Compared to other parts of Spain, Barcelona is a relatively new place for surfing. Around the end of the 20th century, surfing started to gain popularity in the city. Barcelona now has a growing group of local surfers and kitesurfers who choose to surf its beaches as a popular activity. Winter is the ideal season to do so in the city since the waves are stronger, larger and there are fewer swimmers.
These are only a few of Catalunya’s top surfing locations; there are several more, a little further afield, that provide surfers with amazing waves and a distinctive experience – the Ebro Delta for example. It is crucial to remember that surfing can occasionally be risky, thus it is always advised to proceed with caution and respect for the sea conditions.
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La Barceloneta
A very well-liked spot for surfing in Barcelona is the Barceloneta beach. It is undoubtedly the birthplace of surfing in Catalunya. It provides a good number of high-quality left and right peaks. On the sandy bottom, its waves shatter. It requires steady seas.
Particularly in the summer, it’s usually flat. It is relatively protected from north-easterly winds and performs best in north-westerly or westerly breezes. The east-southeast direction of the wave is optimal. The tide has little effect on the swell’s quality.
Caleta de Montgat
Montgat is an exposed beach break with reliable waves. One of the Maresme coast’s most well-liked wave destinations. It provides good waves and functions well in calmer conditions. You can locate tubes even on good days. In close proximity to Barcelona, there are strong, swift waves for surfing.
There is limited protection from crosswinds and the northwest has the best wind direction. The most frequent wave types are wind and short-period swells, with southeasterly winds making for the best wave direction. There are rights and lefts in the beach break able to be surfed at any tides.
Masnou
It is an urban beach of 1 km in length. It is located right next to the breakwater of the marina of Masnou, in the Maresme of Barcelona. It works well in the autumn and winter months. It is a fairly crowded wave, largely because it is located very close to the urban area of Barcelona.
El Masnou is a fairly exposed sandbar. The summer tends to have flat conditions, as in most of the Mediterranean Sea. The best wind direction is from the northwest. The ideal wave direction is from the east southeast. Waves are mostly left-handed and there are good waves at all stages of the tide.
Castelldefels
In the tourist town of Castelldefels, about half an hour from Barcelona, there is a magnificent beach for kiting. Here there is a special kite area where you can kite without getting fined or without ending up crashing your kite into a swimmer. In general, Castelldefels beach is a very suitable kitesurfing spot for those who are just starting out in the sport, although when the wind blows from the east or west, the waves grow and the wind is stronger. As such, you will need to have more skills when handling the kite
The best time for kiting in Castelldefels is the months of April to July. According to the regulations, kitesurfing is prohibited throughout Catalunya from June 1 to September 30 due to the number of bathers. The only exceptions are the special kitesurf spots, which are only three, Castelldefels being the only one in the province of Barcelona. The other 2 places where kitesurfing is allowed are Sant Pere Pescador and Trabucador beach in Sant Carles de la Rapita.
Bogatell Beach
Bogatell beach is probably one of the better beaches in Barcelona for kitesurfing. When the Levante wind blows, kitesurfers congregate at this primary kitesurfing location. What draws a lot of kiters to Boagetell is that the beach is easily reached by car and public transportation. Furthermore, the beach’s northern breakwater creates a few meters of reasonably good freestyle water plate.
Fall and winter are the ideal seasons to go kitesurfing at Playa del Bogatell. But beginners are not advised to use Bogatell beach for kiteboarding. There are breakwaters on every beach in Barcelona, so you have to be skilled at kiteboarding to avoid getting blown into the cement blocks. Moreover, large swells are typically brought on by westerly winds.
Vilassar de Mar / Cabrera de Mar
Located between Mataró and Vilassar de Mar, the Cabrera kitesurf area is only 30 minutes by public transportation and 35 minutes by car from Barcelona. The distance between Cabrera de Mar and Vilassar de Mar beaches is roughly 1000 meters. Sadly, kiteboarding throughout the summer in June to September is restricted at the site.
Its proximity to Barcelona and lack of crowds compared to Castelldefels are further advantages. In Vilassar, there can be up to 50 kites visible on a day with strong winds. Both beaches’ circumstances permit the practice of various styles, including strapless, hydrofoil, freestyle, and freeride. Rainy days may prevent car entry; however, you can park close by and enter on foot.
There are plenty of places to go surfing and kitesurfing are found in Barcelona and surrounding areas. Due to summertime local restrictions, a lot of Barcelona-based surfers and kiters enjoy themselves at the Costa Brava, while others head south. Checking the wind direction is crucial before deciding on your preferred kitesurfing location in Barcelona. Enjoy a day of surfing during your stay along with our Barcelona Segway Tour, for some fun on land and sea.
