If you are in Barcelona and you have a few days off, a road trip along the COSTA BRAVA is the ideal getaway. It is full of cities, towns, beaches, coves, ports... one next to the other and they are truly incredible.
GENERAL TIPS
How far is it from BCN to the Costa Brava?
The Costa Brava is the coastal area of Spain that extends from Blanes (Gerona) to the French border. The distance itself depends on where you go, for example from Barcelona to Tossa de Mar (which is one of the closest places), you have 77km. To Begur, 150km, Cadaqués 200km, and so on. Therefore, calculate that the most beautiful destinations begin in approximately 1 hour.
How much does the Costa Brava have in total?
There are 214 km of coastline that runs through the Alto Ampurdán, the Bajo Ampurdán, and La Selva.
How to get there?
You have a lot of ways: plane, car, bus, train...
If you choose a plane, the usual is to go to the Barcelona airport or to Girona. But be that as it may, from there you need some of the other transport to reach the different destinations on the Coast.
By car is the most recommended way by far. It gives you the freedom to move and manage the times as you want. We recommend combining with Barcelona, which is a spectacular city.
Then you have the bus or the train. But this limits you to go to explore the places that are near the station. If you already know where to go and it's right near the station, great, but if not, it's always best to rent a car because there are super cheap pages and the freedom it gives you is priceless. In addition, there are hidden beaches/coves and if you don't have the car to get at least a little closer, doing everything on foot can be very tiring and condemns you to go to places with easier access and thus with more people.
Where to sleep/base?
Figueres is a good halfway point to sleep and from there go to a different beach/coves every day. But first, we recommend defining which ones you are going to, since if you are going to go to the coves closest to Barcelona, perhaps Figueres is a little further away. But if you have time and want to go from end to end, it is a great option. The town itself is not nice, but is a strategic point for your tour.
If not, you can stop at one of the same beaches/coves of your choice, those towns are prettier, but it will be more expensive. The most touristic places always have higher prices.
Wherever it is, do not look for the most luxurious hotel because you will hardly ever be there.
Key points to consider when booking: Free parking (if you're with a car), breakfast included so you can go with something in your stomach (there are beaches that don't have food), location, and that it's clean!
What are the better days to go?
Definitely weekday. So that there are fewer people.
If you go in season you will surely see people but it will still be less crowded than in a weekend.
Important: The easier the access to the cove/beach, the more people there are. Same happens if you have parking nearby and places to buy food and drinks. If you want to go to a more deserts one, you'll have to give up that commodities, although we assure you it's worth it!
If you are going to go to the most hidden ones, go with time because you can have about 20/30 minutes until you can park and then go and find the place.
#GuestTravelTips: Wear comfortable shoes. The accesses to the most beautiful coves are difficult and uncomfortable.
Don't forget to bring plenty of water and snacks! If you have a thermal bottle, better. You put ice on it and you recharge it with cold water, it lasts all day. And take fruit and snacks or some sandwiches. The most beautiful coves with fewer people do not have any store to buy.
If you have "water sneakers", take them too. You will thank it when you want to walk on the pebbles to the sea.
Other basics: spf, glasses, good music and a good book. If there is no one on the beach you can put a wireless speaker to share music with your friends without disturbing.
WHAT TO DO IN THE COSTA BRAVA
If you are going to do it from end to end, we recommend starting with the furthest ones and then going back. Since if you miss any, it is easier to return another day to the one that is closest to the city, you can even do it by train then.
CROSS TO COLLIOURE, FRANCE, for the day and back. It is a divine town with its little stone beach in front of a fort. If you are going to do the Costa Brava from end to end, it is best to start here and then stay on the Spanish side and explore it well.
BESALU: Already on the Spanish side. Medieval town straight out of a fairy tale! We recommend going on a weekday so there are fewer people. Just get lost out there.
On the same day you could start the morning in Collioure and afternoon in Besalú or the other way around. They are not close to each other but both are close to Figueres, if you are based there you will complete these towns and then focus the other days on the beaches.
This recommendation applies if you arrived on the Costa Brava the night before and you have the next day ahead of you. If, on the other hand, you arrived at noon, we recommend going to Besalú that day, and the next day to Collioure in the morning; and at noon returning to the Spanish side and visiting one of the beaches/coves on that side. Since Collioure is on the coast and Besalú further up.
CALA TAVALLERA
Located in “El Port de la Selva”.
CAP DE CREUS
Declared a Natural Park in '98 for its geological views, here you have several beaches and coves.
CALA JUGADORA It is one of the most beautiful and deserted. Super hidden. It is recommended to park in the parking lot below the Lighthouse and walk because there is no access by car. Difficult path, go with comfortable shoes!
There are several more nearby and they are all very pretty.
CADAQUÉS!
One of the most beautiful places on the coast. It is the ideal combination of a divine town with several options of restaurants and bars but without neglecting the calm, port, beach and amazing coves.
The town overlooks the sea with a port (Port Llugat). It also has its little beach just across the street from the center (Port D'Algers).
But it is not its only that beach, you have other impressive beaches and coves around it.
From the beach you look at the town and see the imposing Santa María Cathedral with its bell tower and Gothic style. The monument is the Palacio San Jaime.
The general architecture of the town is based on buildings in white tones with touches of color on doors and windows.
You can visit the house of famous artist Salvador Dalí. You will see a lot of his presence in this town since it is where he had his summer house with his family.
Another artist who had his summer home in Cadaqués was Marcel Duchamp. And many more were regulars here like Picasso and Miró.
We recommend getting lost in its beautiful and narrow streets.
RESTAURANTS:
L'Hostal, located on the main boulevard that overlooks the beach. You can have lunch or dinner. From "tapas", to dishes such as: meat, chicken and fish with potatoes, rice or salads; There are also hamburgers… really, everything! Excellent atention. It also has a hotel. At night it is a great spot to have a drink and snack on some tapas while you enjoy from the outside tables the moonlight illuminating the water of the little beach in the port.
We also recommend having a drink at Bar Boia, a little bar literally on the beach line, across the street from L'Hostal.
Another fun plan: the casino.
The Cadaqués International Music Festival is one of the most important and representative events.
Cadaqués is on the way down from Cap de Creus. We recommend stopping and enjoying the view of the city from above.
ROSES!: Another of the places that deserves a stop, even if it is for a little while, take a walk around the town and lie on the beach for a minute.
Returning to Barcelona you have: BEGUR!
Another of the cutest ones. If you have time, walk around the town. If you get lost in the streets you can see the houses in height overlooking the sea and more impressive coves. There you have a natural pool at the hotel "Es Cau".
Here there are also several coves. We recommend:
–AIGUABLAVA: near the port of Fornells. You have two parking spaces near the entrance. The one right at the entrance is quite a bit more expensive! The best thing to do is go to the one across the street, which is much cheaper and just as close, just a few meters more. This beach is a paradise but it became very popular and is very crowded. In general, that happens with the beaches/coves that have parking nearby and a small bar to buy food and drinks like this one.
–CALA FONDA!: Another paradise! A super cute neighborhood with a parking located just above the cove. You walk a few meters and go down a small staircase to the cove (it's quite steep, walk with something comfortable on your feet). There are no bathrooms or beach bar, bring plenty of water and snacks or something to eat.
-Just beside this one you can find CALA FORNELL that's also amazing.
TOSSA DE MAR
LLORET DE MAR!
Highly recommended. Go to Santa Cristina beach in Girona!
There you have the Hotel Santa Marta. And some restaurants / beach clubs for drinks and food, but not so many people. Then, if you go to the town of Lloret, the beach is very pretty and there are several beach bars to eat and drink.
CALELLA PARAFRUGELL!
Even closer to Barcelona. One of its most beautiful beaches is Port-Bo, due to its surroundings of low houses, boats stranded on the sand, narrow streets that flow into the sand and a fort on the water.
TAMARIÚ:
From there you can walk to a small cove called Agua Xelida. It does not have sand but stones and cliffs that overlook the crystal clear water.
