Spain · Alicante
Playa de Tabarca
Alicante, Spain
On the beach
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 26.6 | 0.8 |
| Thu 3 | 26.8 | 0.5 |
| Fri 4 | 27.6 | 0.3 |
| Sat 5 | 27.6 | 0.3 |
| Sun 6 | 27.7 | 0.4 |
| Mon 7 | 28.1 | 0.4 |
| Tue 8 | 27.9 | 0.3 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 17 |
| Feb | 16 |
| Mar | 17 |
| Apr | 19 |
| May | 21 |
| Jun | 24 |
| Jul | 26 |
| Aug | 26 |
| Sep | 26 |
| Oct | 24 |
| Nov | 21 |
| Dec | 19 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Playa del Bancal de Arena5.2 kmAlicante
- Playa Calas del Este5.3 kmAlicante
- Playa del Varador5.6 kmAlicante
- Playa Calas del Cuartel5.7 kmAlicante
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- No parking is mapped within 1.5 km of the beach — expect a walk, or arrive early once the season gets busy.
- Ferry: Tabarca, about ~200 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Santa Pola, about ~7.3 km away.
- 16 places to eat within 1 km Closest is La Caleta, about ~80 m away.
- 6 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Hotel Isla Plana, about ~170 m away.
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Families
- Water sports
Is the water clean at Playa de Tabarca?
Thinking of swimming at Playa de Tabarca? The short answer: its official EU Bathing Water rating for 2025 is Excellent — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. That rating is set once a year under the EU Bathing Water Directive, from a full season of testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli reported to the European Environment Agency the following spring, so the 2025 season's grade appeared in spring 2026 and the 2026 season won't be graded until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 11 straight years.
Looking to avoid the busiest weeks? The water is typically warmest around August, with the most reliable swimming window running July–September; outside that stretch you'll find a cooler sea but a quieter beach. That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. On site you'll find Lifeguard, Sandy shore, and Pebble shore. The nearest town, Santa Pola, is about ~7.3 km away.
Worth remembering: “Excellent” isn't a live reading, it's an annual grade — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — set once a year from that season's water samples and describing the average, not this afternoon's conditions. For what the sea is doing right now, check the “Right now” panel and 7-day outlook above. It sits in Alicante. There are 16 places to eat within a kilometre — La Caleta is the closest, about ~80 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to go in the water at Playa de Tabarca?
Yes, without much reservation. Playa de Tabarca holds the top EU Bathing Water classification, Excellent, for 2025, and 11 of 11 classified seasons here have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
What temperature is the sea at Playa de Tabarca right now?
The latest reading puts the sea at Playa de Tabarca at around 26°C — the “Right now” panel above has the full live picture. That's the reading right off Alicante. On the modeled climatology here, August usually runs warmest.
When is the best time to swim at Playa de Tabarca?
If you're planning around water temperature, July–September is the window to target — the modeled sea temperature is typically highest then. That applies to the water around Alicante. Within that window, August is typically the single warmest month.
Who measures the water quality rating, and how?
Once a year, national authorities report a full season of testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli to the European Environment Agency, which grades the season Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor under the EU Bathing Water Directive. A handful of countries, including Croatia via IZOR, also publish individual in-season samples ahead of that report — Playa de Tabarca doesn't have that feed set up yet.
Is there parking near Playa de Tabarca?
There's no parking mapped within 1.5 km of Playa de Tabarca, so plan on a walk, or arrive early once it gets busy. By ferry, the nearest landing is Tabarca, about ~200 m away. The nearest town is Santa Pola, about ~7.3 km away.