The Costa Brava is located in the province of Girona and has 206km of varied coastline stretching all the way from Blanes up to the border of France. When you think of the Costa Brava, you may fall into the trap of conjuring up images of hoards of British tourists with restaurants serving up nothing but British grub all along the coast. However, you may be surprised by just how far this is from the real Costa Brava. In reality, it offers stretches of beautiful and quiet beaches with quaint villages and tantalizing restaurants offering traditional Catalan cuisine. It should come as no surprise then that this is what makes the Costa Brava one of Spain’s most popular destinations.
The coastline is extremely varied and can cater for pretty much all types of holidays, be it an active one with water sports or golfing, a holiday with mates or just relaxing on a quiet beach to sink into a good book. You will find there is so much to do that it is impossible to fit it all into one holiday so you may inevitably find yourself coming back for more!
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What to do in Costa Brava
It is impossible to list all the hundreds of sights and activities to do along this coast, so the best idea would be to take a daytrip to Costa Brava, here’s some highlights not to be missed
# 1 Empúries
Empúries is an archaeological site near the town of L’Escala; where you can find the remains of Ancient Greek and Roman settlements. It is the only archaeological site in the Iberian peninsular where there are remains of a Greek colony (Emporion). It is possible to reach the site from the town L’Escala; which has connections by bus or train to Barcelona. The site is generally open 10am – 6pm but opens for longer during the summer months; check out the official website for up-to-date times and prices.
# 2 Cap de Creus national park
This national park is the easternmost point of the Iberian Peninsula; and was the first terrestrial and marine national park in Catalonia. It features stunning geological formations where the craggy rocks contrast with the amazingly clear aquamarine waters. You can go for walks along the coast; participate in water sports including kayaking and diving, take a boat trip or have a go at mountain biking. It is in a great location and can be visited via the charming towns of Cadaqués and Roses. Bus services run from Barcelona and Girona to the both these towns; and from here you can explore the park on foot.
# 3 Cadaqués
This is a former fishing village and considered to be ‘the jewel of the Costa Brava’. Many artists and writers enjoyed visiting the Cadaqués picturesque spot; including Dali, Picasso and Federico Garcia Lorca. Dali’s home can be found just around the corner in Port Lligat where there is a museum dedicated to the artist. The house is a fascinating insight into the life of Dali and his wife Gala; it even includes a whispering room where you can sit across the room from a partner and hear what they are saying as if they were sitting right next to you whispering into your ear! Tickets for visiting the house must be reserved in advance; and cost €11 for adults, €8 for reduced tariffs (students, retired over 65 and unemployed) and under 8’s go for free.
# 4 Roses
Roses is a former Greek colony and later on became a Roman colony. It has many archaeological ruins to explore; and is another beautiful, picturesque place to visit along the Costa Brava. There are also many water sports activities on offer.
# 5 Lloret de Mar
Lloret de Mar is well-known for its lively nightlife; but can also offer a host of other activities to enjoy during the daytime including water sports, relaxing on the beach or visiting cultural sights; such as Sant Romà Church, Santa Clotilde Gardens and the Maritime Museum.
# 6 Inland
If you fancy a change of scenery, further inland you can also discover the delightful cities of Girona and Figueres.
Where to eat
# 1 El Celler de Can Roca
The restaurant thrives on the endless creativity of the trio of gastronomically talented brothers behind one of the most acclaimed restaurants on the planet. If you want to try excellent cuisine and perfect service, this restaurant has it all. El Cellar de Can Roca is run by the trio of Roca brothers: head chef Joan, pastry chef Jordi, and sommelier Josep. The restaurant has 3 Michelin stars and has been ranked twice the No.1 restaurant in the world. The most popular are Jordi Roca’s desserts which you should definitely try on your trip to Costa Brava. They also offer vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free options.
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday 12:30-14:30 & 20:00-21:30
Average price: 22 €
Address: Carrer de Can Sunyer, 48, 17007 Girona
# 2 Els Tinars
Els Tinars restaurant is a family restaurant currently run by the third generation of the Gascons-Lloveres. It is set in a renovated Catalan farmhouse with an option to dine outside amongst fragrant hanging wisteria vines. You can experience waiters cooking, grilling, or carving meat and fish right in front of your eyes. If you book in advance, you can also try a degustation menu during lunch time or night from 20-22 o’clock. In Els Tinars you will find more than 500 wines on the list from Spain and around the world.
Source: www.butterfield.com
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday 13:00-15:30, 20:00-22:30, Sunday 13:00-15:30
Average price: 17 €
Address: Ctra. de St. Feliu a Girona, km 7,2, 17240 Llagostera, Girona
# 3 Maguey
If you are feeling like something different than classic Spanish and Catalan cuisine, we would recommend you this authentic Mexican restaurant. You can choose to sit inside the tiny restaurant or outside on the leafy terrace, above a busy pedestrian street. Here you can find some typical Mexican meals such as nopal (cactus) tacos, homemade blue corn tortillas or cochinita pibil (slow roasted pulled pork) with homegrown habanero chilies on the top!
Una publicación compartida por Restaurante MAGUEY🌵 (@maguey_girona)
Opening hours: Wednesday – Sunday 13:00-16:30 & 19:00-21:30
Average price: 12 €
Address: Carrer de la Cort Reial, 1, 17004 Girona
Where to stay in Costa Brava
Many visitors travel to Costa Brava from the city of Barcelona for a day trip or longer. If you would like to find accommodation in Barcelona we picked some great options to provide you with an unforgettable experience:
Spectacular house, located in Canapost, Peratallada. Large, spacious, bright, with great views, and in perfect harmony with nature, fully equipped and tastefully decorated. The house is an amazing building. A delight for your eyes that will make your stay an experience impossible to forget. Make sure not to miss the Medieval Fair Peratallada!
From 253€/night | 175m2 | License : HUTG-003106 | Reference: BH-1631
House with private pool located in a very quiet residential area just 3.5 km from the beautiful Canyelles beach, 4 km from the center of Lloret de Mar and 6 km from Tossa de Mar. This house is ideal to enjoy a family holiday on the Costa Brava! Maximum capacity for 14 people.
From 291€/night | 200m2 | License : HUTG-003858 | Reference: BH-3025
This exquisite home is ideal for families or groups of friends. Exclusive and spectacular house with swimming pool situated in an idyllic spot is a winner of European holiday home award 2015. Large bedroom with luxury details has an en suite bathroom and the living room.
From 285€/night | 300m2 | License : HUTG-013146 | Reference: BH-2063
How to get there from Barcelona
- Bus: If travelling by bus, you can reach various destinations throughout the Costa Brava from Estacio Nord bus station with Sarfa Bus Company.
- Train: You can reach Blanes by the R1 (blue) line. From Blanes you can take another bus to your final destination in Costa Brava.
Many travel to Costa Brava from the city of Barcelona for a day trip or longer; if you would like to find an accommodation in Barcelona then check out our website!