I am often asked by visitors to the area for the first time which is the best part of the Costa Brava where to stay? My answer is either;
- Cadaques or
- The area around Begur/Tamariu
Both locations are quite different and each has its own pros and cons.
Cadaques is without doubt the most beautiful and picturesque coastal town on the Costa Brava. Hidden away at the end of the Cap de Creus Peninsula where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean sea. The town is a must-see place for anyone visiting the region and has its own special and unique ambiance. However it is not the easiest place to get to. There is one mountain road in and out of town and this can get rather congested at certain times of the day, especially during July and August.
It is precisely this isolation that saved it from the developers who in the 1960’s and 1970’s were building hotels and apartment blocks willy-nilly all along the flatter, more accessible coastline closer to Barcelona and in the process spoiling many areas of beauty.
Here is a full list of the beaches and coves of Cadaques
I recommend Cadaques as a destination for those who like to park up their hire car and get into the local way of life and soak up the atmosphere. There’s plenty to see and do in Cadaques for a week for most people. However if you like to jump in the car and explore other villages and beaches etc then Cadaques is probably not the ideal destination where to base yourself as the road in and out of town can become rather tedious if you are doing it most days.
The area around Begur and Tamariu is another area which mainly escaped the dreaded developers. Begur/Tamariu is easier to get to than Cadaques but a lot of the topography is quite hilly and this is the main reason why it was left alone.
The popular town of Begur sits in an elevated position a couple of miles inland from the coast. The various beaches of Begur radiate off from the town. The beaches are quite compact and although most have a few restaurants on offer it is not the same as Cadaques where you have around 100 restaurants to choose from.
Traditionally the Begur area was popular with the Barcelona middle classes where a lot of families had second homes. This is still the case but now there also a lot of European owners as well. It is a beautiful family orientated area however one is more reliant on your car for getting around. This area is perhaps better suited for those who like to jump in the car and explore some of the other things the area has to offer such as Costa Brava medieval villages, Costa Brava Farmers Markets and to visit some of the Best beaches on the Costa Brava.
Whereas Cadaques and Begur/Tamariu are family orientated the Costa Brava also has other areas which are more focused on the younger generation offering nightlife and budget tourism such at Platja d’Aro, Lorret de Mar and Blanes. We do not list any properties in these regions.