The Best of Costa Brava: 4-Day Itinerary
If you are planning on visiting Spain, you can’t go past visiting Costa Brava. With fairytale towns, pristine beaches and delicious food Costa Brava is a traveller’s delight, and all within easy reach from Barcelona.
The region of Costa Brava stretches along 200 kilometres of coastline from Blanes to Portbou. If only we all had the time to explore it all! If, like us, you don’t have the luxury of time to explore it all, here is a 4-day itinerary of the best of Costa Brava. Of course, the more time you have the better, but this itinerary has a good mix of beaches, charming towns, food and culture. Note, this one is best if you have a hire car.
Day 1- Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar has the undeniable charm of a fishermen’s village combined with rich history, dating back to the 1st century. The most spectacular characteristic of Tossa de Mar is the medieval fortified village, Vila Vella, complete with picturesque streets and fortress walls offering views of the precious bay below.
AM – Tossa de Mar has a stunning coastline that can be enjoyed by foot or boat. There are plenty of hiking trails and mountain bike trails, or you can hire a kayak and make your way along the coast and stop in at some beaches at your own leisure. As the weather in September is glorious for the sea, we opted to kayak and enjoyed the pre-lunch workout.
Lunch – Even though Tossa de Mar is a small town, you are spoilt for restaurant options. There are a lot of ‘touristy’ places along the beach offering Menu del Días (Menu of the Day), but walk into the old quarters, and you’ll find a good variety of cuisines. Our personal favourite was La Grotta, offering delicious handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas, in a cute setting just by the old walls.
PM – Tossa de Mar is a town made to be enjoyed on foot, so spend the afternoon strolling through the town and soaking up the history and charm. Visit the 1st century Els Ametllers Roman villa, (which has been immaculately preserved), enjoy the charming fairytale-like streets of the old town and admire the simplicity of the Chapel of Mare de Déu del Socors. Of course, the highlight is walking along the fortified walls of the Castillo de Tossa de Mar, where you can admire the quaint storefronts and wonderful views of the town and bay.
Dinner – Enjoy traditional recipes and local produce at Bahia Restaurant. Bahia Restaurant is one of the first restaurants to introduce traditional Catalan and local dishes from the area, and a lot of the menu are still original home recipes. One of their specialties is cim i tomba – a Tossa de Mar flavoursome stew consisting of fish and potatoes.
Where to stay: For comfortable apartments and views of the castle, check out Pierre & Vacances Villa Romana.
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Day 2
Leave Tossa de Mar and drive up the coast to visit an abundance of beaches at your leisure.
Costa Brava boasts 200 kilometres of spectacular coastline, so it’s bound to have beaches and coves to please all tastes. Some will have restaurants and facilities nearby, while others are surrounded by nothing else but wonderful nature. Here are some of the locals’ picks:
- Cala Giverola
- Platja d’Aro
- Aiguablava
- Tamariu
- Sa Tuna
- Cap de Begur
- Platja El Golfet
- Cala Montgó
Once you’ve had your fair share of beach, it’s time to head to Girona.
Where to stay: Nothing beats enjoying a coffee on the balcony at Apartamentos Casa Flora
While you’re visiting Costa Brava, why not check out my favourite city, Barcelona.
Day 3
AM – As Australians, we are coffee snobs, so when we find great coffee around the world, we make sure we save that info for future use! It turns out that Girona also has a good coffee culture (must be from all the expat cyclists that live there!) and a good place to start the day is at Espresso Mafia. These guys take their coffee seriously and they are situated in a pretty alley in the old town.
Once awake, stroll over to Local Market for a local food experience or cooking class. The girls here are passionate about food and local produce, and your tastebuds will thank you for the experience. Bookings are essential, and both Irene and Mariona speak perfect English and can help you decide on what to book.
Lunch – If you aren’t already full from the food tasting at Local Market, you can find an array of excellent places to eat within the old town. The locals take their food here seriously and you are bound to enjoy whatever you find in the area.
PM – Did you know Girona was selected by the producers of Game of Thrones to film Season 5 for the colour of the city’s stones and its medieval feel? In fact, not much had to be done to the city to convert it into the streets of Braavos and Kings Landing (apart from a bit of CGI here and there). Game of Thrones fan or not, Girona is incredibly picturesque and it’s worth spending a few hours wandering through the old town, crossing the Eiffel Bridge and admiring the colourful apartments that adorn the banks of the river. If all that walking requires a little pick-me-up, treat yourself to a famously quirky ice-cream from Rocambolesc.
Dinner – It’s too hard to pick just one place for dinner, so here are some of the local’s top picks below.
- Le Bistrot – Situated on the romantic Pujada de Sant Domènec and serving delicious pizza and pasta.
- Draps – Great place for sharing food.
- Llevataps – Here you will find delicious and creative dishes, all perfect for Instagram.
- Brots de Vi – Simple food and good wine.
- La Simfonia – The place to go if you love cheese and wine.
- El Celler de Can Roca – Voted in the Top 50 restaurants in the world, you are bound to be delighted. The wait list is long (and prices justifiably high), but if you are willing to splurge and treat yourself, this is the place to do it.
Day 4 – Get surreal in Figueres
AM – Today’s a big day, so you should start your morning with a delicious breakfast at our favourite breakfast franchise, Federal. This café is an Australian franchise, so the menu is filled with delicious options, from pancakes to bacon & egg rolls, and delicious coffee.
Drive to Figueres and get surreal. If you are a fan of art, then the Dalí Theatre-Museum should not be missed. Whilst Salvador Dalí is most famous for his surreal art, the museum displays all of the styles he’s explored and it is bound to please any art lover. Tickets are €14 per adult. For up-to-date opening days and hours (they are often closed on Mondays), check the website.
Lunch – If you like a good Italian meal, wander over to our favourite Italian chain, La Tagliatella, conveniently located around the corner of the Dalí Theatre-Museum. Our pick? The Tagliatella Casalinga.
PM –25 minutes from Figueres, is another gem of the Costa Brava region, Besalú. Besalú is a small medieval village, with a striking 11th century bridge. If you love the idea of wandering through enchanting cobblestone streets, then this is the place for you. Make sure you bring your camera, as there are plenty of picturesque corners, waiting to be captured.
Dinner – Head back to Girona and try one of the other restaurants listed above.
If you have more time….
Of course, the more time you have to explore Costa Brava, the better, so if you are fortunate to have more time, you should spend a couple more days in Tossa de Mar and Girona, or you can check out the following:
- Blanes – The ‘Gateway to the Costa Brava’, this seaside village has an extravagant botanical garden, Marimurtra, that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea.
- Ruins of Empúries – If you love Roman ruins and the sea, the Ruins of Empúries, dating back to 6th Century B.C. are worth a visit.
- Cadaques – The easternmost point in Spain, this is a picturesque fishing village of white buildings overlooking the sea and part of the Dalí Triangle.
- For wine lovers, Costa Brava is also a great destination for wine tourism.
Best time to visit – if you want to enjoy the best of Costa Brava and its beaches, but don’t like to share it with the summer crowds, early June and September are the perfect months, as the weather is still perfect and the crowds are minimal.
So there you have it, the best of Costa Brava in 4 days! It’s the perfect combination of medieval cities, spectacular beaches, delicious food and surreal art! If you are a lover of any of these things, then Costa Brava should be on your next Spanish itinerary.
Have you been to Costa Brava? Have we covered the best sights to see? Where else should be on the Costa Brava itinerary?
A huge thanks to Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona, Tossa de Mar Tourist Office, Kayaks Nicolau and Local Market Girona for showing us some of the best sights, sounds and tastes of Costa Brava.
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I love Costa Brava and its landscape. I been to Lloret and Tossa, beautiful seaside resorts and Gerona has to be one of my favourite cities in Spain (but Barcelona just to the south one of the worse! but thats my opinion). I love hiking in this region but also had a habit of drinking too much as well (typical British person here). 🙂 I think you covered the top sights, and I think I am going back next year, so I can’t wait 😀
You don’t like Barcelona? I think it’s a polarising city – you either love it or hate it (I love it though). Girona is also one of our favourite cities as well. How lucky to be returning next year! I hope we can return soon too!
Hey there! This was very well written and I would definitely use this guide if I went to Barcelona. I love how you wrote in detail what to do each day. It’s just the sort of thing you would get from a friend who’s visited before and wants you to have fun!
Consider us friends then! 😉 Hopefully this guide will come in handy next time you visit Barcelona! It’s a great side trip from the area that offer so many wonderful things to see and do! Feel free to get in touch if you want more Spain inspiration, as it’s what I LOVE to talk about 🙂
This is the second Spain post I have read today and I am wanting to book a flight! Girona sounds gorgeous – I love food tours and cooking. I also keep seeing Eiffel bridges this year, we visited Porto where there is one (disused now) and then we were in Hanoi a few weeks ago and there is one there too! I should complete the trilogy with a visit to Girona. The bridge in Besalú also looks like a must-see too. Thanks for giving me yet more Spain inspiration!
Yes! There is another Eiffel bridge in Porto! I remember seeing that one too! I love the one in Girona, as it’s lovely and colourful with the pretty apartments alongside it. I’m glad you are inspired by our post – we absolutely love Spain and hope to inspire people to visit it more!
I’ve been to Barcelona but never heard about Costa Brava. Is it a plane, boat, or a drive? You covered a lot in 4-days. I love the Eiffel Bridge it is so beautiful. I am seeing more and more of other places “copying” the famous Eiffel Tower. I love the view from the apartment.
Haha This bridge wasn’t exactly copying the Eiffel Tower, as it was built before it (by the same designer), but I know what you mean! Costa Brava is a gem of Spain, and definitely worth a visit. I think the easiest way to get there is to get to Barcelona, and either hire a car to drive up the coastline at your leisure, or you can catch the fast train to Girona (40-minutes) and visit places from there (again, a car is the best way to see it all, but there are public transport options).
Didn’t have time to go to Costa Brava when I was in Barcelona, but definitely will do it separetely.
Tossa de Mar really sounds like my cup of tea. 🙂 Love the fact that it’s the medieval fortified village and that it’s supposed to be explored on foot. Perfect! And there’s even that lovely beach below, how convenient! 🙂
Girona also looks beautiful. I enjoy my coffee as well, so I’ll try to remember to go to the Local Market for one. 😉
I’ve been to Figueres and was amazed by the colorful buildings there. Don’t let me even start on Dali Museum, I’ve spent the whole day there! 😀
I could have spent the whole day at the Dalí museum too! It was amazing! We loved both Tossa de Mar and Girona more than we imagined we could! They both are absolute gems of the region!
I spent 5 days in Barcelona but failed to get to Costa Brava. Seems like an ideal off beat destination and lot of interesting activities. I surely would prefer to take a class in local cuisines there.
Local cooking classes are a must! I think Barcelona is one of those places where you need at least 5 days to enjoy it, but if you get a chance to go back to the area, you should definitely check out Costa Brava! There is a rapid 40-minute train to Girona from Barcelona, so you could even do a sneaky day trip from there 🙂
Amazing post! I’ve wanted to travel Costa Brava forever, and this itinerary really breaks down the perfect stay. In particular, I want to go to Figueres and see the Dali museum. I’m a sucker for museums and fell in love with Dali’s work at a special exhibit at the Philadelphia Art Museum. I’ll get there one day!
I’m a sucker for Dalí’s work too! We went to a special exhibition in Paris years ago, and I would love to see more of his stuff! The museum is a must if you are a fan, as there are so many amazing pieces that show off his talents, not only as a surrealist, but as an accomplished master of many styles! I hope you can get to Costa Brava and find this post helpful when you do!
This is a great itinerary. I would like to try their pizza there. I ate a lot of seafood when I went to Spain. I would love to see the botanical gardens and the ruins. I love learning about the different histories. A cooking class also sounds like a lot of fun!
Cooking classes are one of my favourite things to do abroad, as it’s not only a great chance to learn how to make delicious food, but you get to meet the locals too! Guy loved the seafood in Spain (whereas I’m allergic, so I stuck to the pizzas haha).
Costa Brava usually conjures images of over-crowded beaches and budget bars, mainly because lots of Luxembourgers and German highschool students travel there since the 1980s (less expensive than Southern France or Italy). But it’s true that there’s so much more than that in Costa Brava. We also visited Vila Vella, and totally loved its picturesque streets and fortress! The Dalí Museum in Figueres is certainly also a must-see place.
I guess we must have been there at the right time, as we didn’t really have many crowds! I think the key is to go a week after the peak season, so you still get the glorious weather, but lose all the tourists 😉 And can you blame them? As you said, it’s less-expensive and the beaches are some of the best in Europe!
I love your photos! You were right that Costa Brava has a simply stunning coastline. That Local Market sounds like it would be an awesome culinary experience! I’m now dying to visit.
Local Market was great for learning to cook some local dishes and learning about the region’s produce! These girls are passionate about their food, which is great to see! And the coastline is spectacular – definitely road trip worthy!
Hey there! This was very well written and I would definitely use this guide if I went to Barcelona. Thanks for sharing this post