Castelldefels is an ideal destination for relaxing at the beach. Nice quiet spots are easy to find on the five-kilometer stretch of beach, even in the high season. Another advantage is the accessibility, as Castelldefels is just a 40-minute bus ride or a 15-minute taxi ride away from the Barcelona International Airport El Prat.
But there’s more to Castelldefels than just taking it easy on the beach. In fact, it’s a great destination for an active holiday. You can take on a variety of different water sports in the Olympic Canal, built for the canoeing competition at the 1992 summer Olympics. On top of that, there’s always room to go running or cycling by the beach. While doing so, you might bump into some F.C. Barcelona stars residing in Castelldefels.
Where to stay in Castelldefels
It's very important to distinguish between the city center and the beach area of Castelldefels, since the distance between the two is approximately 2-3 kilometers. Most of the hotels are located near the beach, and there are few hotels in the center. Castelldefels is a summer destination, and since the beach itself is often the main reason to travel there, it is recommended to accommodate close to the beach area.
The disadvantages of staying near the beach include the fact that there aren’t many services around. Both the inner city and the shopping center Ànecblau are a couple of kilometers away. The restaurants and bars are concentrated more on the south side of the beach area.
Castelldefels Beach
The approximately 5-kilometer-long, fine sandy, and clean beach of Castelldefels (Platja de Castelldefels) is divided into three different areas: Apeadero/Baixador, Lluminetes, and Pineda. Physically, the five-kilometer stretch is bordered in the south by the port of Ginesta and in the north approximately by the Olympic Canal, after which Castelldefels transitions into Gavà. These three areas are not noticeable while on the beach, as the shoreline is continuous, and the beach names are used primarily for practical reasons.
The Castelldefels beach is open and windy, which is why the Pineda beach area has plenty of kite surfers during the summer. All the Castelldefels beaches are well-equipped with services such as beach bars (chiringuitos), restaurants, showers, toilets, and changing rooms. Due to the droughts that occur in Catalonia during the summer, the showers are occasionally closed to conserve water. In the summer, there are also first aid stations and lifeguards on the beach.
The risk conditions of the beaches are indicated by flags, and it's good to be aware of the following colors:
- Green flag = no risks
- Yellow flag = slightly larger waves, stronger currents, jellyfish, or other moderate risks. Swimming in the sea is still allowed.
- Red flag = large waves, strong currents, or other dangerous conditions. Swimming in the sea is not allowed.
Apeadero or Baixador
Apeadero Beach (Playa del Apeadero), also known as Baixador, is the southernmost stretch of the beaches. The area has the Platja de Castelldefels train station. Apeadero is home to many restaurants and beach bars. Water sports equipment, such as surfboards, kayaks, and SUP boards, can be rented from Shaka Surf.
Lluminetes
Lluminetes Beach is the central and largest area of the beaches, with plenty of restaurants and beach bars.
Pineda
The northernmost beach, ending just after the Olympic Canal. The beach area is quieter than the other Castelldefels beaches, with fewer restaurants and beach bars.
Pineda Beach has the only kite surfing area in Castelldefels. Kiteboards, surfboards, and SUP boards can be rented from Mojokite.
Things to do in Castelldefells
Above all, Castelldefels is a sporty destination – there’s plenty of facilities for different sporting activities, such as rowing, canoeing, kayaking among others.
Canal Olímpic
The artificial canal, Olympic Canal, was built for the Barcelona Olympics to serve as the canoeing venue. Nowadays, the canal is a multipurpose arena for canoeing, rowing and cable skiing.
There’s also a fully equipped gym in the area and a full-size outdoor swimming pool. Another interesting sports venue is the 9-hole golf course with training bunkers and a putting green.
The entrance is located at the northern end of the canal.
Webpage: canalolimpic.cat
Castle (Castillo de Castelldefels)
The Castelldefels Castle is located at the highest point on the hills. The castle dates back to the 16th century, although the church inside was built as early as the 10th century.
For centuries, its purpose was to control the territory and serve as a defensive stronghold of the Carolingian Empire against the Arabian invasions. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, it defended the city against barbarian pirates. The castle was renovated in 1897.
By foot from the Castelldefels City train station, it takes 15-20 minutes to get to the castle.
Shopping
Ànecblau
Castelldefels has one shopping center, Ànecblau. The shopping center is located some 10-minute walk away from the Castelldefels City train station.
The shops are open every day, except for a few public holidays. Clothing-wise, the popular brands like Bershka, H&M, Pull & Bear etc. have stores inside. There are also shops for accessories, electronics and home wear. There are also several restaurants, from fast food to local eateries.
- Address: Avinguda del Canal Olímpic, 24
- Webpage: anecblau.com
The Style Outlets Viladecans
The massive shopping outlet center, The Style Outlets, is located approximately 5 kilometers away from Castelldefels. Surrounded by gardens and fountains, you’ll find over 50 fashion outlets for clothing and accessories. The shopping center is easy to reach by bus or train from the Castelldefels beach and the city.
- Address: Carretera de la Vila, 90, 08840 Viladecans
- Webpage: thestyleoutlets.es
Prices
The prices of restaurant services in Castelldefels are close to the average level in the European Union. Hotel room prices are much cheaper in the early summer, before the high season starts in July.
Below, there are some examples of restaurant prices in Castelldefels.
How to get to Castelldefels from Barcelona airport
The nearest airport is El Prat in Barcelona, which is situated only about 10 kilometers away from Castelldefels.
Bus: From El Prat Airport, Terminal T1, there is a direct bus connection to the train station in the center of Castelldefels as well as to the final stop, Parque del Pitort, which is located near the beach. The journey takes about 40 minutes. The best way to check schedules and the most practical public transport routes is by using Google Maps. The Barcelona metropolitan area also has its own route planner, but Google Maps is more user-friendly. The price for a single ticket is €2.55. The journey takes about 40 minutes.
Train: There is no direct connection by train, but it is usually somewhat faster than the bus. You have to transfer at El Prat de Llobregat station: Rodalies. The Barcelona Airport station is located right in front of Terminal 2. The price for a single ticket is €4.90 (the airport is in commuter zone 4). The travel time, including the transfer, is about 30 minutes.
There is a direct walkway from the terminal to the station. The station near the beach is called Platja de Castelldefels. Note that not all trains stop at Platja de Castelldefels station; some only stop at the main station of Castelldefels.
Taxi: A taxi from Barcelona Airport to Castelldefels costs around €28-35. You can also use Uber to travel from Barcelona Airport to Castelldefels, and the price might be slightly cheaper. The journey takes about 15-20 minutes.
How to get from Castelldefels to Barcelona
Bus: Another option to travel to Barcelona is the regional bus. This bus might be useful if you live far from both train stations, for example, near the Olympic Canal. The best way to check schedules and routes is by using the public transport route planner in Google Maps. The price for a single ticket is €2.55. The journey takes about 60-70 minutes.
Train: If you're looking for more action, the train takes only about half an hour to reach Passeig de Gràcia station in the city center of Barcelona, or forty minutes to Estació de França, which is closer to the beach. Trains run frequently: Rodalies. Remember that not all trains stop at Platja de Castelldefels station; some only stop at the main station of Castelldefels. The journey takes about 30-40 minutes.
Taxi: A taxi from Castelldefels to the city center of Barcelona, Plaça de Catalunya, costs around €45-55. A ride with Uber could be cheaper, so it’s worth checking the price. The journey takes about 30-45 minutes.
Weather
Winter: The winter months from December to February are often rainy, and the daily high temperatures are between 5-15 °C on average.
Spring: From March to May, there’s less rain and the sun tends to shine often. The daily high temperatures average around 15°C in March and 20 °C in May. May is often the first month the locals hit the beach, as hot days become a possibility.
Summer: From June to August, the sunshine is pretty much guaranteed. The daily high temperatures climb to 30 °C and above. June tends to be somewhat milder than July and August.
Autumn: September is still a warm month, often with beach weather throughout the month. Average daily high temperatures stay clearly above 20 °C in September. In mid-October, the weather cools down to under 20 °C, and it begins to rain more often. In November, daily high temperatures are already around 10-15°C.
