El Masnou offers a clear way to plan a stay: the marina separates two beaches, each located in relation to Barcelona or MatarĂł. There is also a signposted cultural heritage trail, buildings from several centuries and traces of maritime food culture. The beach and history are two distinct focuses to consider when planning a visit.
Two beaches by the marina
Platja del Masnou lies east of the marina, on the side closer to Barcelona. West of the marina is Platja d'Ocata, on the side closer to Mataró. The marina is a clear reference point for distinguishing the locations of the two beaches. Both beaches have sanitary facilities and service areas. The beaches are easy to reach from the town centre; buses and trains connect them with the Rodalies-Renfe stations “El Masnou” and “Ocata”. The station names help you identify the connections to each beach area.
The Oficina de Turisme can also be located using a specific address: it is in the Casa de Cultura at Passeig de Prat de la Riba 16.
Cultural heritage on foot and in buildings
The signposted cultural heritage trail “El Masnou, terra de mar” leads to modernist buildings and a particularly striking Indianos house. A free app lets you follow the route independently. Along the trail, 30 buildings are marked with information panels in Catalan, Spanish and English. The panels offer a choice of three languages for the descriptions; the app also allows you to complete the trail independently.
The town’s architectural history is reflected in different building types and periods. The Church of Sant Pere dates from the 18th century and has a neoclassical façade. Casa Benèfica is a modernist building, while Cal Teixidor is an old farmhouse from the 17th century. Together, these examples offer a comparison between neoclassical church architecture, Modernism and a historic rural building type—showing that the town’s cultural heritage cannot be reduced to a single style.
The Museu Municipal de NĂ utica preserves important archaeological finds from the Neolithic period and especially from Roman times. They come from excavations at a local Roman villa. The collection therefore spans the period from prehistoric artefacts to the particularly prominent Roman remains.
History and maritime food culture
Cementiri del Masnou is an artistically significant ensemble, commissioned by a bourgeois class that had grown wealthy. They commissioned renowned artists of their time; the cemetery also reflects the golden age of the Catalan bourgeoisie. Guided visits are scheduled separately. If you are planning a guided visit, take this separate schedule into account.
The municipal tourism programme also included the Mina d'Aigua Interpretation Centre for 2026. Using original parts, it reconstructs the courtyard and washing area of a wealthy local home. Its specific focus on these spaces adds a depiction of a house and its furnishings to the other cultural and historical themes.
Local food culture also carries on the town’s maritime history. Masnovines originated in El Masnou and have been made there since the 1960s. Galetes de barco served as provisions for crews travelling to America; their history in El Masnou dates back to the 19th century. The two examples represent different periods: Masnovines have been made since the 1960s, while the ship’s biscuits have a longer history.
Discover more destinations: Pallejá, Avinyonet Del Penedès, Campins, Molins De Rei, Sant Martà Sarroca, Torrelles De Foix, Torrelletes, Vilassar De Mar.
Go to the main travel overview: Barcelona.
