Exploring the best urban beaches in cosmopolitan destinations

In the most important and populated cities in the world it is also possible to find the best urban beachesAmong the many attractions these towns offer are the great monuments, the gastronomy, the parks, and the lively social life.

But many of them also have magnificent sandbanks where you can sunbathe and then take a refreshing dip. Most of these beaches also offer all the amenities and the best environmental certifications. Large cities like New York, Sydney, Dubai o Barcelona They have the best urban beaches. Let's get to know them.

New York

As you may know, much of the City of Skyscrapers sits on three islands, which are Manhattan, the state y Long Island. Therefore, it is logical that it has magnificent beaches. Precisely, the most popular ones are found in the latter, more specifically in the districts of Queens y Brooklyn.

This is the case of the beach of Coney Island, belonging to Brooklyn. It has a long tradition as a place of recreation for New Yorkers and next to it you will find the Luna Park amusement parkThe beach of BrightonIn fact, there's a promenade that connects the two beaches. It gives its name to a neighborhood also known as "Little Odessa" due to the large number of Russian emigrants living there.

On the other hand, in the Bronx you have another of the best urban beaches in New York. We tell you about Orchand's. Of artificial origin, it is part of Pelham Bay Park. It is ideal for families, as it offers all the amenities in summer, including lifeguards. However, if you are a surfer, we recommend the beach at Rockaway, in Queens. It's perfect for practicing it and, in addition, you have the nearby Rockaway Beach Surf Shop, which is the oldest store dedicated to this sport in the United States.

Finally, in the Skyscraper City you have other of the best urban beaches in cosmopolitan destinations. For example, those of Cedar grove y Midland in Staten Island; that of Fort Tilden, also in Queens and perfect if you are looking for tranquility, or those of the Jacob Riis parks y Robert Moses.

Sydney, the pearl of Australia

We now travel to Australia to discover the best urban beaches in Sydney. It is the capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in the country, with more than five million inhabitants. It also has a wide bay where the famous building of the Opera.

Perhaps one of its most famous beaches is the one in Bondi, in the neighborhood of the same name. As an anecdote, we will tell you that surged It means in the aboriginal language, precisely, water breaking on the rocksThis sandy beach, which is one kilometer long, is perfect for the practice of surfing. In fact, its southern part is dedicated to it. In addition, it belongs to the Australian National Heritage ListAnd, like other beaches in the area, it has an underwater net that protects swimmers from sharks.

No less violent are the waves of Manli beach, which you can reach on board a ferry that passes by the two symbols of the city: the aforementioned Opera and the Bay Bridge. Also, upon arrival you will find a great street scene, with artists and numerous bars and restaurants. To the south of this is Shelly's Beach, an ecological wonder that's home to more than 150 species in its waters. This makes it perfect for diving.

The waters of Coogee Beach. For its part, that of Maroubra It's wilder. It's about ten kilometers from the city and less crowded. It's just over a kilometer long and has impressive waves that break as they reach the sand. In fact, its name means, in the Aboriginal language, like thunderAround it, you have the Arthur Byrne Reserve, which combines green spaces with attractions for children and tables for eating. But, above all, it is one of the two beaches in the country that holds the recognition of National Surf Reserve.

Finally, some of the best beaches in Sydney are Clovelly's, quieter and ideal for families, and, a little further away, those of Palm Beach y Watsons BayThe latter is perfect for combining a good swim with excellent cuisine, as it is located in what is said to be Australia's oldest fishing village.

Dubai, another of the best urban beaches in cosmopolitan destinations

As you know, it is one of the seven United Arab Emirates and is located on the coast of Persian Gulf. The city is also crossed by the Khawr Dubayy, an arm of salt water. It's also located in the Arabian Desert, offering a surprising clash between the arid spaces of its interior and the beaches of its coast.

Some of these are private, belonging to hotels or luxury residential complexes. But many others are public, have all the services and stand out for their fine white sands, as well as for its cleanliness. Among the latter, the largest and, for many, the best is that of Jumeirah Beach ResidenceAs we mentioned, it has private areas, but also offers public access. It's very peaceful, making it perfect for enjoying small boats or pedalos, which you can rent on-site.

The beach is quieter. Umm Suqeim. It also has lifeguards and other services and is the ideal place to watch the sunset over the Arabian Gulf. It is also illuminated at night. Moreover, as its name suggests, the Kite Beach It is famous for its wind, which makes it ideal for practicing kitesurf.

Other of the best urban beaches in Dubai are those of Sea, which is located next to the Laguna water park; Al Mamzar Park, perfect for families, as it has a play area for children and a picnic area; Marina, which is located on a beautiful seafront promenade, or Black Palace, of a semi-wild character.

Barcelona

Also in Spain We have some of the best urban beaches in the world. Perfect examples of this are the sandy beaches of the city of BarcelonaFurthermore, for the 1992 Olympic Games, the entire coastline was reclaimed, leaving it in optimal conditions for swimming.

Barcelona currently has nine beaches, each stretching over four kilometers, one after the other. all have the main services, from lifeguards to showers, and are cleaned every day. In fact, most of them have the distinction of Blue flag and are visited by around seven million bathers each year.

They have fine golden sands and shallow waters. In the neighborhood of Barceloneta You have some of the most popular ones. Starting with Westeros, there is the one of San Sebastián, one of the longest at almost seven hundred meters. It is also among the oldest and most visited. After that is the San Miguel, where you will see the sculpture of Rebeca Horn entitled The wounded star, and then the own of Barceloneta, which is another of the city's classics.

Follow the beach of somorrostro, located where there was a shanty town called that. In the district of San Martín you have the New Icaria, Bogatell y Mar Bella, the latter with a space for nudism. Likewise, you will find in this neighborhood the Levante and Forum Baths, which lacks sand, meaning that access to the bathroom is directly from the pavement.

Rio de Janeiro and its best urban beaches

In an article about the best urban beaches, those of Rio de Janeiro, as the Brazilian city boasts some of the most famous in the world. And these are just a few of the wonders it has to offer. Just remember, for example, the famous Bread of sugar, a mountain that dominates it.

Not in vain, Rio occupies the western end of the Guanabara Bay and is one of the main tourist destinations in the southern hemisphere. Among its beaches, we can mention those of Red, Leblon, Saint Conrad, Rudder, Flamengo o Barra da Tijuca. But two are the most famous on the entire planet. As you may have guessed, we are talking about Ipanema y Copacabana, which are named after the neighborhoods where they are located.

The first of these has about two kilometers of white sand. It is divided into posts or lifeguard booths, and each has its own group of visitors. For example, number seven houses surfing enthusiasts, or number ten, called The Little Baby, is popular with families with children. Ipanema also offers all kinds of services, from sports areas to hammock rentals and food stalls.

No less famous is the beach of Copacabana. Baptized as Princess of the Sea, is shaped like a half moon and is framed by two fortresses. It also has a promenade that is equally famous throughout the world. This is the Copacabana waterfront, due to the plastic artist Robert Burle Marx. Like Ipanema, it is divided into posts aimed at different social groups and has food and drink kiosks where you can taste delicious caipirinhasIn fact, it is celebrated there New Year's Eve, a fireworks show that welcomes the New Year.

In conclusion, we have shown you some of the best urban beaches of the world. But we could also add others such as, for example, those of Hong Kongthose of Miami, Bay of Angels en Nice (France) or that of Waikiki en Honolulu (Hawaii). Dare to discover these wonderful sandy beaches.