Sandy Bay
A small eastern beach rebuilt with imported sand and protected by breakwaters.
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Sandy Bay on Gibraltar's eastern side had lost almost all its sand to erosion by the 2000s and was rebuilt in the 2010s with sand shipped in from the Western Sahara and two breakwaters built out to hold it, which worked. The beach is small, enclosed by the Rock behind and the breakwaters at each end, and the water inside them is calm. The project cost several million pounds and moved tens of thousands of tonnes of sand into the bay.
What you actually see
- The rebuilt beach - sand shipped in and held by new breakwaters.
- The breakwaters - the arms built out to stop the sand washing away.
- The Rock behind - the eastern face rising straight from the beach.
- The calm water - the sheltered conditions inside the arms.
When to go
June to September is the swimming season and when facilities operate. Levanter wind affects the eastern side. Weekends are crowded.
Honest expectations
The beach is entirely artificial in its current form. It is small and fills quickly in summer. Levanter conditions bring cloud and chop.
Nearby
Catalan Bay is north, and Europa Point is south.
What to pack for Sandy Bay
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
