The Costa Brava is the rocky coastline of Catalonia, stretching from Blanes north of Barcelona up to the French border. Along it you’ll find medieval towns, fishing villages with whitewashed houses, small coves tucked between pine forest and rocks, and a handful of big beach resorts with long sandy beaches.
The towns are far apart and very different from each other, so your choice of base matters more than you might think. Lloret de Mar is all about partying and the beach, Calella de Palafrugell and Begur are quiet and charming, and Cadaqués feels like a world of its own. Here are my recommendations for six towns, with hotels in several price ranges.
Contents
The Best Towns on the Costa Brava
- Tossa de Mar - best town for first-time visitors
- Lloret de Mar - best town for nightlife and low prices
- Calella de Palafrugell - best town for couples and charming fishing villages
- Begur - best town for luxury and coves
- Roses - best town for families
- Cadaqués - best town for art and nature
Below, I go through the six towns one by one, with hotels in different price ranges, so you can find the base that suits your Costa Brava holiday best.
1. Tossa de Mar - best town for first-time visitors 🏰
- 📍 Distance from Barcelona: Around 90 kilometres to the northeast, and the drive takes about an hour and a half.
- 🚌 Transport: Buses from Barcelona run via Lloret de Mar to Tossa, but if you want to get around to the other towns on the coast, a hire car is the easiest option.
- ✈️ Time from Girona Airport: Around 40 minutes by car. From Barcelona Airport, allow about an hour and a half.
- 💰 Price range: € to €€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £60 to £200 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Tossa is a safe and quiet town. The paths and steps in the Vila Vella are uneven and can be slippery, so wear proper shoes.
Tossa de Mar is my first choice if you’re going to the Costa Brava for the first time and only want to stay in one place. The town has everything within a small area, with a sandy beach right in the centre, good restaurants and one of the best-preserved medieval towns on the whole coast.
The medieval quarter is called the Vila Vella, and it sits on the headland at the end of Platja Gran beach. The town walls were built at the end of the 12th century and still have seven round towers. You’re free to wander the narrow streets and climb all the way up to the lighthouse at the top, where you’ll have a view across the whole bay.
See hotels in Tossa de Mar here.
North of the centre is the small beach of Mar Menuda, which is quieter than the main beach, and along the coast you’ll find several small coves. In the evening, the streets below the walls fill up with restaurants and bars, but the atmosphere is far more relaxed than in Lloret de Mar a little further south.
I’d choose Tossa for a week’s holiday where you want beach and town life and a few day trips. If you’re coming via Barcelona and want to start with a couple of nights in the city, you can read my guide to getting from Barcelona Airport to the city centre.
The downside is that Tossa is popular, and in July and August the beach and streets are packed with day-trippers from the other resorts. The road north towards Sant Feliu de Guíxols is beautiful but very winding, so allow plenty of time in the car.
Places to Stay in Tossa de Mar
Boutique Hotel Casa Granados - best boutique hotel by the Vila Vella
Casa Granados is a small four-star boutique hotel on a side street right by the Vila Vella, around 150 metres from Platja Gran. It had the highest guest rating in my search in Tossa, and there’s an outdoor pool, a sauna and a restaurant. The hotel doesn’t have its own parking, so if you’re coming by car, you’ll need to park in town.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “We loved the charm of staying a short distance from the busy beach.”
See photos and book Boutique Hotel Casa Granados here.
Gran Hotel Reymar - best beach hotel with a pool and spa
Gran Hotel Reymar sits right by the small beach of Mar Menuda and has an outdoor pool, a spa and a gym. It suits both couples and families who want the beach right on the doorstep and terraces with sea views. Guests do mention, though, that the communal areas are too small for a hotel of its size.
One guest highlights the location on Booking.com: “Fantastic location right by the beach and an unbeatable view from the terraces.”
See photos and book Gran Hotel Reymar here.
Hotel GHT Simeon - cheapest option close to the beach
Hotel GHT Simeon is a simple hotel around 50 metres from the beach, and it was the cheapest of my three picks in Tossa when I searched. There’s a bar and a terrace, but no pool, and the hotel doesn’t have parking. It’s best for a couple who want a central base and would rather spend their money in the restaurants.
One guest sums it up briefly on Booking.com: “Good value for money and a good location.”
See photos and book Hotel GHT Simeon here.
2. Lloret de Mar - best town for nightlife and low prices 🎉
- 📍 Distance from Barcelona: Around 75 kilometres, and the drive takes about an hour and a quarter.
- 🚌 Transport: Moventis Sarfa runs buses from Estació del Nord in Barcelona to Lloret, and there are also direct buses from Girona Airport.
- ✈️ Time from Girona Airport: Around 30 minutes by car.
- 💰 Price range: € to €€€. The three places below cost roughly £60 to £155 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Lloret is generally safe, but at night there are lots of drunk tourists in the centre. Keep a close eye on your bag and phone on the seafront promenade and when you’re out at night.
Lloret de Mar is the biggest resort on the Costa Brava, and it’s known for its nightlife. The town is built around a long beach with a promenade, and behind it there are streets full of bars, clubs, shops and hotels in every price range.
This is where you’ll find some of the lowest prices on the coast, and the connections are good. Buses run directly from Girona Airport to Lloret, and the buses from Barcelona stop here on their way to Tossa. That makes Lloret one of the few places on the Costa Brava where you can easily manage without a car.
See hotels in Lloret de Mar here.
There’s more to Lloret than partying. Out on the cliffs just outside the centre are the Santa Clotilde Gardens, laid out from 1919 with clipped hedges that form green shapes right on the edge of the cliffs above the sea. You can also walk along the coast to the smaller beaches outside town.
I’d choose Lloret for a group of friends who want to party, or for a cheap beach holiday where you don’t want to hire a car. It’s also easy to combine with a few nights in Barcelona, and if you need help with that part, I’ve written about where to stay in Barcelona.
The downside is that Lloret doesn’t have much of the charm that the smaller towns further north have. The buildings are mostly large hotels from recent decades, and in July and August the centre can get very noisy at night.
Places to Stay in Lloret de Mar
Delamar Adults Only - best adults-only hotel with a rooftop pool
Delamar is a four-star adults-only hotel on Avinguda Just Marlès, a few minutes’ walk from the beach. There’s a heated rooftop pool, a gym and massages, and it had one of the highest guest ratings in my search in Lloret. The hotel has no on-site parking, so a car is more of a hassle than a help here.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel is perfect, beautifully decorated and relaxing.”
See photos and book Delamar Adults Only here.
Hotel Helios Lloret - best mid-range hotel with a spa
Hotel Helios is in the western part of the centre, around 150 metres from the beach, and has an outdoor pool and a spa with a sauna and Turkish bath. It has a high guest rating and a reasonable price for a four-star hotel. Several guests mention, though, that the walls are thin, so you can hear your neighbours.
One guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “A good hotel for a few nights, and it’s close to the beach.”
See photos and book Hotel Helios Lloret here.
Apartamentos Venecia - cheapest option with apartments close to the beach
Apartamentos Venecia are apartments around 50 metres from the beach in the eastern part of the centre, and they were the cheapest of the three places when I searched. There’s air conditioning and a lift, but no pool or restaurant. Guests mention that there’s no free parking nearby.
One guest highlights the location on Booking.com: “A clean apartment close to the beach. A fantastic stay.”
See photos and book Apartamentos Venecia here.
3. Calella de Palafrugell - best town for couples and charming fishing villages ⛵
- 📍 Distance from Barcelona: Around 125 kilometres, and the drive takes about an hour and a half.
- 🚌 Transport: Buses from Barcelona run to Palafrugell, and from there a local bus goes out to Calella, Llafranc and Tamariu.
- ✈️ Time from Girona Airport: Around 45 minutes by car.
- 💰 Price range: €€€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £205 to £265 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Calella is very safe. The coastal path has steep sections without railings, so keep an eye on children if you walk along the cliffs.
Calella de Palafrugell is the old fishing village that many people picture when they think of the Costa Brava. Whitewashed houses come right down to a row of small sandy beaches, the fishing boats are pulled up on the sand, and the restaurants have tables right by the water.
Calella and neighbouring Llafranc both belong to Palafrugell, and according to the Empordà tourist office, they were fishing villages before tourism arrived. Every summer, on the first Saturday in July, thousands of people gather in Calella for the Cantada d’Havaneres, when choirs sing the old habaneras by the beach.
See hotels in Calella de Palafrugell here.
From Calella, you can walk the Camí de Ronda coastal path to Llafranc, which has a slightly longer sandy beach and a small marina. Above Llafranc rises Sant Sebastià hill with a lighthouse and a watchtower, and south of Calella are the Cap Roig botanical gardens on the cliffs above the sea.
I’d choose Calella or Llafranc for a couple who want peace and quiet, good food and small beaches within walking distance. It’s one of the most charming places on the coast, and in the evening the atmosphere is far calmer than in the big resorts.
The downside is the price. There are only a few hotels, they get booked up quickly in high season, and parking is difficult. If you want to save money, you can stay in Palafrugell itself, which is a couple of kilometres from the coast, and take the bus or drive out to the beaches.
Places to Stay in Calella de Palafrugell
Hotel Isabella’s Llafranc - best hotel right by the beach in Llafranc
Isabella’s is a four-star hotel on the seafront promenade in Llafranc, with a restaurant and a terrace and only around 50 metres to the beach. It was the most expensive of my three picks here and suits couples who want the sea and the restaurants right on the doorstep. Guests mention that some of the rooms are very small.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “A fantastic location by the beach.”
See photos and book Hotel Isabella’s Llafranc here.
Hostal Sa Teula - best quiet hotel in Llafranc
Hostal Sa Teula is on a side street around 100 metres from the beach in Llafranc and has a very high guest rating. It’s a small hotel without a pool, but with a bar and a terrace, and it suits couples who want a quiet night’s sleep. Parking is difficult in the area, so expect to spend a little time finding a space.
One guest describes the place on Booking.com: “An excellent and quiet hotel a little way back from the beach.”
See photos and book Hostal Sa Teula here.
Hotel hcp - cheapest option in the middle of Calella
Hotel hcp is in Calella de Palafrugell, a minute’s walk from Port Pelegrí beach, and it was the cheapest of the three when I searched. That says more about the price level here, because there aren’t any real budget hotels by the water in Calella. The hotel has no lift, so check where your room is if you’ve got heavy luggage.
One guest highlights the location on Booking.com: “A perfect location just a few metres from the beach and the supermarket.”
See photos and book Hotel hcp here.
4. Begur - best town for luxury and coves 🏖️
- 📍 Distance from Barcelona: Around 135 kilometres, and the drive takes about an hour and three quarters.
- 🚗 Transport: There are buses to Begur, but the coves are down by the water some distance from the town, so you’ll get the most out of your stay with a car.
- ✈️ Time from Girona Airport: Around 50 minutes by car.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £110 to £310 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Begur is a very safe town. The roads down to the coves are narrow and steep, and the car parks by the beaches fill up quickly in summer.
Begur sits on a hill a little inland, with a medieval castle on top and views out over the coast. The town is small, but it has some of the best boutique hotels and restaurants on the Costa Brava, and just below it are the most beautiful coves on the coast.
Take a walk around the Old Town and look out for the large colonial-style houses. According to the tourist office, they were built by people from Begur who emigrated to the Americas in the 19th century and often came home with a fortune.
The municipality has eight small coves and beaches, including Sa Riera, Aiguablava, Fornells, Sa Tuna, Aiguafreda and Platja Fonda with its dark sand. The water is clear and good for snorkelling, and many of the coves have a small beach restaurant. If you arrive early in the morning, it’s much easier to find both a parking space and a spot on the beach.
I’d choose Begur for couples who want a lovely hotel, good food and a new cove every day. The town is also a good base for seeing Calella de Palafrugell, Pals and the other medieval towns in the Empordà.
The downside is that the town itself isn’t by the water, and it’s a couple of kilometres down to most of the coves. Without a car, Begur is awkward, and the small beaches are very crowded in July and August.
Places to Stay in Begur
Finca Victoria - best luxury hotel by Sa Riera beach
Finca Victoria is a five-star design hotel around 200 metres from Sa Riera beach, north of Begur. There’s an outdoor pool, a spa and a restaurant, and it was the most expensive hotel in the whole guide when I searched. Guests mention that there aren’t many places to eat in the area in the evening, so you’ll often end up eating at the hotel or driving up to the town.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The design was beautiful. The staff were incredibly accommodating and hospitable.”
See photos and book Finca Victoria here.
Alta House Begur - best adults-only hotel with a pool
Alta House is in Begur town and is an adults-only hotel with an outdoor pool, a bar and parking. It has a high guest rating and suits couples who want to stay in town and drive down to the coves during the day. It’s around 2 kilometres to Platja Fonda, and some guests think the breakfast could be better.
One guest highlights the pool on Booking.com: “An excellent area and a lovely hotel with a good pool.”
See photos and book Alta House Begur here.
Hotel Rosa & Spa Begur - cheapest option in the middle of town
Hotel Rosa is in central Begur and was the cheapest of the three when I searched. There’s a small spa with a Turkish bath, but no pool, and the hotel is on a pedestrianised street, so it’s hard to park nearby. It’s around 1.5 kilometres to the nearest beach.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location was central, with everything you could want right around you.”
See photos and book Hotel Rosa & Spa Begur here.
5. Roses - best town for families 👨👩👧
- 📍 Distance from Barcelona: Around 160 kilometres, and the drive takes about two hours.
- 🚆 Transport: Buses run from Roses to Figueres, where the high-speed trains between Barcelona and France stop.
- ✈️ Time from Girona Airport: Around 50 minutes by car.
- 💰 Price range: € to €€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £60 to £140 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Roses is a safe family town. There’s a cycle path along the seafront promenade, so keep an eye on little ones when you walk along the water.
Roses lies at the northern end of the large Gulf of Roses, and it’s my pick for a family who want a long sandy beach, shallow water and everything close by. The seafront promenade runs along the bay with restaurants and beach bars, and the hotels are packed closely together in the centre and in the Santa Margarida area.
The town has history, too. It was founded as a Greek colony and later became the Roman town of Rhode, and in the Ciutadella fortress you can see the ruins, a Romanesque monastery and a museum about the town’s history. The fortress was built in the 16th century on the orders of Charles V to defend the coast against pirates.
East of the centre, the coast gets rockier, with the small coves of Canyelles and Almadraba, and boats sail from the harbour out along Cap de Creus. Roses is also a good base for water sports such as snorkelling, diving and kayaking.
I’d choose Roses for a week’s family holiday where the beach is the main thing and you take a few day trips. From here, it’s not far over the mountain to Cadaqués or to Figueres, home of the Dalí Theatre-Museum.
The downside is that Roses is mostly newer holiday developments, so you won’t get the same charm as in Tossa or Calella. In high season, the beach is packed, and the traffic into town can be heavy in the afternoon.
Places to Stay in Roses
Canyelles Platja - best hotel by the beach in Canyelles
Canyelles Platja is a four-star hotel right by the beach in the Canyelles cove, a couple of kilometres east of the centre of Roses. It had the highest guest rating in my search in Roses, and there’s a saltwater pool, a restaurant and a gym. Some guests mention noise from the surroundings, and you’ll need a car or the bus to get into town.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location is unbeatable: right across from the beach.”
See photos and book Canyelles Platja here.
Hotel Marina - best mid-range hotel with a rooftop pool
Hotel Marina is on Avinguda de Rhode in the middle of Roses, around 90 metres from the beach, and has a rooftop infinity pool, a spa and a restaurant. It suits families who want the beach, the shops and the restaurants within walking distance. Guests mention noise from the busy roundabout by the hotel.
One guest highlights the location on Booking.com: “The location is fantastic, right across from the lovely and safe beach.”
See photos and book Hotel Marina here.
Hotel Ciutadella - cheapest option with a pool
Hotel Ciutadella is in the centre, around 100 metres from the beach and close to the fortress it’s named after. It was the cheapest of the three when I searched, and you still get a saltwater pool and family rooms. Some guests mention that there can be noise from outside.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “A lovely hotel. The rooftop pool was good, and it’s five minutes to the beach.”
See photos and book Hotel Ciutadella here.
6. Cadaqués - best town for art and nature 🎨
- 📍 Distance from Barcelona: Around 175 kilometres, and the drive takes about two and a quarter hours.
- 🚗 Transport: There are buses from Barcelona and Figueres, but the last stretch is a winding mountain road, and parking in town is limited.
- ✈️ Time from Girona Airport: Around an hour and a quarter by car.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £110 to £350 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Cadaqués is very safe. The streets in the Old Town are steep and paved with slippery stones, so wear shoes with a good grip.
Cadaqués sits on its own on the Cap de Creus peninsula, and that’s exactly what makes it so special. Whitewashed houses are stacked up the hill around the church of Santa Maria, and artists such as Picasso, Chagall and Klein have found inspiration here.
The most famous of them is Salvador Dalí, who lived in Portlligat just north of the town. His house is now a museum, and you always need to book a ticket in advance, because visitors are let in in small groups. Admission costs around 15 euros (about £13) and a little more in July and August.
Around the town is the Cap de Creus Natural Park, the northeastern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. The landscape is barren, with windswept rocks and small coves, and the lighthouse out on the cape is a popular destination for an outing.
I’d choose Cadaqués for couples who want art, good food and a town that feels completely different from the rest of the coast. Two or three nights is enough for most people, and the town works well as the final stop on a road trip.
The downside is that the beaches are mostly small and pebbly, and the town is expensive. In the middle of the day, lots of day-trippers arrive, so the best time to wander the streets is early in the morning and in the evening.
Places to Stay in Cadaqués
Boutique Hotel Villa Salvador - best adults-only luxury hotel
Villa Salvador is a four-star adults-only boutique hotel by the small S’Arenella beach in the northern part of Cadaqués. There’s a saltwater pool, a restaurant and a bar, and it was the most expensive of my three picks in the town. It’s just over a kilometre into the centre, so you either walk along the water or take the car.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “A beautiful hotel with friendly staff.”
See photos and book Boutique Hotel Villa Salvador here.
Hotel Rec de Palau - best mid-range hotel with a pool and views
Hotel Rec de Palau is on the hillside in the southern part of the town, with views over the bay, and has an outdoor pool, a restaurant and parking. It has a very high guest rating and is a good choice if you’re coming by car. Guests mention that it’s a steep walk up to the hotel, and it’s around 400 metres down to Es Llaner Gran beach.
One guest highlights the view on Booking.com: “The hotel has a good location with a fantastic view over the bay.”
See photos and book Hotel Rec de Palau here.
La Fonda - cheapest option close to the centre
La Fonda is a small bed and breakfast in the northern part of the town, around 300 metres from Platja Gran beach, and it was the cheapest of the three when I searched. There’s a restaurant and a bar, but no pool. Some guests mention noise from the neighbouring rooms and the corridors.
One guest describes the room on Booking.com: “A comfortable and clean room with a lovely view of the hills from the window.”
See photos and book La Fonda here.
Where should you avoid staying on the Costa Brava?
I wouldn’t choose Lloret de Mar if you’re dreaming of peace and quiet and charming little streets. The town is built for mass tourism and nightlife, and much the same goes for Platja d’Aro further north, where the beach is surrounded by big hotels and apartment blocks.
Girona is a beautiful city, but it’s around 40 kilometres inland, so it works better as a day trip than as a base for a beach holiday. Be careful, too, with the small inland villages if you don’t want to hire a car. Accommodation is often cheap, but without a car you won’t get to the beaches or the restaurants.
If you’re going to the Costa Brava for the first time, I’d stay in Tossa de Mar. If you want to party or stick to a budget, Lloret de Mar is the obvious choice, and families will have the easiest beach holiday in Roses. Couples who want charm and good food should look at Calella de Palafrugell or Begur, and Cadaqués is perfect for a few nights of art and nature.
If you’ve got a week or more, you can split your stay and spend a few nights in the south and the rest in the north. Lots of people also combine the Costa Brava with Barcelona, and here you can read my guide to the best things to do in Barcelona. If you’d rather go to a Spanish island, I’ve written about where to stay on Mallorca and Menorca.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
Psst 👀 Have you subscribed to my Youtube channel and my Instagram where I provide more useful travel tips?