Platja de Badalona & the Passeig Marítim
Badalona's 5-kilometre sandy shoreline is the direct northern continuation of Barcelona's famous beaches, but with half the sunbeds, a quarter of the hawkers and double the local character. The wide Passeig Marítim — lined with chiringuitos, petanque courts and elderly men fishing from the breakwater — gives it the feel of a real seaside town rather than a managed tourist attraction.
The beach itself
The sand is fine and golden, the water quality consistently rated Blue Flag, and the bottom shelves gently — making it one of the safer stretches of coast for families with young children. The northern end near the Pont del Petroli, a rusting industrial pier-turned-walkway, is the quietest and most photogenic section.
The Pont del Petroli itself is a 250-metre iron pier originally built to offload petroleum tankers. Restored and opened to walkers, it juts dramatically into the sea and offers a unique low-level perspective back to the city skyline — bring a wide-angle lens.
The passeig scene
Sunday mornings on the passeig are a masterclass in Catalan coastal life: inline skaters, dog walkers, grandparents in Sunday best, teenagers playing paddle tennis against the sea wall. The chiringuito bars open at 10:00 and serve cold Moritz beer and grilled cuttlefish from the first hour.
For a proper sit-down meal with a sea view, Restaurant La Barca de Badalona near the fishing harbour serves arrós a la cassola — a drier, more intensely flavoured cousin of paella — that is the local pride dish. Booking ahead on weekends is essential.
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