Mataró's main beach stretches south from the port for around two kilometres, wide and sandy with calm Mediterranean water. It is well served with showers, lifeguards in season, and a string of beach bars along the promenade. The atmosphere is local rather than touristic — families from the city and day-trippers from Barcelona rather than package holidaymakers.
The beach is backed by the Passeig Marítim, a palm-lined promenade that is a good spot for an evening walk. Several of the beach bars stay open late in summer and turn into informal nightlife venues as the sun goes down.
Getting there: Ten minutes' walk from Mataró train station, heading south