Spanish Word for Beach

The Spanish word "playa" means beach in English.

Spain is the perfect year-round retreat for anyone whose idea of a holiday includes lounging on the beach with a good book. Spain is encircled by oceans, seas, straits, gulfs, and countless isolated bays. It is possible to visit the beaches for almost 11 months of year and come away with a good tan and relaxed attitude.

The beach seems to be the weekend retreat for the Spanish. They take with them lots of food, drinks, sun chairs, small tables, umbrellas, games and have an absolute whale of a time.

The most popular beaches in Spain are located between Malaga and Gibraltar on Spain's Costa del Sol. However, because direct flights to Malaga are widely available nowadays, these beaches are often crowded and the fishing villages that once existed have been replaced by high-rise apartments.

The Costa del Sol is also the best place to find nude beaches, otherwise known as naturist or clothing optional beaches. The aptly named Costa Natura on the Costa del Sol was the very first beach in Spain to be declared officially naturist in 1979.