best place to swim in the Mediterranean?

We are traveling to Barcelona, Spain on 9-13-18 and then board the Princess Crown on 9-15-18 traveling to the following ports: Gibraltar, Marseille, Genoa, Florence and Civitavecchia where we disembark. This is my first cruise and trip to Europe and want to swim in the Mediterranean sea. Any suggestions?

We are traveling to Barcelona, Spain on 9-13-18 and then board the Princess Crown on 9-15-18 traveling to the following ports: Gibraltar, Marseille, Genoa, Florence and Civitavecchia where we disembark. This is my first cruise and trip to Europe and want to swim in the Mediterranean sea. Any suggestions?

All the other ports you dock in mainly industrial ports and the beaches are a distance away plus these are great ports to do excursions from.

I second the idea that Barcelona is the best option as you are staying there and there are city beaches reachable by bus in just a few minutes. (Even walkable.)

If your are looking for swimming during the cruise:

Marseille as some city beaches, too, very popular with local french people, nice, white sands, bars. These are close to the city, a few kilometers to the East and easily reachable by public bus, too. Yet the new cruise port you might dock is several kilometers to the West of Marseille. Thus these beaches are more of an option if you want to combine sightseeing and swimming.

In Civitavecchia there is at least one beach very close to the port, right on the way to the railway station. Yet this is a rather simple one. Nicer ones are to be found further to out, especially to the south.

I’d agree, Barcelona has lovely beaches. If you buy HOHO tickets, one of the bus routes takes you along the front to the beaches.

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I’d agree, Barcelona has lovely beaches. If you buy HOHO tickets, one of the bus routes takes you along the front to the beaches.

 

 

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A little further away are the Spanish Costas Brava.Dorada etc which offer cheaper hotels and nice beaches.

True, but the OP only has two nights in Barcelona before boarding his cruise. It is also their first trip to Europe. So, they should spend their time visiting Barcelona and just going for their swim right there. BTW- mid-September is a great time for the beach. The water will be a lot warmer and the beaches less crowded than earlier in the year.

If the OP arrives in Barcelona early in the day, he might want to go to the beach that same afternoon. It would be great for getting over jetlag and it would give them a full day the next day for sightseeing.

What would make a place good for swimming to you? I can think of places with fairly large sandy beaches, or others with smaller, rocky beaches but beautiful clear water and few other swimmers, as well as highly commercialized beaches with rented sun beds, clean changing rooms and bathrooms, full bar and restaurant service, etc. Which among them would be best for you would depend on what's important to you.

True, but the OP only has two nights in Barcelona before boarding his cruise. It is also their first trip to Europe. So, they should spend their time visiting Barcelona and just going for their swim right there. BTW- mid-September is a great time for the beach. The water will be a lot warmer and the beaches less crowded than earlier in the year.

If the OP arrives in Barcelona early in the day, he might want to go to the beach that same afternoon. It would be great for getting over jetlag and it would give them a full day the next day for sightseeing.

Just mentioned Costas because the op wanted to swim in the Mediterranean and the Costa's are ideal beach resorts and somewhere we have been to many times but usually for 1 week+.

When I first saw the post title I thought about Alicante or Calvi (Corsica). However, from the ports you list I would say Barcelona. 2nd however, there is just so much else to see/do in Barcelona.

The OP is from Hawaii and almost certainly a beach person. If he wants beautiful beaches and resorts he doesn't have to travel. However, like many beach persons (me?), he might collect swims in different seas or oceans - a swim in the Med, a swim in the Caribbean, etc, etc. Just because it's there.

In Barcelona, he will swim in the Balearic Sea. If he goes in Genoa or Livorno, it will be the Ligurian Sea. Maybe on another cruise he could add a swim in the Adriatic and a swim in the Aegean.

What would make a place good for swimming to you? I can think of places with fairly large sandy beaches, or others with smaller, rocky beaches but beautiful clear water and few other swimmers, as well as highly commercialized beaches with rented sun beds, clean changing rooms and bathrooms, full bar and restaurant service, etc. Which among them would be best for you would depend on what's important to you.

I am looking for something that is easy to get to via public transport and if we chose to swim on the day we embark in Barcelona, it would be nice if it were not too far from port. Clean changing rooms/bathrooms and restaurants near would also be great! I was mostly looking to swim in Barcelona but did not know what was available in other ports. Is there anything near Cinque Terre? We plan to take the train from Genoa to CT.

Thanks for everyone's comments and suggestions I really appreciate it.

Pam

If you don't want to go to Rome when you're in Civitavecchia I would suggest you catch the train just one stop (in the direction of Rome) and get off at Santa Marinella which has a nice sandy beach with all the facilities you are looking for. It's about 5 minutes on the train from Civitavecchia

If you don't want to explore much of Cinque Terre then Monterosso would probably be the best beach to aim for. It's one of the five towns and you could catch another one (or more) as part of your day. You can reach it by train from La Spezia station.

I am looking for something that is easy to get to via public transport and if we chose to swim on the day we embark in Barcelona, it would be nice if it were not too far from port. Clean changing rooms/bathrooms and restaurants near would also be great! I was mostly looking to swim in Barcelona but did not know what was available in other ports. Is there anything near Cinque Terre? We plan to take the train from Genoa to CT.

Thanks for everyone's comments and suggestions I really appreciate it.

Pam

Moterosso-al-Mare is the only one of the CT towns that has a real beach. Just across the street from the train station. Plenty of organized beaches with loungers, restaurants, etc. The beach is in the "new" part of town near the "Giant."

https://www.google.com/maps/place/19016+Monterosso+al+Mare,+SP,+Italy/@44.1450437,9.6514484,562m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x12d4ee1b7eca3573:0x3c02e4311a909756!8m2!3d44.1487718!4d9.6544077?hl=en

After your beach time, walk to the old town (to your left facing the water) and visit the town. The pier for the ferry that takes you to the other towns is right there by the smaller old town beach (better swimming in the new town area). You can take the train back to Genoa from any of the other towns.

The beaches in Barcelona are on either side of the Olympic Port (marina by the Casino). There are really good restaurants (if touristy) at the Olympic Port. The cruise port is just South of that along the beach near the Hotel W. You can see them all here:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Barcelona,+Spain/@41.3803726,2.1989251,5554m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x12a49816718e30e5:0x44b0fb3d4f47660a!8m2!3d41.3850639!4d2.1734035?hl=en

Moterosso-al-Mare is the only one of the CT towns that has a real beach. Just across the street from the train station. Plenty of organized beaches with loungers, restaurants, etc. The beach is in the "new" part of town near the "Giant."

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/19016+Monterosso+al+Mare,+SP,+Italy/@44.1450437,9.6514484,562m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x12d4ee1b7eca3573:0x3c02e4311a909756!8m2!3d44.1487718!4d9.6544077?hl=en

 

After your beach time, walk to the old town (to your left facing the water) and visit the town. The pier for the ferry that takes you to the other towns is right there by the smaller old town beach (better swimming in the new town area). You can take the train back to Genoa from any of the other towns.

 

The beaches in Barcelona are on either side of the Olympic Port (marina by the Casino). There are really good restaurants (if touristy) at the Olympic Port. The cruise port is just South of that along the beach near the Hotel W. You can see them all here:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Barcelona,+Spain/@41.3803726,2.1989251,5554m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x12a49816718e30e5:0x44b0fb3d4f47660a!8m2!3d41.3850639!4d2.1734035?hl=en

Actually, let me change the advice for Cinque Terre. From Genoa take the train to Riomaggiore which is farthest from Genoa. Walk through the gorgeous town to the dock and take the little ferry there. The two next stops are Manarola and Vernazza. If you have to pick only one, go for Vernazza although they are both very pretty. Then take the ferry again to Monterosso and go to the beach. When you are ready to return to Genoa all you have to do is cross the street to the train station.

This reverse route will maximize your sightseeing and give you peace of mind about getting back on your train to Genoa.

BTW - L'Ancora della Tortuga is an excellent restaurant in Monterosso. They make a great risotto di mare. Then again, the beach restaurants are very good too.

I just want to thank you all for your wonderful suggestions!! It has given me options that I did not know was available so I am now able to make a better decision. I would love to swim at the beach at Cinque Terre but may end up going with Barcelona because I have more time there. We will see!! So excited for this trip!!

Pam

I would suggest visiting the calanques near Marseille for a beautiful place to swim! You can take a boat from Cassis.

I would suggest visiting the calanques near Marseille for a beautiful place to swim! You can take a boat from Cassis.

I second the idea that Barcelona is the best option as you are staying there and there are city beaches reachable by bus in just a few minutes. (Even walkable.)

 

 

 

In Civitavecchia there is at least one beach very close to the port, right on the way to the railway station. Yet this is a rather simple one. Nicer ones are to be found further to out, especially to the south.

I agree that Barcelona is the best option. My husband got into the water when just off the train in Civitavecchia, but it did involve scrambling over some rocks. I would have wanted to be wearing some beach shoes in order to join him.

I am not sure how long you have in Gibraltar, you will be arriving a week after the official bathing season is over but if the weather is kind you can still have a nice dip. You can take a taxi to either the east side or the south (it would depend on the weather that day - the taxi driver would know) and have a swim. If you do a taxi tour of the rock first (highly recommended because the taxi driver acts as your guide), you could ask the taxi driver to take you. It is not clear whether you just want to have a quick swim or sit at the beach. There are public buses back to town from both sides of the rock, but you do have to be careful with your timings.