The famous La Barceloneta beach of the city of Barcelona is a very cool place to go wing foiling. What makes Barcelona quite a cool wingfoiling spot is its friendly wind. While it might not blow as fiercely as in some famous wind destinations, Barcelona offers winds ranging from 10 to 15 knots on many days. This gentle breeze caters to both beginners and experts. Beginners love the manageable winds for learning the ropes, while experts relish them for leisurely coastal rides.
Typically, the best months to go wingfoiling in Barcelona are the spring and autumn months. The transition from cold winter air to hot summer air in combination with the lower sea temperatures from the winter during spring, create wind. The same happens in autumn, when the temperature of the air cools down faster than the water temperature. This creates more instability in the atmosphere, causing windier conditions. During summer, you can have windy days as well. Especially when a thermic wind sets in during the afternoon.
Wingfoil La Barceloneta
You go into the water at Playa de San Sebastián (here). You will see that there is a small “bay” like area that’s formed on your right hand side. The W hotel is located there, which protects you from the wind and waves on days where the wind comes from southerly directions. This allows for learning in a safe environment.
If you have enough confidence and are able to get on the foil and back upwind, you can venture out passed the wave braker. There, the mediterranean waits for you. Not a lot of things are cooler than wingfoiling in front of the beach of an awesome city like Barcelona.
On windy days, Barcelona offers spectacular wingfoil opportunities as you see here.
Practical information
You can park on the street, but remember to pay a parking ticket at the machines. Alternatively, you can download the SMOU app from the Barcelona city, and use it for parking. There is also an underground parking here underneath Plaza del Mar, just next to the beach.
In no case, leave your car doors or trunk open while setting up your gear. Unfortunately, many pickpockets will be very willing to help you safeguard your bag and your belongings, so don’t let them have the chance. If you travel with foreign license plates on your car, it’s strongly recommended to park underground at Plaza del Mar.
A typical day of wingfoiling at la Barceloneta looks like this. Friendly wind and calm seas.
Wind conditions
Around Barcelona, there are four dominant winds. Garbi, Levante, Poniente and Migjorn.
Garbi is a wind that comes from the Southwest. It usually blows in the afternoons in and around Barcelona. When Garbi blows, it’s great for wingfoiling from Barcelona to Badalona and then to Montgat Nord. However, when it reaches Calella or Ocata, it’s not as strong as it was in Montgat, Badalona, and Barcelona. When “Garbi” blows, you will notice light wind just off the beach, because the W hotel is blocking it. But it will be enough to get you out into the sea where you can have a lot of fun.
It’s better not to go out with “Poniente”, as it sweeps up a lot of waves.
Levante comes from the East. When Levante blows, Montgat Nord is a good place for wingfoiling, and so is Ocata. But Badalona is not a good spot because it gets the full force of the waves. La Barceloneta can also have good conditions with Levante.
Migjorn comes from the south, and it’s most common in Barcelona.
Other wingfoil spots in the area
- Montgat: good for days with Levante or Garbi
- Badalona: good for days with Garbi
- La Base Nautica Municipal: good for days with Garbi as the pier protects your first 200 meters from waves.
- Ocata: Good for days with Levante, Garbi will be weaker there.
