Spain · Málaga
Playa la Rada
Málaga, 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 | 22.0 | 0.4 |
| Thu 3 | 22.5 | 0.4 |
| Fri 4 | 23.3 | 0.3 |
| Sat 5 | 23.1 | 0.3 |
| Sun 6 | 23.3 | 0.4 |
| Mon 7 | 23.6 | 0.4 |
| Tue 8 | 23.7 | 0.1 |
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 | 27 |
| Sep | 26 |
| Oct | 24 |
| Nov | 21 |
| Dec | 19 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Playa la Rada1.1 kmMálaga
- Playa el Cristo1.6 kmMálaga
- Playa Arroyo Vaquero3.8 kmMálaga
- Playa del Padr?n4.3 kmMálaga
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: Av. Andalucía - Cementerio, about ~260 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Estepona, about ~900 m away.
- 24 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Africa beach, about ~280 m away.
- 3 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Hotel Mediterràneo, about ~490 m away.
- 9 shops nearby, the closest about ~370 m away
What kind of beach is this?
This is a town beach, woven into the everyday fabric of a city or larger settlement — expect company on warm days, especially through July and August, alongside easy access to shops and services.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Water sports
Is the water clean at Playa la Rada?
Playa la Rada sits on a stretch of coast classed as a coastal bathing site, carrying an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season. Under the EU Bathing Water Directive, national authorities test for intestinal enterococci and E. coli through the season and report the results the following spring — the 2025 rating was published in spring 2026, and 2026's won't follow 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 sits in Málaga. There's parking about ~300 m from the beach.
That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. If you're timing a visit around water temperature rather than crowds, July–September is the safest bet, with August typically the peak — expect a cooler, calmer sea either side of that stretch. The nearest town, Estepona, is about ~900 m away.
“Excellent” is one point on a four-step scale — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — assigned once per year from that season's water samples, not a live reading. It describes how the site performs on average across the season, not the exact water quality this afternoon; for day-to-day sea conditions, see the “Right now” and 7-day outlook panels above. There are 24 places to eat within a kilometre — Africa beach is the closest, about ~280 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Playa la Rada safe to swim in?
Playa la Rada is rated Excellent for 2025 — the top EU Bathing Water classification — with 11 of 11 classified seasons rating Excellent or Good, so yes. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
What temperature is the sea at Playa la Rada right now?
The most recent reading for Playa la Rada shows the sea at around 21°C. For live, up-to-the-hour conditions, see the “Right now” panel above. That's the reading right off Málaga. On the modeled climatology here, August usually runs warmest.
When is the best time to swim at Playa la Rada?
For the warmest water, aim for July–September — that's when the modeled sea temperature is typically at its best. That applies to the water around Málaga. Within that window, August is typically the single warmest month.
Who measures the water quality rating, and how?
Behind the annual grade: a season of testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, reported to the European Environment Agency each spring under the EU Bathing Water Directive. A few countries, Croatia via IZOR included, also publish individual in-season samples ahead of that report, but Playa la Rada doesn't have one published yet.
What's the easiest way to reach Playa la Rada?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is Av. Andalucía - Cementerio, about ~260 m away. The nearest town is Estepona, about ~900 m away.