Less than 15 minutes walk from the bottom of Barcelona’s Las Ramblas, this long and curving sweep of fine sand is studded with stylish young city-dwellers and some less stylish tourists for much of the summer months. Overlooked by the high-tech white frame of the Arts Hotel and a neighbouring skyscraper, Barceloneta Beach is home to some wacky and very substantial sculptures, including a large, shimmering golden fish and a crooked block of four metallic cubes with windows. One stretch of sand backs on to a series of cafes and restaurants below a broad steel promenade lined with palm trees, while another stretch merges into a wide wooden boardwalk. In mid-summer, Barceloneta Beach is the place to take a break from sight-seeing, people watch and cool off in the crystal blue sea. 8/10
