Playa de Aguadulce runs for close to two kilometres along the seafront of Aguadulce, in the municipality of Roquetas de Mar on the Costa de Almería, with the town's marina closing off one end and low cliffs beyond. It is a clean, well-kept urban beach of dark sand, raked every morning, with clear and generally calm water. The one thing to know before you wade in is that the shoreline gets stony underfoot at the water's edge, so swimming shoes are a sensible thing to pack.

A paseo marítimo runs the full length of the beach, lined with bars, cafés and restaurants, and the marina end is worth the walk: alongside the yachts you can usually see fish in the water. On the sand there are loungers and parasols for hire, showers, kiosks, children's playgrounds dotted at intervals and a sports area, plus a sailing club for anyone who wants to get out on the water. Lifeguards patrol in season, and visitors who have needed them report quick, knowledgeable help. Aguadulce also has an unusually good adapted zone for visitors with reduced mobility, including an amphibious chair and shaded pergolas.

It gets busy on hot summer weekends, and parking is tight at peak times, though the marina car park is a reliable fallback. Even in mid-August it rarely feels overrun, and there is a notable absence of pushy beach hawkers. It suits families above all, and anyone wanting a clean town beach with plenty of places to eat nearby.