The Costa Brava is what I like to refer to as “Little Spain” or Pequeño España. With several picture perfect beach towns dotting the coastline, great natural scenery and parks to hike in and great places to just relax and enjoy, the Costa Brava is a pleasant change from the busy bee tourism. Just a short drive north of Barcelona toward the French border, Costa Brava offers tranquility and serenity. To start, try the city of Gerona as your home base. The largest city where much of the series Game of Thrones was filmed, you shouldn’t miss La Cathedral de Santa Maria, or a walk on top of the old city walls. Also, getting lost in the narrow winding streets of El Call, the old Jewish quarter, is a fun experience.

Stone stairs leading up past historic buildings with balconies and an archway, with a few children walking and sitting outside.
Stone staircase leading up to an ancient stone wall with greenery and cypress trees in the background.
Facade of an old stone church with ornate architectural details and sculptures, featuring a large circular window, a tall bell tower, and a group of people at the entrance, under a clear blue sky.
Facade of the Teatro Museo Dalí with classical architectural features, statues on the roof, and promotional banner with a black-and-white photo of Dalí wearing glasses.
Scenic coastal pathway with rocks, ocean, and houses along the hillside
Historic stone fortress with thick walls, battlements, and watchtowers under a blue sky.

For all the modern art lovers, and who isn’t, a nearby day trip from Girona to the village of Figueres to visit the Dali Museum is a must do. Order your tickets here in advance: https://tickets.salvador-dali.org/es/ And don’t miss the Castell de Sant Ferran, a large castle with great views of the city and a cool water cistron that you can boat tour through. A short drive or train ride away is Llanca, where you can also find hotels, restaurants and great beaches. This town is where the Cami de Ronda begins or ends, depending where you start from. This coastal hiking tail runs from the French border all the way down to Llanca and for those hiking hippies, here’s the link with all the details. https://www.costabrava-wandern.de/en/

If you like to party like a rock star, or if you are or think you are one, than the town of Lloret de Mar is for you, and me! Not only the beaches with the coastal walking path, and the old town with dining, dancing and fun, but also the architecture such as the Church of Sant Roma, the modernistic cemetery or the medieval castle at the end of the beach with the restored bell tower! There is also a cat park for those cat crazy folks and a fun filled water park, for those water crazy folks.

View of a colorful, ornate church roof with four spires decorated with geometric patterns and a cloudy sky in the background.
A sunny beach scene with a crescent-shaped shoreline, colorful umbrellas, and people on the sand. Clear blue water with some greenery on the right side, and buildings in the background on a hill.
A tall, cylindrical stone tower with a small window near the top, overlooking the ocean with a blue sky and scattered clouds. There are stairs and a railing leading up to the tower, and a signal flag on a pole at the top. Trees are visible in the background.
The interior of a historic church with an ornate gold altar featuring numerous religious sculptures and decorations, flanked by stained glass windows.
A narrow street in a Mediterranean town with white buildings, some with blue shutters and doors, and small balconies. The street is paved with cobblestones and has a slight incline.
A coastal town with white buildings along the shoreline and boats in the water, mountains in the background, and pink flowers on the right side.

Another enchanting town along the coastline is Cadaqués, much loved by artists such as Dalí and Picasso. Laze about the beautiful beaches, walk along the seaside trails and narrow village streets or go to nearby Port Lligat and visit Salvador Dalí’s impressive Casa-Museu Salvador Dalí. Enjoy lunch and dinner at one of the many fine restaurants where one euro goes farther than the nearby highway. Or while the day and/or night away at one of the many rustic bars and taverns where the locals congregate to talk about everything and nothing at all!

When you’re ready to work of some of the fun and sun you’ve added to your waistline, there is nothing better than a hike in the nearby Serra de Rodes mountain range. Make sure to visit the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes that has looked out over the landscape since the 10th century. Yes, you can drive there, and then visit the La Vall de Santa Creu, a small mountain village with olive trees, cacti, and beautiful views everywhere! There are so many great trails and views that it is impossible to list or show them all. You can even go by mountain bike. I would suggest downloading map info online at https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/serra-de-rodes-74013249

A scenic view of a hillside village with Mediterranean-style houses with red-tiled roofs, surrounded by greenery and trees.
Aerial view of a coastal city with buildings, a bay, and blue ocean water, with mountains in the background and a partly cloudy sky.
A large stone castle with multiple towers on a hill, with greenery and a few parked cars in front.
A scenic view of a crescent-shaped beach with blue ocean waters, a breakwater, and nearby buildings, framed by green trees under a bright blue sky.
A female scuba diver exploring a coral reef with a red starfish on the rocks, surrounded by various corals and marine life.
Beach with people sunbathing and swimming, cityscape in the background, blue sky with a few clouds.

With so much to do and so little time, at least for me writing this web page, I need to put together a couple of other super cool things that you should try to do. First off, there is Palamós with its endless sandy beach, famous for their special shrimp called Gamba de Palamós, served at their many seafood restaurants. Then if you’re water inclined, or just a bit water curious, take a boat snorkel trip from the resort town of L’Estartit to the nearby Medes Islands. Whether you scuba dive, snorkel or just paddle around, this is an unexpected adventure from a wonder beach town. Finally, the town of Blanes, known as the gateway to the Costa Brava, is nothing but fun, fun, fun, and a beautiful beach with great restaurants, bars and party places. Start or end here, and you’ll have completed the best of the best!