Looking for the best beaches in Galicia? Then you’re in the right place.

While Galicia might not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of beach holidays, this beautiful region in northern Spain is home to some of the country’s most spectacular coastline.

From long stretches of golden sand to hidden coves with crystal-clear water, Galicia beaches are every bit as impressive as many of Spain’s more famous coastal destinations.

Over the years, I’ve visited many beaches across Galicia, and this guide brings together the ones that have impressed me the most.

Every beach included here is somewhere I’ve personally been and would happily recommend to anyone planning a road trip through the region.

This list is far from exhaustive. After all, Galicia has hundreds of beaches, and I’m sure there are still plenty waiting to be discovered.

But if you’re looking for some inspiration for your next getaway, these are 12 beaches I genuinely think are worth adding to your itinerary.

You may notice that the famous beaches of the Cíes Islands aren’t included in this guide. Since I’ve only included beaches I’ve personally visited, I’ve decided to leave them out for now. They’re definitely at the top of my Galicia bucket list, though, and I’ll update this guide once I’ve explored them myself.

Most of the beaches in this guide are spread along Galicia’s coastline, and many are difficult (or even impossible) to reach by public transport.

Actually, one of my favorite things about exploring Galicia is that the drive between beaches is often just as beautiful as the beaches themselves.

Renting a car is by far the easiest way to explore the region, giving you the flexibility to visit several beaches in the same day and stop at viewpoints, fishing villages, and other hidden gems along the way.

If you need to rent a car, I recommend booking through DiscoverCars. It’s the platform I use whenever I need a rental car because it compares prices from multiple companies in one place, offers free cancellation on many bookings, and includes excellent customer reviews to help you choose the best option.

To help you plan your trip, I’ve marked all the beaches featured in this guide on the map below.

Since they’re spread across different parts of Galicia, this will make it much easier to decide which ones to visit and combine into your itinerary.

📌HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the top left corner to access the various layers of the map. You can select the layers you’re interested in and also find out more about each point of interest by clicking on it in the left-hand sidebar or on the pin on the map. Add the map to your Google Maps by clicking on the star next to the title. To access the map, simply go to Google Maps ‘Saved’ and click on ‘Maps’!

Located in the centre of the city of A Coruña, these two beaches form a single bay and are separated by an observation platform.

Both have blue flags and are very popular during the summer. Alongside the beach, there is also a pleasant walkway for a stroll along the shore.

If you’re spending a few days in A Coruña, these are the perfect beaches to combine with sightseeing without ever needing a car.

📍 Location: A Coruña
🚗 Parking: Paid parking nearby (Aparcadoiro Orzán – Riazor or Parking Saba Praza Pontevedra)
🏆 Best for: City beach & families
🚻 Facilities: Excellent

A tiny beach only 70 metres (230 ft) long and 30 metres (98 ft) wide, but a true paradise with a direct view of the incredible Tower of Hercules in A Coruña.

Despite its small size, this is one of my favorite beaches in A Coruña thanks to its unique setting beneath the Tower of Hercules.

📍 Location: A Coruña
🚗 Parking: Free parking near the Tower of Hercules or by the beach
🏆 Best for: Views of the Tower of Hercules
🚻 Facilities: Limited

Langosteira Beach is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in Galicia. Stretching for 4 km (2.5 miles), it boasts incredibly clear water on sunny days. Get your camera ready because you’ll definitely want to take plenty of photos!

It’s the kind of beach where you’ll probably end up spending much longer than planned.

📍 Location: A Coruña
🚗 Parking: There are some parking spaces available near Tira do Cordel, but also next to Bar O Trebón.
🏆 Best for: Crystal-clear water, long walks & photography
🚻 Facilities: Good

GALICIA BEACH TIPS

🌊 Atlantic water is cold even in summer. Don’t expect Mediterranean water temperatures.
🚗 Most beaches have free parking, but the smaller ones can fill up quickly in July and August.
💨Bring a windbreaker, even on sunny days. Coastal winds can be surprisingly strong.
🐚 Many of Galicia’s most beautiful beaches have few or no facilities, so bring water, snacks, and anything else you might need.
🌅 Leave time to explore beyond the beach. Some of my favorite memories in Galicia came from stopping at viewpoints and small fishing villages between destinations.

Although relatively small (1.2 km / 0.75 miles long), this is another crystal-clear beach to enjoy on the Galician coast.

It also tends to be much quieter than some of Galicia’s better-known beaches.

📍 Location: A Coruña
🚗 Parking: Look for a parking space next to Restaurant Cabanel in Rúa Praia or next to A Cabaña Restaurant
🏆 Best for: Peaceful beach & swimming
🚻 Facilities: Limited

WHERE TO STAY NEAR FISTERRA

If you’re visiting Langosteira and Sardiñeiro beaches, Fisterra makes an excellent base.

💰 Best value: Hotel Rural Finisterrae. Quiet rural hotel with an outdoor pool.
🏡Best apartment: Apartamento Valdemar Keliam Fisterra. Modern apartment just steps from Langosteira Beach.

Stretching for 7 km (4.3 miles), Carnota Beach is one of the largest beaches in Galicia.

On sunny days, it is a true paradise that even makes you forget that the temperature of this seawater is not the same as in the Caribbean.

Even though it’s one of Galicia’s most famous beaches, it rarely feels crowded because of its incredible size.

📍 Location: A Coruña
🚗 Parking: This beach is so large that there are several car parks available: Aparcadoiro Maceiras (Praia de Carnota) | Aparcadoiro Praia de Carnota (Pedrafigueira) | Aparcadoiro Praia de Carnota
🏆 Best for: Families, sunsets & long beach walks
🚻 Facilities: Seasonal

💡 EXTRA TIP: For the best views of this beach, I suggest a visit to the Louredo viewpoint. Here you will understand the true length of the beach.

With some popularity among surfers, Lariño beach is 1.8 km (1.1 mi) long. It is characterized by its kind of bay with the photogenic Mount Louro in the background.

If you enjoy dramatic coastal scenery as much as the beach itself, this is one of the stops you shouldn’t miss.

📍 Location: A Coruña
🚗 Parking: Look for “Aparcamiento gratuito” on Google Maps or, to access the other end of the beach, park next to the Lariño lighthouse.
🏆 Best for: Surfing & scenic views
🚻 Facilities: Limited

Much smaller than Lariño Beach, this beach lies behind the hill visible from Lariño Beach.

If you’re looking for a quieter alternative to the more popular beaches nearby, Ancoradoiro is well worth the short detour.

📍 Location: A Coruña
🚗 Parking: Search for “Aparcamiento gratuito” on Google Maps, which also serves as a car park for Lariño Beach.
🏆 Best for: Hidden beach & crystal-clear water
🚻 Facilities: None

A tiny beach just 200 metres (656 ft) long, right next to the historic centre of the pueblo of Muros. It is incredibly beautiful, with white sand and crystal-clear water. It’s easily one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve visited in Galicia!

I especially recommend combining your visit with a stroll through Muros, one of my favorite pueblos in Galicia.

📍 Location: A Coruña
🚗 Parking: Muros is very small, so you probably won’t have a hard time finding a place near the centre and Castelo beach. I suggest looking near Cabo Street or Bombé Avenue.
🏆 Best for: Combining with a visit to Muros
🚻 Facilities: Limited

WHERE TO STAY NEAR MUROS

Muros is one of my favorite places to stay when exploring this part of Galicia.

💰 Budget-friendly: Pensión Casa da Nena. Simple but comfortable.
✨ Treat yourself: Casa del Ancla. Beautiful interiors in the heart of Muros.

A Lanzada Beach is another exceptionally long beach, stretching for 5.9 km (3.7 miles). Thanks to its size, it’s easy to find your own spot, even during the busy summer months.

This beach tends to be windy, and it is very popular for sports such as surfing or windsurfing.

Thanks to its size, it’s easy to find your own spot even during the busiest weeks of summer.

📍 Location: Pontevedra
🚗 Parking: Parking on this beach couldn’t be easier. There is a free car park right by the beach entrance with hundreds of spaces available.
🏆 Best for: Surfing, long walks & spacious beach
🚻 Facilities: Good

If we were looking for a definition of paradise on Earth, Barreiriño Beach would be right up there. A hidden beach in the O Grove region, with crystal-clear water and an incredibly peaceful setting.

The beach is tiny (less than 300 metres / 984 ft long), but it’s absolutely worth the visit.

📍 Location: Pontevedra
🚗 Parking: There are not many places available, but the nearest place to leave the car and walk a small distance to this beach is next to the O Carreiro kiok.
🏆 Best for: Hidden gem & turquoise water
🚻 Facilities: None

WHERE TO STAY IN O GROVE

If you’re planning to visit A Lanzada and Barreiriño, O Grove is the best base.

🏨 Best hotel: Hotel Spa Atlántico San Vicente do Mar. Outdoor pool and spa.
🏡Best apartment: Píllaras da Lanzada. Modern apartments close to the beach.

Located right next to the historic centre of Baiona, Ribeira beach is a small beach, but the ideal place to cool down on the hottest summer days.

Its waters are also very clear and from there you can see the Baiona Harbour.

Its location right in the heart of Baiona makes it one of the easiest beaches in this guide to combine with sightseeing and lunch by the marina.

📍 Location: Pontevedra
🚗 Parking: There is a paid car park right next to this beach and it is a good option if you cannot find a parking space on the streets of Baiona.
🏆 Best for: Families & combining with a visit to Baiona
🚻 Facilities: Excellent

Because not all beaches have to be by the sea, I decided to end this list with a beautiful river beach. Located in Belesar, it may be small, but it’s quite lively.

It is a place much visited by locals and it is easy to understand why. The space is very pleasant and the beach has a lovely restaurant nearby.

📍 Location: Lugo
🚗 Parking: Parking is done along the sides of the access roads to this beach. During high season, it may be more difficult to get a parking space right next to the beach.
🏆 Best for: River swimming & relaxing
🚻 Facilities: Restaurant nearby

The best time to visit the best beaches in Galicia is between late June and early September, when temperatures are warm enough to enjoy a day by the sea.

July and August are the busiest months, but thanks to Galicia’s long coastline, it’s still possible to find quieter beaches, especially if you arrive early in the day.

If you prefer fewer crowds, June and September are excellent alternatives. The weather is usually pleasant, accommodation prices are often lower, and you’ll have a much more peaceful experience.

Just keep in mind that, even in the middle of summer, the Atlantic Ocean remains refreshingly cold, so don’t expect Mediterranean water temperatures!

I hope this guide has helped you discover some of the best beaches in Galicia and inspired your next trip to this beautiful part of Spain. Whether you’re looking for long sandy beaches, hidden coves, or crystal-clear water, Galicia has far more to offer than most people expect.

As I continue exploring the region, I’ll keep updating this guide with new discoveries and recommendations.

Have you visited any of these beaches? Or is there another beach you think deserves a place on this list? I’d love to hear your recommendations, so feel free to leave a comment below. Your suggestions might even inspire my next trip to Galicia!

Planning a longer trip to Galicia?

If you have more time in the region, don’t stop at the beaches. Galicia also has beautiful historic cities, thermal baths, and charming small towns worth adding to your itinerary.

→ Santiago de Compostela: perfect for history, architecture, and a first visit to Galicia.
→ Ourense: ideal if you want to relax in thermal baths and explore a less touristy city.
→ Best pueblos in Galicia: great if you love small towns, coastal villages, and slower travel.