The Costa Brava is addictive, and quickly so. It has beautiful villages, very charming coves, huge beaches, good food and a Mediterranean atmosphere that you won’t want to say goodbye to.
If you are already preparing your trip and do not know where to start, here we tell you what to see in the Costa Brava without messing around and with the most useful things, whether you come for a weekend or if you have a full week.
Cities and towns you have to visit
Here the towns have their own personality and each one of them will bring something different to your trip, so take your time to make the choice.
Tossa de Mar is a must-see. Its wall touching the sea is one of the most beautiful postcards on the entire coast and walking through Vila Vella is always appealing. Further up is Calella de Palafrugell, a small and quiet fishing village.
And then there’s Cadaqués, that place people go to see what it’s like and come back saying it’s one of the most special villages in the Mediterranean. If you keep going up, you will reach Begur, a town with its own castle, stone streets and a perfect location for hopping from cove to cove without traveling long distances.
Do you fancy something more medieval? Then choose to go to Pals, with its towers, walls, viewpoints and that ancient air that remains intact centuries later.
And the jewel in the crown is L’Estartit, which has a spectacular natural environment, direct views of the Medes Islands and a perfect atmosphere as a base for exploring the entire Costa Brava.
Essential beaches and coves to see on the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava has beaches for all tastes. The most comfortable for spending the day —with services, restaurants and plenty of space— are Platja Gran de Tossa, Pals, Llafranc or Platja Gran de L’Estartit, perfect if you like to walk from end to end or if you are traveling with children. In any of them you will find clean waters, fine golden sand and beautiful landscapes.
Then there are the coves —much smaller than the beaches—, which will force you to walk a little more, but the surroundings and tranquility are worth it. Note Sa Tuna, it is one of the quietest, most beautiful and with the most well-kept environment. Very close by you can also visit Aiguablava, which is probably the most famous cove on the entire Costa Brava. And if you are looking for more wild and hidden places, then go straight to Cala Estreta or Cala Pedrosa. They are not the most accessible, but they are among the most authentic.
And if we talk about water —although not for a swim— you also have to go to Empuriabrava. Here the protagonist is not the sea, but its navigable canals, which run through practically the entire town. It is known as “the Catalan Venice”, and for good reason.
What to see on the Costa Brava: three essential excursions
Surely you already have your agenda half full, but if you keep asking yourself what to see on the Costa Brava in a week —or less—, we cannot ignore these three excursions. They are worth it!
- Camí de Ronda: a must on any trip to the Costa Brava. You will pass through paths that border the sea, viewpoints and a lot of coves. You can do short sections or longer routes. That’s up to you.
- Medes Islands: boat trips depart from L’Estartit to the Medes Islands, one of the most beautiful places to snorkel in all of Catalonia. And if the sea is what calls you the most, you can also go kayaking taking advantage of the cliffs and caves in its orography.
- Cap de Creus Natural Park: another of the points that you have to see yes or yes. Here the wind and the sea have sculpted surreal rock formations that inspired Dalí. It is a very visual excursion and one of the most special on the entire Costa Brava.
Typical gastronomy of the Costa Brava
A list that boasts of what to see on the Costa Brava also has to include the best of the local gastronomy: soupy rice dishes, suquets of fish, anchovies from L’Escala, fresh grilled fish, mountain meats, crema catalana, orelletes … and all this accompanied by Empordà wines, which taste especially good here.
If you want to try a good rice dish overlooking the sea, at El Port del Rei they prepare some of the best known in the area. For a real suquet —made over low heat—, Can Shel, La Galera de Can Pau or La Gaviota are safe bets.
If you pass through Palafrugell or Calella, El Tragamar is one of those places where you can eat with your feet almost in the sand, perfect for ordering fresh fish or a good paella. And if you are looking for something more informal, the taverns of Begur are also a good choice for tapas, portions and traditional dishes.
And no, you can’t leave the Costa Brava without taking —for yourself or as a gift— the most famous anchovies in the area: Les Anxoves de L’Escala. They are a classic because here the tradition of salaó comes from centuries ago; they are still made by hand, with the same slow and careful salting process that the fishermen of yesteryear used.
Where to stay to explore the Costa Brava
If you want to get to know the surroundings of the Costa Brava well without spending the day in the car, L’Estartit is one of the best areas to set up your base. From here you are close to coves, towns, routes, beaches and also the Medes Islands. You have everything at hand!
And if you also find a spacious, modern, well-equipped apartment in a quiet area, even better. Seems impossible, right? Well, at Apartamentos Estartit we have just that.
What are you waiting for to book yours and come and enjoy everything you have written down on your list of things to see on the Costa Brava?
