Costa Brava
Discover Costa Brava
The Costa Brava (Rugged Coast) is a coastal region in north Catalonia, in the northeast of Spain. It comprises 3 comarques (counties): Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà and La Selva. It has rocky cliffs and a mix of pebble beaches and sandy beaches. In the inland there are many beautiful small villages. It's one of the main touristic regions of Spain with culture and arts and historic places from Greek and Roman sites to castles to modernist sites. Costa Brava has been a holiday destination since the 1960s. Some regions, like Lloret de Mar, are more popular with foreign tourists, while others, like Begur, cater more to locals.
What to Experience in Costa Brava
Famous Beaches
Taste of Costa Brava...
The Costa Brava region has some renowned restaurants, including Miramar in Llançà with 2 Michelin stars, and la Llar in Empuriabrava and Els Brancs in Roses with one star each. You can also find plenty of touristic restaurants with seafood and paella and traditional restaurants with Catalan cuisine in all the towns and cities. Any coastal town or city in the Costa Brava have almost a bar near the beach to relax and take a drink. Lloret de Mar is well known because of its discos and nightlife, but you can take a drink quietly on many bars near to the beach. There is a Denomination of Origin for wine called, DO Empordà that encompasses most of the Costa Brava region and in the last 15-20 years, the wines have increased greatly in quality to the point of being quite recommendable. While you can hire guides, if you have a car, you can also easily make a tour of the cellars using a handy English language book that's available called, Vinologue All the cities and towns in the Costa Brava have camping areas and hotels for tourist accommodation. One of the biggest areas for those arriving by caravan is between Sant Pere Pescador and L'Escala which during the summer has more Dutch and British license plates than Spanish. The Costa Brava is generally a safe destination, but visitors should be aware of a few coastal and petty-crime risks common to Catalonia and Spain’s Mediterranean shores.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThere are many marinas in the Costa Brava. see the list in the Do section. If you want to explore a lot of the coastal cities then renting a car is your best option. There is regular bus service between the towns but nothing compares driving along and stopping where you like. Have in mind that is a rugged terrain, so most of the times walk or cycle is not a suitable option, except for close distances, and sometimes not even then. In summer there is plenty of organised tours. Check it in your hotel. They will provide bus, and a guide. An option to consider if you do not have a car. in summer parking is a big problem. The closest to the beach the biggest the problem. A lot of beaches has paid parking, usually is a daily fee between €5 and €10. The small villages use to have a parking at the entrance of the town. Many touristic villages has "blue zones" which means is a paid parking. You have to look for the parking meter or check if your parking app is supported in the zone....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
If you want to explore a lot of the coastal cities then renting a car is your best option. There is regular bus service between the towns but nothing compares driving along and stopping where you like. Have in mind that is a rugged terrain, so most of the times walk or cycle is not a suitable option, except for close distances, and sometimes not even then. In summer there is plenty of organised tours. Check it in your hotel. They will provide bus, and a guide. An option to consider if you do not have a car. in summer parking is a big problem. The closest to the beach the biggest the problem. A lot of beaches has paid parking, usually is a daily fee between €5 and €10. The small villages use to have a parking at the entrance of the town. Many touristic villages has "blue zones" which means is a paid parking. You have to look for the parking meter or check if your parking app is supported in the zone.
Where to Stay
All the cities and towns in the Costa Brava have camping areas and hotels for tourist accommodation. One of the biggest areas for those arriving by caravan is between Sant Pere Pescador and L'Escala which during the summer has more Dutch and British license plates than Spanish. The Costa Brava is generally a safe destination, but visitors should be aware of a few coastal and petty-crime risks common to Catalonia and Spain’s Mediterranean shores. On beaches, it is important to respect the Spanish flag system: green means conditions are safe, yellow advises caution due to waves, currents or jellyfish, and red prohibits swimming because of dangerous sea or weather conditions. In recent summers, the Catalan coast has seen more frequent jellyfish blooms, so bathers should watch for local jellyfish flags or notices and avoid touching any washed-up specimens.
Language & Talk
The official language of the region is Catalan and as is the case everywhere in Catalonia, all the citizens are also fluent in Spanish. In this region, English is very widely spoken and quite often French as well. Some people will speak German, but the lingua franca is really English. There are many marinas in the Costa Brava. see the list in the Do section. If you want to explore a lot of the coastal cities then renting a car is your best option. There is regular bus service between the towns but nothing compares driving along and stopping where you like. Have in mind that is a rugged terrain, so most of the times walk or cycle is not a suitable option, except for close distances, and sometimes not even then. In summer there is plenty of organised tours. Check it in your hotel.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
The Costa Brava is generally a safe destination, but visitors should be aware of a few coastal and petty-crime risks common to Catalonia and Spain’s Mediterranean shores. On beaches, it is important to respect the Spanish flag system: green means conditions are safe, yellow advises caution due to waves, currents or jellyfish, and red prohibits swimming because of dangerous sea or weather conditions. In recent summers, the Catalan coast has seen more frequent jellyfish blooms, so bathers should watch for local jellyfish flags or notices and avoid touching any washed-up specimens. Families with children should supervise them closely in the water, especially when yellow flags are flying or waves and currents are stronger than they appear from shore. As on the rest of the Catalan coast, petty theft can occur in crowded resort areas, car parks and busy beaches, so keep valuables out of sight, avoid leaving bags unattended while swimming and consider using a money belt or hotel safe.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Costa Brava
view of buildings at shore during daytime
Costa Brava at Sunset in Tossa de Mar
Costa Brava!
a body of water next to a rocky cliff
Paisaje Costa Brava de Girona, España
a group of people sitting on a beach next to a body of water
white and red concrete building beside body of water during daytime
a small boat in the water near some rocks
Summer vibes
A group of boats floating on top of a body of water
view of buildings at shore during daytime
Costa Brava at Sunset in Tossa de Mar
Costa Brava!