Beach guide
Beaches of La Manga del Mar Menor
Two seas, one strip and 21 kilometres of sand. Find your beach to suit the wind, your children's ages and where you'd like to eat afterwards.
At a glance
La Manga has beaches on both shores. Those on the Mar Menor have warm, shallow, calm water, ideal for young children. Those on the Mediterráneo have waves, cooler water and coarser sand. All are located by kilometre point, from 0 at Cabo de Palos to 21 at Veneziola, and the main beaches have Blue Flag status, showers and accessible entrances.
Which sea to choose today
Let the wind decide. With an easterly, the Mediterráneo gets rough and murky: cross to the Mar Menor, a minute's walk away. With a westerly, it's the reverse: seaweed gathers along the Mar Menor shore while the Mediterráneo is flat.
In June, the Mar Menor is four to six degrees warmer than the Mediterráneo, and stays at 26 °C well into September. That's why the lagoon's swimming season starts earlier and lasts longer.
Beach by beach, kilometre by kilometre
Km 0-2, Cabo de Palos: small rocky coves, good for snorkelling, with parking almost impossible after ten. Km 3-5, Estacio: fine sand and the strip's largest concentration of beach bars. Km 6-9, Levante and Plaza Bohemia: every service, and all the crowds.
Km 10-12: the narrow stretch, just a hundred metres wide, where crossing between the seas is effortless. Km 13-17, Galúa: low dunes, families and much less noise. Km 18-21, Veneziola: canals, low-rise houses and the quietest beach in La Manga.
Facilities, flags and accessibility
The urban beaches along Gran Vía have lifeguard posts from June to September, showers, toilets and wooden walkways to the shore. Six also offer amphibious wheelchairs and assisted swimming in the mornings.
Dogs may only swim on the designated Mar Menor beach at km 19. It is prohibited elsewhere on the strip from June to September.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim in the Mar Menor?
Yes. Water conditions are published daily, and in summer 2026 the lagoon is suitable for swimming along the whole La Manga strip.
Which beach is best for young children?
Any beach on the Mar Menor side between km 13 and km 17: no waves, water under a metre deep for a hundred metres out, and fewer people than in the centre.
Are there any naturist beaches?
Yes, an unmarked but traditionally used stretch on the Mediterráneo side at km 20, beyond the last apartment block.