Costa Brava
The Costa Brava's rocky coves, white villages and Dalí sites make it a good base for a beach and village trip north of Barcelona.
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The Costa Brava is the rocky coast of Catalonia in northeastern Spain, running north from Blanes to the French border. Small coves cut between cliffs and headlands, and Cadaqués, a white village on the Cap de Creus peninsula, is the best-known stop. The region is also where Salvador Dalí spent much of his life. He was born in Figueres, where the Teatre-Museu Dalí stands, and he lived at Portlligat, near Cadaqués.
Go for a beach and village trip rather than a city break. Tossa de Mar has a walled old town on a headland above its beach, and Girona, an inland city, has a medieval Old Town. Swimming season runs from June to September. Allow four to five days for the coast and Figueres. Public transport reaches the larger towns more easily than the small coves, so a car helps if you want the villages off the main road. Basing in one bay keeps the driving short.
Costa Brava in five
- Rent a car for the covesMany of the best coves have no bus within walking distance, and parking fills early in summer. Book a car early, and park at the village edge rather than the cove road.Compare rental cars
- Book Dalí's Portlligat house aheadThe house near Cadaqués and the Theatre-Museum in Figueres both use timed entry. Check the official sites and reserve before you travel.Figueres
- Fly to Girona or BarcelonaGirona airport is closest to the middle of the coast, and Barcelona gives more flights and trains. Price the transfer both ways before you pick.
- Expect a Catalan tourist taxCatalonia adds a per-night tax on top of the room price, collected at the hotel. Check how it is calculated for your stay.Tourist taxes in Europe
- Pick the coast by moodTossa de Mar is a walled old town with a beach. Palafrugell's coves are small and quiet. Cadaqués is remote and artistic.Palafrugell
Things to do in Costa Brava
See all attractions in Costa Brava
Need to know
- Airport
- Girona (GRO) for the middle coast; Barcelona (BCN) is the main hub
- Getting there
- Train to Girona or Figueres, then a bus or car to the coast
- Getting around
- Car is best; buses link the main towns but not most coves
- Best base
- Tossa de Mar, the Palafrugell coves or Cadaqués
- Time needed
- 4 to 7 days for coves, villages and a Dalí day
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear6 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Cool, quietJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- FebruaryClear7 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Cool, quietFebruaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°SpringMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Easter, springAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Easter, spring
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, quietMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Beach, hotJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach, hot
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Hottest, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest, busy
- SeptemberClear9 rainy daysHigh24°Low19°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°MildOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°CoolNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- DecemberClear7 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Cool, quietDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Girona, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Costa Brava
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 48%
- Wind
- 17 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Costa Brava
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°12°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue15°10°90%Tuesday: Rain. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Wed16°10°85%Wednesday: Rain. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 85%.
- Thu17°9°11%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Fri19°9°11%Friday: Clear. High 19°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sat18°10°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sun19°17°31%Sunday: Rain. High 19°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 31%.
Updated 09:44 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Mar–AprDansa de la MortGirona, a day trip
- May–JunPrimavera SoundBarcelona, a day trip
- JunSónarBarcelona, a day trip
- Jul–AugFestival de PeraladaFigueres, a day trip
Before you go to Costa Brava
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Rules for Costa Brava, checked
- Spain is a Schengen country, so check your entry rules with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (exteriores.gob.es) before you book.
- Non-EU travelers may be fingerprinted and photographed at the Spanish border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
- Open fires and barbecues are restricted near forest and scrub, which covers much of the inland Costa Brava. Ask the local council before you light one.
- Beach rules are set by each town council, so read the signs at each beach and check the council website before you go.
- Cap de Creus and the Medes Islands are protected areas with their own rules. Check the park or reserve rules before you dive, collect anything or leave the path.
Plan around Costa Brava
Entry rules, trains and regions across the country
Read the guideGironaMedieval old town, the best rail base
Read the guideFigueresThe Dalí Theatre-Museum, by fast train from Barcelona
Read the guideCadaquésWhitewashed village and Dalí's Portlligat
Read the guideTossa de MarWalled old town with a good beach
Read the guideCalella de PalafrugellQuiet coves and a coastal path
Read the guideCosta Brava FAQ
Where should I stay on the Costa Brava?
Tossa de Mar for an easy first stay, the Palafrugell coves for calm swimming, Cadaqués for atmosphere and art, and Roses or L'Escala for wide beaches. Choose by whether you value coves or convenience.
Do you need a car on the Costa Brava?
For the coves and inland villages, yes. Towns like Tossa and Roses have buses, but the small bays and walking paths are far easier by car.
How do you get to the Costa Brava from Barcelona?
By bus or car in about 1 to 1.5 hours to the southern towns. For the north, take the train to Figueres or Girona and continue by bus or taxi.
When is the best time to visit the Costa Brava?
June and September for swimming without the August crowds. July and August are hot and busy, and many coves are crowded by late morning.
Can you visit Dalí's sites on a day trip?
Yes. The Figueres museum, the Portlligat house and the Púbol castle are about an hour apart. Book timed tickets ahead for each, and plan a full day with a car.