Even though Madrid is a little over 300 kilometers away from the sea, visitors to Spain’s capital can still find Madrid Beaches in and around the area. It must be noted that Madrid has no natural sea beaches to call its own. However, beaches can be found just 3 or 4 hours away as well as by the riversides in Madrid. Interestingly, an artificial beach called the Madrid Rio Project is now in the pipeline.

Alberche Beach

Alberche Beach is a white sandy stretch of beach that borders the Alberche River in Madrid. It sees a lot of tourists during the summer season. Visitors can rent paddleboats or swim in the river here. There are a number of police that patrol the beach area; however, there is no medical assistance available here. Several bars dot the beach, which might explain the influx of tourists here.

Valencia

The nearest ocean beach to Madrid is in Valencia, a 3 1/2 hour drive from Madrid. The cheapest way to reach Valencia is by public transport like a train, which will drop you off in Valencia by 11:30 a.m. if you leave at around 8:00 a.m. It’s a good idea to slather on a lot of sunscreen, since hanging around on a beach in Spain during mid-day can get extremely hot.

Malaga

If you happen to be on the lookout for a good beach, no visit to Spain is complete without heading to Malaga. Roughly 2 1/2 hours away from Madrid, Malaga offers beach bums endless azure-blue waters and powdery white sand. Malaga has very tranquil beaches, perfect for those who are looking for a blissful experience.

Costa del Sol

Costa del Sol is very close to Malaga, which is around 3 hours from Madrid. Here you’ll find stretches of white sands and blue seas accompanied by hordes of tourists. If you happen to be looking out for watersports and other beach activities, Costa del Sol is the perfect place to be.

The Madrid Rio Project

Plans for an artificial beach around the Manzaneres River, along with acres of land converted into parks, bicycle parks, cafes and restaurants, are well underway. Started in 2008, this project aims to be completed by the end of 2010.  When complete, it will definitely be a must-visit for tourists who are vacationing in Madrid, since Madrid doesn’t really have a beach of its own.