Best Areas to Stay in Costa Brava, Spain

Cadaqués is, without a doubt, one of the most iconic and famous towns on the Costa Brava.

This picturesque coastal town is located next to a scenic bay renowned for its rocky coastline, beautiful beaches and coves.

The nearby Cap de Creus Natural Park, where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean Sea, offers trails with panoramic views, beach areas and a restaurant in its lighthouse.

The Historic City Centre of Cadaqués has several tourist attractions, including the Cadaqués Museum, the Santa Maria de Cadaqués church, the Expo Dalí, and several art nouveau palaces such as the Casa Serinyana.

Cadaqués is also known for its beaches. The most central are Platja Gran and Platja de Port Alguer.

Not far from the historic centre lies the community of Port Lligat. This small port has managed to preserve, despite the passage of time, its essence as a fishing village. Port Lligat is especially famous for being the residence of Salvador Dalí

As it couldn’t be otherwise, the most important attraction in this area is the Salvador Dalí House-Museum, where the Catalan genius lived from 1930 until the death of his wife Gala in 1982. The house museum is open for tourist visits, but you need to book in advance. You can book a guided tour here.

Other must-see attractions in Port Lligat include the Cala de Portlligat and Platja Salvador Dalí beaches.

In addition to world-class tourist attractions, a picturesque and walkable historic centre, beaches and quiet and little crowded coves, we have chosen Cadaqués as the best town to stay in the Costa Brava for its excellent location.

If you decide to stay in Cadaqués on your trip to the Catalan coast, you will be very close to everything worth visiting. This city on the Costa Brava is located 80 kilometres from Girona airport, 35 km from the Figueres AVE station and 39 km from the archaeological sites of Empúries.

Cadaqués can also be reached by coach from Barcelona, Girona and Figueres.

Read more about the best areas to stay in Cadaqués.

Located exactly halfway between Barcelona and the French border, Tossa de Mar is one of the towns that make up the Costa Brava.

Tossa has historically been a favourite destination among artists and bohemians including painter Marc Chagall. Ava Gartner fell in love with the city while she was filming Pandora and the Flying Dutchman. Today, a monument dedicated to the actress can be seen on her waterfront.

With an excellent mix of attractions, beaches and history, Tossa de Mar is one of the most complete destinations in the Catalan Mediterranean.

The main beaches in Tossa de Mar are Platja Gran and Platja Mar Menuda.

The ruins of the Villa Romana dels Ametllers show the remains of one of the most important wine-growing settlements of ancient Tarraco. Many of the artefacts excavated in Ametllers are on display at the Municipal Museum of Tossa de Mar.

The Villa Vella (Old City) of Tossa is surrounded by medieval walls and is considered one of the most beautiful historic town centres in Catalonia.

the city centre is packed with shops, art galleries and cafes, as well as restaurants serving typical sea food with local ingredients.

Tossa de Mar is also one of the best-connected enclaves on the Costa Brava. This town has urban buses and connections to Lloret, Blanes (for commuter trains to Barcelona), Girona and the airport.

Calella de Palafrugell is an old fishing village located on the Costa Brava.

This charming coastal enclave preserves the magic of the typical Catalan medieval towns, with its narrow cobbled streets, marine atmosphere and excellent food scene.

Calella de Palafrugell is located 30 kilometres east of the city of Girona and just an hour and a half north of Barcelona.

This town is characterised by its white houses with tile roofs, which stand out on a rocky coastline adorned by coves.

To the north of the town lies the natural area of ​​Castell par Roig and the coastal and tourist centre of Llafranc, which can be accessed through the Camí de Ronda, a hiking route offering impressive views of the sea and the coastal towns.

The urban beaches of Port Bo or En Calau are perfect to enjoy the sea and see the traditional colorful boats tied in the sand.

Towards the south of the urban area, through Camí de Ronda, you can enjoy secluded coves, such as Cala de Sant Roc, Cala Foradada, Punta de Forcats and Punta de Aiguadolça and reach the botanical garden of Cap Roig, and the wonderful El Golfet beach.

Calella de Palafrugell is one of the best destinations for foodies on the Costa Brava. Its traditional restaurants are among the best rated in Catalonia.

Calella is also centrally located for exploring the entire Costa Brava, as it is practically equidistant from Blanes (65 km) and Cadaqués (75 km).

Blanes is considered the gateway to the Costa Brava, particularly if you’re travelling from Barcelona.

This city, the most populated on the Costa Brava, went from being an old fishing village to one of the most popular beach destinations in Catalonia.

Its streets and facades display some vestiges of Catalan Gothic and elegant palaces from the 18th century.

That said, unlike the first towns on this list, since the mid-20th century, Blanes has undergone a major urbanisation and modernisation process that has removed much of its historical charm.

The long promenade of Blanes is the heart of the city. Here you will find several attractions for the whole family.

Nearby, the Port of Blanes is one of the most active on the Costa Brava, it offers moorings for fishing, leisure and sports boats.

In addition, the city has the remains of the castle of Sant Joan, built in the mid-13th century.

Other attractions in Blanes include the 14th-century Gothic fountain, the Church of Our Lady of Hope, the Chapel of Santa Bárbara and the sanctuary of the Sagrada Imagen del Vilar, located about four kilometres from the city centre.

The main factor that makes Blanes one of the best towns to stay on the Costa Brava is its easy connection to Barcelona. This enclave is the only place on the Costa Brava connected by commuter trains (line R1).

Begur is a small town in Girona, located in the heart of Baix Empordà.

Its old town, located inland, is renowned for its cobbled streets, medieval houses and historical remains such as the Castle of Begur.

In addition to its historical heritage, Begur has natural attractions in its coastal areas, including the Massís de Begur cliffs and several beaches and coves.

In spring and summer, various cultural activities take place in town. The most importants are the Festes Majors and the Indians Fair. Both celebrations include traditional sardanas, cantada de habaneras, and theatre plays.

Begur is less than an hour’s drive from Barcelona and half an hour from Girona.

L’Escala is a municipality on the Alt Empordà coast.

This coastal area is very close to the ruins of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Empúries.

Its marine environment, coves and beaches are the main attraction of this town.

In addition, L’Escala offers summer festivals and concerts.

The town’s main beach, Platja de Riells, offers calm waters for swimming and a promenade with bars and restaurants.

La Punta, located at the northern end of L’Escala, showcases the monuments to the People of the Sea and the Fisherman’s Wife, as testimony of L’Escalas fishing tradition and history.

In addition to beautiful landscapes, beaches and monuments, L’Escala is one of the best towns to sleep on the Costa Brava thanks to its proximity to the archaeological sites of Empúries, the most important Ancient Greek settlement on the Iberian Peninsula.

Although L’Escala has bus connections, the best way to explore the town and the surrounding area is by car.

Roses is a municipality in the Alt Empordà region.

It is located on the coast, at the northern end of the Gulf of Roses, and is an important port and tourist enclave.

The main historical attraction of Roses is the Ciutadella de Roses, a Renaissance-era citadel with ruins of an ancient Greek settlement and a medieval monastery.

As far as the beach is concerned, Roses is home to a succession of fine sand beaches that stretches for several kilometres, among the most popular are Platja La Punta, La Perola, Nova, Rastell and Rovina.

To the south of Roses is Empuriabrava, called the “Venice of Catalonia”, this community, and its 24 km of navigable canals, is the largest residential marina in Europe.

The nearby Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park is the second-largest wetland in Catalonia and one of the best places for bird watching on the Costa Brava.

Lloret de Mar is a Mediterranean coastal town 40 kilometres south of Girona and 75 kilometres northeast of Barcelona.

With a population of around 40,000 inhabitants, it is the second-largest city in the Costa Brava region.

This important tourist destination has a somewhat controversial reputation inside and outside of Spain, as its beaches get very crowded every summer and the city has been deemed the top “drunken tourism” and hen and stag party destinations in Europe.

Its main beach, Platja de Lloret de Mar, is one of the most popular on the Costa Brava. Other beaches and coves in Lloret and its surroundings include Platja de Fenals, Platja de sa Boadella and Platja de Santa Cristina.

While it is true that this coastal city is not the classiest destination on this list, there is no denying that its nightlife is the best on the Costa Brava.

Lloret is also home to several attractions, such as the Castle of Sant Joan de Lloret, the serene Jardins de Santa Clotilde, the art nouveau Cementiri Modernista, and the Museo del Mar de Lloret.

But perhaps the best reason for choosing Lloret de Mar as the best area to stay on the Costa Brava is how cheap it is. The hotels in Lloret are notably cheaper than those in most other towns and cities on the Catalan coast, especially during low season.

Lloret de Mar is also very well-connected with the airport, Girona, Barcelona, ​​Tossa de Mar and Blanes.

Read more about the best areas to stay in Lloret de Mar.

Pals is a town in the region of Baix Empordà with a marked medieval ambience.

This town is situated on top of a mountain around a fortress.

Some unique attractions in the historic centre of Pals include the Torre de les Hores, Sant Pere church, Pals Castle and Plaça Major.

From the nearby Mirador d’en Josep Pla you can get excellent views of the town and its surrounding area.

A few kilometres east of the town is Platja de Pals, a virgin beach with dunes, marshes and wetlands.

Pals has a varied hotel and gastronomic offer, with a large number of restaurants offering traditional Catalan cuisine.

Pals has become one of the most acclaimed destinations both for architecture and art lovers, as well as for those who want to get lost in nature and enjoy the seascape of the Costa Brava.