Spain, Costa Brava

Easily the best kept secret of Spain. Costa Brava will steal your heart and keep you coming back time and time again. We spent a relaxing two weeks exploring the pristine swim spots and charming sea side towns and ancient “cities”. This region is an absolute favorite, so much so that we booked a week for the next Summer before we left! The name “Costa Brava” translates to “Wild Coast”, this name perfectly reflects the rugged landscape, dramatic coastline, and also its windy and changeable weather.

• Getting there
• Getting around
• Where to stay
• When to visit
• Weather in Costa Brava
• Exploring Costa Brava

Getting there: We flew into Barcelona. Barcelona is a great option because it is a great International airport. If you have interest in Cities, Barcelona is definitely worth your time. Because I travel with small children, Cities and crowds are not of interest for us, so we head to places off the beaten path. The drive from Barcelona Airport to Costa Brava is roughly 2 hours.

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Getting around: You need a rental car to explore the coast. The towns are scattered and public transportation is non existent. There are many companies to choose from in Barcelona and I have found that rental cars in Spain are fairly affordable if you book in advance. Driving the roads are easy but parking is a whole other story!

Where to stay: Your options include Air BNB’s and hotels, but rest assured there is something for every price point. Some things to note when looking at Air BNB’s are to check if there is air conditioning, the coast of Spain can be very hot in the Summer. We were there for a heat wave like 100 degrees and had to leave our Air BNB because it was so HOT, we tried to leave the windows open, but my kids were eaten alive by mosquitos.

I could not rave more about Cap Sa Sal, what once was a luxurious hotel, these units are now privately owned residences, you can find a lot of options on Air BNB. This is a gates community with a huge private pool, coastline and lovely restaurant right on the water. There is Restaurant Cap Sa Sal just outside the gates, where you can access the Coastal Path to Cala d’Aiguafreda and to Sa Tuna.

Here are a few options available on Air BNB that we have stayed at. Option 1, Option 2, Option 3 they are all lovely and offer stunning views.

Closer to Barcelona we also stayed along the coast right outside the town Platja d’Aro. We stayed in Hotel Cap Roig, which offered a fabulous location with beach access to some of the most lovely beaches in the area. By staying here we were able to avoid the crowds and didn’t have any problem with parking.

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When to visit: The best months to visit are July and August, but June and September can be just as lovely, a bit cooler and less crowds. The beaches are a huge draw for the region, so if your coming for the beaches, come in July or in August.

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Weather in Costa Brava: Costa Brava enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long hot Summers and short mild winters. Due to its north eastern location, it is generally cooler than many other areas in Spain. The Summer season June through September is stunning, each with 12 hours of sunshine per day (September 10 hours)

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Exploring Costa Brava: Do yourself a favor and take a week to relax here. Each town is picturesque, you will get lost wandering the coastline. Swimming coves are carved out from steep rock walls that plunge into turquoise waters, so make sure to always have a swim suit with you!

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