Playa de la Urbanización is the beach of the Urbanización de Roquetas, the tourist quarter of Roquetas de Mar on the Costa de Almería. Its defining feature is scale: close to two kilometres long and broad with it, so even in high season there is open space to be found somewhere along it. The surface is dark, coarse-grained grey sand — coarse enough that visitors often describe it as shingle rather than sand, and it is the one thing regulars would change.

Behind the sand runs a palm-lined paseo marítimo, and behind that a continuous run of terraces, bars, restaurants and shops. On the beach itself there are stretches set out with loungers and parasols alongside plenty of open ground, children's playgrounds, lifeguard towers, toilets, showers and foot-washes, along with adapted access for visitors with reduced mobility. The sand is cleaned continuously and bins are frequent, which is part of why people who spend whole seasons here rate it so highly.

It is busy in summer, particularly at weekends, but it is a beach for walkers as much as for sunbathers — its length invites you to keep going, and out of season locals use it for long walks and for letting dogs run in the winter waves. It suits families, anyone who wants a lounger with a bar behind it, and travellers who value space and a proper promenade over postcard-perfect sand.