Road trip from Barcelona to Cadaques
One of the best things about living in Barcelona is the endless options of day or weekend trips you can take from the city. Costa Brava is one of my favourite regions in Catalonia to explore. It’s located in northeastern Spain and is well known for its natural beauty and historical heritage. When I first moved to Spain in 2019, I was eager to make a week-long trip somewhere along the coast. After getting to know more people in Barcelona and making local friends, I gathered lots of different advice and organized a road trip up the coast from Barcelona to Cadaques. In just one week I visited 6 different towns by car, while only booking Airbnb’s in three of them. It’s very easy to travel from town to town by car but the train is a good option too.
Stop 1: Blanes is a coastal tourist town on the Costa Brava known as the “Gateway to the Costa Brava.” It’s one of the most popular holiday resorts in the summer months. Their famous castle of Sant Joan was built to protect the community against the pirate raids that were so common at that time along the coast. From that time period, you can visit Santa Maria church and the ruins of the Palace of the Viscounts of Cabrera.
If you’re into beach coves, turquoise waters, beaches hidden under cliffs, and beautiful gardens, you will love Blanes. Playa de Blanes is a great place to spend the day out. There are some nice beachfront restaurants to check out. Just outside of the centre of town is Cala Bona, a cosy beach surrounded by pine trees and crystal clear water. I also recommend Jardin Botanico Marimurtra. It’s a large garden with lots of beautiful plants and some amazing views of the sea.
Stop 2: Tossa De Mar is famous for its beaches as they have some of the best views over the coast. Their beaches are popular amongst tourists during the summer. From Platja Gran (Great Beach) you’ll catch amazing views of Muralla de la Vila Vella, a castle dating back to the 12th-century. Make sure to walk up to the historic town and around the old castle for some of the best views of the city and sea.
Now for my favourite part of Tossa De Mar and possibly all of Costa
Brava, Cala Futadera! It’s a small cove beach that looks so clear and beautiful you would think it’s untouched. The beach is surrounded by cliffs but if jumping off cliffs isn’t your thing, there’s a staircase for easy access to the cove.
Stop 3: Roses is an old fishing port city situated between the mountain and sea. If fishing doesn’t interest you, there’s still a lot to love about Roses. Check out Platja de Canyelles, a white sand beach perfect for swimming and sun-bathing. Although the city is about 3,000 years old, there isn’t as much history here except for the ruins of Trinitat Castle and the Ciutadella.
Roses is a great city to wander around. Walk a bit down the coast and you’ll find one of my other favourite spots in Roses, Santa Margarita beach. It’s a large clean beach great for its calm tides and water activities, especially snorkelling. There’s also good nightlife here. You’ll find lots of nice restaurants and bars along the beach.
Stop 4: Cadaques. Most people would agree that Cadaques is the most beautiful town in Costa Brava. It’s famous for its pebble beaches and high cliffs looking over the Mediterranean sea. Cadaques dates back to the 9th century and many say the town hasn’t changed much over the last 100 years. Cadaques is hidden among the mountains so when you’re driving there you’re zigzagging through these mountains that ascend and descend a lot. But it’s a very beautiful drive and the town is well worth all of the zigzagging.
You can catch this exact view from Playa Gran. From this small beach make your way to the Salvador Dali House Museum, where the famous surrealist painter, Dali, lived and worked from 1930 to 1982. He spent most of his adult life in Cadaques and the home he once lived in is now a museum. Fun fact, the very last painting Dali was working on is still sitting in its easel.
Stop 5: Girona was founded by the Roman Empire in the first century AD. This well-preserved medieval city was a popular stop-off location for Romans travelling between Spain and Italy. The city is located beside river Onyar, where colourfully painted homes line the waterway. My favourite view over the river is from the Eiffel Bridge. From this bridge, take the cobble street Carrer de la Forca through the old town where you’ll find the Girona Cathedral in the centre of the city. For those who watch Game of Thrones, you may recognize this cathedral and the surrounding structures from the series. 
If you’re looking for more green space, head to Parc de la Devesa. It’s a beautiful park to walk through and it’s usually not that crowded. There is a local market there every Tuesday and Saturday morning. The biggest annual festival in Girona is the Temps de Flors which translates to flower season. The festival takes place every year in May filling the streets with plants and colourful flower displays. There are over 100 exhibits, one of the most popular being at the Girona Catedral. Many other gardens and patios that are usually not open to the public are open for visitors for this special event.
Stop 6: Pals is a charming medieval town in northern Spain. It’s actually one of the first medieval villages in Costa Brava! My favourite part of Pals was exploring the ancient village on foot. It’s amazing to see how well-preserved it is. There are lots of little shops and art galleries to explore while you walk around town. In the centre of town, head to Placa Major, home to the town hall. Just outside of Pals you’ll find Costa Brava Parc Aventura. There are lots of games and activities you can do here, like ziplining and treetop courses.
Good luck and Happy Teaching!
Let’s stay connected.
Christine Jacob
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