The first real summer day I felt in Barcelona was not on La Rambla or in front of Sagrada Familia.
It was on the back seat of a taxi with wet hair and sand on my ankles and a half finished ice cream that was melting too fast.
I had just left Barceloneta after a morning swim. The driver looked in the mirror and said something like,
“Where next, playa number two or straight home?”
That moment gave me an idea.
Why not treat Barcelona like one long beach line and use taxis as my personal shuttle between the best spots.
No heavy walking with a towel and backpack. No stress about where to park or how to change metro lines with sandy flip flops.
So this guide is exactly that.
A friendly taxi guide for Beach Hopping in Barcelona from busy Barceloneta to quieter stretches further up the coast.
Imagine that I sit in the cab with you and explain which stop to choose and why.
Why use a taxi for beach hopping in Barcelona
Many people talk about the metro and buses. They work fine.
But a beach day has special rules.
You carry more small things.
Towel, sunscreen, maybe a change of clothes, a book that later fills with sand, some snacks.
After a few hours under the sun and in the water, legs feel lazy and patience goes down fast.
A taxi solves a lot of that.
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Door to sand with almost no walking
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No need to watch your bag on a crowded metro
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Easy to jump from one beach mood to another during the same afternoon
Prices inside the city stay reasonable, especially if you share with a friend or two.
For some of the beaches outside town the ride is longer, but you pay for comfort and time. On a short trip that can matter more than a few euros.
Stop 1: Barceloneta – The loud warm up
Most people start here. I did too.
Barceloneta sits closest to the centre, so taxi rides from many hotels stay short.
What you feel first is noise. Music from speakers, people playing volleyball, sellers walking by with cold drinks.
Sand is full of towels. Water is busy. It is not calm at all, yet it has a fun energy.
Why include it in a beach hopping route
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Good first swim to wake up
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Many chiringuitos and tapas bars behind the sand
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Fast access from most central areas
When you are done, you can just walk up to the taxi stand near the main promenade.
Tell the driver that you want a calmer place and move on.
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Stop 2: Nova Icaria – Chill zone near the Port Olímpic
From Barceloneta a short taxi ride brings you to Nova Icaria.
Same sea, different feeling.
Families like this area. Friends who want to talk quietly like it too.
You still have restaurants behind the sand, but volume turns down a bit compared to Barceloneta.
I like to stay here for an hour or two.
Swim again. Maybe eat something simple, like patatas bravas or a burger.
If the sun is strong, the bars with shade feel like rescue spots.
Taxi tip
When you leave, you can ask the driver to follow the coast line.
You see the next beaches passing by through the window and it helps you decide the next stop.
Stop 3: Bogatell – Local favourite with room to breathe
Further along you hit Bogatell.
For many locals this is the sweet spot. Enough people to feel alive, enough space to lie down without touching someone else towel.
The crowd here feels a bit more resident and a bit less tourist.
You see people running on the promenade, older neighbours walking, students with speakers, that kind of mix.
Good reasons to stay a while
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Often a little cleaner and calmer than Barceloneta
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Nice wide promenade for a slow walk with an ice cream
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Easy to find a taxi nearby when you feel ready to move again
I once spent almost a full day between Nova Icaria and Bogatell.
First swim, then coffee, then nap on the sand, then just watched the sky change colour.
Sometimes the best “plan” is that there is almost no plan.
Stop 4: Mar Bella and Nova Mar Bella – Young, open and relaxed
Your next taxi hop can be toward Mar Bella and Nova Mar Bella.
The mood here is younger and more open. Part of Mar Bella is known as an LGBT friendly spot and there is also a nudist section.
So everyone finds their corner.
Music turns up a little again. Beach bars feel more modern.
If you like a slightly alternative, free vibe, this stretch can become your favourite.
Taxi advice
When you call a cab here, mention clearly which part of Mar Bella or Nova Mar Bella you are near.
The area is longer and drivers sometimes need a clear reference like a beach bar name or a street.
This is also a good place to watch sunrise if you are the kind of person who sees that time of day.
In that case, a taxi from the centre when the streets are still dark feels much safer and easier.
Stop 5: Beyond the city – Ocata or Castelldefels by taxi
If you have half a day free and a slightly bigger budget, ask a taxi to take you beyond the city beaches.
Two classic ideas
Ocata
North of Barcelona in the Maresme area.
Long wide beach, golden sand, usually less crowded than city spots.
Trains go there, but a taxi from your door to the sand removes one more layer of stress, especially with kids or luggage.
The first time I reached Ocata I felt like someone quietly stretched the coast with more air and less buildings.
Perfect for a slow swim and a long walk.
Castelldefels
South of Barcelona, close to the airport.
Popular for water sports and kitesurf. Sand is wide, water is shallow longer, so families use it a lot.
A taxi ride here on a sunny afternoon feels like a small road trip.
You see the city slide away, then industrial parts near the port, then finally open sea again.
Both trips cost more than a quick jump between Barceloneta and Bogatell, however the change in atmosphere is very clear.
Some visitors say that one of these two beaches becomes the highlight of their whole Barcelona coast experience.
How to plan your own taxi beach hopping route
Here is one simple plan for a summer day.
Morning
Start at Barceloneta for a first quick swim and a walk.
When the crowd becomes too much, grab a taxi to Nova Icaria.
Midday
Enjoy Nova Icaria or Bogatell for a quieter few hours.
Eat lunch in one of the bars behind the promenade.
Afternoon
Taxi to Mar Bella for a different vibe, maybe a drink in a chiringuito.
If you still have energy and budget, finish the day with a ride to Ocata or Castelldefels for sunset.
You can adjust this depending on where your hotel or apartment sits.
The main idea is simple.
Use taxis as flexible links that cut out long hot walks and messy transport changes, so you save energy for the good parts, the sea and the sun.
Small tips from the back seat
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Carry a light bag. Drivers appreciate that you manage your stuff fast when you jump in and out.
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Have the beach name ready on your phone. Many drivers know all of them, but clear names avoid confusion.
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Keep a small plastic bag for wet clothes. Your future self in the taxi back home will be thankful.
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Sunscreen again after each taxi ride. Wind through the window can trick you into thinking the sun calmed down.
One of my favourite memories from last summer was exactly this.
Taxi window half open. Salt still on my arms. Passing the skyline while the driver had local radio on.
In one single day the car smelled like sea, fries, sunscreen and that strange mix that only beaches create.
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FAQs about Beach Hopping in Barcelona by Taxi
1. Are taxis expensive for beach hopping in Barcelona?
Inside the city, short rides between beaches often stay in a friendly range, especially if you share with friends. Trips to places like Ocata or Castelldefels cost more, but you trade that cost for comfort and saved time.
2. Is it easy to find taxis near the main beaches?
Yes, around Barceloneta, Nova Icaria and Bogatell there are usually official taxi stands or cars passing by all day. Around Mar Bella you may need to walk a short block to a main street, but it is still simple.
3. Can I visit several beaches in one day using taxis?
Very possible. Many people start near the centre in the morning and move further out during the day. The rides are short so the main limit is your energy level and sun tolerance.
4. Which beach is best for a family with kids?
Nova Icaria and Bogatell feel good for families because they have a calmer mood and easy access to food and bathrooms. Castelldefels also works well thanks to its wide sand and shallow water near the shore.
5. Which beach has the most local vibe?
Bogatell and some stretches of Mar Bella feel more local than Barceloneta. Once you move to Ocata or other Maresme beaches the crowd becomes even more mixed with residents from the region.
If you ever spend a day like this, jumping from beach to beach by taxi, you may end the evening tired in a nice way. Sand in the shoes, sun on the face, and that soft happiness of feeling that you really used the whole Mediterranean line that Barcelona offers.
