If you are planning a getaway to the north of Spain, without a doubt here you will find idyllic beaches where you can spend the whole day and which are characterized by their cold and very rough waters. We anticipate it: Playa de las Catedrales, in Lugo, is not one of the best beaches in Galicia to visit this summer; It is full of tourists and you will have to queue for hours to access, in addition to booking tickets well in advance. Although it is impressive, we advise you to visit it at another time of the year.
The definitive list of the best beaches in Galicia
Rodas Beach, Cíes Islands
One of the best beaches in Galicia is located within the so-called National Park of the Atlantic Islands , specifically in Las Cíes (Pontevedra). It is not for nothing that Rodas Beach was considered the best beach in the world in 2007 by the British newspaper The Guardian . And it is that this beach is characterized by having fine, white and soft sand that forms small dunes, as well as by having very crystalline waters; In addition, it has a pine forest that reaches the very shore of the beach.
This beach has an extension of 1.3 km and joins the islands of Monteagudo and Faro. If you are a diving lover, we tell you that Rodas is ideal for practicing this sport.
Playa de la Lanzada, O Grove and Sanxenxo
Undoubtedly A Lanzada Beach is one of the most popular among Galicians, as it is ideal for surfing and windsurfing, as it is in the open sea and not in any estuary. This beach belongs to the municipalities of Sanxenxo and O Grove, in the province of Pontevedra and has the Blue Flag distinction; an award given for the quality of the water; environmental management, information and education, as well as the services it provides.
This beach has 2.5 km of sand, very crystalline waters, very fine sand and strong waves. Among its services you can find, among others, a picnic area, toilets and a Red Cross post. In addition, a few meters from the beach are the Hermitage and the Castro de Lanzada, where you can visit the remains of a fortress built during the Middle Ages.
As a curious fact, we tell you that many women come to this beach to avoid nine waves, following an ancient custom of the Arthurian and Celtic times and that is now associated with the Virgin of A Lanzada. During the last weekend of August, women who want to be mothers and / or are infertile, must jump new waves at sunset to be able to conceive.
Laxe: one of the best beaches in Galicia in an urban area
Laxe Beach is located in the Villa de Laxe (La Coruña) and is part of the Galician Costa da Morte. It is an urban beach, sheltered by the estuary, so its waters are very calm, which makes it an ideal beach to go with children. The sand, which is fine and white, stretches for 1.5 km. This is a beach to go and enjoy, as it has all the services of an urban beach, including ramps and walkways with easy access for the public, as well as parking, showers, surveillance, a Red Cross post, buses and a restaurant area. .
Area Maior, Walls
One of the best beaches in Galicia to see dolphins is Area Maior in Muros, La Coruña. It is a very well preserved beach, almost intact and this makes it one of the most spectacular and, therefore, one of the most unknown by tourists. It has an area of 1.5 km of fine sand that surrounds the beautiful As Xarfas lagoon and is guarded by Mount Louro: this makes the landscape unique.
Keep in mind that being a not very crowded beach it only has the services of showers, wastebaskets and cleaning. So, if you want to visit it, you should take everything you need with you. On the other hand, the waves are usually quite intense and accompanied by a lot of wind. Dolphins can be spotted depending on the time of year.
Mar de Fora Beach, Finisterre
In our list we could not miss one of the most secret beaches in Galicia and which is located in Finisterre or Fisterra, better known as “the end of the world”. It is a very rustic beach and unknown by tourists, although it is quite common to meet pilgrims. Mar de Fora Beach has very strong waves that we can hear even before reaching the beach itself; So we recommend taking extreme precautions, particularly if you go with children.
The beach is small, barely 500 m of fine white sand and it is located behind Finisterre and it could be said that it is the end of the so-called Camino de los Faros. It has a viewpoint from which you can contemplate the beauty of the sea, as well as Monte de la Nave; the viewpoint has a small picnic area. Also, you may come across some Celtic symbols while walking along the beach: pay close attention.
Carnota Beach, Carnota
In Carnota, La Coruña, you will find this beautiful 7 km long beach that is considered the longest and most extensive in all of Galicia. Carnota Beach is open and its layout forms a very fine sand crescent guarded by a field of dunes as well as by Mount Pindo. In addition, the marshes with access to an interior lagoon where large plant and animal communities live. This beach also serves as a refuge for many birds during their migratory movements, so for fans of bird watching, this is an ideal place.
The beach also stands out for being the mouth of the Vadebois River, which is why a unique show takes place here in the so-called Boca do Río. A few years ago, Carnota Beach was recognized by the German magazine Traum Stände as one of the hundred best beaches in the world.
A Frouxeira Beach, Valdoviño
In Valdoviño, La Coruña, there is one of the favorite beaches of Galicians and tourists: A Frouxeira . The popularity of this beach comes to us because it is considered miraculous: according to tradition, its waters are healing, so it is quite common to meet elderly bathers first thing in the day. The sand of A Frouxeira is very fine and golden in color and stretches for more than 3 km. Very close to the beach is the A Frouxeira lagoon, an ideal place to escape if you are looking for a little more tranquility and from which you can see birds.
The famous Meiras cliffs stand out on this beach.
As Furnas: one of the best open sea beaches in Galicia
We never tire of recommending As Furnas beach, in Porto do Son, La Coruña. It is a beach to which, if you have been once, you will always want to return. Its sand is fine, white and forms dunes in some sections. It has small stone formations and some cliffs and, of course, strong waves; this makes it a favorite of surfers in the area.
Here you can find accommodation, as well as a small place to buy drinks and ice cream. The beach does not have toilets or showers and is divided into zones. At the end of the beach you can find a nudist area. More reasons to come to this beach? If you liked the series Fariña, from Netflix, we will tell you that this was the meeting point of the famous Sito Miñanco.
