The Costa Brava is known worldwide for being one of the places with the best beaches in the world to spend the summer. What many do not know is that on the coast of Girona there are hidden villages with a lot of charm and with many proposals.
One of the most charming towns on the Costa Brava is, without a doubt, Cadaqués. Located in the Alt Empordà’s region, in the province of Girona, it is the easternmost town on the Iberian Peninsula.
Its white houses, where the emblematic church of Santa María stands out, in contrast to the blue of the sea and the green of the vegetation, make this place one of the most beautiful corners of the Mediterranean coast. The beauty of this fishing village located in the bay of Cadaqués has inspired and enamored artists such as the painter Salvador Dalí, the writer Federico García Lorca or the filmmaker Luis Buñuel.
It is located a few kilometers from one of the most emblematic natural areas of the Costa Brava, Cap de Creus, a unique site with a rugged and rocky landscape overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Take a look at our post about natural spaces on the Costa Brava to find out more.
In the region of Baix Empordà is Calella de Palafrugell, one of the most emblematic towns on the Costa Brava, located on a rocky coast formed by small coves, among which the picturesque beaches of Port Pelegrí and Port Bo stand out.
Despite tourism, this coastal municipality has managed to maintain the charm of the small fishing village that it was in the past; you can still see the white houses and traditional two-story fishermen’s dwellings.
To the south of the town, we find the spectacular Cap Roig Botanical Garden, an enclave of 17 hectares that is home to more than a thousand botanical species from all over the world.
Tossa de Mar, in the region of La Selva, was one of the first towns on the Costa Brava to become known to the world thanks to the film Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, starring the film star Ava Gardner in 1950.
This old fishing village has one of the most famous old towns on the Mediterranean coast, with a beautiful walled enclosure from medieval times that juts out into the sea forming a small peninsula and is still in perfect condition and is still inhabited.
A perfect place to walk and discover one of the most magical corners of the Costa Brava!
In the region of Baix Empordà is Pals, a medieval town that has survived the passing of the centuries. Despite not having any renowned monuments or museums, its beautiful cobbled streets, its walls and its Gothic buildings are more than enough of a claim.
During the Spanish Civil War, the castle of Pals was destroyed and today only the Torre de les Hores, the walls with four square towers dating from the 4th century and some structural elements remain. The highest part of the town is a fantastic viewpoint over the Empordà fields, the Montgrí massif and the Medes Islands that you cannot miss.
Another of the attractions of this town is its gastronomy, as it stands out for being a population with a very long rice-producing tradition. A high-quality product is grown in the fresh waters of the Ter River and the Mediterranean Sea, Pals’ rice. Discover this product and much more in our post about Costa Brava products.
A few kilometers inland from the Costa Brava is the town of Peratallada, declared a Historic-Artistic site for being one of the most important and best-preserved centers of medieval architecture in Catalonia. Its old town retains the old aspect of a feudal town, with narrow streets and buildings dating between the 11th and 14th centuries.
In carrer de la Roca you can see how the rock on which the town is based has been cut to shape the streets, hence the name of the town, “carved stone” (pedra tallada in Catalan). This street leads to some of the most photogenic corners of the town, such as the intersection with carrer Hospital. Don’t forget to stroll along carrer Major, plaça dels Esquiladors and plaça de les Voltes.
Begur, in Baix Empordà, is a municipality with a great heritage legacy. In the historic center of the town is the Church of Sant Pere and Santa Reparada, located in the plaça de la Vila. The Catalan town also has its own medieval castle, built in the 16th century and declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest. Nor can you miss the Carmen Amaya viewpoint, you will get spectacular views of the town.
Also noteworthy are the five defense towers that were erected against Moorish piracy and some constructions made by the Indians, people from Begur who crossed the Atlantic to make their fortune on the American continent.
Another of the main attractions of the town are its beaches. Begur has some of the most beautiful beaches on the Costa Brava, such as l’Illa Roja beach, Sa Tuna beach or Aiguablava beach. Discover them doing one of the coastal paths!
In the region of Alt Empordà, on the north coast of Cap de Creus, is El Port de la Selva. Despite not being as popular as Cadaqués or Calella de Palafrugell, this beautiful coastal town escapes the tourism of the Costa Brava.
It is a town with a fishing tradition located in an environment of great landscape richness, with the Mediterranean Sea at its feet and touching the Sierra de Rodes, where the spectacular monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes is located.
Within the town center and facing the bay is the church of Santa Maria de les Neus, a construction from the first half of the 20th century. Another recommended visit is the town of Selva de Mar, located just 1.5 kilometers from the town.
Year after year, thousands of tourists fall in love with Lloret de Mar and come to spend their summer in this coastal town located in the south of the Costa Brava due to the large number of urban beaches and hidden coves, being one of the Catalan towns with the most “Blue Flag” certifications. You can visit our post about the beaches and coves of Lloret de Mar so you don’t miss any of them.
Although it is a well-known town thanks to its beaches, Lloret de Mar has many monuments built by the Indians (people from Lloret de Mar who left to the American continent to make their fortune), such as the Church of Sant Romà or the modernist Cemetery. Get to know them in our post about the Indian past of Lloret de Mar.
It is a city with a wide range of leisure activities, perfect to enjoy at all times of the year, but especially in summer, whether as a family, as a couple or with friends. Come discover it!
If you are looking for accommodation to enjoy a few days discovering the Costa Brava, at Rosamar Hotels you will find the perfect hotel in Lloret de Mar for your holidays on the Girona coast.
Rosamar Es Blau (+16) and Rosamar Maxim (+18) hotels are adults only hotels ideal for trips with your partner or friends. Rosamar Maritim, Rosamar Garden Resort and Rosamar & Spa hotels, on the other hand, are perfect for family trips or trips with children. Take a look at them and choose the one that best suits your needs and tastes.
Discover the most beautiful corners of the Costa Brava with Rosamar Hotels!