You can reach L'Arbeyal beach, in western Gijón, by city bus on EMTUSA lines L1, L4 and L6, on foot along the coast from Poniente through El Natahoyo, or by car: there is accessible parking and a campervan service area by avenida del Príncipe de Asturias.
L'Arbeyal is Gijón's western beach, the one belonging to the El Natahoyo and La Calzada districts, and the one visitors know least. It is not on the San Lorenzo promenade or next to the marina, so the first question is always the same: how do you get there? Here is the answer, with what is worth knowing before you hit the sand.
By bus
The council's page for the beach lists three lines of EMTUSA, the city bus company: L1, L4 and L6. According to the March 2025 network map, L1 runs from El Cerilleru to Hospital de Cabueñes, L4 from El Lauredal to Viesques and the university campus, and L6 from El Musel to the Porceyo industrial estate.
L1 crosses the city from end to end, from El Cerilleru in the west to Cabueñes in the east, so it usually suits anyone staying in the centre or near San Lorenzo. Timetables and occasional diversions are on the EMTUSA app or the displays at the stops.
On foot and by car
On foot, the natural route is to follow the coast west from Poniente beach, through El Natahoyo, to avenida del Príncipe de Asturias, which is the address the council gives for the beach. On the way you pass the Aquarium and the Railway Museum, in case the walk turns into an outing.
By car, the council's page lists accessible parking by the beach. For campervans there is a service area: in 2023 the council announced a regulated space for about 45 vehicles at L'Arbeyal, with a turnover every 48 or 72 hours, to move long stays away from other parts of the city. In high summer, when the beach is, as the page puts it, very busy, the bus saves a lot of circling.
What kind of beach it is
It is a reclaimed beach. The council opened it in 1995 as the city's big western beach, between El Natahoyo and La Calzada, and describes it as a wide, stable stretch of sand with large green spaces around it; we covered it in our look at Gijón's districts. According to Wikipedia, for years it was known as «playa de La Casera» after the factory nearby, and it is still surrounded by an industrial landscape.
Wikipedia also describes it as shell-shaped, about 300 metres long, with calm water and fine golden sand. It is a neighbourhood beach in the best sense: the one locals use for a swim, a walk or a game of handball or volleyball on the sand.
Tides: the beach changes a lot
It is worth checking the tide before you go. Wikipedia puts the sand at about 106,000 square metres at low tide and only 22,800 at high tide: at high water less than a quarter of the beach is left. At low tide there is room to spare; at high tide, on a summer day, it fills up fast.
The council publishes the state of each beach, with the lifeguards' flag, on its Gijón beaches page, and the L'Arbeyal page also links to the information panel and the bathing water quality.
Season, lifeguards and rules
The bathing season runs from 1 May to 15 October. During that time there is a lifeguard station, first aid and watchtowers. In 2025 the council trialled here, as a pilot project, a removable lifeguard tower about 3.70 metres high, so lifeguards can keep a better watch and have shelter from sun and wind.
There are showers, foot-washers and drinking fountains, accessible ramps, a children's play area and sports facilities. The public toilets are open from 06:00 to 23:00, and the sand is cleaned from 06:00 to 12:00 and, from June to August, also from 15:00 to 21:00.
Two rules worth knowing: sport on the sand is banned from 10:00 to 20:00, except for Patronato Deportivo Municipal activities or in designated areas, and boards, jet skis and motor or sailing boats are not allowed in the bathing area. Organised tournaments do have their place: the Asturian beach volleyball circuit started here on the weekend of 4 April 2026.
Dogs: no
Dogs are not allowed at L'Arbeyal. The council's page on pet areas only allows them on El Rinconín beach all year round and on San Lorenzo, between stairs 2 and 8, from 1 October to 30 April; on all other beaches pets are not permitted. If you are travelling with a dog, our guide to San Lorenzo with a dog explains how it works.
One more date for the calendar: in July 2026 the Semana Negra festival was set up around this beach, as we explain in its guide.
Checked
Checked in October 2026 against the council's page for L'Arbeyal beach (updated on 17 August 2026), the council's page on pet areas, council news on the lifeguard tower (2025), the campervan area (2023) and the beach volleyball circuit (2026), and the EMTUSA map of March 2025. Wikipedia («Playa de El Arbeyal») was used for the old name, the shape, the length and the areas at high and low tide. Season and hours: checked in October 2026.
Quick questions
Can I take my dog to L'Arbeyal beach?
No. In Gijón dogs are only allowed on El Rinconín beach all year round and on San Lorenzo, between stairs 2 and 8, from 1 October to 30 April.
When are there lifeguards at L'Arbeyal?
During the bathing season, from 1 May to 15 October, with a lifeguard station, first aid and watchtowers.
How much does the beach change with the tide?
A lot: according to Wikipedia, it has about 106,000 square metres of sand at low tide and only 22,800 at high tide.