Costa Brava

Visit the natural wonders of Costa Brava and enjoy the many beaches and calas that this territory has to offer. The Costa Brava goes from Portbou to Blanes and stretches over 200 km of coast.

In this page you will find compilations of the best beaches, best restaurants, best tips to visit the beautiful villages and what are the best activities to do while you visit the area.

Posts

Do I need travel insurance for Spain?

Travel insurance for Spain: Is it necessary? Which company is best? How much does it cost? Find out here!

What is Costa Brava Known for

The Costa Brava is known for a variety of things, mainly the beaches, the cuisine, Salvador Dalí, and the Coastal Towns.

Port Lligat: the hidden gem of Cadaqués

Port Lligat is a small village in the northern part of Cadaques, where a beautiful beach is located alongside the beaty of the place.

Top 5 Best Restaurants in Costa Brava

Indulge in the culinary delights of Costa Brava! Check out our top 5 best restaurants in Costa Brava, serving exquisite dishes.

Top 5 Best Nude Beaches in Costa Brava

Nude beaches in Costa Brava Spain are legal and quite popular. Find the best beaches in the Costa Brava to enjoy a clothing-optional sunbath.

Top 5 Best Beaches in Costa Brava

This compilation of the 10 best beaches in Costa Brava, is so that you can easily find and go the best beach near you.

Best Holiday Rentals in Costa Brava 2023: Airbnb vs Booking

The Costa Brava is one of the best coasts of Spain, find the best holiday rentals in Costa Brava. Between the many platforms like Airbnb or Booking.

Why visit the Costa Brava?

Costa Brava has captivated the hearts of many people with its beautiful nature like, the natural parks of Cap de Creus, Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, Montgrí, and Illes Medes. Also the picturesque fishing villages like Cadaqués, Calella de Palafrugell, Llançà, Port de la Selva, etc.

Its a land that has inspired a lot of artist like Dalí, Joan Miró, Montserrat Gudiol, and many others. Also, the Costa Brava is full of historic sites. Empúries is home to one of the most famous grecoromanic ruins. Plus, if you are into ceramics Bisbal d’Empordà is a city you can’t miss.

Best Beaches 2023

What part of Costa Brava is Best?

The best beaches according to the locals are the ones from Roses to Cadaqués, namely Cala Murtra, Cala Montjoi, Cala Joncols and Cala Pelosa. Also Treumal beach and Sa Tuna are excellent.

The best part in terms of villages is the area located north of Bisbal d’Empordà, which encompasses Ullastret, Peratallada, Palau-Sator just to name a few. This historicaly rich area is a must see. Also, Cadaqués in Alt Empordà is a great place, which everyone that visits the area should stop at.

Depending on your taste and what are you looking for in your trip you should go to an area or another, if you like nude beaches check our post on the topic: Top 5 Best Nude Beaches in Costa Brava – Adventurer Atlas.

Nudity on the beaches is not frowned upon in many beaches in the Costa Brava, but we recommend checking what beaches are known for it in our post and going to one of them.

On the contrary, if you are into fine cuisine check out our post: Top 5 Best Restaurants in Costa Brava – Adventurer Atlas. Costa Brava has been the host of the best chefs for many years, and is still a great area for the food lovers, as there are many great restaurants.

For more information check out the official website: Web Oficial de la Costa Brava y el Pirineo de Girona.

What are the best beach towns to stay in Costa Brava?

The best beach towns to stay in Costa Brava are Cadaqués, Escala, Begur, Calella de Palafrugell and Blanes. These are the best according to the locals, and are very far from one another so check out to what are do you want to go before picking a town to stay.

Begur is by far one of my favorite, as the old town is wonderful but the beach is not near the old town and you will need to have a car to go to the beach, if you are not staying in the neighborhood that near the various beaches of Begur such as Platja Fonda or Sa Tuna.

Roses is a bigger city situated in the Alt Empordà, from which you have access to many of the best beaches of the area like, Almadrava, is surrounded by natural parks like Aiguamolls de l’Empordà and Cap de Creus. Plus Cadaqués is one of the nearest cities.

Speaking of Cadaqués, it is one of the best beach towns to stay in Costa Brava, it is very popular and the white houses are very re-known in the area. It is a must see town. I also recommend visiting Port Lligat which is just north of Cadaqués and is a great alternative if you are looking for a more peaceful beach. For more information on Port Lligat, check out our post: Port Lligat: the hidden gem of Cadaqués – Adventurer Atlas.

Also check out our favorite travel backpacks that we have carried in our trips that we recommend for traveling lightweight.

Recommended Travel Backpacks
tomtoc Travel Backpack 40L	Hanples Large Travel Laptop Backpack for Women	QT&QY 45L Military Tactical Backpack

What is the biggest town in Costa Brava?

Girona is certainly the biggest city in the Costa Brava with a population of 102.666 people (INE 2022). Is the capital of the province of Girona and is known for the cobblestone streets and historic old town.

Girona’s rich history, culinary delights, and artistic influences make it a must-visit destination in the Costa Brava region. The most famous places to visit in Girona are the Cathedral of Girona, the houses in the Oñar river, represented in the picture below, and the old Jewish neighborhood which is situated in the old town.

What is Girona temps de flors?

Girona temps de flors, is a festivity which takes place in the old town of Girona in the third week of May. The streets are filled with flowers, and it is highly recommended if you are in the area in these dates. Usually it lasts for a couple of weeks so don’t worry if you cannot go on the first weekend of the festivity.

It started in 1955 and is still one of the biggest attractions in the month of May until the present day. It combines the great streets of the old town with hundreds of flowers and plants, which perfectly decorate the city.

How many days in Costa Brava is enough?

In order to visit the main beaches and towns of Costa Brava a week is needed. Spending one day in Girona, one day in Blanes, two days in Baix Empordà (Pals, Begur Peratallada, Sa Tuna), and another three days in Alt Empordà (Cadaqués, Port de la Selva, Sant Pere de Rodes).

Shorter stays are also viable but if you want to visit the main sites in Costa Brava at least a week is necessary in our opinion. If you are staying for three or four days, stay in one area, for example visit Girona and Baix Empordà, or visit Alt Empordà, or the Blanes area.

If you are looking to rent a house instead of booking a hotel, see out post about rentals in Costa Brava: Best Holiday Rentals in Costa Brava 2023: Airbnb vs Booking.

Can I drink tap water in Costa Brava?

In most villages in Costa Brava the tap water is drinkable. Also in many fountains in the area there is a sign that says “potable” which means that the water has been tested and is drinkable. Most of the fountains that say “No potable” mean that the water has not been tested therefore the drink-ability of the water is not guaranteed.

Years ago almost all the water fountains and the tap water was good for drinking. But with the increase in pig farms in the area, the number of drinkable water sources has been reduced.

The tap water of villages in Costa Brava is generally good for drinking. For larger cities like Barcelona or Girona I will more hesitant to drink from the tap water. A filter is recommended if you so choose to drink from the tap water.