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Begur

Where to stay on the Costa Brava?

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This blog post is designed for those who are planning on visiting Catalonia and the Costa Brava for the first time. This is also for people who are seeking information about where to stay and what to do in the region. Below is a basic map highlighting the Costa Brava and the Maresme coastlines.

The Maresme coastline starts from Barcelona and finishes at Blanes. From Blanes the Costa Brava ends over 200 kilometers later at the French border. The Costa Brava can be split into three rough sections; Northern, central and Southern sections. Blanes to Palamos is the southern section. The middle section from Palafrugell to L’Estartit and the northern section from L’Escala to Portbou.

The middle and Northern sections

Middle and Northern sections of the Costa Brava are somewhat less developed (with one or two exceptions). These are also more family orientated and this is where the vast majority of our properties are located.

Popular locations are Begur (and it’s beaches of Sa Riera, Sa Tuna, Aiguablava). The beaches of Palafrugell – Tamariu, Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell. Cadaques is the jewel of the Northern section of the Costa Brava.

For first time visitors to the Costa Brava i normally recommend the area around Begur/Tamariu. There’s a lot to see and do in a compact area and day-trips to explore the north or south of the Costa Brava are doable. Here is a map showing the main coves and beaches of the Begur/Palafrugell area;

Begur beaches
The beaches of Begur and Palafrugell

Cadaques, the pearl of the Costa Brava

Cadaques in the north is probably our favorite coastal town on the whole of the Costa Brava. There’s only one road in and out of town and it is a windy mountain road which can take up to 30 minutes’ from the neighboring town of Roses. Once you finally descend into Cadaques the mountain road adventure is quickly forgotten. The town has a unique charm and ambiance which has been preserved down the centuries. This is in part thanks to it’s relative isolation from the rest of the Costa Brava located on the end of the Cap de Creus peninsula.

Cadaques has seen many artists staying over the years including Picasso, Man Ray, Duchamp, Joan Miro. Most famously of all Salvador Dali who lived a large part of his life in the neighboring Port Lligat. This link to the rich history of Cadaques is tangible today in the many local artists galleries you will find among the narrow cobbled streets of the town. The town has a somewhat Bohemian atmosphere and a wonderful selection of good quality restaurants.

However i am always cautious on recommending Cadaques to first time visitors to the region because of it’s isolated location. If travelling around visiting other towns/beaches is an important factor this can be quite a tiresome experience driving over the mountain road every day. For people who like to explore other areas i recommend finding a base in the Begur/Tamariu area and then taking a day trip to Cadaques during your holiday.

Costa Brava vacation villas

At Charming Villas Catalonia we offer a selection of luxury Costa Brava holiday villas with pools and villas with heated pools. Let us know your important criteria and we will help you find the perfect vacation rental in Catalonia.

This post is just a rough guide and with our clients we go into much more detail not only with location and villa selection but also, if needed, advice and help planning activities and day trip itineraries. Please contact Sara or Richard at catalonia@charmingvillas.net for more information.

The best place to stay on the Costa Brava?

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One of the questions we are asked by people who are coming to the region for the first time is which is the best place to stay on the Costa Brava? There’s lots of great places to choose from and this blog post is to help people get a better idea of what area might be best for them.

Begur and Palafrugell

Probably the most popular coastal area on the Costa Brava is the Begur and Palafrugell region and their beaches. Their beaches include Sa Riera, Sa Tuna, Aigua Blava, Aigua Xelida, Tamariu and Llafranc.

Sa Riera, Begur
Sa Riera, Begur

Like most of the Costa Brava this area is very family orientated and laid back. It is popular with local Catalans and Spanish as well as with other Europeans and increasingly North Americans who are discovering the region.

The beaches can get pretty busy during July and August. Unless you are within walking distance to a beach you may have to leave your villa quite early in the morning to find a good parking place.

Cadaques in the north

Cadaques is another popular destination and quite possibly the best place to stay on the Costa Brava. A beautiful old fishing town, Cadaques is where Salvador Dali lived for a large part of his life. His old house in the little bay of Port Lligat is now a museum and open to the public.

Cadaques
Cadaques

There is only one road in and out of Cadaques which is quite narrow and windy through the Cap de Creus headland. This inaccessibility is the main reason why Cadaques has retained its charm and avoided the developers. Because of this relative isolation of the town I always suggest to people that Cadaques makes a great base if you plan of parking up the car and sitting back and relaxing. The town is quite compact and all of our vacation villas in Cadaques are within walking distance of the center with its restaurants, bars, shops and beaches. There is a quite special and unique ambiance to the place. However beautiful Cadaques is, I would not recommend it for people who plan to spend time driving around and exploring.

Empuries
Greek/Roman ruins of Empuries

Sant Marti and the ruins of Empuries

Sant Marti d’Empuries is a little off the beaten track and a favorite of ours. This tiny coastal village has a few restaurants and shops and is right on the beach. With nice sandy and un-crowded beaches this is the place we normally go to ourselves if we are having a day at the beach. For those of you interested in history there’s the ancient Greek and Roman ruins and neighboring Empuries. L’Escala which has a larger selection of bars and restaurants is only a 20 minutes walk along the seafront.

If it is bars, disco’s and partying you are after then Lloret de Mar is where you should go. Otherwise avoid it.

Other areas of the Costa Brava worth considering include Port de la Selva, Roses, and Palamos.

Luxury villas on the Costa Brava

At Charming Villas Catalonia we have a wide selection of luxury vacation rentals on the Costa Brava. Locally based we offer a free concierge service to all our clients. Please contact us for more information.

The best Costa in Spain?

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Which is the best Costa in Spain is a question we are asked from time to time. Spain has no less than 13 Costas to choose from. Nine of which are on the Mediterranean coastline from the Catalan Costa Brava in the north on the border with France down to the Costa del Sol on the southern tip of Spain.

The Costas of Spain
Spanish Costas

The Costa Brava, the best Costa in Spain

We have visited most of the Costas and for us the hands down winner is the Costa Brava. In fact we liked it so much we decided to come and live here!

There’s a number of reasons why we love the Costa Brava so much. From its intimate hidden coves, the climate, the people, its culture, the food, its medieval villages. For us the all round general ambiance make the Costa Brava the best coastal region in Spain.

Early tourism on the Costa Brava

The Costa Brava was the very first Costa in Spain to welcome holiday makers back in the 1950’s and 60’s. For many people the Costa Brava conjures up images of tacky package holidays, fish and chips and sangria. It well may have been like that in the 1960’s but not any longer. Because of the rugged nature of the Costa Brava coastline the developers quickly moved further south in search of flatter, more accessible land to build their high rise apartment blocks and for the most part left the Costa Brava behind. So today the Costa Brava is perhaps one of the better preserved Mediterranean coastal areas. What we have are fishing villages, unspoiled coves and a distinct lack of large hotels, apartment blocks and package holidays.

Aigua Gelida, Tamariu
Aigua Xelida, Tamariu

With the exception of Lloret de Mar you will find very little package tourism, loud all night bars or drunken teenagers on the Costa Brava. There’s a more laid back family orientated culture here with holiday makers from a wide selection of countries from all around the world. A lot of Catalan and Spanish people who have second residences in the area.

The temperatures on the Costa Brava do not reach the heights of those on the Costa del Sol although an average of the mid 30’s in July and August is hot enough for most people.

What to do on the Costa Brava?

The province of Girona has a lot more to offer the traveler than just a fantastic coastline. There’s loads of things to see and do in the region. Choose from visiting unspoiled medieval villages, the Dali triangle, visiting the beech forests of the extinct volcanic region of La Garrotxa. Take a nice walk around the lake of Banyoles and visit the weekly farmers market.

A view of Banyoles lake along a jetty
Banyoles lake just after sunrise

Catalan cuisine

Then of course there’s the food! With a great selection of fresh local products at their disposal Catalan chefs are recognized worldwide as innovators from the record five time No1 restaurant in the world El Bulli to the current No1, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona. But it is not just all about Michelin star restaurant food as the general standard in the region is very good.

The best bits of the Costa Brava? The area around Begur and Palafrugell with its small bays and coves is very popular as is the Dali famed Cadaques. We also like the coastal village of Sant Marti d’Empuries which does not get as crowded as Begur or Cadaques and has nice beaches and a few decent restaurants to choose from.

The beach of AiguaBlava, Begur
Aigua Blava, Begur

So for us the question “which is the best Costa in Spain?” is a resounding Costa Brava!

Platja Fonda, Begur

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The beaches of Begur

The coastal area around Begur has some of the nicest beaches on the whole Costa Brava. Platja Fonda Begur is without doubt one of the nicest and definitely one of our favorites. This 160m long wild and hidden spot is accessed by a long flight of steps.

Platja Fonda, Begur
Platja Fonda, Begur

The Begur coastline stretching from Platja de Raco in the north to AiguaBlava in the south offers the beach lover some great choices of beach. Each beach in the area of Begur has its own distinct character. Platja Fonda is what i would describe as a “virgin beach” with no bars, shops or nearby mass tourism. With just one path leading down to the beach it is totally untouched.

Platja Fonda, Begur
A Spring day in Platja Fonda beach, Begur

Not as big as Sa Riera and lacking restaurants, shops and bars this is perhaps a somewhat less crowded option suitable for serious beach lovers. With coarse dark sand/small pebbles the beach is perfect for those wanting to avoid the crowds of bigger beaches.

Platja Fonda, Begur, Costa Brava
Platja Fonda beach, Costa Brava

The clear turquoise waters and the lack of mass tourism make this a great choice of beach for those looking to simply enjoy swimming and sunbathing. Tip – Go early in the morning or later in the evening and enjoy the beach to yourselves.

Platja Fonda, Begur
Begur, Costa Brava

Platja Fonda villas

Overlooking the beach we have the magnificent nine bedroom luxury villa Platja Fonda which is just a stone’s throw walk from the beach. This is a ultra-modern villa with full air conditioning and en-suite bedrooms. We also have a wide selection of alternative luxury villas close to Platja Fonda. Check out our portfolio of luxury Begur villas

For more information about Platja Fonda and the other beaches of Begur here is a link to the official tourism board of Begur

Aiguablava beach Begur

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The beaches of Begur

One of the prettiest beaches along the whole Costa Brava, Aiguablava beach Begur is a popular beach for holiday makers and locals alike.

The beach of AiguaBlava, Begur
AiguaBlava, Begur

At around 150m in length Aiguablava (Blue Water in Catalan) can become pretty crowded during the peak months of July and August. For this reason it is best to get there early to claim your spot!

Aiguablava beach, Begur
Aiguablava, Begur, Costa Brava

The beach of Aiguablava

One of our favourite beaches, Aiguablava is in our list of favorite beaches on the Costa Brava.

Aiguablava Costa Brava
The empty beach of Aiguablava close to Begur

Not as commercialized as nearby larger beaches such as Tamariu, Aiguablaba does however have a couple of decent restaurants. Toc al Mar is a restaurant located right on the water overlooking Aiguablava. Their specialty dishes are paellas and other rice dishes.

The photographs posted here were taken on a slightly overcast and windy February day.

Aiguablava
Aiguablava, Costa Brava

Aiguablava vacation villas

At Charming Villas Catalonia we have a good selection of luxury Aiguablava holiday villas to choose from. Browse our portfolio of vacation rentals in Aiguablava and Begur.

Locally based we offer a free concierge service to all our customers. We love to help our clients make the most of their time while in the region and take great pleasure in helping arrange all kinds of activities and extra services.

Please contact us – we would be delighted to hear from you.

The beaches of Begur

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Begur and it’s beaches are far from the tacky image of all day breakfasts and mass package tourism that many people may have of the Costa Brava. This family orientated region has some of the prettiest pine clad beaches and clearest waters in the whole of the Catalan coastline.

Begur has long been a favorite summer destination for Spanish and Catalan people, especially from Barcelona, many of whom own a second home in the area.

What are the beaches of Begur?

Begur has eight beaches starting with Platja del Raco to the north of the town. With great views of the Medes Islands this is a long beach which eventually merges into the beach of Pals. Just down from Platja del Raco is the beautiful Illa Roja, a famous nudist beach. Sa Riera, Begur’s largest beach is next in line and is one of our personal favourites. A good sized beach which although does get quite busy in peak season. It retains a pleasant, intimate air to it with a handful of decent restaurants a stones’ throw from the beach.

Begur beaches
The beaches of Begur

To the East of Begur you find the bays of Auigafreda and Sa Tuna. Not as big and sandy as Sa Riera these are charming and atmospheric nonetheless and are great for people who prefer smaller, quieter beaches.

To the south of Begur you find the beaches of Platja Fonda, Fornells and Auigablava. Platja Fonda is one of the wildest and most unspoilt beaches you can find on the Costa Brava and the best in this region for sunbathing. Accessed by a series of steps this really is one of the gems of the area.

The beach of AiguaBlava, Begur
AiguaBlava, Begur

Fornells and Aiguablava are the most southern beaches of the Begur region. Here you will also find the small secluded coves of Estasia, Malaret, Ses Orats and Port Esclanya.

More information about Begur and it’s beaches can be found at the official Visit Begur website.

Begur holiday villas

At Charming Villas Catalonia we offer a selection of hand picked luxury villas on the Costa Brava. Browse our portfolio of luxury Costa Brava vacation rentals and Barcelona beachfront homes. Locally based we offer a free concierge service to all of our clients.