in hotels, rooms and apartments for rent, as well as all kinds of restaurants, numerous gastronomic fairs and activities of all kinds. A must on your vacation.

• Covas beach. Viveiro (Lugo)

One of the best beaches in Galicia, Covas Beach, is located in the middle of the Lugo sea, in the municipality of Viveiro, in the province of Lugo. This sheltered beach of fine sand stretches for 1.5 km.

It is an urban beach, with a wide promenade and gardens. It offers all the services that can be expected of a beach of these characteristics: information and tourism, lifeguard, hotel, showers, sports courts, parks, parking and cleaning service.

In it we will find some of the most beautiful spots in Galicia, such as its famous dune complex or the rock formation called “Os Castelos”, at the end of the beach, in which stands a monument in remembrance of the frigate Santa María Magdalena and the brig Palomowhich sank in 1810 off Covas Beach, causing one of the greatest catastrophes in the history of the Spanish Navy, and which continues to be a source of mysteries and legends.

Some of the remains of this shipwreck can be seen adorning the streets and gardens of Viveiro, as if it were an open-air museum. Viveiro is an important urban center and one of the greatest jewels of tourism in Galicia, where you will never lack what to see in your travels, due to its intense cultural and festive activity. The rapa das bestas of Candaoso and the Easter Week of Viveiro are considered activities of National Tourist Interest. Also taking place in Viveiro are the maritime processions on the feast of Santiago Apostle, the Pilgrimage of Naseiro, the walking tour to the mountain for San Roque, the traditional burial of the sardine in carnivals and even the music festival Resurrection Fest, which in 2017 and 2018 broke all its records and gathered almost one hundred thousand people, already forming part of the cultural soul of the city.

• Xilloi Beach and Area Longa Beach. O Vicedo (Lugo)

Xilloi Beach, in Vicedo, Lugo is a sheltered beach with just over a kilometer of fine sand and beautiful views of the port of Bares. Xilloi Beach is surrounded by reed beds, eucalyptus, mounds and cliffs, constituting a point of great scenic beauty. It is a stopover point for numerous species of migratory birds and is the only place outside Japan where a giant squid has been photographed.

Also in O Vicedo we find Arealonga Beach. With a length of 1300 metersIt is a large and sheltered beach, with a large wooded area and a walking area that runs from the shore to the estuary of the Sister River.This is the border with the province of A Coruña and where the famous three bridges are located with a beautiful panoramic view of the Ría de Barquero in the background. The town is nearby, so the leisure and gastronomic offer is assured. Definitely, O Vicedo is a town to take into account in your trips to the Galician coast.

THE BEST BEACHES IN GALICIA. PROVINCE OF PONTEVEDRA.

Along its almost 400 km of coastline, Pontevedra encompasses the best of the Rías Baixas. Tradition and modernity go hand in hand from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela, in one of the most famous seafaring regions of Spain. Among its estuaries unfold paradisiacal environments, fishing areas, meeting places, sanctuaries of all kinds of animal species and many kilometers of coastline and sand, among which are some of the best beaches in Galicia. Will you join us?

• Rhodes beach. Cíes Islands (Pontevedra)

What can we say at this point about Rodas Beach, that it is one of the best beaches in Galicia, one of the best beaches in Spain, one of the best beaches in the world? Of course, we would not be wrong. This is the idyllic and classic picture of Galician tourism. Rhodes Beach is the most frequently named as the best beach in Spain in many media, and was even awarded the recognition as the best beach in the world by the prestigious newspaper The Guardian..

The Cíes archipelago is formed by three islands: Monteagudo, Faro Island and San Martín Island. Joining the islands of Monteagudo and Faro is one of the most beautiful places in Spain. It is about the largest beach of the Cíes Islands (Vigo, Pontevedra). Rhodes beach has a crescent shape, bathed by turquoise waters. and green of the Atlantic Ocean and fine white sand. The whole environment is surrounded by a wild pine forest.

In front of the beach, we contemplate the best views of the Vigo estuary, and behind it we have the Cíes Lake or Lago dos Nenos, of great marine biodiversity, since it is communicated with the ocean through the eyes of the breakwater. This communication is also responsible for its crystalline water, since it experiences the continuous purifying effect of the tides.

The accessibility to Rhodes Beach is not easy. To reach it can only be accessed by boat, either privately or by a shipping company boat. For this reason, its appearance is that of a practically virgin beach. However, this does not prevent the existence of a wide range of tourist services: restaurants, camping, security, lifeguard, information and Red Cross post.

• Lanzada beach. O Grove (Pontevedra)

Between the municipalities of O Grove and Sanxenxo, there are 2.5 km of beach. This is the beach of La Lanzada, one of the most popular beaches in Galicia. You have probably heard of it before, since itis one of the most important tourist sites in the province of Pontevedra, as well as one of the best beaches in Galicia.

It is located in the Rías Baixas, on the southwest side of the isthmus that joins the peninsula of O Grove with the rest of the province, at the beginning of the Ría de Pontevedra. Being located in the open sea and facing the Atlantic Ocean, you can get to register a strong swell and strong wind, making it ideal for water sports such as kite surfing.

The beach, at its ends, meets with the surroundings of Áreas Gordas, already in Sanxenxo, and the Punta de las Lapas or Punta de Outeiro das Lapas, which is accessible at low tide and becomes an islet at high tide. It is surrounded by an area of dunes that make up a protected ecosystem, belonging to the Natura 2000 network. Its length invites you to take a walk and enjoy the views of the island of Ons or San Vicente del Mar. A few steps away you can visit the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Lanzada, the Tower or the Castro de la Lanzada, dating back to the 8th century BC, with a Roman necropolis dating from the 3rd century AD.

Being a much more touristy beach than usual, and one of the pioneers in achieving the Blue Flag, services are more than guaranteed: toilets, information and tourism office, cleaning service, sun beds and umbrellas, sports practice and wooden walkway for better access. In addition, both O Grove and Sanxenxo are two important towns and offer all kinds of tourist attractions for your vacations, good drinking and better eating.

Although perhaps Rodas Beach and La Lanzada Beach are the most famous in Pontevedra, we do not want to forget to mention some of the beaches that we believe are also part of the best beaches in Galicia without leaving the province:

• Lapamán Beach. Between Marín and Bueu, 800 meters of fine white sand bordering a beach protected from the wind, calm waters with a fairly pleasant temperature and in direct contact with the forest and groves. It is possible to contemplate a spectacular sunset that in summer can arrive after 22:00. Its four direct streams to the shore complete the picture.
• Bouzas beach, in O Adro, Vigo. Ideal for combining beach tourism with fishing tourism. It is a small family cove in the neighborhood of O Adro, in Vigo, where many locals go fishing, and has a marina where you can rent boats without a skipper.
• A Fontaiña and Do Vao Beach. Located both in the parish of Coruxo, in Vigo, they are two contiguous sandy beaches with an attractive promenade for tourists. It has a parking area, several accesses to the beach and Blue Flag. The

  

  A Fontaiña beach is sometimes claimed as a nudist beach, as is O Baluarte cove, also in Vigo, but in both cases all types of bathers are tolerated. In front of Do Vao Beach is Toralla Island, with which it is connected by a bridge. A road connects Coruxo with the neighborhood of Canido and its beach.

• Beach of A Punta. In Teis, a neighborhood of sea and mountain belonging to Vigo, we find this small jewel of only 50 meters long and 8 meters wide. Its crystal clear waters remind us that Vigo’s urban beaches can be small oasis in the middle of the city. Such is the case of Alcabre Beach or the largest urban beach in the city: Samil Beach, with the Cíes Islands as the backdrop of a beautiful landscape.
• Silgar Beach, in Sanxenxo, 750 meters of sandy beach accompanied along its entire length by the promenade, which runs in front of the houses and buildings of one of the largest roads in the municipality. Very good access and services, although it is better to visit it out of high season.
• Nerga beach, in Cangas de Morrazo, beautiful beach with all services located in the natural environment of Cabo Home. Very familiar beach, ideal to go with children, with magnificent views to the Cíes and limited by mounds that separate the sandy area from a huge pine forest.

BEST BEACHES IN GALICIA: COME AND DISCOVER YOUR FAVORITE.

We hope you have enjoyed with us in this little trip along the best beaches of Galicia, beaches that deserve to be noted in your travel agenda. Undoubtedly, we must have left many out. There are more than 700 beaches on the Galician coast alone! We may be able to travel to new destinations in the future.

Would you like to come and discover your favorite beach? In Piratas de Nabia we are sure that, after this review, you will be eager to start getting to know these or other jewels of our coastal provinces. We are waiting to welcome you with open arms and to accompany you to one of these paradises. Do not hesitate and start your trip!