Most people associate Barcelona with culture and entertainment and the well-known names of Gaudi and Picasso. However, there is another part to the city that can be neglected by visitors as they either don't realise they are just on the doorstep, or consider them as neglected and dirty. We are talking about barcelona's beaches and there was a time when the city's beaches did have a bad reputation and were not a place people wanted to spend their day, this has all changed since the major clean up for the 1992 Olympics. The beach is now a clean and safe place for couples and families, and the weather in this part of Spain is generally good enough for lazing on the sands most days - perhaps you should consider a trip on your next visit.

Stretching over 4km, Barcelona's coastline actually has some great beaches, although they can't be compared with those of Southern Spain they have their own characteristics and appeal to offer.

The furthest from the city is Platja de Sant Sebastia which opens its arms even to nudists, next to this is Platja de Sant Miquel, a very popular beach that gets very crowded in the summer and has been compared to Ibiza with its loud music and sightings of young people attired in nothing but a thong and sunglasses.

If you're staying in an apartment in Barcelona city centre then the nearest beach area to you is Platja de Barceloneta, you can either get the metro here or even walk to the nearest point in around 20-30 minutes. There's plenty to occupy you besides taking a swim - windsurfing and kite surfing are popular as the beach is wide and long, and the area has an ever increasing number of upmarket cocktail bars, restaurants and nightclubs to draw in the tourists and locals. A lot of development has gone into this part of the coast in recent years and more people are turning their homes into rental apartments and holiday flats to accommodate the growing number of visitors.

Platja de Nova Icaria is very close to the Barcelona Olympic Port with a promenade that runs right down to Barceloneta. A quieter beach, volleyball and beach tennis are often played here and it's popular with families who have younger children as it is less crowded. Hotel accommodation can be pricey in this area but if you like to stay next to the beach then consider booking an apartment in Barcelona for cheaper rates and all the modern conveniences of home. It can work out much more economical than a hotel stay, particularly if you are on holiday with your family, the self catering facilities also means you can cook for yourself rather than eating out every day which can work out quite expensive.

Platja de Mar Bella is where the sports lovers like to hang out and attracts lots of youngsters and watersports enthusiasts as it has a sailing and water sports club, Base Nautica. There's plenty of opportunity here to try windsurfing, go kayaking, play basketball, and it even has an area set aside specifically for BMXers and skaters. The club hires out catamarans and windsurfing equipment if you're experienced, if not then hire a kayak for a few hours or take a sailing course if you have the time!

The oceanfront is popular with everyone, those just out for a evening stroll, leisure cyclists making good use of the wide and lengthy promenade, and roller-skaters enjoying the space. Barceloneta also has a free outdoor gym and table-tennis table, and joggers are a regular sight at the beach.

Beaches in Barcelona are cleaned regularly and patrolled by lifeguards in the summer months, they also have all the facilities you need, including sun beds, showers and toilets. There is a big effort made by the council to keep the beaches clean and maintain the beaches tidy look, so please pick up all your rubbish before heading home!

Barcelona Aquarium is also a must see especially if you have kids, it's location at the end of Las Ramblas at the end of the pier is easy to find. Look out for the Mediterranean exhibit totalling an impressive 14 tanks that represent various aspects of the ocean in this area and take a stroll through the methacryllate tunnel of the Oceanarium where it feels as if you are at the bottom of the ocean swimming with the sharks. Explora! is a great exhibit for the younger ones as it's very interactive with lots of buttons and knobs to touch, videos to look at and listen to, and nature to investigate and discover.