9 magical villages on the Costa Brava
The Coa Bstrava is Catalonia’s magnificent stretch of coastline, famous for its wonderful coves and beaches . However, beyond its beaches, the Costa Brava’s beautiful towns are also worth visiting. Authentic fishing villages , medieval towns , and picturesque hamlets on the seashore – you’ll surely find one to your liking among the towns on the Costa Brava . If you’re planning a trip through the area, you’ve come to the right place.
A little introduction
The Costa Brava is the stretch of Catalan coastline between Portbou in the north and Blanes (located just 90 km from Barcelona) in the south. Its name speaks of a rugged landscape with steep cliffs , hidden coves and a somewhat peculiar climate . Its golden sandy beaches and wild vegetation attract tourists, hikers, beach-goers and divers from all over the world.
In this environment you will find the beautiful towns of the Costa Brava . Most of the towns we mention in this post are located on the coast itself, but there are some medieval towns located a few kilometres inland that you cannot leave out of your route. To visit the towns, having your vehicle is essential, but another great option is to walk along the Camino de Ronda , a network of paths that follows the coast and passes through the vast majority of the towns we name. In this post we will tour together the most beautiful towns from north to south.
1. Port de la Selva and the Monastery of San Pere de Rodes
We end this journey through the 9 most beautiful villages of the Costa Brava in the small town of El Port de la Selva , located on the northern coast of Cap de Creus, trapped between the mountains of the Sierra de Rodes, such as the imposing peak of San Salvador, and the Mediterranean Sea. El Port de la Selva is another white fishing village like Cadaqués, but in a much less touristy version
In the case of this town, too, the main attraction is in the surroundings. On top of a mountain stands the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes , a spectacular and probably the most sophisticated example of Catalan Gothic architecture . Visiting the monastery, in addition to immersing yourself in the era when it was the spiritual centre of the region , you will be able to enjoy unbeatable views .
2. Cadaqués, the most beautiful town on the Costa Brava
A source of inspiration for writers and artists, Cadaqués is the town that for many is the symbol of the Costa Brava . Its historic centre with its white houses with many blue details and its large fishing port full of small boats stopped in the crystal-clear waters of its bay, is the postcard photo that comes to mind when we think of Cadaqués. Walking along its seafront on a summer afternoon, getting lost among its narrow streets savouring the bohemian atmosphere of the place is a must-do on a trip to the Costa Brava .
From Cadaqués it is worth taking a trip to Portlligat to learn a little more about the world of Salvador Dalí by visiting his house . We also recommend going to Cap de Creus , a peninsula with beautiful coves and a lighthouse that gives us the feeling of having reached the end of the world .
3. Roses
In the largest bay of the Costa Brava, in the Gulf of Roses, lies the town of Roses , another of the main towns in the Empordà. It is another town that offers a wide variety of hotels and leisure facilities for all tastes. Roses is well known for its beaches and less so for its monuments such as the Citadel that preserves remains from the ancient Greek and Roman era, the beautiful church of Santa María or the Renaissance fort of the Castillo de la Trinidad from the 15th century .
4. Empuriabrava
The town of Empuriabrava is known as the Venice of the Costa Brava . Perhaps the name Venice is a bit overused, as it is cited whenever a town with canals is mentioned. However, that does not mean that Empuriabrava is not a perfect place for those who like boat holidays in a spectacular setting. Empuriabrava has more than 30 kilometres of navigable canals and renting a boat or renting a boat to take a trip between the canals will be a memorable moment on your trip along the Costa Brava.
While in Empuriabrava, it is worth taking a trip to one of the most important and least known natural parks in the area , the Aiguamolls de l’Empurdà . This is a natural park made up of several ponds that is the natural habitat of more than 300 aquatic birds and also mammals. There are several signposted routes in the park to discover this truly unique reserve.
5. L’Escala and the ruins of Empúries (Ampurias)
L’Escala is another large town on the Gulf of Roses that offers many activities. However, the main attraction is located in the immediate vicinity of the town. A trip to the Costa Brava cannot be complete without visiting the ancient ruins of Empúries , the largest representation of Greek culture on the Iberian Peninsula that was later occupied by the Romans. It is worth spending a few hours there to see the reminders of the Greek era such as the ruins of the temples of Zeus Serapis and Asclepius or the amphitheater and many houses with mosaics from the Roman era .
6. L’Estartit – one of the towns on the Costa Brava for diving
Did you know that the small town of l’Estartit is the easternmost town not only on the Costa Brava, but in all of Spain ? L’Estartit is a small enclave between the sea and mountains with its pleasant beaches, bars and terraces on its promenade. However, what stands out in this town is the presence of the Medes Islands off the coast. It is an archipelago of small islands that, curiously, were refuges for pirates many centuries ago.
Just sitting on the beach and looking at these beautiful islets is a very pleasant activity, but the best thing that L’Estartit offers is the possibility of snorkelling or diving around the islands . In fact, L’Estartit is the most popular town on the Costa Brava among divers. As it is the only stretch of coastline that is a marine reserve and fishing is prohibited, you will be able to see a greater variety and quantity of colourful fish than anywhere else on the Costa Brava.
7. Torroella de Montgrí
Another town that is located a little inland , but that you can’t miss on your visit to the Costa Brava, is Torroella de Montgrí . It is worth getting lost in its old town to see the tower of Bruixes or the portal of Santa Caterina, but what stands out the most is the Montgrí Castle, which is located on a hill near the town. Going up the hill on summer days will be very hot, but the wonderful views will make up for it all.
8. Monells
The third village in the group of medieval villages in the Empordà region , which is located further inland than Pals or Peratallada, is Monells. Monells has just 200 inhabitants and is also a must-see. Its main square with porticos is truly unique and is where one of the main markets in Catalonia was held in the Middle Ages. You may remember having seen this village recently in a film, but you are not wrong, as several scenes from the film Ocho apellidos catalanes were filmed here.
9. Pals, one of the medieval towns of the Costa Brava
Pals is one of the best preserved medieval towns not only on the Costa Brava, but in all of Catalonia. Although its old town is a bit far from the sea, on a trip to the Costa Brava , we cannot miss visiting this charming place. Pals is on top of a small hill and has preserved its old town in a spectacular way .
Of the village castle, only the circular Tower of the Hours remains , but walking through its cobbled streets you can imagine yourself in a village from the Middle Ages. In the summer months we recommend visiting it outside the weekend , because on Sundays it seems to be a theme park with large groups of tourists. If you want, here you can take a look at our article on the best things to see in Pals .
Just a few kilometres from the historic centre is the beach of Pals (also known as Platja del Racó), a long beach with sand dunes all around. It is also worth visiting the Josep Pla viewpoint with its amazing views of the Empordà region.
