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Hotels in Costa Brava

Rocky coves, pine trees down to the water, and Barcelona 1 hour away

Costa Brava

LangueSpanish
DeviseEUR
FuseauEurope/Madrid
Température12-32 °C
Indicatif+34
Population47.6M
Superficie505,990 km²
PrisesType C / Type F
Eau du robinetPotable

Découvrez Costa Brava

The Costa Brava is 160 km of Catalan coastline between Blanes and the French border, and it differs from the rest of Spain's resorts in its shape: instead of one long beach, it's a chain of small coves carved into red granite, with pine trees growing right down to the water. It was given the name "wild coast" in 1908 by the journalist Ferran Agulló, and the name still fits — large hotel blocks stand only in Lloret de Mar and Blanes, while the rest are fishing villages with white houses and moorings for a handful of boats. The water is clearer and cooler than in southern Spain, because the seabed drops away quickly and the coves are deep; for sand with a gradual entry into the water, head south to Blanes and Platja d'Aro, and for snorkelling, north to Begur and the Medes Islands. The northern stretch of coast around Cadaqués is the wildest and least accessible, and it draws visitors for Dalí and the landscape rather than for a sunbed. The area's huge advantage is its location: Barcelona is 1.5 hours by car from most resorts, Girona with its own airport is 40 minutes away, and it's 1 hour across the border into France.

What to see

The places worth your time in Costa Brava, and what to expect at each

Tossa de Mar and the Vila Vella walls

Tossa de Mar and the Vila Vella walls

Tossa de Mar

The only surviving fortified medieval town on the entire Catalan coast. The 700-year-old walls with 3 towers stand on a rock right above the main beach, and inside are narrow cobbled lanes lined with restaurants. From the lighthouse at the top you can see the whole bay and the seabed beneath the cliff.

Tip: Entry to the walls is free and it's open around the clock — the best time to go up is after 9pm, when the lanes are lit up and free of crowds from tour buses.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
2 h
Camí de Ronda

Camí de Ronda

the whole coastline

A coastal path originally used by customs officers to watch for smugglers, now running along the cliffs for almost the whole coastline. The prettiest stretches link Calella de Palafrugell with Llafranc, and Sant Antoni with Tamariu — always above the water, with steps cut into the rock and coves you can't otherwise reach.

Tip: The Calella–Llafranc stretch is 40 minutes' walk and manageable in sandals; for longer routes towards Sa Riera, wear shoes with grip, as the rock gets slippery in the morning.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
1–4 h depending on the stretch
Marimurtra Botanical Garden

Marimurtra Botanical Garden

Blanes

A garden on a cliff above Blanes with 4,000 plant species from 5 continents, founded in 1921 by the German merchant Karl Faust. The cactus section ends at a viewpoint gazebo suspended 30 metres above the Sa Forcanera cove, the most photographed spot on the southern Costa Brava.

Tip: Go right when it opens. The garden sits on a south-facing slope with no shade, and it gets stifling after 11am; the gazebo also has the sun behind it in the morning.

Admission:
from €10
Time needed:
2 h
Calella de Palafrugell

Calella de Palafrugell

Palafrugell

A fishing village with white arcades (voltes) right above the water, where nothing taller than 2 storeys is allowed to be built. Boats sit pulled up on the pebbles among the restaurants, and in July it hosts a concert of havaneres, Cuban sailors' songs traditionally drunk to with flaming rum.

Tip: Parking in the village itself is impossible in summer. Leave the car in the paid car park at the entrance and walk 10 minutes — you'll save an hour of circling.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Cadaqués

Cadaqués

Cadaqués

A white town in a deep bay behind the Cap de Creus mountains, reached by a single winding road. That isolation is exactly what saved it from hotel development and drew painters — Dalí had a house in nearby Port Lligat, a 20-minute walk away, which can be visited with a guide.

Tip: Salvador Dalí's house in Port Lligat admits only 8 people at a time, and tickets sell out weeks in advance — book online. Without a booking, all that's left is a walk around the bay.

Admission:
town free, Dalí's house from €15
Time needed:
a full day
Cap de Creus Natural Park

Cap de Creus Natural Park

the north coast

The easternmost point of mainland Spain, where the Pyrenees meet the sea. The tramuntana wind has carved the slate here into shapes that Dalí copied into his paintings. At the tip of the cape stands a lighthouse from 1853, below which coves are accessible only by boat or on foot.

Tip: Bring a jacket even in August — when the tramuntana wind blows, the cape is 10 degrees colder than Cadaqués, and the wind can knock you off your feet.

Admission:
free, parking €5
Time needed:
3 h
Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres

Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres

Figueres, 40 km away

The museum Salvador Dalí built himself in the burnt-out theatre of his home town, and where he is also buried. The building, with giant eggs on its roof, is as much an exhibit as its contents; inside are the Mae West room, a glass-walled Cadillac, and a hall with a ceiling fresco viewed from the floor.

Tip: In August the museum stays open at night until 1am, with a glass of cava included — it's the most pleasant way to see it without the queues.

Admission:
from €21
Time needed:
3 h
Girona

Girona

Girona, 40 km away

An inland city with Spain's best-preserved Jewish quarter, Arab baths, and a cathedral with the widest Gothic nave in the world. The terraced houses above the River Onyar are painted ochre and red, and scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed in the cathedral.

Tip: You can walk almost 2 km along the top of the city walls for free — the entrance is by the Church of Sant Domènec, and most visitors don't know about it.

Admission:
cathedral from €7, walls free
Time needed:
a full day
Empúries

Empúries

L'Escala, 50 km away

The only place in Iberia where a Greek and a Roman city stand side by side. The Greeks landed here in the 6th century BC, and the Romans founded a settlement a level higher 400 years later. The excavations stretch right down to the beach, so after touring the mosaics you can head straight into the sea.

Tip: A kilometre-long path lined with statues runs along the shore from Empúries to L'Escala — the cheapest and prettiest walk in the area, and one most organised trips skip.

Admission:
from €6
Time needed:
2–3 h

Photos: Tossa de Mar and the Vila Vella walls — Txllxt TxllxT (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Camí de Ronda — Mampel (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Marimurtra Botanical Garden — Tim Adams (CC BY 3.0) · Calella de Palafrugell — Jorge Franganillo (CC BY 2.0) · Cadaqués — Anthiro 57 (CC BY-SA 3.0 es) · Cap de Creus Natural Park — Pdg (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres — Andris at English Wikipedia (Public domain) · Girona — Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Pirineu de Girona (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Empúries — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Lloret de Mar and Blanes

Best for: the cheapest stay, young crowds and nightlife

The southern end of the coast, with the biggest hotels, widest beaches and lowest prices. Lloret has the whole Costa Brava's concentrated nightlife, while neighbouring Blanes is noticeably quieter and more family-oriented. A direct bus reaches Barcelona in 1 hour 15 minutes, making it a practical base for day trips too.

Platja d'Aro and Sant Feliu de Guíxols

Best for: families wanting both sand and shops

The middle of the coast, with the longest continuous sandy beach and a shopping street open late into the night. Neighbouring Sant Feliu de Guíxols has a harbour, a monastery and more life outside the summer season. The entry into the water is gradual, which elsewhere on the Costa Brava isn't a given.

Begur, Tamariu and Llafranc

Best for: small coves, snorkelling and quiet

The prettiest part of the coast: a handful of villages beneath the castle in Begur, pebble coves with crystal-clear water, and no hotel development. Accommodation is pricier and mostly in apartments, restaurants are few, and booking ahead is essential in August. Without a car, this area is hard to reach.

Cadaqués and Roses

Best for: landscape, Dalí and a longer stay away from the beach

The northern end beyond the mountains, with a different atmosphere from the rest of the coast — more art and wind, fewer sunbeds. Roses has a wide beach and ferries to the coves, while Cadaqués has only pebbles and white houses. The drive over the hairpin bends takes half an hour and leaves plenty of people feeling queasy.

Search hotels →

Getting around

From the airport

The nearest airport is Girona, from which most resorts are 30 minutes to 1 hour away — low-cost airlines fly here in season from many European cities. Charter flights more often land in Barcelona, from where it's 1 hour 15 minutes to the southern part of the coast and 3 hours to the north around Cadaqués. Direct buses run from both airports to Lloret, Blanes and Platja d'Aro; smaller villages require a transfer or a car.

Girona-Costa Brava (GRO) · 35 km

  • Sagalés bus to Lloret de Mar· 45 min· €12
  • Bus to Girona, then train· 25 min into the city· €3
  • Taxi to Lloret· 35 min· €70

Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) · 100 km

  • Direct bus to Lloret and Blanes· 1 h 30 min· €20
  • Hotel transfer· 1.5–3 h depending on the resort· included in the package
  • Car hire· 1 h 15 min to Tossa· €35/day

Around town

Sarfa buses run along the coast between all the resorts, but the route curves inland and the journey from Lloret to Begur takes almost 2 hours. The train only goes as far as Blanes, no further north. In summer, the fastest connections between the coves are excursion boats, which act as a coastal shuttle. For a stay in one of the small villages a car is practically essential; for Lloret or Platja d'Aro it's unnecessary, and parking there is expensive.

Moventis Sarfa busesThe backbone route along the coast; tickets are bought from the driver or via the app. Far fewer services run on Sundays. · €3–12
Dofi Jet and Nautilus excursion boatsA daily service between Blanes, Lloret, Tossa and Sant Feliu; some boats have glass bottoms. · €18 return
Car hireThe only way to reach the small coves. The roads to Cadaqués and Sa Riera are narrow and winding. · €35/day
Rodalies R1 trainFrom Barcelona to Blanes along the coast; the line doesn't run further north. · €7

Useful apps: Google Maps, Moovit, Cabify, AEMET Weather

When to go

The main season is short and intense: from mid-June to mid-September. The best balance of weather and quiet is in June and from mid-September to early October, when the sea is still 23°C and there's still room in the coves. July and especially August combine French and Spanish holidays at once, meaning full car parks and apartment prices double. In April and May the Camí de Ronda is lovely, but the sea is barely 17°C. Over winter the small villages close down and only Girona, Blanes and Lloret keep running.

Best time

June and the second half of September

What to avoid

August, because of prices and parking

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day14°15°17°19°22°26°29°29°26°22°17°15°
Night4°4°6°8°11°15°18°18°16°13°8°5°
Rainy days555664346766
Sea13°13°13°14°17°21°24°25°23°20°17°14°

Food & drink

Catalan cuisine is built on the combination of mountains and sea known as mar i muntanya — chicken with prawns or meatballs with cuttlefish aren't a mistake on the menu. The basis of everything is sofregit, onions slow-fried with tomatoes, and there are 4 sauces served with fish. Along the coast, rice dishes and suquet are cooked; inland around Girona, it's mostly meat and mushrooms. Lunch is served between 2pm and 4pm, when it's also cheapest.

What to try

Pa amb tomàquet

Bread rubbed with halved tomato, olive oil and salt. It's served with everything as a matter of course, and Catalans eat it for breakfast and dinner alike.

Suquet de peix

A fisherman's stew made from whatever didn't sell that day, with potatoes and picada, an almond-based thickener. It's best in the harbourside taverns of Palamós.

Palamós prawns

Red prawns with their own protected designation, caught in a deep canyon off the coast. They're expensive and eaten simply grilled with salt — worth trying once.

Fideuà

A relative of paella in which short noodles replace the rice. It's served with aioli stirred into the dish.

Escalivada

Roasted aubergine and pepper marinated in olive oil, a cold side dish served with fish or bread.

Crema catalana

An egg-yolk custard with a caramelised crust that the waiter torches at the table. It differs from French crème brûlée in being made with milk and cinnamon rather than cream.

Menu del día

A fixed-price 3-course lunch with bread and a drink, mandatory by law on weekdays. The cheapest way to eat well in Spain.

Ratafia

A green herbal liqueur made from walnuts picked on St John's Eve, produced mainly around Girona. It's drunk ice-cold after meals.

What it costs

Coffee and a croissant

€3–5

Menu del día

€14–19

Dinner at a seafront restaurant

€30–45 per person

Beer, 0.33l

€3–4

2 sunbeds with a parasol

€15–22

Car hire for a day

from €35

Dalí museum admission

€21

Night in a 4-star hotel in season

€110–190

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsCEuroplug, two round pinsFSchuko
Voltage230V / 50Hz
Tap waterTap water is drinkable — Tap water in Spain is drinkable and hygienically safe, but on the south coast and along the seaboard it's very hard and tastes of chlorine, so even locals commonly buy bottled water. In restaurants, tap water must be provided free on request — it's called "agua del grifo".
TippingTipping isn't mandatory, and Spaniards themselves tip little — in a café, the change is left behind; in a restaurant, the bill is rounded up or 5% is added. 10% is the upper limit and it's given in cash, since card terminals usually don't have a tip option.
Driving on theright
SafetySpain's coast is safe and violent crime is rare, but pickpockets work systematically — on the promenade, on crowded buses and especially on the beach, where all it takes is a dip in the sea. Leave your backpack with someone you trust, not under a towel. Never leave a car with visible luggage inside, even in a hotel car park. In the sea, follow the flags: a red flag means swimming is banned, and lifeguards enforce it with fines.
Opening hoursShops are usually open from 9:30am to 1:30pm and then from 5pm to 8pm, closing for a siesta at midday — supermarkets and shopping centres in the resorts stay open all day. Museums close on Mondays, extend their hours into the evening in summer, and many offer free admission in the last hour before closing. On Sundays, almost everything except restaurants closes in smaller towns.
Customs & etiquetteCatalonia has its own language, and menus are often only in Catalan — you'll get by in Spanish everywhere, but it's polite to greet people with "bon dia". Lunch is at 2pm, dinner after 9pm, and kitchens close in between. Swimwear belongs on the beach — in Lloret and Tossa there's a fine for walking around town without a shirt. Anchoring on posidonia seagrass meadows in the coves is banned and patrolled by the coastguard.
A few local wordsHello — Bon diaThank you — GràciesPlease — Si us plauThe bill, please — El compte, si us plauCheers — Salut

How to plan your days

1 day

A day among the coves

  1. 1Morning: the Vila Vella walls in Tossa, while the east side is still in shade.
  2. 2Late morning: a swim at Platja Gran and in the small Es Codolar cove just past the rock.
  3. 3Lunch in the harbour, then in the afternoon the Camí de Ronda stretch to Cala Bona and back.
  4. 4In the evening, walk the lit-up lanes inside the walls and have dinner in the square.

2 days

2 days with Dalí

  1. 1Day 1: follow the plan above.
  2. 2Day 2 morning: drive to Figueres for the Dalí Theatre-Museum, ideally for the first entry slot.
  3. 3Lunch in Figueres at the market, then drive over the mountains to Cadaqués.
  4. 4Afternoon: walk to Port Lligat to see Dalí's house and swim in the cove.
  5. 5Head back before dark — the hairpin bends are hard to drive at night.

3 days

3 days including the interior

  1. 1Days 1–2: follow the plan above.
  2. 2Day 3 morning: Girona — the Jewish quarter, the cathedral and a walk along the walls.
  3. 3Lunch by the River Onyar, then drive in the afternoon to Empúries for the Greek-Roman excavations.
  4. 4Finish with a swim on the beach right by the excavations and dinner in L'Escala.

Day trips

Barcelona

75 km · 1 h 15 min by bus from Lloret

From the southern part of the coast, Barcelona is doable as a day trip without a car — direct buses leave early in the morning and return in the evening. Book timed tickets for the Sagrada Família and Park Güell in advance, or you'll spend part of the day queuing.

Besalú and the Garrotxa volcanoes

60 km · 1 h by car

A medieval town with a fortified bridge over the River Fluvià and a mikveh (Jewish ritual bath) preserved from the 12th century. A little further on begins the volcanic region of Garrotxa, where you can walk into the crater of the Santa Margarida volcano and through the Fageda d'en Jordà beech forest growing on a lava field.

Medes Islands and L'Estartit

45 km · 50 min by car

7 rocky islets a kilometre offshore, surrounded since 1983 by a marine reserve with the richest underwater life on the Catalan coast. Glass-bottomed boats leave L'Estartit every hour, and divers here encounter shoals of groupers and moray eels.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Costa Brava sand or pebbles?+

Both, depending on the stretch. In the south around Blanes, Lloret and Platja d'Aro there are long sandy beaches with a gradual entry into the water; in the centre and north, pebble coves with deeper water dominate. For the coves around Begur, Tamariu and Cadaqués, water shoes are a good idea.

Do I need a car on the Costa Brava?+

If you're staying in Lloret, Blanes or Platja d'Aro, you don't — buses and boats cover the whole area and parking is expensive. For a stay in small villages like Tamariu, Sa Riera or Cadaqués, a car is practically essential, since the bus only runs 3 times a day.

When is the sea warmest?+

In August and the first half of September, when the water is 24–25°C. The Costa Brava is cooler than southern Spain because the coves are deep and the seabed drops away quickly. In June the sea is 21°C, which is enough for most people; in May it's 17°C, which isn't.

How far is Barcelona?+

75 km from Lloret, 1 hour 15 minutes by direct bus. From Begur it's 1.5 hours by car, from Cadaqués 2.5 hours. For a day trip it makes sense to go from the southern part of the coast; from the north, the round trip takes a whole day.

What is the Camí de Ronda, and can you do it with children?+

A coastal path along the cliffs, originally a customs officers' route. Short stretches between Calella de Palafrugell and Llafranc, or around Tossa, are manageable even for younger children — it's 40 minutes along wide steps. Longer stretches run over unprotected rocks above the water and aren't suitable for small children.

Is it worth buying tickets for the Dalí museum in advance?+

Yes. The museum in Figueres uses timed entry, and in July and August it sells out several days in advance. Without a booking you can wait up to 2 hours on site. In August there's also a night tour running until 1am, for which tickets are sold separately.

Can you drive into France from the coast?+

Yes, the border is 50 km from Cadaqués. The nearest destination is Collioure, with its Catalan church standing right in the sea, and further on, Perpignan. The border usually isn't checked, but carry ID with you, and check with the car hire company that you're allowed to take the car out of Spain.

Is Lloret de Mar just for young people?+

It has a reputation as a party resort, and the main street lives up to that in July and August, but the hotels on the outskirts and Fenals beach are quiet, and plenty of families come here too. Outside July and August, Lloret is an ordinary resort town. Anyone wanting guaranteed peace and quiet should stay in Blanes or Sant Feliu de Guíxols.

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Numéros d'urgence

Police112Ambulance112Fire112

Langue

Spanish

Devise

EUR

Fuseau

Europe/Madrid

Indicatif

+34

Population

47.6M

Superficie

505,990 km²

Tension

230V / 50Hz

Côté de conduite

Droite

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