If you landed on this blog post then you are probably thinking about visiting Spain’s beautiful Costa Brava and are looking for a Costa Brava itinerary. Well, you came to the right place. My boyfriend and I live in Barcelona and we frequently do Costa Brava trips, some longer and some shorter. But that does not matter: Because it does not matter how long you end up staying, you will always want to come back and stay longer!
This is why I decided do draft a Costa Brava itinerary for 3-5 days. Depending on how long your Costa Brava stay will be, you can just pick the days you like the most or choose some of the activities I suggest.
We have traveled pretty much all areas, so that I can tell you what the must-see spots and hidden gems in the Costa Brava are, and you will find them in the itinerary below, so keep reading:
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Rent a car for this Costa Brava itinerary
First things first: I do recommend renting a car for your Costa Brava itinerary. Your Costa Brava trip will probably start from Barcelona. And here I can already tell you: Having a car will make getting around the area so much easier. That way you can do one-day trips and visit the most beautiful hidden beaches.
While there are buses and trains connecting the larger towns of the Costa Brava, you will be so much more flexible having your own car. For car rentals in Barcelona, I recommend rentalcars.com. Why? You can choose your pick-up destination in Barcelona that suits you the best. So that you do not have to pick it up at the airport in Barcelona.
On rentalcars.com you can choose your rental car pick-up that is the closest to you and start your trip without any hassles. We have been using it so many times already and we never had any issues!
Check out rentalcars.com for the best offers
FAQ: Questions about this Costa Brava itinerary
This Costa Brava itinerary I am presenting will be 3 to 5 days long, depending on how you long you plan to stay. This blog post is perfect for you if you are looking for a Costa Brava itinerary for a long weekend, or if you plan on extending your Costa Brava trip for a couple of days.
When looking at this Costa Brava itinerary, you can simply pick the days you like the most for your own trip. You can change the order, or follow the itinerary strictly, that is completely up to you. I already know your Costa Brava trip will be one for the memories!
How long should I stay in Costa Brava?
Honestly, once you arrive to the Costa Brava and see its beautiful beaches you will never want to leave! You can do a one-day trip to the Costa Brava, but I would recommend staying for at least 2 days, but the longer the better! Then, you will be able to explore some of the beaches and see at least one beautiful area of the Costa Brava. And then, you can already start planning your next trip to come back!
If you want to have a relaxing time, spend some time at the different beaches and explore some of the beautiful towns in the Costa Brava, I would recommend staying 5-7 days. But you can also easily stay here for one or two weeks. Two weeks does seem very long, but there are SO MANY beaches and beautiful areas to visit. I promise, you will not be bored!
When is the best time to visit the Costa Brava?
My boyfriend and I have visited the Costa Brava pretty much all around the year, so that is what I recommend: If you want to enjoy swimming in the Mediterranean Sea without crowded beaches and full parking lots, I would recommend going May-July or September-October. That will be the best time to visit Costa Brava because the weather is just perfect,
The late July and August are high season on the Costa Brava and it will get VERY CROWDED. That is also when schools are closed in Spain and many families go on vacation with their children. While the weather is perfect, you will find yourself fighting for parking spots with other people. And out of experience, I can tell you that is when hotels have the highest prices throughout the year. I do understand it’s not always possible but I would recommend avoiding the high season in the Costa Brava if you can.
While winters are very wild in the Costa Brava, you will find many hotels, activities and restaurants closed during the winter months. I would not recommend going between November and late March because you will see many businesses closed and will not enjoy your time as much. (This does not apply to larger cities like Girona)
Where to stay in Costa Brava without a car?
It will help you so much getting around the Costa Brava if you rent a car. But I do understand that it is not always possible. But thank god, there is a good public transport network from Barcelona to some cities on the coast. My personal preferences when visiting Costa Brava without a car are:
Blanes: Blanes is a small town close to Barcelona that you can easily reach without a car. You just need to catch the bus “2” from Estacio de Nord and you will arrive in around one hour and a half. My boyfriend and I love visiting Blanes for its gorgeous botanical garden and the option to rent a boat there to explore the surrounding bays. You do not even need a license for it! You can find more information here.
Tossa de Mar: Tossa de Mar is THE gem of the Costa Brava and probably one of the most beautiful towns of the Costa Brava. Its beautiful streets, the fairytale castle and the beautiful beach attract thousands of visitors every year. In order to visit Tossa de Mar without a car, you need to take the same bus “2” from Estacio del Nord, but stay a bit longer on it
Begur, Palafrugell or other towns close to Girona: If you want to do a Costa Brava itinerary that includes towns close to Girona, you can take the AVE first to Girona, and then a bus to the surrounding towns of the Costa Brava. I do feel like this only makes sense if you stay in the Costa Brava for 5 days or more, because that trip will take you at least 2 hours, depending on where it is you want to go.
Where to stay for your Costa Brava trip
Good news! There are SO MANY amazing hotels and great places to stay along the Costa Brava. So whatever your vibe and budget is, there is the right place for you. My recommendation: If you are looking for a more relaxing stay, I would look for places further away from the beach. The areas close to the beach can get very crowded during the day and there are always a lot of people around. But if you are fine with that, then you have nothing to worry about.
My hotel recommendations for the Costa Brava
Hotel Palau Macelli & Spa: This is our absolute favorite hotel at the Costa Brava. It is located in an old monastery in the center of the quiet town Castello d’Empuries and the perfect place to stay at. The rooms are so much larger than in other hotels, and is gorgeously decorated. The hotel has a rooftop terrace with a pool and a garden where you can have your evening drink. My top tip: Make sure to book the private SPA. It only costs XX per person
(The only thing to keep in mind is that this hotel is small and gets booked out weeks in advance so be fast!)
Elisabeth by the Sea Hotel: This gorgeous hotel is right on the beachfront at Tossa de Mar with gorgous views of the castle. You will be staying in the most beautiful town of the whole Costa Brava with ridiculous views. And the price for a 5-star hotel is just amazing. Make sure to check it out!
Boutique Hotel Villa Salvador: If you are looking for a quiet and relaxing stay right next to Cadaqués, this is your place to go. The views of this hotel will leave you speechless. It is a bit further away from the other towns of the Costa Brava, but perfect if you want to spend some relaxing time
What towns in Costa Brava should we stay in?
If you are currently not looking for hotels but areas to stay in Costa Brava, I can recommend the following areas to you:
Platja d’Aro: This area is great if you are visiting Costa Brava with the family. The sand beach is super wide and spacious. At the same time, there are TONS of restaurants and shops in the area to spend time with family and children.
Tamariu, Begur, and Palafrugell: If you want to stay in a smaller town that is not so crowded, has a chill vibe and is full of Spanish restaurants, then these cities are perfect for you. Plus point, the beaches of Tamariu and Palafrugell are just beyond beautiful!
Figueres, Cadaqués, and Roses: These small towns are perfect for a relaxed holiday. The only thing I need to mention is that Cadaques is a bit harder to reach, even by car, so I would plan accordingly
Tossa de Mar: Many people call Tossa de Mar the most beautiful town of Costa Brava. But it does get VERY CROWDED on the weekends in high season. It is absolutely worth visiting, but when we visited it in summer, the town and the beach were full of people. Just a word of warning 🙂
Let’s start: Costa Brava itinerary for 3-5 days
As mentioned before, this itinerary gives my recommendations for a trip of 3-5 days in the Costa Brava. But in the end, it is totally up to you to decide to pick the days you like the most or if you want to just get inspired for your own itinerary. I tried to create itineraries every day for places and activities that are not too far away from each other. That way you do not have to drive around too much:
Day 1: Explore Begur and Palafrugell
We will start our Costa Brava itinerary with one of the most beautiful areas of the Costa Brava: Begur and Palafrugell. Both towns are beyond gorgeous and you will have such an amazing time there, I promise.
Start your day in Begur
In my opinion, Begur is one of the most beautiful cities in Costa Brava. Its little streets are so charming and it’s perfect for a small walk and to spend some time at the beach. You can also walk up to the castle and enjoy the views from up there. So beautiful!
If you feel like spending more time at the beach you can also drive to Platja Fonda which is not far away and enjoy the sun there. This beach even has a natural pool that you can go and splunge in! Another very popular beach is Cala Sa Tuna.
Afternoon in Palafrugell
My boyfriend and I love Palafrugell in Costa Brava for several reasons: It is a charming small city that still feels very local and authentic. It is not too touristy, as many other areas in the Costa Brava. Apart from that, you will see musical performance on their main square in summer, if you are lucky.
Okay but now the actual part why we love it: Our favorite Costa Brava restaurant is located in Palafrugell: Es Tres. Make sure to make a reservation online and thank me later. The restaurant serves Catalan cuisine with a modern twist. And EVERY single meal is delicious I promise.
Day 2: Beach day in our Costa Brava itinerary
Day number two on our Costa Brava itinerary is reserved for a complete BEACH DAY. Imagine this: You are spending the day at one of the most beautiful beaches at the Costa Brava, enjoying the sun, going for a swim, going snorkling or whatever you like.
Does that sound exciting? Then, put one of the following beaches on your bucket list. My boyfriend and I have been to all of them and cannot recommend it enough.
Spend the day at Platja de Tamariu
Platja de Tamariu: During our many Costa Brava trips, this is the favorite beach of my boyfriend and I. Why? The beach is spacious, the water is crystal clear, and there are many restaurants close for a snack.
What I recommend for your day in Platja Tamariu:
- Bring beach towels, a sun umbrella, your swimsuits, water shoes (in case you want to jump from the low cliffs) and enjoy your day at the beach
- If you get hungry, you can grab food at El Palaquí
- Afternoon vermouth at the beach? Absolutely! Check out Vermuteria El Salí de l’Hostalillo with perfect beach views while enjoying that vermouth
- Would you like to go diving? My boyfriend and I did a beginner’s dive with Stollis Divebase. I have zero diving experience and did the dive together with an instructor and had an amazing time (Not sponsored, but really recommended!)
If Tamariu does NOT work for you, there are two other beaches that I recommend for a beach day in Costa Brava:
- Platja Aiguablava
- Cala Sa Tuna
And after your beach day, where should you have dinner? Here, I can recommend the following restaurants close to Tamariu:
Make a reservation at Hostal Sa Tuna for dinner. Maybe the name does through you off, but believe me, it is such a gem! The hotel is owned by the bed & breakfast, but you will have dinner LITERALLY at the beach. The views are insane, and the food is just so delicious.
I would recommend booking the dinner slot available. So you can start having dinner around 8 pm while the sun is still out and then stay during sunset. One of the best dinner spots at the Costa Brava for sure!
Day 3: Figueres and Cadaqués
The Northern area of the Costa Brava deserves an extra day on our itinerary. And believe me, it is worth it. Today, our Costa Brava itinerary takes us to the area closer to France to visit two gorgeous towns: Figueres and Cadaqués.
Our first stop will be the city of Figueres, which is also the birthplace of Spanish artist Salvador Dalí. I absolutely recommend visiting the Museum House of Salvador Dalí. It is really impressive and shows a lot of interesting artwork. It is not too big, so I promise you will not get bored from looking at too much modern art ;-)
Visit Cadaqués, the gem of the Costa Brava
If you ask me what the most beautiful towns of Spain are, Cadaqués is definitely in the top 3. A word of caution! The street getting there is full of curves through the mountains. And if you are like me, you might get car sick. But believe me, visiting Cadaqués is so worth it:
What you will see is a hidden tranquil beach city full of white houses that make such a beautiful contrast to the blue seawater. What can you do in Cadaqués?? You can easily spend the whole day in Cadaqués! Spend the day walking around the city, and maybe spending time at one of the beautiful beaches in Cadaqués
When it comes to dinner in Cadaqués, I see two options here:
- Compartir in Cadaqués: A very famous Spanish restaurant. It is on the more expensive side, but I have not heard one person who has been there and not liked it. This is probably one of the most famous restaurants in Cadaqués
- Restaurant Cap de Creus: I am sharing one of the hidden gems in the Costa Brava with you. This restaurant is right at the cliff of a Natural Park in the Costa Brava. This is the very tip of the Cap de Creus natural park and you will find yourself surrounded by gorgeous rock formations. Watching the sunset there is just *chef kiss* (Bring a jacket because it does get windy if you sit outside!)
Pro Tip: When making a reservation, choose the option “parking included”. This Natural Park is a protected area, and only a handful of cars are allowed to enter every day. Without that, you will NOT be able to go to the restaurant by car.
Day 4: Rent a boat or do a kayak tour, visit Tossa de Mar
The fourth day of our Costa Brava itinerary takes us to more beautiful places: Tossa de Mar, Blanes or Platja D’Aro, depending on which of the following activities you choose.
Here, we have several ways how we can schedule the day, depending on what activity you prefer:
- Do a kayak tour by the beautiful bays: This is an activity where you will explore the bays and cliffs of Costa Brava in a group with your kayaks. It’s perfect because it combines a little workout with a kayak tour. Plus, you will be able to get to the shallow areas with a kayak, which is a big benefit! AND, they take you to areas where you can jump from the cliffs
The kayak tours that I can recommend are this one, or this one (this one takes the whole day)
- My boyfriend and I go and rent a boat in Blanes every summer and go around the bays by ourselves. Now before I lose your interest: No, you do not need a boating license to do that. The boat is a small motorboat that you can navigate without any prior knowledge. The place we rent the boats from is called Eric Boats. We have been several times and it was always so much fun. You can write them on Whatsapp to coordinate the time. Renting a boat for 4 hours is only 200€ and the perfect couple experience.
Why do I recommend doing one of these tours? There are many bays in Costa Brava that you can only reach by boat or kayak. The water there is incredibly clear and beautiful. And if you like snorkeling you will have an amazing time there.
Spend the afternoon in Blanes and visit the botanical garden
If you end up doing the boat tour in Blanes, something that I recommend doing as well go to the Botanical Garden of Blanes. It looks like a fairytale, and the views of the bays are just gorgeous!
Below you can find some photos. You will see this is something you cannot miss during your Costa Brava tour!
While you are still in Blanes I would recommend having lunch or dinner at “Sibaris Taberna” for delicious seafood. The paella was to die for and the seafood was incredibly fresh! I can 100% recommend it.
The following depends on what time you book the previous tours and how long they take. I recommend doing a quick stop at Tossa de Mar today as well. Many people call Tossa del Mar the most beautiful town of Costa Brava. And once you visit it you will understand why:
Tossa de Mar is located right at the beach, and it is famous for its beautiful castle that lies at the beachfront. I do not think you have to enter it, but I would walk all the way up just to see the views from it.
Then, you can walk around the small streets of Tossa del Mar. There, you can explore souvenir shops, grab a snack, and just enjoy your time.
Last day of Costa Brava itinerary: One-day trip to Girona
For the last day of our Costa Brava itinerary I suggest the following. Why not switch it up a bit and visit a larger town? Girona is the perfect one-day destination and has so much to offer. Especially for Games of Thrones fans!
Things to do in one day in Girona:
- Do a free walking tour in Girona. (There is one for Girona only or a specific one for Games of Thrones)
- visit the Salvador Dalí Museum. This is one of the most impressive museums I have ever visited and I cannot recommend it enough
- Walk around the old town of Girona (start at the Cathedral of Girona and walk towards the “Castell de Montjuïc”)
5 days is not enough? How to continue your Costa Brava trip
If five days are not enough for your Costa Brava itinerary and you would like to extend your stay (I totally understand you! The Costa Brava is gorgeous) I would recommend one of the following things:
- Check out my blog post about the most beautiful towns in the Costa Brava. Here, you can choose from different towns you can visit if you want to extend your stay, e.g. you can visit Pals, Palamós or Roses
- do a beginner’s scuba diving experience (no license needed!) There are different places you can do that, I was recommended this company in Tossa de Mar
- Other famous beaches in Costa Brava you can visit: Cala Pi, Aigua Blava, Illa Roja
Costa Brava for 3 days
If you are only visiting Costa Brava for a long weekend, I would suggest choosing an area and staying there. That way, you can enjoy the beaches and spend some time in the area of Costa Brava where you are staying.
My Costa Brava itinerary will give you options for a 3 day stay that you can extend depending on how long you are staying there.
Visit Costa Brava for 5 days
If you are visiting Costa Brava for 5 days, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the beaches and explore some cities during your Costa Brava itinerary.
Depending on whether you prefer staying in the city, at the beach, or in the mountains this will give you enough time to explore some areas of the Costa Brava.
One week in Costa Brava
Spending 7 days in the Costa Brava is THE BEST decision. You will have time to check out different beaches, do some one-day trips, go on a boat tour, check out different restaurants and so much more.
Get ready for the perfect Costa Brava beach holiday!
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